Top 100 Cosmetic Trends in 2016

From Disney-Themed Palettes to Empowering Celebrity Lipsticks

These 2016 cosmetic trends illustrate the expansive industry's evolution. To get an idea of how different fields are doing the same, watch Trend Hunter's 'Top 20 Trends in 2017' countdown.

CoverGirl's employment of makeup artist James Charles was of special importance, as he is the brand's first male ambassador. Not only did this promote a culture of inclusion in the industry, but it allowed Covergirl to appeal to a wider range of consumers as well. In addition, James Charles' role of representative for the brand also highlighted the power of social media, as he was able accumulate a fan base of his own through YouTube and Instagram.

These 2016 cosmetics trends feature a number of other artists doing the same, including Johanna Adams, who created crystallized lip looks and promoted them through the photo-sharing app. Also included are bright pink face highlighters, flower-infused lipsticks and nail polish-holding rings.

SCORE
6.0 out of 10
GENDER
30% Men70% Women
MARKETTop markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa
GENERATION
  • Gen Z
  • Gen Alpha
  • Millennial (primary audience)
  • Gen X (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 85%
Activity 87%
Freshness 8%
Anti-Aging Facial Foams
CATEGORY
Fashion
Anti-Aging Facial Foams
Bruised Bite Lipsticks
CATEGORY
Fashion
Bruised Bite Lipsticks
All-Day Skincare Kits
CATEGORY
Fashion
All-Day Skincare Kits
Rainbow Eyelashes
CATEGORY
Fashion
Rainbow Eyelashes
Charcoaled Skincare Soaps
CATEGORY
Special
Charcoaled Skincare Soaps
Quirky Nail Polish Collections
CATEGORY
Fashion
Quirky Nail Polish Collections
Male Makeup Tutorials
CATEGORY
Fashion
Male Makeup Tutorials
Fearlessly Hued Eye Makeup
CATEGORY
Fashion
Fearlessly Hued Eye Makeup
Superfood Face Oils
CATEGORY
Fashion
Superfood Face Oils
False Eyelash Applicators
CATEGORY
Fashion
False Eyelash Applicators
Fantasy Franchise Cosmetics
CATEGORY
Fashion
Fantasy Franchise Cosmetics
Pink Face Highlighters
CATEGORY
Fashion
Pink Face Highlighters
Makeup Brush Cleaning Tools
CATEGORY
Fashion
Makeup Brush Cleaning Tools
Matte Metallic Lipsticks
CATEGORY
Fashion
Matte Metallic Lipsticks
Organic Lip Care Kits
CATEGORY
Fashion
Organic Lip Care Kits
Affordable Organic Cosmetics
CATEGORY
Eco
Affordable Organic Cosmetics
Ombre Lipstick Tools
CATEGORY
Fashion
Ombre Lipstick Tools
Empowering Celebrity Lipsticks
CATEGORY
Pop Culture
Empowering Celebrity Lipsticks
Surrealist Makeup Looks
CATEGORY
Fashion
Surrealist Makeup Looks
Spray-On Nail Art
CATEGORY
Fashion
Spray-On Nail Art
Religious Disney Makeup Portraits
CATEGORY
Fashion
Religious Disney Makeup Portraits
Shimmering Eyebrow Cosmetics
CATEGORY
Fashion
Shimmering Eyebrow Cosmetics
Holographic Lip Glosses
CATEGORY
Fashion
Holographic Lip Glosses
Metallic Shampoo Labels
CATEGORY
Fashion
Metallic Shampoo Labels
Moldable Soap Toys
CATEGORY
Life-Stages
Moldable Soap Toys
Peel-Off Brow Gels
CATEGORY
Fashion
Peel-Off Brow Gels
Psychedelic Makeup Collections
CATEGORY
Fashion
Psychedelic Makeup Collections
Fruity Skincare Packaging
CATEGORY
Fashion
Fruity Skincare Packaging
Portable Manicure Markers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Portable Manicure Markers
Hybrid Shaving Systems
CATEGORY
Fashion
Hybrid Shaving Systems
Middle Eastern Perfume Bottles
CATEGORY
Fashion
Middle Eastern Perfume Bottles
Bursting Ball Face Creams
CATEGORY
Fashion
Bursting Ball Face Creams
Painted Purple Makeovers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Painted Purple Makeovers
Chic Seasonal Makeup Packaging
CATEGORY
Fashion
Chic Seasonal Makeup Packaging
Herbaceous Facial Products
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Herbaceous Facial Products
Effect-Inspired Skincare Packaging
CATEGORY
Fashion
Effect-Inspired Skincare Packaging
Glittery Tear Makeup
CATEGORY
Fashion
Glittery Tear Makeup
Vibrant Citrus Cosmetics
CATEGORY
Fashion
Vibrant Citrus Cosmetics
Polish-Holding Rings
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Polish-Holding Rings
Sleek Botanical Skincare
CATEGORY
Fashion
Sleek Botanical Skincare
Water-Based Skincare Sticks
CATEGORY
Fashion
Water-Based Skincare Sticks
Glittering Makeup Portraits
CATEGORY
Fashion
