Top 100 Cosmetics Trends of 2012

From Airbrush-Inspired Manicures to Vigilante Makeup Creations

Cosmetics trends in 2012 featured some of the wildest nail art, quirkiest perfumes and most inventive beauty products yet.

A good year for crafty people, many beauty trends in 2012 were focused on styles that consumers could do for themselves using just a few products. Big name beauty brands released some highly innovative products, like metallic nail polish and fish roe-inspired manicure sets. It seems that consumers were more concerned than ever with standing apart, and the market responded to this desire with unusual products. Nails seemed to dominate the online world of cosmetics, with DIY websites making a huge splash in terms of popularity.

Trend Hunter's Beauty Trend Report offers more detailed insights into the cosmetics industry, and is a great tool for those looking to find the next hot thing in makeup.

SCORE
6.5 out of 10
GENDER
50% Men50% Women
MARKETTop markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa
GENERATION
  • Gen Z
  • Gen Alpha
  • Millennial (primary audience)
  • Gen X (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 95%
Activity 93%
Freshness 8%
Contrast Pout Pictorials
CATEGORY
Fashion
Contrast Pout Pictorials
Notebook-Inspired Manicures
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Notebook-Inspired Manicures
Airbrush-Inspired Manicures
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Airbrush-Inspired Manicures
Runway-Inspired Nail Colors
CATEGORY
Fashion
Runway-Inspired Nail Colors
Pink-Tinted Parisian Adverts
CATEGORY
Fashion
Pink-Tinted Parisian Adverts
Adventure-Inspired Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Adventure-Inspired Manicures
Flower Power Beauty Shoots
CATEGORY
Fashion
Flower Power Beauty Shoots
Preppy School Supply Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Preppy School Supply Manicures
Electric Flower Beauty Shoots
CATEGORY
Fashion
Electric Flower Beauty Shoots
Hunky Celeb Nail Stickers
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Hunky Celeb Nail Stickers
Glamorous Disaster Scene Shoots
CATEGORY
Fashion
Glamorous Disaster Scene Shoots
Dessert-Inspired Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Dessert-Inspired Manicures
Ancient Symbol Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Ancient Symbol Manicures
Funky Headwear Photography
CATEGORY
Fashion
Funky Headwear Photography
Authentic Asiatic Shoots
CATEGORY
Fashion
Authentic Asiatic Shoots
Metal-Attracting Varnish
CATEGORY
Fashion
Metal-Attracting Varnish
Mini Formal Wear Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Mini Formal Wear Manicures
Proud Americana Nail Makeovers
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Proud Americana Nail Makeovers
Geological Nail Designs
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Geological Nail Designs
Haute Hoot Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Haute Hoot Manicures
Bubble Wrap Headdresses
CATEGORY
Eco
Bubble Wrap Headdresses
Inked-On Buzz Cuts
CATEGORY
Fashion
Inked-On Buzz Cuts
Beauty Blogging Stats
CATEGORY
Fashion
Beauty Blogging Stats
Expressive Eye-Rolling Editorials
CATEGORY
Fashion
Expressive Eye-Rolling Editorials
Rump-Inspired Packaging
CATEGORY
Fashion
Rump-Inspired Packaging
Darling Dystopian Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Darling Dystopian Manicures
Soft-Hued Beauty Editorials
CATEGORY
Fashion
Soft-Hued Beauty Editorials
Earthy Leaf-Embellished Manicures
CATEGORY
Eco
Earthy Leaf-Embellished Manicures
Fantastical Wig Photography
CATEGORY
Fashion
Fantastical Wig Photography
Painted Face Photography
CATEGORY
Fashion
Painted Face Photography
Jokeresque Makeup
CATEGORY
Fashion
Jokeresque Makeup
Rouge Retro Beauty Shoots
CATEGORY
Fashion
Rouge Retro Beauty Shoots
Explicitly Nautical Cosmetic Lines
CATEGORY
Fashion
Explicitly Nautical Cosmetic Lines
DIY Cosmetics Holders
CATEGORY
Art & Design
DIY Cosmetics Holders
Rabbit Nail Art
CATEGORY
Fashion
Rabbit Nail Art
Frosted Dessert Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Frosted Dessert Manicures
Freakish Makeup Date-Keepers
CATEGORY
Fashion
Freakish Makeup Date-Keepers
Painted Musical Fingertips
CATEGORY
Fashion
Painted Musical Fingertips
