It’s hard to believe social media as we know it is barely a decade old. Instagram itself was launched in 2010! The era of selfies and makeup tutorials began and inspired a new generation to explore the exciting industry of makeup artistry. It also gave birth to a new style of makeup that we will refer to here as “Instagram makeup.”
If you are of a younger age, you might not yet have had the experience of watching makeup and fashion trends come and go. Often we look back at the past decade with a little embarrassment. In the 1980s, it was fashionable to have giant, teased and hair sprayed hair–the bigger and crispier, the better. In the 1930s, women tweezed their eyebrows away completely and drew them back on in razor-thin arches.
Once in a great while, a trend becomes classic and sticks around. In the 1950s, a crisp red clip paired with a liquid winged liner was in, and it’s a look that never really went away. Decades later, Marylin Monroe inspired looks are iconic. It’s a trend that lasted.
Is Instagram makeup here to stay? If you are uncertain of what I mean, Instagram makeup might be described as Kardashian times 10. Heavy, painted on ombre eyebrows. Extreme highlight and contouring. Metallic illuminators on the cheek bones, cupid’s bow and tip of the nose. Finished off with a matte liquid lipstick in any variety of off the wall colors. It’s the platform of Instagram itself that inspired this trend. It’s truly amazing the illusions one can create with makeup, and when the before-and-after selfie came to be, many were enamored with the unbelievable transformations.
Extreme contouring can do amazing things on camera. That’s what it was invented for decades ago— for the stage and the camera lens. In person, such techniques might look a bit strange. These theatrical techniques were never really intended for daily wear makeup. That said, it’s only makeup. It washes off. Everyone should be able to express themselves how they like. But is it a trend that will last?
Only time will tell. As professionals, it is important to stay informed of current trends and products and be willing to learn and grow. It’s of equal importance to understand how makeup reads on and off camera and the timeless industry standard products and techniques that will get you work again and again.