The contouring and highlighting craze that swept the globe in 2016 was certainly a makeup trend that made a major impact but didn’t hold on so well. Sculpted to perfection used to be the number one makeup goal back in 2016. The world of fashion and beauty is always evolving. As we all know, trends come and go, but few have made such a dramatic impact.
What was once a technique reserved for professional makeup artists and celebrities has turned into a massive mainstream obsession. This trend transformed into an everyday makeup routine. So you know social media feeds saw the caked-on makeup look first. Explore the trendy 2016 makeup look that took all of the beauty enthusiasts by storm.
The Chiseled Look
Think of beauty as a battlefield, so you better make sure you’re well-armed with an arsenal of bronzers, illuminators, and blending brushes. Beauty enthusiasts from all walks of life, including teens and adults, were looking for the sculpted cheekbone look. Let’s dig into it. Contouring is the art of using shadow and light to reshape your natural facial features.
Highlighting involves accentuating high points of the face with shimmering, eye-catching products. Chiseled jawlines and an otherworldly glow were not new concepts in 2016. However, you know trends come back around every few years with a little spin to them. YouTube tutorials and Instagram selfies were what catapulted these techniques into the mainstream. Suddenly, everyone, from college students to suburban moms, was interested in achieving the non-surgical replication of Kim Kardashian’s famous face.
Social Media’s Role
Instagram and YouTube played pivotal roles in the contour and highlight phenomenon. The beauty industry quickly responded to the demand. The flood of contouring kits, highlighting palettes, etc. flowed in. Beauty influencers hooked millions of followers and did exactly what they were supposed to do (influence). They demonstrated, and their audience tried to contour and highlight the same way they did.
Although there were times it looked like some of us didn’t reach the mark, we still had to give it a shot. This trend had us walking around in the sunny daytime looking like handsome Squidward. As we know, with any trend that reaches a fever pitch, the extreme contouring and highlighting look eventually faces criticism. Some argued that the heavy-handed application promoted unrealistic beauty standards. The ‘less is more’ approach began to emphasize subtle enhancement rather than the drastic transformation that was sweeping the nation.
The Makeup Craze: Contour and Highlight
The contour and highlight craze of 2016 was more than just a fad. We’re grateful that the most extreme versions of contouring and highlighting have faded out. Thankfully, though, the masterful precision-focused techniques left a mark not only on the beauty industry but also on those with a makeup infatuation. It was a phenomenon that reshaped our approach to makeup as a whole.
Countless sculpted selfies and how-to tutorials later, contouring and highlighting became a serious obsession. Whether you were a devoted fan of the trend or just a sideline spectator, there’s no denying that 2016 was the year we all learned to throw a little shade and a lot of shine. We just hope that if this trend comes back around with full force, then we hope it doesn’t come back with a full-face dark contour and blinding highlighting.
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