A new study by LookFantastic has analysed various metrics like social engagement and Google search volumes to establish The Beauty Trend Report of 2021.
The report reveals the most popular and up-and-coming trends for 2021 so that you can stay ahead of the curve and make sure you are investing in the right beauty trends, backed up by data.
The Biggest Beauty Trends of 2021 Are Straight from the 90s
Love it or hate it, the 90s brown lip liner with gloss is officially the biggest beauty trend of 2021 with an incredible 600% increase in searches since July 2020. Coming in at joint first, but drawing on a very different side of the 90s, is the grungy and smoky black eyeliner that comes hand in hand with the latest Gothcore aesthetic celebrities such as Kourtney Kardashian and Olivia Rodrigo are already rocking.
In third place is the early 00s trend of thin eyebrows which has had a 450% search increase. Also ranking in the top 10 biggest beauty trends of 2021 are makeup gems, pastel nails and crimped hair.
As well as current trends, the report also revealed what trends are upcoming and we should be looking out for in the coming months and 2022.
Slugging comes in at number one, with a surprising 319% increase in searches in the past year.
An expert from LookFantastic has explained that people will increasingly be trying the trend as the cold winter months dry out people’s skin. Originating in South Korea, it involves putting a thin layer of Vaseline as the final step of your skincare routine to help prevent water loss. Vaseline is an occlusive, which is a moisturising agent that creates a physical barrier on your skin to lock in hydration, prevent water loss and help it heal.
The report also found that mentions of these specific Isle of Paradise Tanning Drops have increased by 312% since July 2020.
The Top 5 Upcoming Beauty Trends on TikTok
| RANK | TIKTOK BEAUTY TREND | SEARCH INCREASE FROM JUL 20 – 21 |
| 1 | Slugging | 319% |
| 2 | Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops | 312% |
| 3 | Fox Eyeliner | 90% |
| 4 | Colourful Lashes | 50% |
| 5 | Heatless Curls | 22% |
We are not sure who to thank, but mullets are officially on the rise. LookFantastic reports 330,000 searches for mullets on social media each month, and this number has grown 53% in the last year.
LookFantastic also reports that the current most popular take on the style is the curly mullet, followed by the mullet shag, then the mullet mohawk and the mullet with shaved sides.
With the likes of pimple patches and retinol serum becoming increasingly popular, people’s new found love for self-care routines over lockdown, alongside our attempt to battle mask acne, has also resulted in the other most ‘explosive’ beauty trends of 2021 being skincare focused, with the likes of pimple patches and retinol serum ranking in the top 5.
The Official List of ‘Exploding’ Beauty Trends
| BEAUTY TREND | NUMBER OF SEARCHES EACH MONTH | SEARCH GROWTH IN THE PAST YEAR |
| Mullets | 330,000 | 53% |
| Pimple/spot Patches | 33,100 | 222% |
| Topical Skincare Products | 33,100 | 130% |
| Retinol Serum | 22,200 | 43% |
| Scalp Scrub | 14,800 | 117% |
| Peptide Serum | 1,900 | 30% |
The Beauty Trend Report also revealed the most viewed trends on TikTok with heatless curls, and the claw clip trend coming in top. The report also found that hacks such as soap brows, laminated brows and no makeup makeup are amongst the most popular beauty hacks on TikTok.
The Most Posted About Beauty Trend of 2021 is the Matte Lip
As trends are born on social media, LookFantastic also looked at the most posted about beauty trends of 2021. With a massive 1,600,000 hashtags, matte lipstick is officially the most posted about beauty trend online and Rihanna’s iconic lip at the MET Gala was the icing on the cake for this beauty trend.
It might have beaten the glossy lip trend but it’s not commissaries for those who prefer a shiny finish as Glossy Lips actually came in as the second most popular beauty trend online with a total of 1,100,000 hashtags, proving that there is room for both lip looks this year.
Read more about the 2021 beauty trends on the LookFantastic blog.
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