As we approach the last few weeks of the year, we can’t help but reflect on the wide range of beauty trends that kept us all inspired and entertained in 2023. From food-inspired looks like blueberry milk nails and cinnamon cookie butter hair to faux freckles and cloud skin, it was truly an interesting year for beauty.
If you’re anything like us, you’re probably wondering what were some of the biggest beauty trends of the year. Lucky for us, Google recently unveiled its annual Year in Search roundup, giving us all a peek at the makeup trends that the general public have been searching for in 2023. For anyone unfamiliar with Google’s Year in Search, its data is based on the top “trending” queries—which the company defines as searches with a high spike in traffic over a sustained period in the U.S. Without further ado, we look back at the beauty trends that dominated 2023, according to Google.
Latte Makeup
Latte makeup reigned supreme as the top trending makeup look of the year. For the unfamiliar, this caffeine-inspired beauty trend is all about embracing rich shades of brown, caramel, and nudes on the eyes, cheeks, and lips. It was first coined by content creator Rachel Rigler, who was inspired by a 2018 makeup look created by Australian makeup artist Tanielle Jai.
Strawberry Makeup
Another food-themed beauty trend that took over everyone’s social feeds earlier this year is strawberry makeup. Thanks to Hailey Bieber and her viral “strawberry girl” makeup tutorial, we were all chasing dewy skin, rosy cheeks, and pink glossy lips.
Uncanny Valley Makeup
@blonde.girlyy TRUST THE PROCESS… #fypシ ♬ Brutus (Instrumental) – The Buttress
“Uncanny valley” makeup managed to nail down a strong position when it came to trending searches this year. The popular trend takes its name from the uncanny valley hypothesis which was coined by Japanese roboticist Masashiro Mori in his popular essay “The Uncanny Valley.” The theory suggests that humans are inclined to feel unease towards looking at human-like robots or dolls. Playing off this phenomenon, the “uncanny valley” beauty trend involves using makeup to look like hyper-realistic robots.
Concealer Lips
@sofiarichiegrainge Love @YSL Beauty Candy Glaze – soo glossy and hydrating #YSLBeautyPartner ♬ original sound – Sofia Richie Grainge
Early aughts-era concealer lips returned in a big way this year. The technique centers around dabbing literal concealer on your lips to create a dramatic ombre effect as Sofia Richie Grainge showcases above, in one of her recent makeup tutorials.
Mocha Makeup
Beauty lovers also got their caffeine fix this year with “mocha makeup”, a more sultrier version of the latte makeup trend. With mocha makeup, it’s all about the fuller-bodied brown tones and generally this look centers on smoky mocha eye shadows and glossy, chocolate-colored lips.
Lip Gloss Nails
Lip gloss (nails) were poppin’ this year and many of us couldn’t have been happier about it. This minimalist nail trend mimics the high-shine finish of our favorite gloss and is characterized by nails that are sheer and glossy with a pretty pink tint. Put simply, lip gloss nails are pretty much your nails, but better!
Douyin Makeup
Douyin makeup went mainstream in 2023 thanks to TikTok. Named after the Chinese social media platform from which it originated, this trendy makeup is best defined by a soft, dewy look that features glowing skin, wispy lashes, shimmery eyeshadow, flushed cheeks, and blurred lips.
Dark Lip Liner
While many 90’s beauty trends have had a resurgence over the past year, none dominated Google searches quite like the dark lip liner trend. This striking look consists of a rich, dark lip liner that contrasts with a lighter (or your natural) lip color.
Pink Concealer
@paintedbyspencer Just sayin 🤷🏻♂️ #makeup #beauty #fyp #SmellLikeIrishSpring #UnsealTheMeal ♬ Under Eye Blush – SPENCER
Pink concealer blew up this year on TikTok as a life-saving hack for erasing dark circles, thanks in part to an eight-second video created by makeup artist Spencer (@paintedbyspencer). In the clip, he shared, “If you’re not blending your blush up to your undereye area, you’re missing out—just saying,” while lightly patting on a rose-colored powder blush under his eyes.
Cold Girl Makeup
Yet another beauty look that went viral this year is “cold girl” makeup. As its name suggests, this look is all about embracing looking cold—think frosty pink lips, rosy cheeks, and slightly glazed eyes.
For a closer look at more of the trends that dominated Google this year, be sure to visit Google’s Year in Search.
