The Most Popular Make-up Looks

From iconic glossy lips to eyebrow trends to Y2K revival styles, there are hundreds – if not thousands – of make-up looks out there. Recently, winged eyeliner has made a comeback, spotted on both red carpets and social media tutorials, while bold colour-blocking is lighting up runways everywhere. But which make-up looks are really stealing the spotlight right now?

We’ve done the digging (so you don’t have to!) and uncovered the hottest and trendiest make-up trends of 2025. We’ve analysed the evolution of Google searches since last year, as well as in the last three months, to see what’s buzzing or coming back into fashion right now. Plus, we took a deep dive into popular make-up styles, by looking at their presence on Instagram and TikTok, as well as how often people search for them each year to reveal the most popular looks.

*Each metric was assigned an index score. The average of these scores determined the final ranking.

How to recreate this make-up look at home?

1. Exfoliate and hydrate lips
   Remove dead skin and keep lips smooth with a scrub, and use a lip balm.

2. Apply lip liner or lipstick
   Choose your desired colour, whether it’s a classic nude lipstick or a wine red, and apply evenly to define your lips.

3. Smudge edges with a brush or finger for a gradient effect
   Here’s the fun part: gently blur the edges for a soft, faded look. Don’t be afraid to get stuck in here – you can always remove excess lipstick with a cue tip.

4. Blend with a lip brush, softening the edges
   Use a lip brush to create a seamless, natural gradient.

How to recreate this make-up look at home?

1. Prepare and hydrate your skin first
   Skincare is an essential part of the sunkissed look. You want to use a light, hydrating moisturiser for a flawless make-up base. It’s perfect for this look because the coverage is light, so your skin won’t be too oily, and the day cream has an SPF 10 (for that real sun protection!).

2. Brighten up your eyes
   You’ll want to hide any blemishes or dark circles. Use a light concealer and apply gently. Remember – less is more!

3. Apply bronzer, but sparingly!
   Add a touch of bronzer to your cheekbones, nose and forehead. You want to make it look like you’ve been lying in the sun. Also add a touch of blush to your cheeks, and make sure to blend upwards. Finally, add a little highlighter to give your skin extra radiance.

4. Add the finishing touches
   Add a light, moisturising lip balm, and set with a dewy setting spray to finish off the look. And voila!

5. Glowy Skin

Rounding off the top five of the trendiest make-up looks of the moment is the ‘glowy skin’ trend, literally meaning your skin glows, and is soft, supple and healthy. This look is all about skincare first – think exfoliation and deep hydration – topped by a light, luminous foundation to enhance the glow.

And many are eager to try it – Google online searches for ‘glowy skin’ have increased by 50% in the last three months, and by 23% since last year.

*Each metric was assigned an index score. The average of these scores determined the final ranking.
**Data wasn’t available.

Soaring to the top of our list is the iconic ‘cat eye’ look, a timeless staple for make-up lovers worldwide. The classic winged eyeliner look, often paired with a bold lower lash line, takes the crown with over four million Instagram posts, 567K on TikTok, and just over 3.6 million yearly Google searches – probably because everyone’s hunting for tips on how to nail the perfect flawless and even wings without looking like a mess! This fierce look continues to reign as go-to for those who love to make a statement, and has been spotted on many celebs over the years.

How to recreate this make-up look at home?

1. Prime your eyelids
   Preparing your eyes for such a killer look is vital. First, apply a long-lasting eyeshadow primer to create a smooth canvas and help prevent creasing.

2. Keep your eyeshadow neutral
   Next, apply a neutral eyeshadow to your eyelids to even out the skin tone and add dimension.

3. Draw the wing
   Take your liquid or gel eyeliner (a super fine liner pen is perfect for precision). Start at the outer corner of your eye and draw a small, upward line that follows the natural angle of your lower lash line, about 45 degrees. This will create the ‘tail’ of your cat-eye. Then, fill in your lower lash line for an even bolder look.

Taking the second spot is the iconic ‘red lips’ look, famous for its bold and classic charm. With beauty enthusiasts making 888,000 Google searches each year, and a strong online presence – count a staggering 17.5 million Instagram posts and 468,800 TikTok mentions – this classic never goes out of style. Loved by Hollywood legends and modern-day trendsetters alike, red lips are the ultimate go-to for a fierce pop of colour. Whether you're channeling old-school glamour or modern-day chic, it’s always in vogue.

Coming in third is the coveted ‘glass skin’ look, which originated in the K-beauty industry – dewy, flawless and so radiant it’s almost reflective. With nearly 1.1 million Google searches made annually, 1.4 million Instagram posts, and 597,900 TikTok mentions, this trend is a global favourite. Achieved through intense hydration and skincare, the goal is to create a luminous, poreless complexion that radiates a healthy glow.

To find out the most popular make-up looks, we used the same seed list and ranked the make-up looks based on the following metrics:

• Google search volume (annual search volume) - using Google Keyword Planner

• Number of Instagram posts - the number of posts under the relevant hashtag (e.g., #glowyskin) was recorded. A higher number of posts contributed to a higher score. Small discrepancies can be noticed due to normal data fluctuations.

• Number of TikTok posts - the number of posts under the relevant hashtag (e.g., #glowyskin) was recorded. A higher number of posts contributed to a higher score. Small discrepancies can be noticed due to normal data fluctuations.

Data was collected on 20th February 2025.