Glittering Makeup Portraits
Starry Face Stickers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Starry Face Stickers
Masculine Skincare Kits
CATEGORY
Fashion
Masculine Skincare Kits
Realistic Monster Makeovers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Realistic Monster Makeovers
Jungle Fever Beauty Looks
CATEGORY
Fashion
Jungle Fever Beauty Looks
Conceptual Cosmetics Photography
CATEGORY
Fashion
Conceptual Cosmetics Photography
Painterly Beauty Photography
CATEGORY
Fashion
Painterly Beauty Photography
Androgynous Disney Makeup Looks
CATEGORY
Fashion
Androgynous Disney Makeup Looks
Minimalist Lifestyle Subscriptions
CATEGORY
Fashion
Minimalist Lifestyle Subscriptions
Undulating Beauty Boutique Interiors
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Undulating Beauty Boutique Interiors
Shimmering Freckle Makeup
CATEGORY
Fashion
Shimmering Freckle Makeup
Interactive Beauty Festivals
CATEGORY
Marketing
Interactive Beauty Festivals
Adhesive Eyeliner Stencils
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Adhesive Eyeliner Stencils
Temporary Rainbow Freckles
CATEGORY
Fashion
Temporary Rainbow Freckles
Shrouded Skincare Shops
CATEGORY
Business
Shrouded Skincare Shops
Rebellious Beauty Portraits
CATEGORY
Fashion
Rebellious Beauty Portraits
Crowdsourced Barbershop Apps
CATEGORY
Tech
Crowdsourced Barbershop Apps
Ethereal Gold Leaf Makeup
CATEGORY
Fashion
Ethereal Gold Leaf Makeup
Private Label Spa Skincare
CATEGORY
Fashion
Private Label Spa Skincare
Metallic Eyebrow Decals
CATEGORY
Fashion
Metallic Eyebrow Decals
Dotted Makeup Portraits
CATEGORY
Fashion
Dotted Makeup Portraits
Bronzed Fairytale Makeup
CATEGORY
Fashion
Bronzed Fairytale Makeup
Avant-Garde Furry Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Avant-Garde Furry Manicures
Colorful Skin Illuminators
CATEGORY
Fashion
Colorful Skin Illuminators
Herb-Inspired Fragrances
CATEGORY
Fashion
Herb-Inspired Fragrances
Flower-Infused Lipsticks
CATEGORY
Fashion
Flower-Infused Lipsticks
Immersive Fragrance Boutiques
CATEGORY
Business
Immersive Fragrance Boutiques
Jewelry Perfume Diffusers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Jewelry Perfume Diffusers
Angular Eyeliner Makeup
CATEGORY
Fashion
Angular Eyeliner Makeup
Digital Flagship Beauty Stores
CATEGORY
Business
Digital Flagship Beauty Stores
Movement-Inspired Spa Boutiques
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Movement-Inspired Spa Boutiques
Plant-Themed Skincare Packaging
CATEGORY
Fashion
Plant-Themed Skincare Packaging
Quirky Cosmetic Travel Kits
CATEGORY
Fashion
Quirky Cosmetic Travel Kits
Dazed Beauty Editorials
CATEGORY
Fashion
Dazed Beauty Editorials
Artistic Lipstick Designs
CATEGORY
Fashion
Artistic Lipstick Designs
Personalized Shampoo Products
CATEGORY
Fashion
Personalized Shampoo Products
Tropical Skincare Branding
CATEGORY
Fashion
Tropical Skincare Branding
Exaggerated Manga Makeup
CATEGORY
Fashion
Exaggerated Manga Makeup
Expressive Eye Makeup Photography
CATEGORY
Fashion
Expressive Eye Makeup Photography
Wholesome Beauty Retailers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Wholesome Beauty Retailers
Male Makeup Brand Ambassadors
CATEGORY
Fashion
Male Makeup Brand Ambassadors
Unisex Cosmetic Packaging
CATEGORY
Fashion
Unisex Cosmetic Packaging
All-Natural Beauty Boutiques
CATEGORY
Eco
All-Natural Beauty Boutiques
Masculine Tattoo Studio Designs
CATEGORY
Marketing
Masculine Tattoo Studio Designs
Flower Petal Face Serums
CATEGORY
Fashion
Flower Petal Face Serums
Crystalized Lip Looks
CATEGORY
Fashion
Crystalized Lip Looks
High-Tech Beauty Bars
CATEGORY
Fashion
High-Tech Beauty Bars
Expressive Makeup Photography
CATEGORY
Fashion
Expressive Makeup Photography
Tactile Skincare Packaging
CATEGORY
Fashion
Tactile Skincare Packaging
Beard-Shaping Stencils
CATEGORY
Fashion
Beard-Shaping Stencils
Conceptual Beauty Portraits
CATEGORY
Fashion
Conceptual Beauty Portraits
Conceptual Cosmetic Portraits
CATEGORY
Fashion
Conceptual Cosmetic Portraits
Scandinavian Design Cosmetic Packaging
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Scandinavian Design Cosmetic Packaging
Beauty Pop-Up Launch Parties
CATEGORY
Marketing
Beauty Pop-Up Launch Parties
Unisex Fragrance Container Pop-Ups
CATEGORY
Marketing
Unisex Fragrance Container Pop-Ups