Outdated Makeup Trends To Leave Behind For Fall 2023

Listen, we love makeup in every from. But like fashion, makeup evolves and shifts with trends, and what was hot one decade is passé the next. And thanks to the world of TikTok, makeup trends are emerging at the speed of light, so it can feel impossible to keep up with them. For instance, in 2023, we saw the introduction of the angel wing eyeliner technique, an alternative to the traditional cat eye, take over as our primary source of eye inspo. But then there was also the "knot dot" eyeliner technique, which promised to a look more in line with the trendy clean-girl aesthetic.

While we enjoy celebrating the exciting new makeup trends of 2023, we can't deny how fun it is to reminisce over the looks of the past 20 years that once seemed so hot. Now, maybe not so much. That said, we have absolutely no interest in shading anyone who likes to do their makeup in a certain way, regardless of the trend. But if you want your makeup to be of the moment, then steer clear of these dated looks. 

Ah yes, contouring. This theatrical makeup trend took off like wildfire in the late 2000s. In fact, we can date the craze back to September 2008, when Kim Kardashian and her makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic debuted a modern version of contouring. (To be fair, contouring has existed for centuries, so we can't give credit to these two for inventing the phenomenon). We can all remember the endless tutorials that came out, teaching us where to artificially shade our faces in order to add dimension. There was a debate over cream contour or powder contour products. Kardashian herself sold bundles of contour kits. It became not only a trend but a big money item. 

Nowadays, the trendier way to get a version of this look is through "under painting." You apply bronzer, blush, and highlighter to bare skin and then follow with foundation. The effect is much more natural, thereby enhancing your inner glow.

The good old days of baking! This makeup technique was another trend that absolutely blew up thanks to the phenomenon of YouTube makeup tutorials. The "hack," — if we can even call it that — involved applying a heavy layer of loose powder under the eyes following foundation. The powder sat on the skin and warmed up (hence the term 'baking') until one wiped it off, revealing brighter, more flawless skin. The issue was that it left even more product than the already high-coverage foundation was leaving, so the skin was anything but natural looking. Hey, sometimes a dramatic, theatrical look can be amazing. It's all up to you, but in terms of what's current, baking is off the list. 

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but makeup baking is so yesterday," an associate editor, Allana, told Makeup.com. "I never thought of myself as a baking fanatic to begin with because I could just never see myself incorporating it into my routine, and I still feel the same way to this day. I understand that baking gives you a more sculpted finish to your makeup, but I find that it actually makes me end up looking a little too harsh and cakey." Oh, we remember. 

With the introduction of Instagram and the Instagram influencer, it shouldn't be surprising that throughout the 2010s, it was all about the super pretty, ultra-perfect glam makeup. The effect was almost doll-like, with perfectly symmetrical and sharp black liner, brows, and a slightly pale, powdered face that reflected well on camera. But while it was gorgeous, this too-perfect glam isn't the look anymore. The contemporary attitude towards makeup is more relaxed, something that holds space for smudges and imperfections. Beyonce's makeup artist, Sir John, told Allure, "With the return of smudged, lived-in eyes, messy makeup will be making a strong re-emergence. Think Kate Moss or a hint of Courtney Love in the '90s." This is great news for all of us who can't perfect winged liner! 

Makeup artist Victor Anaya told Cosmopolitan that the less-perfected look has become especially popular for eye makeup. "Think softer, hazy washes of color that wrap around the eye and looks lived-in," Anaya explained. So we can forget about precision and perfection.

Long before anyone heard of terms like contour, bronzer was treated as a free-for-fall. Back in the 2000s, there unfortunately was no limit when it came to faking a tanned look. If people weren't taking to tanning bed, or getting spray tans, then they were sure mimicking it with bronzer all over the face. The look often veered towards a mattifying, single-toned skin that lacked the natural touches of a genuine tan.

While we love the look of a sun-kissed complexion, we know now that there is a limit. We obviously want to keep our skin safe from sun exposure, but we want to use sun-kissed blush or bronzer in a way that reflects how the sun would actually hit our faces: namely, on the high points, like the forehead, cheek bones, and nose. Makeup artist Tasha Reiko Brown told Allure, "Bronzers are going to take a step back." Instead, natural skin with some subtle highlighter is the preferred route of the moment. 

Who can forget the cult classic Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow palette, packed and pressed full of glittery tan, taupe, brown, and 'neutral pink' shadows and mattes to match. The iconic product launched in 2010 and reached over a billion dollars in sales, with one palette being sold every six seconds that year. Part of the appeal of the sparkly palette was that it's neutrals were designed to sort of go with every outfit. Remember when we were all convinced day-to-night makeup was a thing? 

While nudes and neutrals are still popular, richer berry tones are the new direction. "A rich berry color is going to stand out this fall," makeup artist Patrick Ta told Allure. "It's a beautiful, saturated color that looks good on all skin tones." Berry tones also have the added benefit of brightening the eyes and making one look more awake. Nudes could never. For this reason, people sometimes swipe their eyelids with a wash of their blush to tap into that effect.

Even a princess can make makeup mistakes. In the 2010s, a lot of people were falling for tightlining, aka lining both top and bottom lashes with a thick, black liner. While it certainly drew attention to the eyes, the overdose of eyeliner often appeared too harsh and made features like bags and crow's feet stand out. It also made some people's eyes look smaller.

While speaking of Catherine, Princess of Wales, in August 2011, Vivienne Westwood told the London Sunday Times that the eyeliner look was all wrong. "I think she's got a problem with eye make-up!" Westwood told the publication. "The sharp line around her eyes make her look hard. Either she should be smudgy or wear none." This advice still holds true. Either smudge out your liner for a more lived-in feel, or opt for liner only on the top lashes, because that makes the eyes appear bigger and more alert. If you do still want eyeliner on the bottom, choose a color that's a few shades lighter than the top liner. You definitely don't want to reach for your cobalt black liner for the bottom lash line. 

The smoky eye look was a staple of the late 2000s and 2010s, where we were reaching for an assortment of heavily pigmented eyeshadows to achieve a dramatic finish. In fact, the trend was so popular that pretty much every palette from back then had instructions for how to achieve the look. We'd go heavy in the crease with the darkest shade, then use a pearly shimmer in the outer corners. We'd then line our under eyes in the same dark shades, pop on a pair of false lashes, and bump it out at the club to "Moves Like Jagger." That'll be a big pass now, thanks. While a dramatic eye never goes out of style, we're no longer interested in that formulaic smoky eye of decades past. If you want to update the look, get a little less perfect. "Slept-in smoky eyes are grungy and imperfect," makeup artist Donni Davy told Byrdie. "That's what makes it cool. It's unapologetic and a little scary." Don't worry about being so perfect when it comes to the revamped smoky eye.