Elaborate skincare routines and strict aesthetic rules defined recent years. The clean girl look was considered the epitome of modern no-makeup aesthetics. The goal was an extremely fresh and well-rested appearance. Ideally, it looked optically makeup-free, despite time-intensive preparation. After years of this strict restraint, the beauty world is now seeking bold forms of expression again. Artistic editorial makeup is replacing flawless minimalism.
What defines editorial makeup?
Editorial looks are primarily created for fashion shoots, runways, and advertising campaigns. The styling doesn't pursue perfection or symmetry. Instead, the makeup tells a story, conveys a feeling, or implements an artistic vision. Each styling follows a clear theme - from futuristic to grunge to fairy-tale.
Makeup artists place targeted highlights on the face: On one hand, they use details like extremely emphasized lips, luminous eyeshadow, or striking eyeliner. But exciting textures are also highly popular. Playing with bold colors, glitter, pigments, and embellishments creates depth. Another important element is rule-breaking. Geometric eyeliner shapes meet deliberately unfinished strokes, smudged lip edges, and smoky eyeshadow. Bleached or brightly colored eyebrows add additional accents.
"Skin First": The skin retains its naturalness
Despite eye-catching colors, editorial makeup relies on a natural base. The "Skin First" principle puts skincare in the foreground. Light textures optimally prepare the skin while caring for it simultaneously.
Instead of heavy foundation, concealer is only used sparingly. Fine lines, freckles, and pores remain deliberately visible. The perfected clean girl look gives way to an authentic skin texture.
Three golden rules for everyday wear
The editorial look breaks rules and uses experimental elements. For a wearable everyday implementation, three simple principles help:
In the first step, it's important to maintain the natural skin texture. Foundations that are too thick or mattifying quickly make the look appear artificial. Second, eyebrows should only be styled subtly for everyday wear. A transparent gel brings the brows into shape without distracting from the main accent. This means in the third step: Set only one statement per look. Emphasized eyes require neutral lips - and vice versa.
With the help of these rules, the trend works effortlessly in everyday life: Vibrant colored mascara, striking eyeshadow, pink cream blush, or cherry-red lipstick create targeted highlights without appearing costume-like.
