Top 100 Cosmetic Trends in 2016

From Disney-Themed Palettes to Empowering Celebrity Lipsticks

— January 28, 2017 — Fashion
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.
6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
96
Anti-Aging Facial Foams
Anti-Aging Facial Foams
Lakme's Youth Infinity Skin-Firming Foam Hydrates and Boosts Elasticity
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95
Bruised Bite Lipsticks
Bruised Bite Lipsticks
Kylie Jenner's 'Love Bite' Gloss Replicates the Color of a Neck Hickey
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94
All-Day Skincare Kits
All-Day Skincare Kits
Allies of Skin's 24/7 Kit Features Multitasking Skin Remedies
<
93
Rainbow Eyelashes
Rainbow Eyelashes
Vibrantly Hued Hair is Now Traveling to Other Parts of the Body
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92
Charcoaled Skincare Soaps
Charcoaled Skincare Soaps
The Handmade Charcoal Bar Face Wash Naturally Removes Impurities
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91
Quirky Nail Polish Collections
Quirky Nail Polish Collections
This Designer Teamed Up with FingerPaints for a New Collection
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90
Male Makeup Tutorials
Male Makeup Tutorials
Actor Patrick Dempsy Helps Demonstrate His Wife's Lid Tint Product
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89
Fearlessly Hued Eye Makeup
Fearlessly Hued Eye Makeup
The YSL Mascara Vinyl Couture is Made for Rebellious Women
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88
Superfood Face Oils
Superfood Face Oils
This Hydrating Face Oil from Elemis is Powered by Broccoli, Daikon and More
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87
False Eyelash Applicators
False Eyelash Applicators
'Flirt Flashes' is Designed to Ease the Hassle of Putting on Falsies
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86
Fantasy Franchise Cosmetics
Fantasy Franchise Cosmetics
The Harry Potter Storybook Cosmetics Makeup and Brushes are Magical
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85
Pink Face Highlighters
Pink Face Highlighters
Jeffree Star's Regina George is a Mean Girls-Inspired Highlighter
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84
Makeup Brush Cleaning Tools
Makeup Brush Cleaning Tools
The Practk Palmat Brush Cleaner Makes It Easy to Clean Makeup Brushes
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83
Matte Metallic Lipsticks
Matte Metallic Lipsticks
This Silver Lipstick by Kaoir Will Appeal to Futuristic Fashion Fans
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82
Organic Lip Care Kits
Organic Lip Care Kits
EvyJoAndCo's Natural Lip Balm Set Boasts No Added Preservatives
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81
Affordable Organic Cosmetics
Affordable Organic Cosmetics
H&M's Conscious Collection Beauty Line Includes All-Natural Products
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80
Ombre Lipstick Tools
Ombre Lipstick Tools
The NYX Ombre Lip Duo Features Two Colors for Ideal Blending
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79
Empowering Celebrity Lipsticks
Empowering Celebrity Lipsticks
MAC Cosmetics x Caitlyn Jenner Finally Free Lipstick is Altruistic
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78
Surrealist Makeup Looks
Surrealist Makeup Looks
Dain Yoon Creates Optical Illusions With The Face Using Cosmetic Products
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77
Spray-On Nail Art
Spray-On Nail Art
Milk Makeup Makes DIY Nail Art So Much Easier to Execute
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76
Religious Disney Makeup Portraits
Religious Disney Makeup Portraits
Saraswati Changes Into Disney Characters While Wearing a Hijab
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75
Shimmering Eyebrow Cosmetics
Shimmering Eyebrow Cosmetics
Alicia Shi's 'Sunset Glow' Editorial Celebrates Beachy Beauty Looks
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74
Holographic Lip Glosses
Holographic Lip Glosses
Sigma Beauty's New Lip Switch Set Comes in Five Shimmery Shades
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73
Metallic Shampoo Labels
Metallic Shampoo Labels
These Romantic Shampoos Stand Out in a Highly Populated Market
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72
Moldable Soap Toys
Moldable Soap Toys
'Sudsy Dough' is a Bath Toy for Kids That Dries in Air & Dissolves in Water
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71
Psychedelic Makeup Collections
Psychedelic Makeup Collections
Illasmasqua's Hypnotica Range Features Highlighter-Hued Shades
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70
Peel-Off Brow Gels
Peel-Off Brow Gels
Etude House's Peeling Brow Tint Makes Your Eyebrow Makeup Last Longer
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69
Fruity Skincare Packaging
Fruity Skincare Packaging
Noa Skincare Targets Millennial Consumers Concerned with Well-Being
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68
Portable Manicure Markers
Portable Manicure Markers
This Manicure Pen from Ciate Promises Up to 25 On-the-Go Applications
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67
Middle Eastern Perfume Bottles
Middle Eastern Perfume Bottles
The Iconic Guerlain Perfume Has Been Given an Arabian Makeover
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66
Hybrid Shaving Systems
Hybrid Shaving Systems
The 'RZR-SHAVING' Wet Shaving System Blends Retro and Modern Techniques
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65
Bursting Ball Face Creams
Bursting Ball Face Creams
