Outdated Makeup Trends We're Completely Over In 2024

While beauty is eternal, makeup trends come and go. And though they might seem subtle, makeup fads have the power to define specific decades. Just look at the skinny eyebrow. That concept (or nightmare for those of us who overplucked) encapsulates an entire era of beauty. (There are hints of it coming back into vogue, but we're resisting it with all our might!) Or remember how we were all rubbing concealer on our lips in 2006, to achieve a particularly stark nude lip? Thankfully, that style has run its course, and we've embraced a much more natural looking lip based on our skin tones. More recently, from 2015-2017, we were seeing a lot more heavy, deliberate contouring on faces, and entire YouTube channels were dedicated to hacks to make your cheekbones snatched as heck. Now, 'nontouring' is the less fussy way of achieving a natural glow without the hassle of creating false shadows on the face. 

We've also been hearing a lot more about trending skin types, with everything from glass skin to dolphin skin to glazed donut skin. The happiest balance amongst those many skin types is cloud skin, which is a more mattified version of glass skin, so that those with oilier complexions can still embrace luminosity without feeling greasy. But the super-matte look is out. We're after balance. So with great skin and fresh makeup in mind, here are the biggest beauty trends to steer clear of in 2024. 

To nail the biggest makeup trends of 2024, it's time to stop with the serious looking makeup. By this we mean any makeup look that's overly done up in somber, dark tones. A heavy makeup look, complete with inky eyeshadows and a dusky lipstick colors, is part of the past now. Instead, we're opting for makeup that's fun and playful. Add a touch of bright, liquid liner in aquamarine or violet. Choose a mascara in emerald green. 2024 is all about whimsical touches. Veer away from makeup that takes itself too seriously.

It's time to ditch full coverage foundations. While the heavy coverage obviously leaves skin looking like an impeccable canvas, the mood for 2024 is natural skin. Instead of thick foundations, opt for a skin tint or a serum foundation because they're lighter in finish but still offer some coverage. Plus, there's more room for the skin's real texture and tone to show through, playing more on the no-makeup look. 

Blush has gone through phases of popularity in makeup trends. For a time, blush came off as antiquated in beauty fads. It was something our grandmas wore, or worse yet, gave people a clownish finish. But blush has been on the rise, and in 2024, blush is the pinnacle of trending products. Last year, we were all about high-placement blush, using the pink pigment to enhance cheek bones by bringing it up around the orbital bone. But that too is passé. Now we're placing blush on the apples of the cheeks to mimic a natural, healthy flush. 

Don't get us wrong. An absolutely flawless makeup application is unbelievably satisfying, and it's great to feel pretty and perfectly done up. But for those who enjoy a little smudging, good news is on the way. The grunge aesthetic, with imperfect charcoal liner and slept-in smokey eyes, are trending again in 2024. So if you have a proclivity for the unkempt world of beauty, you're in luck. The messy-girl makeup trend is all over TikTok, with inspiration and tutorials on how to nail the grunge aesthetic. If you still like the polished vibe sometimes, feel free to keep the looks on rotation. One person summed it up perfectly on TikTok in the comments section: "clean girl makeup for job and grunge makeup for going out." That sounds like a plan. 

We've gone through so many eras of nude lips. We recall with a shudder the early 2000s, when we were putting concealer on our lips to achieve the nudiest of nudes. Things simmered slightly a decade later, with launches like Kim Kardashian's KKW Beauty Nude Lipstick Collection, where colors were still toned down, but not quite as washed out as the concealer era, thankfully. Now, in 2024, nude lips are taking a back seat and in exchange, we're after bold, saturated hues. Dark liners, a nice '90s throwback, are trending, giving lips a vivid outline. Bold red lips are always in, and fresh pinks, cherries, and wines are adding life back to our lips.