MAC Cosmetics forecasts steamy, matte and grunge makeup looks to trend this autumn/winter

04 Oct 2022 --- MAC Cosmetics is unveiling popular makeup trends for this autumn and winter, inspired by multifunctional beauty which fuses makeup with skincare. The company’s trend watchers and makeup artists predict that this season, steamy skin, sheer matte and grunge glam makeup looks will be most fashionable.

“The focus this season is on the skin. Radiant and well-groomed skin is in. The past few years have been about self-care, staying indoors and taking care of our skin, which inspired Skinification, the focus of our post-pandemic makeup routines, where we’re looking for hybrid makeup and skincare formulas that work together as one,” says Hannah Bennett, senior makeup artist at MAC Cosmetics. 

“We move away from thick layers of foundation that cover our skin and embrace our real skin. With coverage that is so natural that even the best camera lens doesn’t see it.”

What do dolphins, glass and glaze have in common?Misplaced Metals.
Bennett delves into steamy skin and how it can be achieved by making the skin look nourished and fresh with a “steamed finish” as if coming out of a spa or the “dance floor at 3:00am.” 

“Glazed doughnut skin, dolphin skin and glass skin trends have been wildly popular on TikTok for a long time. This fresh, dewy texture is here to stay, but with even more moisture,” she continues. 

The look can be recreated by applying day cream under and over the foundation. “This ensures an extra hydrated finish,” suggests Bennett while using the MAC Fix+ to maintain the steamy look throughout the day.

Accentuating the eyes
Although glowy skin is “everywhere on social media,” people are still looking for matte skin “ that accentuates their striking eye looks,” shares Bennett.

“Gen Z, in particular, looks at matte differently: for them, it’s not about baking thick layers of foundation or powder. Radiant, naturally matte is in,” she continues.Icy Lips.

A transparent coverage can be created using only concealer where it is needed. 

“Polish the look with a thin layer of translucent powder. The great thing about sheer matte is that it also gives a blurring effect. A mattifying primer blurs pores and translucent powder evens skin texture and fine lines,” says Bennett.

Grunge glam is back
Popular in the ‘90s, the grunge look is making a comeback this season. 

“After years of perfect, super-tight cut creases, it’s so refreshing to see greasy, just-woken-up-with-makeup-on-eye looks,” comments Bennett.Chrome Lighting.

“This trend is more of an attitude than a defined look. Whether you melt a black kôhl pencil on your eyelid with a layer of Vaseline underneath, use mascara as an eyeliner or go for chunky eyelashes with just a little too many layers of mascara, the color is black.”

Seven more trends
MAC Cosmetic’s International Artist Panel is spotlighting seven other trends that will be popular this coming season.

The first one is Bold Lips – a look of bright and intense colors on the lips. This is followed by Icy Lips – a glossy ice-like lip look.

The third trend is 90s Frost which features shimmering metallic and silver-based colors, especially on the lips. This is followed by Sheer Matte – a concept that mirrors the look of looking through a sheer and light fabric – highlighting a soft and blurry look.90s Frost.

The fifth trend is Chrome Lighting, which uses metallic silver in editorial looks in various places of the face. Similarly, Misplaced Metals use colorful colors that reflect lights in a blurry and metallic manner.

Lastly, Bow Lips are in – a change from the makeup that rounds the cupid bow and, instead, accentuates the cupid’s bow sharply.

MAC Cosmetic’s International Artist Panel consists of Cat Quinn, executive director of trend; Live Appelland, director of senior artists EMEA; Baltasar González Pinel, director of makeup artistry EMEA; Tom Sapin, global senior artist; and Luisa Sporkenbach, MAC national artist for Germany.

Edited by Venya Patel