Top 2016 makeup trends that might re-emerge in 2026
If you’ve been on social media in the last two weeks, you’ve probably noticed an influx of posts from all your favourite influencers, sharing a series of throwback photos from their 2016 camera reel. It’s a trend that invites all the nostalgia back into our lives, encouraging us to reflect on the beauty we loved and lost in the golden era that was 2016.
Arguably, 2016 marked the ‘glory days’ of beauty. It was a time where trends had no limits: viral makeup became even more mainstream, pedalled forward by the growing popularity of Instagram videos and YouTube tutorials all across the globe.
‘Full-Glam’ (see: a full beat) was a force to be reckoned with – an antonym to the more ‘Clean Girl’ aesthetic we practice today. Bolds & brights were available in abundance, the colour wheel kept spinning into new cosmetic creations, and reinvention & creativity were at an all-time high.
Feeling nostalgic now? Us too – which is why we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing on the hottest beauty trends that dominated the makeup space in 2016…
Brows, Brows, Brows
Did we mention brows? If you didn’t clock how standout arches were the talk of 2016, we have to ask... where were you? Bigger, bolder, sharper brows were everywhere, rising to fame off the back of the Scouse Brow trend of the early 2010s. The launch of Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade cemented its status as a cult-trend to follow, encouraging the beauty collective to define and exaggerate our arches more than ever.
Sculpted brows proceeded to trample all over the overplucking era of the ‘90s and ‘00s. Potted brow gels and brow pomades were stars of the show, while thicker brow definers also had their moment in the spotlight. While we don’t envision brows quite as prominent to make a comeback this year, precision shaping and ‘undone’ definition are making their debut, utilising thinner-tipped pencils to keep arches looking natural yet refined.
Cut Crease & Colour Galore
There’s no denying how creative, expressive, and electrifyingly fun it was to craft a makeup concoction in 2016. Eyeshadow was the perfect way to unleash all imagination; our lids became a canvas for the most mesmerising, maximalist makeup looks known to woman. Cut creases were second nature as we carved out our lids with the lightest concealer or eye primer we could get away with, working overtime to pack on the sparkle, buff in the drama, and lash up to the nines.
No eyeshadow colour was off-limits in 2016, and pigment was off the charts. Lime Crime was an emerging brand of this era, alongside the iconic Morphe collabs and Anastasia Beverly Hills Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette. But the one we can’t forget? The Urban Decay Naked Palette. It’s an OG for a reason – and it’s still around today!
All Matte Everything
Glowy skin? 2016 never heard of her. Highlighter might have been entering the chat, but the real goal was to banish all signs of shine – even the good kind. Matte foundations were topping the trends, including the well-loved Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint & Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation.
But the return of the matte didn’t stop at our skin. Our lipsticks also fell victim to the gloss-less makeover. Liquid lipsticks (see: Kylie Cosmetics, the icon that started it all) were the new IT-girl on the block, while MAC continued to reign supreme with its collection of cult-favourite matte lipsticks, like Velvet Teddy, Ruby Woo & Mehr – shades so good you can still shop them now.
Sculpt & Bake
The phrase ‘carve out your complexion’ was never uttered so much as in 2016. It was the era of sculpting & baking; you’d sit for an hour with streaks of bronzer, concealer & setting powder etched atop your complexion, waiting to buff and blend in your sharpest creation to date.
We placed a lot of emphasis on definition and dimension: top beauty brands like Anastasia Beverly Hills, Too Faced, KVD & MAC Cosmetics released their all-in-one contour palettes that year, while highlighters also achieved stardom, perfect for accentuating cheekbones and brightening up the high points of the face. Did we take our highlighting game too far? Maybe – but in 2016, there was no such thing as ‘too much’ makeup…
Bright Eyed: Extreme Edition
Concealer is – and always has been – a makeup bag staple. But in 2016, we used it a little differently. The objective? Choose a shade at least 6x lighter than your actual skin tone, then draw huge, upside-down triangles directly under your eye contour to really brighten those dark circles. Leave it there for a few minutes to set, then don’t forget to blend within an inch of your life to ensure all product is buffed into the skin.
Not all trends are meant to return. Some stay in the past for a reason. This one, we’re happy to leave buried – using a concealer that semi-matches our skin tone makes for a more cohesive, more seamless look, and we’re (sort of) big enough to accept where we could have gone wrong in our beauty past.
It might not have been our finest hour, cosmetically speaking, but it's better than using hairspray as setting spray, right? Plus, all the YouTubers were doing it – so we did too. Sound familiar?
Vamp It Up
Lips got a lot of love in 2016 – and so did a particular series of shades. Plum, berry and wine tones were rising the ranks, taking the title of most-wanted hue of the time. MAC Cosmetics had many variations, including the Satin Lipstick in ‘Media’ (RIP – a legend lost before its time) & ‘Rebel’, plus the Matte Lipstick in ‘Diva’ – which thankfully, is still available to shop and just as dramatic as ever.
NYX Cosmetics also saw a lot of success with their Soft Matte Lip Cream in shade ‘Copenhagen’, as well as Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in ‘Bordeaux’, combining the popular liquid lipstick trend with the most sought-after shade of the year.
Mermaid & Unicorn Craze
Okay. We admit it. This one’s a trend we don’t mind laying to rest. But it wouldn’t be a 2016 round-up without discussing the mermaid/unicorn craze.
Iridescent hues shimmered straight into the beautysphere, while pastel eyeshadows, hair chalks and holographic highlighters also had their moment. This trend brought an air of nostalgia and child-like escapism back to makeup – perfect for millennials who were missing the bold, colourful craze of Y2K.
Gone but not forgotten, Glamglow’s sparkly metallic face masks were all over our social media this year. We know you spent hours scrolling through those addictive videos on your Instagram, and likely invested in a new foundation brush specifically to apply your latest face mask. We listen and we definitely don’t judge – because we were right there along with you. Do we regret it? Maybe (we don’t – it was necessary at the time.)