Spring 2025 Makeup Trends: What’s Cute & What’s Questionable

Spring is here, and so are the new beauty trends—some fresh and fun, others… questionable at best. From the re-emergence of skinny brows (yes, again) to pastel lashes and blurred lips, this season is all about contrast: bold but minimal, moody but playful, nostalgic but new.

Whether you’re ready to commit fully or just test the waters with a cream blush and a dream, there’s something for every vibe. Let’s break down what’s trending, what’s worth trying, and what might have you raising an over-plucked brow.

Thin Brows Return (Again?)

Skinny brows are creeping back like a bad ex who won’t stay blocked. Gabby Windey’s into it, and so are the runways. If you’re curious, makeup artist Kelli Anne Sewell says to soften your brows first. Use clear gel. Remember to figure out how much you want to tweeze before you attack them with tweezers. Too scared they’ll vanish? Try a lighter brow pencil instead of your regular one.

Strawberry Lips Are All Over

Forget full glam. The lips are going soft but juicy. Think berry tones and terracotta shades. Tayaba Jafri calls it “bitten lips.” Sewell loves anything that works double. A cream blush you can use on your cheeks and lips? Yes. Lip stains that don’t need constant reapplying? Even better. That’s why Milk Makeup’s Cooling Water Jelly Tint and Ami Colé’s Desert Date Multistick are everywhere. Dab it on for a light look or layer it for color that actually shows.

Trend Watch: What TikTok Gets Right (and Wrong)

By now, you’ve probably seen ten different “blush hacks” and fifteen versions of the same brow trick floating around your feed. Some are helpful, while others make you wonder if the poster has ever used actual makeup. When figuring out what’s worth trying, people tend to trust real reviews more than over-edited content.

If you’re looking for honest takes, user reviews on everything from skin tints to lip plumpers are where it’s at. For example, one Fiera Lip Plumper Review gave helpful info on texture, wear time, and results—way more useful than a random influencer “GRWM” video.

Cloud Skin: Soft-Focus, No Filter

Jafri says skin is staying soft, but not shiny. Nobody’s out here prepping like it’s prom night. She skips the 10-step plan. Instead, layer complexion stuff that hides where needed and glows where wanted. Start with a hydrating primer. Pop on foundation or concealer that won’t cake up. Set things in place with powder. Laura Mercier’s works. Press it in, don’t swipe. Use a velour puff. Your glow should still peek through.

Hydrated Lips With Blurred Edges

You can pull this off without buying anything new. Sewell says soft, blurred lips are sticking around. Dab your lipstick in the center. Smudge it out with clean fingers. No liner. No rules. Try Versed’s Cashmere Color Smoothing Lip Blush or Refy Lip Blush if your current lipstick is not built for smudging. No crusty lips allowed.

Mascara Isn’t Dead. It’s Just Gotten Colorful.

The shows at Dries Van Noten and Ganni brought pastel lashes to the front. That’s the main event paired with fresh skin and neutral lips. Jafri says it’s about color, but not chaos. If you want bright lashes that show up, prep with a white primer. Then go in with two coats of colored mascara. Pat McGrath’s pink one is loud. If your lashes are light, Colourpop’s BFF Mascara does the job.

Blush Contour: A Two-Tone Situation
Sewell and Dua Lipa agree: blush changes the whole face. But we’re not slapping one color across both cheeks. Jafri says placement counts. Try one deeper shade under the cheekbones, a lighter shimmer above it. Makeup artist J. Brandon Correa swears by YSL’s Make Me Blush powders. It gives lift without turning you into a disco ball.

Cool Tones Are Still In

Cold shades are winning. Think grays, taupes, beige. Quiet, even a little moody. Chantel Miller called it “quiet grunge.” You don’t need dark black eyes to play here. Dust contour powder on your lids or go deeper with a full cool-toned lip. MAC’s Stone lipstick hits the right note. Top it with their Cool Spice lip pencil.

Sunkissed But Make It Creamy

Yes, cool tones are the vibe, but warm eyes aren’t out. Sewell says to use gold, copper, and bronze. Creams over powders. Wet-look wins. Urban Decay’s 24/7 Eyeshadow in Dumb Luck works, or go with Ilia’s Eye Shadow Stick for easy blending. Want extra shine? Stretch that shadow to your temples. Done.

Imperfect Eyeliner Looks Better

No one wants a line that screams “Tried too hard.” Jenna Ortega nailed this with a slightly smudged liner look. Jafri says a soft, messy line has more character. Use a chubby eyeshadow stick. Laura Mercier’s Caviar Stick works well, and you can smudge it with your finger. Fancy brush optional.

Glow From the Collarbone Up

Body shimmer is having a comeback, minus the gritty glitter mess from the 2000s. We saw it everywhere, from the Vanity Fair carpet to the Oscars. Sewell says the glow now is smoother. Set sprays with shimmer are back, like One/Size’s On ‘Til Dawn. Or do what Tate McRae does—coat your body in a mist that’s actually SPF. Neutrogena or Kopari both work.

No makeup look needs to be serious. Try what you want. Skip what you hate. Play, wipe it off, start over.