Nothing made up about this

2015 was the year of ‘social media beauty trends’. We look back at the popular ones

It was the year of getting edgy, daring and standing apart from the crowd. From clown contouring to granny hair to the ‘power of make-up’ videos, this year was undoubtedly the year of social media beauty trends. We cast our minds back to the biggest beauty-related trends kickstarted on social media.

Makeovers were anything but ordinary and entering terrains like never before, what with rainbow armpits just like Miley Cyrus, knotted updos and glitter beards for men, brony (with candy colours) hair just like Katy Perry, clown contouring made famous by Kim Kardashian, aquarium 3D bubble nails that were a far cry from the staid French manicures, grey hair also known as granny hair like the kinds sported by Rihanna.

Celebrity makeup artiste Gouri Kapur shares, “There has never been a trend that hasn’t been done before. It’s brought up when someone famous reinvents it and it gets viral. My favourites are the strobing technique, the ombré lips and the elaborate contouring techniques which came into trend again with Kim Kardarshian, which we as make-up artistes have been doing for years! Although what’s most crucial to note here is that without the right know-how and techniques, these trends can look disastrous, as these require a lot of unique products and precision!”

While we thrive on social media and take cues on the latest trends, another popular make-up artiste Dipthi Ashok, adds, “This year, the social media world has been the breeding ground for a number of fads like clown contouring, #thepowerofmakeup and granny hair. Granny hair trend saw a number of women dyeing their hair silver or grey. Another trend to hit the headlines was “clown contouring”.

This exaggerated method of applying highlight, shadow and blush, looks like a circus performer’s paint but appears flawless when blended. The trend started by 21-year-old Nikkie when she posted videos to show how women can look beautiful with or without make-up, but wearing it is their choice and they should never feel judged, was received with applause and saw thousands of girls post pictures of themselves with half of their faces ‘made up’ and the other half with nothing on. To each his own, we say!