11 Spring 2023 Makeup Trends That Will Elevate All Your Looks

If you’ve ever been curious about Kendall Jenner or Hailey Bieber’s glam routine, you’re in luck: Their go-to makeup artist, Mary Phillips, has revealed her (now-viral) contour-before-foundation hack. And Yanni Peña, an NYC-based makeup pro whose work can be spotted all over fashion runways, admits the “subtle approach to sculpted skin” will be everywhere this spring.

Across beauty and fashion categories, balletcore has been cemented as one of the top trends of the now. And with springtime in sight, it’s no surprise that doll-like doe eyes, sweetheart eyelashes, coquette-ish lips, and countless shades of pink will take centerstage.

This time last year, purple blush reigned supreme. Sara Talias, a makeup pro who specializes in bridal and editorial glam looks, tells Bustle that the purple pigment love story is set to be focused more on the eyes this spring: “A trend we are going to see for the spring is the return of purple eyeshadow. Expect to see lots of gorgeous iridescent shades in lavender and periwinkle tones, coupled with lots of mascara for a very ethereal look.”

With Doja Cat leading the way with her headline-making looks (i.e. all-bedazzled-everything red ensembles, gold body paint literally allover, and epic brow art) — and Peña agrees that we will be seeing more bold looks that aren’t deemed traditionally glamorous: “Embracing imperfections, this trend features skinny or no eyebrows, smudged and lived-in makeup, heavy mascara, color contacts, and everything else that goes against beauty norms. [It’s all about using] makeup as a tool to evoke a mood you’re feeling inside and express your creativity.”

From blush contouring and sunburn blush, to using liquid formulas to brighten the under eyes, blush has had a major rebrand and comeback story over the last year or so — and Allison Kaye, a pro makeup artist who works with mega influencers like Jasmine Sanders and Sophia Culpo, says the trend will show no signs of slowing come spring: “Vibrant pink blush all over our the cheek bones, blended into the eyelids and swept over the nose is a poppy look for spring. My favorites are the Dior Rosy Glow Blushes.”

The ’60s were defined by boldly graphic eyes, dreamy pastel hues, dramatic false eyelashes, and hair teased to seriously high heights —and celebs like Jenna Ortega, Florence Pugh, and many more have been experimenting with the babydoll-esque trends of the decade.

Youthful, hydrated, glowing skin is always a vibe, and especially this spring, the pros have all agreed that full-on dewy skin is a go. Peña shares that “no-makeup makeup is making a comeback,” and Kaye adds that the look “is not going anywhere, [especially] with so many illuminators going viral.” As for the reason for the dew revival? Talias says: “There has been so much focus on skincare in terms of self-care and really creating that lit from within glow. There are so many new foundations that are infused with skin care elements and have a gorgeous glowy finish.”

You may just want to stock up on your favorite liquid eyeliners. Talias predicts that lined eyes will be *it* for springtime: “With makeup looks being more minimal, there is a focus on a singular, strong element, and this spring it's going to be all about eyeliner. Think smudged out rimmed liner or a strong cat eye, with a stark contrast to fresh skin.”

On days when you want to keep it super minimal with your eye makeup look, Peña shares that a statement lip is the way to go in the coming months: “This trend encourages experimenting with new techniques and color combinations for statement-making lips. And to ensure a smooth application, start by exfoliating your lips with a lip scrub [before] hydrating with a lip balm or mask.”

When it comes to springtime glam, Kaye says it’s all about the shimmer: “A shimmer eyeshadow swept over the lid brings brightness to our eye makeup look. To keep the shimmer light just sweep it over with your finger or with a fluffier eye brush rather than packing it on with a flat eye brush.”

From burgundy mascara that matches copper strands to a bold blue lash that leaves all eyes fixated on your gaze: Colorful mascara is having its moment on TikTok and beyond (and is sure to be even more prevalent come spring).