This Anti-Aging Moisturizer Incorporates a Korean Cosmetic Formula
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64
Painted Purple Makeovers
Painted Purple Makeovers
Dana Taylor Acts as a Canvas for Liz Olivier in Fifty8 Magazine
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63
Chic Seasonal Makeup Packaging
Chic Seasonal Makeup Packaging
The Sleek MakeUP High-Quality Makeup Christmas Collection is Pretty
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62
Herbaceous Facial Products
Herbaceous Facial Products
Mullein & Sparrow's Facial Steam Blends Organic Herbs to Detoxify Skin
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61
Effect-Inspired Skincare Packaging
Effect-Inspired Skincare Packaging
The No7 Lift & Luminate Skin Serum Packaging is Eye-Catching
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60
Glittery Tear Makeup
Glittery Tear Makeup
The Glitter Tears Beauty Look Makes Sadness Seem Stylish
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59
Vibrant Citrus Cosmetics
Vibrant Citrus Cosmetics
Lyubov Pogorela's Beauty Feature Highlights Fruity Makeup Shades
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58
Polish-Holding Rings
Polish-Holding Rings
The tweexy Cleverly Keeps Nail Polish Colors Upright During Application
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57
Sleek Botanical Skincare
Sleek Botanical Skincare
Yard Skincare is Naturally Sourced and Features Sophisticated Branding
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56
Water-Based Skincare Sticks
Water-Based Skincare Sticks
Milk Makeup's Cooling Water Stick Hydrates One's Complexion
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55
Glittering Makeup Portraits
Glittering Makeup Portraits
'To See the Light' Boasts Shimmering Clothes and Cosmetics
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54
Starry Face Stickers
Starry Face Stickers
Face Lace's Products Celebrate the Growing Popularity of Stick-On Cosmetics
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53
Masculine Skincare Kits
Masculine Skincare Kits
The Le Gentleman Skincare Set by ELUCX Features Natural Essentials
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52
Realistic Monster Makeovers
Realistic Monster Makeovers
This YouTube Artist Transforms Herself into Horror Characters
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51
Jungle Fever Beauty Looks
Jungle Fever Beauty Looks
The STYLE Book Exquisitely Exotic Editorial Stars Maja Brodin
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50
Conceptual Cosmetics Photography
Conceptual Cosmetics Photography
Jason Kim's Vogue Russia Feature Stars Adela Stenberg
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49
Painterly Beauty Photography
Painterly Beauty Photography
'A Playground Of Color' Features Contemporary Clown Makeup
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48
Androgynous Disney Makeup Looks
Androgynous Disney Makeup Looks
Richard Schaefer Transforms Himself into Iconic Cartoon Princesses
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47
Minimalist Lifestyle Subscriptions
Minimalist Lifestyle Subscriptions
The Minimalism & Co Sends Simplistic Themed Goods
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46
Undulating Beauty Boutique Interiors
Undulating Beauty Boutique Interiors
The Second Aesop Stockholm Store Has Opened in the SoFo Area
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45
Shimmering Freckle Makeup
Shimmering Freckle Makeup
Beauty Scene's Latest Exclusive Spotlights Faux Beauty Marks
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44
Interactive Beauty Festivals
Interactive Beauty Festivals
The 'Beauty Unbound' Festival Celebrates Beauty Industry Innovations
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43
Adhesive Eyeliner Stencils
Adhesive Eyeliner Stencils
These Adhesive Stickers Help Users Create the Perfect Cat Eye
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42
Temporary Rainbow Freckles
Temporary Rainbow Freckles
Rainbow Freckles are the Latest Multicolored Beauty Fad
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41
Shrouded Skincare Shops
Shrouded Skincare Shops
The Second Aesop Taipei Shop is Located in the Hip Neighborhood of Daan
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40
Rebellious Beauty Portraits
Rebellious Beauty Portraits
Vogue Ukraine's 'V chem sila' Beauty Story Boasts Raver Style Picks
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39
Crowdsourced Barbershop Apps
Crowdsourced Barbershop Apps
The GetSquire Website Streamlines Booking Hair Appointments
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38
Ethereal Gold Leaf Makeup
Ethereal Gold Leaf Makeup
Beauty Scene's 'Dark Magic' Image Series is Lensed by Adrianna Favero
<
37
Private Label Spa Skincare
Private Label Spa Skincare
The Nubia Skincare Range Was Conceived by Montreal's Nubia Spa Vert
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36
Metallic Eyebrow Decals
Metallic Eyebrow Decals
Face Lace's Eyebrow Stickers Include Neutral and Vibrant Textures
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35
Dotted Makeup Portraits
Dotted Makeup Portraits
Design SCENE Magazine's 'Color Forms' Editorial Features Faux Freckles
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34
Bronzed Fairytale Makeup
Bronzed Fairytale Makeup
This Conceptual Beauty Series Highlights Pink Hair and Glowing Skin
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33
Avant-Garde Furry Manicures
Avant-Garde Furry Manicures
This Manicure Style is Designed to Bring a Soft Touch to Fingernails
