S/S 2016: beauty trends

Increasingly, make-up artists are moving away from any attempt to use cosmetics to force every model to look the same, instead focusing on their differences. Whether it was leaving the skin bare in order to allow the unique tones to shine, or giving only some of the girls in each show statement lips, there is definitely a new focus on using make-up to emphasise your individuality, rather than masking it.

Read on for our favourite beauty trends of spring/summer 2016.

Electric blue eyes

The classic, winged eyeliner look was transformed as contemporary and dramatic in aquamarine, both at Jenny Packham and Monique Lhuillier. Meanwhile, blue eyeliner took on a 90s vibe at Johnathan Saunders, as make-up artist Lucia Pieroni lined the top and bottom of the eye in an electric blue that reflected the shade of one of the dresses within the collection.

At Chanel, blue eyes were taken to a whole new level when the house’s new All Blue Rhythm collection was used to create a powder-blue look that evoked a superhero-like eye mask.

Radiantly bare faces

Undoubtedly one of the most prominent beauty trends of the recent season was the sway towards natural, dewy skin. At several shows, the make-up artists skipped foundation altogether, instead focusing on caring for the skin itself in order to let each models’ unique skin tones glow.

At Alexander Wang, Diane Kendal of NARS Cosmetics used nothing but NARSskin Luminous Moisture Cream to emphasise a sort of raw, street-style inspired beauty. Brows were tidied where necessary and any obvious imperfections covered with concealer, but the overall look was one of natural, yet well-groomed beauty.

The pre-show routine at Marchesa, meanwhile, was devoted to creating a perfectly luminous skin tone. Make-up artist Gucci Westman treated the skin with SK-II’s Facial Treatment Mask to hydrate, before applying the cult product of the moment – MAC’s Stobe Cream – to add some definition and keep the skin glowing. Lips were kept matte in order to emphasise the shimmer of the face.

Hair accessories

Decorative hair accessories appeared in many guises on the catwalks this season, and they are always an easy way to elevate any hairstyle. In many cases, these additions were irresistibly pretty and intricate, from the statement barrettes at Rodarte to the futuristic, metallic headbands at Chanel.

At Diane von Furstenberg, the hair reflected the Studio 54-inspired collection itself, with big, colourful flower corsages clipped amidst the pretty 70s curls.

Some of the most dramatic hair accessories this season, however, were at Dolce & Gabbana – unsurprising, considering the elaborate headpieces we have seen from the house over the past few seasons. For SS16, we were presented with a huge range of headbands, headscarves, crowns and bejewelled headphones. A crown might be a little impractical for daily wear, but a nonchalantly-tied headscarf is the perfect way to inject an outfit with an extra dose of colour.

Statement lips

Brightly-hued, statement lips often came alongside the trend for bare skin. At Oscar de la Renta, Victoria Beckham and Jason Wu, half of the models were equipped with bold, red lips, and half wore nothing at all. Take their advice and choose between nude and red, but keep the other in your handbag for a quick change if the mood takes you.

Things were a whole lot darker at Anna Sui, as Pat McGrath gave the model a vampy, dark berry lip to compliment the double-sweep of eyeliner.

Tough braids

Plaits were a big feature on the catwalks of SS16, but these were in no way the pretty, feminine braids of the past. Instead, the likes of Proenza Schouler, JW Anderson and Celine tapped into the current trend for tough, grungy looks, with hair pulled tightly back into severe plaits or twists that were worn straight down the back for a slick finish.  

Meanwhile, Valentino demonstrated a dramatic move away from the pretty, romantic braids and updos of recent seasons, instead twisting cornrows into messy, careless buns; a striking alternative to the typical updo.

Grace Cain