Strobing and highlighting were major beauty trends last year almost phasing out the long-running contour movement. But what’s in store this year?

 

“It’s not about perfection and overproduced makeup. We want you to be coolest version of yourself,” says Louise Zizzo, MAC Cosmetics’ senior artist and makeup artist to stars like Cyndi Lauper, Fergie and Gwen Stefani. Flying in from San Francisco, she reintroduced the real girl kind of makeup.

 

Challenging the idea of perfection, Zizzo emphasized creativity and “enhancing the canvas,”  your face.

 

Eyes

 

Think crayon. Remember those bold, loud colors on beauty counters that you thought you’d never use? Well, Zizzo shows us wearable, colorful beauty techniques without needing your arsenal of fancy brushes.

 

Unearth that canary yellow or ultra-glittery eye shadow you’ve been keeping for months and play with it. Dab your finger into it and paint your lids with even just a strip of color. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect.

 

Lips

 

The red lip, often associated with glamour, gets a different look this season. Gone are the deep, dark shades, so go for pop-red tints. Wear the statement red lip with a bare face for that young and fun look.

 

Lashes

 

The clamor for full, long, perfect lashes has caused lash extension salons to open left and right. “It is experimental with a youthful twist,” Zizzo says.

 

Take notice of the strange lash forms models wore at this season’s runway shows. Mary Katrantzou, for example, experimented on clumped, colored lashes. Thomas Tait opted for the full, long lashes on both lash lines.

 

Face

 

“It’s all about the skin and skin leaning with light,” Zizzo muses. She brings back the ’90s palettes of taupe, coral and peach, and sets aside those gold and bronze shades.

 

It is the new take of male grooming on a woman’s face: barely there with perfectly groomed brows that are not necessarily arched. Bringing the skin to life with minimal enhancements.