Each generation has its defining beauty moments. Being born in 1994, I grew up during the era when thin eyebrows were the look du jour, and as we approached the 2010s, I witnessed—and experienced—the browscape morph into HD brows (which, let’s be honest, wasn’t great either) before we finally settled on a happy medium of growing back our eyebrows, putting down the brow pomade and leaving our brows well alone (thanks, Glossier Boy Brow, for the support). Now, with TikTok beauty booming and Gen Z celebrities such as Olivia Rodrigo, Zendaya and Charithra Chandran stepping on the scene, it’s safe to say we’re entering a new era of beauty.
Gen Z makeup trends are big news right now. But rather than trends being set in stone, this time around, it’s more of a mood, explains Chanel makeup artist Anna Payne. “Gen Z are all about creating an attitude rather than a full studied look. They’re using makeup as a form of expression and changing their makeup looks daily to suit their mood. It’s about enjoying being who you are and celebrating it, not trying to change it,” she says.