Simulated Manicure Apps
CATEGORY
Tech
Simulated Manicure Apps
Coral Cosmetic Branding
CATEGORY
Eco
Coral Cosmetic Branding
Delightfully Patterned Detergents
CATEGORY
Marketing
Delightfully Patterned Detergents
Cat Nail Designs
CATEGORY
Lifestyle
Cat Nail Designs
Retro Blond Hairstyles
CATEGORY
Fashion
Retro Blond Hairstyles
Adorable Designer Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Adorable Designer Manicures
Neon Polychromatic Nails
CATEGORY
Fashion
Neon Polychromatic Nails
Tantalizing Tribal Looks
CATEGORY
Fashion
Tantalizing Tribal Looks
Patterned Petal Branding
CATEGORY
Fashion
Patterned Petal Branding
Demure Dress-Up Portraits
CATEGORY
Fashion
Demure Dress-Up Portraits
Edgy Highlights Editorials
CATEGORY
Fashion
Edgy Highlights Editorials
Crocheted Blanket Backdrops
CATEGORY
Fashion
Crocheted Blanket Backdrops
Fierce Avian Fingertips
CATEGORY
Fashion
Fierce Avian Fingertips
Assorted Glamor Editorials
CATEGORY
Fashion
Assorted Glamor Editorials
Contemporary 20s Beauty Editorial
CATEGORY
Fashion
Contemporary 20s Beauty Editorial
Subtle Sci-Fi Beauty Photoshoots
CATEGORY
Fashion
Subtle Sci-Fi Beauty Photoshoots
Purposely Imperfect Manicures
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Purposely Imperfect Manicures
Grassy Garden Manicures
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Grassy Garden Manicures
Geometric Colorful Manicures
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Geometric Colorful Manicures
Glam Galactic Nails
CATEGORY
Fashion
Glam Galactic Nails
DIY Kitchen Supply Manicures
CATEGORY
Art & Design
DIY Kitchen Supply Manicures
Haute Hippie Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Haute Hippie Manicures
Fish Roe Fingernails
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Fish Roe Fingernails
Butterfly Projection Portraits
CATEGORY
Fashion
Butterfly Projection Portraits
Ethereal Gothic Beauty Editorials
CATEGORY
Fashion
Ethereal Gothic Beauty Editorials
Lusty Textured Lips
CATEGORY
Fashion
Lusty Textured Lips
DIY Pore Strips
CATEGORY
Art & Design
DIY Pore Strips
Watercolor Makeup Ads
CATEGORY
Marketing
Watercolor Makeup Ads
Haute Clown Couture
CATEGORY
Fashion
Haute Clown Couture
Edgy Archaic Beauty Looks
CATEGORY
Fashion
Edgy Archaic Beauty Looks
Pocket Monster Beauty Enhancement
CATEGORY
Fashion
Pocket Monster Beauty Enhancement
DIY Interwoven Nail Art
CATEGORY
Fashion
DIY Interwoven Nail Art
Cherry Blossom Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Cherry Blossom Manicures
Cotton Candy Coif Captures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Cotton Candy Coif Captures
Protruding Manicure Art
CATEGORY
Fashion
Protruding Manicure Art
Hyper-Urban Shoots (UPDATE)
CATEGORY
Fashion
Hyper-Urban Shoots (UPDATE)
Smirking Cosmetic Close-Ups
CATEGORY
Fashion
Smirking Cosmetic Close-Ups
Bizarre Butterfly Beauty Looks
CATEGORY
Fashion
Bizarre Butterfly Beauty Looks
Vigilante Makeup Creations (UPDATE)
CATEGORY
Fashion
Vigilante Makeup Creations (UPDATE)
Rebel Character Manicures
CATEGORY
Fashion
Rebel Character Manicures
Minimalist Beauty Branding
CATEGORY
Marketing
Minimalist Beauty Branding
Bestial Lipstick Art
CATEGORY
Fashion
Bestial Lipstick Art
Sensual Smokey-Eyed Photography
CATEGORY
Fashion
Sensual Smokey-Eyed Photography
Food-Formed Branding
CATEGORY
Fashion
Food-Formed Branding
Fantastically Floral Portraits
CATEGORY
Fashion
Fantastically Floral Portraits
Boldly Sleek Beauty Photoshoots
CATEGORY
Fashion
Boldly Sleek Beauty Photoshoots
Disheveled Geisha Editorials
CATEGORY
Fashion
Disheveled Geisha Editorials
DIY Nail Tape
CATEGORY
Art & Design
DIY Nail Tape
Sweet-Toothed Beauty Photoshoots
CATEGORY
Fashion
Sweet-Toothed Beauty Photoshoots
Wallpaper-Inspired Nails
CATEGORY
Art & Design
Wallpaper-Inspired Nails
Smudged Makeup Editorials
CATEGORY
Fashion
Smudged Makeup Editorials
Adorably Brief Body Art
CATEGORY
Fashion
Adorably Brief Body Art
Gothic Sorceress Photoshoots
CATEGORY
Fashion
Gothic Sorceress Photoshoots
Eccentric Ethereal Editorials
CATEGORY
Fashion
Eccentric Ethereal Editorials
Sleek Stiletto-Inspired Nails
CATEGORY
Fashion
Sleek Stiletto-Inspired Nails
Superheroic Eye Shadows
CATEGORY
Fashion
Superheroic Eye Shadows
Psychedelic Beauty Looks
CATEGORY
Fashion
Psychedelic Beauty Looks