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32
Colorful Skin Illuminators
Colorful Skin Illuminators
The PRISM Rainbow Highlighter is From Bitter Lace Beauty on Etsy
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31
Herb-Inspired Fragrances
Herb-Inspired Fragrances
Jo Malone’s Herb Garden Perfume Captures Naturalistic Freshness
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30
Flower-Infused Lipsticks
Flower-Infused Lipsticks
These Jelly Lipsticks Change Color Based on Temperature
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29
Immersive Fragrance Boutiques
Immersive Fragrance Boutiques
This Arielle Shoshana Store Offers a Niche Shopping Experience
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28
Jewelry Perfume Diffusers
Jewelry Perfume Diffusers
The Vanacci 'Lockstone' Jewelry Diffuses Your Scent Throughout the Day
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27
Angular Eyeliner Makeup
Angular Eyeliner Makeup
Daniel Scheel's 'Edgy Geometry' Series Spotlights Dynamic Eye Makeup
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26
Digital Flagship Beauty Stores
Digital Flagship Beauty Stores
The New NYX New Jersey Store Has an Interactive Makeup Station
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25
Movement-Inspired Spa Boutiques
Movement-Inspired Spa Boutiques
The Aesop Mile-End Store Was Designed by Montreal's Naturehumaine
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24
Plant-Themed Skincare Packaging
Plant-Themed Skincare Packaging
This Translucent Packaging Reflects Spiezia's Organic Products
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23
Quirky Cosmetic Travel Kits
Quirky Cosmetic Travel Kits
The Vagheggi Travel Kit Voyage Packaging is Minimal and Trip-Oriented
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22
Dazed Beauty Editorials
Dazed Beauty Editorials
Anna Galkina's Latest Beauty Scene Exclusive Boasts Psychedelic Imagery
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21
Artistic Lipstick Designs
Artistic Lipstick Designs
Andrea Reed's Instagram Profile Spotlights Vivid Lip Color Applications
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20
Personalized Shampoo Products
Personalized Shampoo Products
Function of Beauty Makes Customized Shampoo and Conditioner
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19
Tropical Skincare Branding
Tropical Skincare Branding
The NOIR Brand Identity is Adorned With Botanical Motifs
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18
Exaggerated Manga Makeup
Exaggerated Manga Makeup
Vogue Japan's 'Manga Mirror' Series Features Superstar Daphne Groeneveld
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17
Expressive Eye Makeup Photography
Expressive Eye Makeup Photography
Susi Belianska's Beauty Scene Story Celebrates Vivid Cosmetics
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16
Wholesome Beauty Retailers
Wholesome Beauty Retailers
Skin Food's Queens New York Flagship Boasts Grocery-Inspired Displays
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15
Male Makeup Brand Ambassadors
Male Makeup Brand Ambassadors
Influencer James Charles Will Be Covergirl's Newest Ambassador
<
14
Unisex Cosmetic Packaging
Unisex Cosmetic Packaging
This Line of Skin Care is Targeted Towards Men and Women
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13
All-Natural Beauty Boutiques
All-Natural Beauty Boutiques
Toronto's Detox Market Helps Consumers Glow from the Inside Out
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12
Masculine Tattoo Studio Designs
Masculine Tattoo Studio Designs
The QG Tattoo Studio is an Industrial Experience in Chengdu, China
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11
Flower Petal Face Serums
Flower Petal Face Serums
This Collection of Multi-Use Oils is Naturally Sourced to Beautify Skin
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10
Crystalized Lip Looks
Crystalized Lip Looks
Johanna Adams Creates Mesmerizing Art on Lips Inspired by Crystal Formations
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9
High-Tech Beauty Bars
High-Tech Beauty Bars
The Skinfood Concept Shop Features Tech-Integrated Displays
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8
Expressive Makeup Photography
Expressive Makeup Photography
Elle Bulgaria's Latest Exclusive Highlights Technicolored Cosmetics
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7
Tactile Skincare Packaging
Tactile Skincare Packaging
The SKINN Student Project Explores Designs that Focus on the Senses
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6
Beard-Shaping Stencils
Beard-Shaping Stencils
The Beard Bro Helps Consumers Coif Their Facial Hair into Different Styles
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5
Conceptual Beauty Portraits
Conceptual Beauty Portraits
Jalouse Magazine's 'Kiss & Make Up' Story Boasts Expressive Cosmetics
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4
Conceptual Cosmetic Portraits
Conceptual Cosmetic Portraits
Nancy Gabriela's 'Unconventional Beauty' Editorial is Visually Vivid
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3
Scandinavian Design Cosmetic Packaging
Scandinavian Design Cosmetic Packaging
These Palmolive Product Packaging Designs are Timeless
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2
Beauty Pop-Up Launch Parties
Beauty Pop-Up Launch Parties
The Good Ship Benefit in London Opened Its Doors with a VIP Event
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1
Unisex Fragrance Container Pop-Ups
Unisex Fragrance Container Pop-Ups
This Experiential Activation in London Launched the New CK2
<