Can you believe 2024 is almost over? *cue existential crisis* While we're counting down the days to the New Year, let's take a moment to reminisce about all the beauty trends that had us sat AF in the past months. From blush blindness to bunny tongue lips to getting a Russian manicure (no, it doesn't have to be by an actual Russian person, JSYK—more on that later), there were a ton of micro beauty trends that dominated our feeds and FYPs that made us want to try out Just! About! Everything!
Ahead, let's take a trip down memory lane and discuss the biggest beauty trends of 2024 that may or may not carry over to next year—who knows? Read on to learn more:
The Biggest Beauty Trends That Dominated 2024
1. Jelly makeup products
Jelly formulas, specifically in blushes, caused a lot of debate in the makeup community this year. Some loved them for the dewy finish they left, others loathed the learning curve that came with using them, and others just didn't care to part with their powders and creams. (Fair enough!) Some of the most popular ones from this year are the Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint and the Happy Skin Jelly Blush.
Jelly blushes promise to deliver a soft, just-pinched effect that could last nearly the entire day because of the stain they leave. However, one con that many beauty girlies reported was having to work fast when applying them unless you wanted to look like Jigsaw from Saw, LOL. To make it look natural, we recommend sweeping a brush on the stick and applying it on the back of your hand to diffuse the pigment before going in on your cheeks.
2. Purple blush
All year long, beauty brands have been coming out with blushes in just about every formula and finish you can think of. As for the shade range, aside from the usual pinks, reds, and peaches that we usually get, one hue that really had us in a chokehold this year was purple (!) blush.
We know purple blush looks intimidating AF but place your faith in the color theory. Purple is the opposite of yellow in the color wheel, so it looks especially good for the girlies with warm, golden undertones. It's also great for brightening and bringing life back to sallow skin. But tbh, any skin tone can wear purple blush—you just have to pick the right shade for you. (Check our guide here—you're welcome in advance!)
READ MORE: Purple Blush Is A Certified Sleeper Hit—Here Are The Best Ones To Try From Local Beauty Brands
3. Blush blindness
We reached the peak of 2024's overall blush trend with blush blindness. Ngl, it always seemed like we would be headed there, thanks to the amount of blush releases we've had just this year alone. (See: all the rosy AF drops from local beauty brands this year).
ICYC, blush blindness is the phenomenon that leaves us looking either like Sabrina Carpenter (nice) or rice that had hotdogs resting on top of them for too long (oof). Whatever your chosen aesthetic may be—we don't judge—lemme tell you rn that there's no such thing as being "blind" when it comes to makeup. If packing on your blush makes you feel good, then here's an enthusiastic endorsement from all of us to go ahead and do it!
4. Boyfriend blush
When it came to blush this year, there was no in-between—we either loved to pack on the rouge, or we preferred a more subtle, organic-looking flush. Enter: the boyfriend blush micro trend, where we wanted our cheeks to look as if we just finished a marathon or perhaps a steamy sesh with the S.O. But despite the name, you don't actually need a boyfriend to cop the look—what matters is how you apply the blush.
You'll want to start by applying some blush—liquid or cream formulas are preferred for this one—on the apples of your cheeks and blend it in a loose upside-down triangle towards your jaw. You can use a sponge or a dense brush to blend the perimeters of where you applied it to make it look more natural.
READ MORE: The 'Boyfriend Blush' Will Give You That After-Sex Glow—Even Without An S.O.
5. Tanghulu lips
While we might have enjoyed having matte lips in the past—which, looking back, were dry AF *cries*—we were all about glossy pouts in 2024. Gloss tints and balms became mainstays in our kits, and we didn't mind reapplying every few hours for shiny, juicy puckers.
This trend was given a cute, food-inspired name—tanghulu lips—as our pouts resembled the popular South Korean candied skewered fruit snack. For this one, you need a matte lipstick, a lip tint, and a lip oil or gloss to get the saturated, ultra-glossy lip look. We always had to reapply every now and then which was a hassle, but damn it, we looked good!
6. Bunny tongue lips
In 2024, we found beauty inspo almost everywhere...including the tongues (!) of bunnies. The so-called "bunny tongue lip" trend found its roots in the Chinese social media app Douyin, where users noticed a cute bunny's tongue in a video and thought it made for the perfect milky pink-hued pout. After much searching for the perfect shade match, the Internet deemed the Sephora Collection Outrageous Plumping Lip Gloss in the shade Pink Pout to be an almost-perfect match.
To recreate the bunny tongue lip look, you'll want to find a light, natural pink shade that's not too bright or dark. A glossy finish is often preferred to mimic the dewy appearance of a bunny's tongue.
7. Red hair
Red is one of those classic, no-fail hues if you wanted to color your locks, but it seemed like 2024 was really the year of red hair. The rise in popularity of the hair color can also be attributed to BINI Mikha's fiery red hair—it made her stand out in all their performances, plus it looked sooo good against her complexion. If you're looking for other shades of red for your next dye job, check out our recos here.
8. Russian manicure
The Russian manicure was one of the biggest trends to come out of #nailtok this 2024. This nail grooming technique originated in Russia and is supposedly the key to healthy, picture-perfect nails that can last you for weeks. Compared to the manicures we usually get at salons, the Russian one is a completely dry process, a.k.a. your nails aren't soaked in solvents like acetone. It focuses more on cuticle work like using e-files to remove the excess skin around the nail bed for a fresh and clean base.
P.S. If you're looking for Filipina nail techs who offer this service, we got you covered, ofc! *wink*
9. Clean girl aesthetic
Many aesthetics came and went this year, but "clean girl" was arguably the most popular one. Tbh, it's nothing new in the beauty world—it first gained popularity in 2022, but it's actually rooted in the minimalist makeup trend from the '90s! It popped up again in 2024 because this year, we were all about the "no-makeup" makeup look—think: a dewy, skin-like base, flushed cheeks, groomed eyebrows, fluttery lashes, and glossy lips.
10. Underconsumption core
Let's face it: Being a beauty girlie in 2024 was v overwhelming. There were too many releases to keep track of and a whole lot of "holy grails" being peddled to us, which can lead to FOMO and buying products we might not really need. Thus, TikTok came up with a new trend: underconsumption core.
@kbedfinance Underconsumption Core???? Just a reminder that you dont need to be buying a million products to feel pretty and to take care of yourself?????????? #underconsumption #minimalist #femalefinance #budgeting #financialtransparency #savingmoney #CapCut ? original sound - speedz!
The antithesis of the maximalist movement that favored huge hauls and collections, this trend was the breath of fresh air everyone needed in the beauty space. It encouraged people to pare down their makeup and skincare drawers, join things like Project Pan (where you have to completely empty out any product before buying a new one), and invest in high-quality products versus buying multiple dupes of the "real" thing. Now this is one trend we're hoping will always pop up every year!
READ HERE: 'Underconsumption Core' Explained By A Beauty Girl Who *Tries* To Practice It
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