From the moment in late 2024 that Pantone announced it’s 2025 color of the year, the ultra-wearable shade mocha mousse, and Pinterest predicted everything from fragrances to nails would be cherry coded, it was clear 2025 would be an exciting year in beauty. Sixty days and one Fashion Month into 2025, we reached out to the top pros in makeup to find out the buzziest eye, lip, cheek and nail looks, as well as for their take on what’s not so hot right now. Ahead, the it lip finish, must-have manicure, and so much more.
Glossy Balms
High-shine lips are having a moment thanks to social media (they’re all over TikTok), says Alexandra McCormick, director of global artistry development at Hourglass Cosmetics, the brand behind the bold red hue Eiza González is wearing (left). The beauty of these new formulas that get the effect? They have the moisturizing properties of a traditional balm with the lacquer-like finish of a gloss.
Buy It!
Crystal Clear: LYS Beauty Speak Love Lip Plumping Glossy Lip Balm in Charismatic, $19;
sephora.com
Nude Shimmer: Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shimmer Gloss Stick in Fenty Glow, $25;
fentybeauty.com
Classic Red: Hourglass Cosmetics Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm in Red 0, $38;
hourglasscosmetics.com
Rock and Roll Liner
A fully lined look is popular because it’s universally flattering and easy to execute (all you need is a black pencil that can be applied along your waterline), says Vincent Oquendo, the pro behind Nicole Richie’s Jerry Hall-inspired makeup.
Buy It!
Nicole Richie wore Laura Geller Beauty Kajal Longwear Eyeliner and INKcredible Waterproof Gel Eyeliner Pencil in N.Y.C. in October.
Kerry Washington’s makeup artist Carola Gonzalez applied Beauty Pie Deluxe Precision
Liquid Eyeliner in L.A. in January.
Gracie Abrams’s makeup artist Emily Cheng applied Hourglass Cosmetics 1.5MM Mechanical Gel Eye Liner in L.A. in February.
A Double-Decker French Manicure
The classic French manicure is constantly evolving, and the latest iteration is Kelsea Ballerini’s fresh, sophisticated twist. “This minimalist design perfectly balances elegance and modernity,” says nail artist Zola Ganzorigt, who created the star’s look using three OPI shades, “Bare My Soul” for the base and “Alpine Snow” and “Black Onyx” for the ultrathin lines.
Buy It! OPI Bare My Soul, $12; amazon.com, Alpine Snow, $12; amazon.com and Black Onyx, $12; amazon.com
Mocha Mousse
Ever since it was named Pantone’s 2025 color of the year, mocha mousse has taken over beauty, and for good reason. “It’s versatile, leaning into both ’90s supermodel neutrals and modern clean-girl glam,” explains makeup artist Cherish Brooke Hill. With monochromatic makeup “texture is everything,” the pro says. Another trick: Tie the look together with a warm brown mascara.
Buy It!
Bronzer: Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Power Sculpt Velvet Bronzer in shade Deep Level 11, $38;
hauslabs.com
Eye Shadow: Chanel Ombre Essentielle Multi-Use Longwearing Eyeshadow in Latte Frappé, $40;
chanel.com
Mascara: Benefit Cosmetics BADgal BANG! Volumizing Mascara in Rebel Brown, $29;
sephora.com
Plus: What’s Out Right Now!
Fresh off New York Fashion Week, where he created looks for four shows, makeup artist
and global director of makeup artistry at MAC Cosmetics Romero Jennings (shown below at the Kim Shui show Feb. 7) shares what’s on the downtrend this season. Follow him on Instagram (@romerojennings) for more inspiration and tips.
Glazed Donut Skin
The luminous look is giving way to mannequin skin, which is polished, perfected and more matte than glossy.
Heavy Eye Makeup
Layers of packed-on shadow are taking a backseat to washes of color like grays and purples. Trends from the 1990s are on fire!
Unkempt Brows
Instead of having unruly brows, now they’re groomed—whether they’re razor-thin or big and fluffy.
Extreme Lashes
Giant lashes that fan out past your eyebrows are out, and natural lashes created with a lash curler and one to two coats of mascara are in. You can still rock faux lashes as long as they have an approachable vibe.
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