A Look Back at the Best of 2016 Beauty

At a time when aesthetics are being homogenized, and playfulness is practically nonexistent, beauty is begging for the revival of 2016 glam.

Glittery eye shadow, stamped brows and lash clusters — 2016 makeup, specifically, was the antithesis of clean girl; the trends were random and rebellious, a real masterclass in “anything goes.” Think Kylie Jenner during her “King Kylie” era.

Because of this, many makeup artists, such as Jeffree Star and Nikkie de Jager, rose to prominence, posting hour-long makeup tutorials on YouTube. Where most of the TikTok “get ready with me” videos today tout tinted moisturizer, brown mascara and lip stain, these YouTubers would boast full-coverage foundation, black eyeliner and bold lipstick. They’d use concealer to carve their brows and beat their face in bronzer and blush.

Tumblr, on the other hand, was brimming with angsty hair behavior — French braids, undone buns, ratty ponytails and flower crowns, Vanessa Hudgens circa 2012 Coachella style. The moodier and messier, the better.

Ahead, WWD takes a look back at a few of the best beauty moments from 2016.

One of the most influential celebrities of the 2010s, Vanessa Hudgens adored a braided crown. That and ombré hair. Here, the 37-year-old actress is seen with the boho hairstyle at the 2016 Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, her eyes are coated in a coral-bronze shimmer, and her lips are dressed in a rose taupe matte hue.

2016 marked Kylie Jenner’s “King Kylie” stint — a period of time in which she frequently donned neon wigs and colored-in eyebrows. Here, Jenner is seen with bleached blond hair at the Alexander Wang show during New York Fashion Week. Her eyes are accentuated with peach-toned shadow, black bottom liner and long lash clusters, while her cheeks are drenched in pink blush. Jenner’s lips, on the other hand, are coated in a nude hue under a layer of taupe gloss.

Kendall Jenner’s 2016 aesthetic was toned-down compared to her younger sister’s beauty. But that’s not to say the supermodel didn’t experiment with different styles. Here, Jenner is seen at The Plaza Hotel in New York City; her inky black hair chopped in ratty bangs and brushed over her eyes. Her brows were kept razor-thin, undercut by only a faint layer of silver shimmer.

In 2016, Hailey Bieber, then Hailey Baldwin, wasn’t the archetype skin-first makeup girl she is now. She adored bronze eye shadow, mascara, dark brows and a pink lip. Her caramel-colored hair was also dyed blond and often pulled into a loose ponytail or bun.

At her 2016 ModelCo limited-edition cosmetic collection launch in Australia, Bieber brushed her bleached hair into a high ponytail on the crown of head; the ends protruding like a waterfall from the nude hair tie.

Willow Smith’s appearance at the Chanel 2016 Metiers d’Art show in Paris saw the A-lister sport a siren aesthetic, featuring charcoal shadow on the lids and under the eyes. The 25-year-old’s brow bone and inner corners were accentuated with gold shimmer, while their lips were topped with a raspberry-pink gloss.

A fixture in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Gigi Hadid’s 2016 casting saw the model don the signature bombshell blowout — a style typically marked by a side part, face-framing curls and a teased root. Her brows were brushed and gelled away from her eyes, while her cheeks were topped with a generous amount of highlighter and blush.

At the Season Seven premiere of “Pretty Little Liars,” Shay Mitchell opted for sky-high lash extensions; the tips tickling her brows. Her base was, for the most part, even-toned, comprised of a fair amount of undereye concealer and full-coverage foundation. Mitchell’s hair, inky black and ultra-wavy, was teased and tangled every which way.