The 2016 Beauty Trends Worth Bringing Into 2026

It's 2026, and the internet is officially nostalgic for 2016 — the era of Kylie Lip Kits, Instagram filters and over-the-knee boots. Across social media, users have expressed their longing for many of the fads from the time to make a comeback."That era of YouTube was all about creativity in makeup. I miss that." wrote one user on Threads. 

Looking at side-by-side photos of celebs from then-and-now make it clear how much trends have evolved in these 10 years. But while many fads from that time feel undoubtedly outdated (stamped eyebrows are among the many 2016 trends that can stay behind in that tumblr era), experts agree there are some fads worth revisiting. Dewy, natural makeup has been the go-to look for so long, and returning to the drama of mid-2010s beauty is an exciting way to shift your routine. "The 'clean girl' era is taking a subtle step back as bold, better-than-natural glam steps into the spotlight," Jennifer Blair, founder of Deka Lash, exclusively tells Women.com. 

On that note, it seems fitting to pull makeup inspiration from the days of high glam. But don't think that means you need to revert to old block eyebrows. To determine which 2016 beauty trends are worth bringing into the present, Women.com spoke exclusively with both Jennifer Blair and and Kate Johnson, makeup artist and co-founder of Glossed Finishing Studio. With a few tweaks, these throwback beauty looks can be made fresh again.

The high glam eye makeup looks of 2016 are an easy way to re-introduce some drama to 2026 beauty. "We've spent the last 5 years post-Covid doing extremely natural makeup," makeup artist and co-founder of Glossed Finishing Studio Kate Johnson told Women.com exclusively. "It's very pretty but it gets a little boring." As such, noticeable eyeshadow is making a comeback, including the smoky eye. However, this time around, Johnson says, it's much softer — no cut creases here!  If you want to use dark shadow colors, Johnson recommends "a more natural blending out from the lash line up to the brow."

Just like the dramatic eye makeup of 2016 is making a comeback, so is the era's bold lip. That means opaque, defined color, but with an upgrade. Instead of leaving lips dry and flaky, modern lipsticks are nourishing and hydrating. "Today's matte lip formulas are much more flexible and skin-like," makeup artist Lisa Aharon told Fashionista. "They're infused with skin-care ingredients — think hyaluronic acid, nourishing oils and smoothing complexes — so they feel comfortable and actually wear beautifully over time."

In 2016, eyelashes were all about intensity. "We saw exaggerated lash styles, bold curl patterns and drama," lash expert Jennifer Blair exclusively tells Women.com. Fake lashes and super black mascara were popular. Now, after years of natural makeup and even the no mascara trend, there is nostalgia for super defined eyes. Blair recommends giving this style a modern tweak for 2026 by opting for a deep brown mascara instead. "The color softens the face and gives your lashes a more modern look than the traditional black," she says.

In recent years, the bold eyebrow has given way to softer, more natural styles. It was a complete 180 from the heavily-drawn brows of the mid aughts. However, the look hasn't been universally loved. "For people like me who have very light eyebrows and very sparse, if you aren't coloring it in, the natural look doesn't work," says makeup artist Kate Johnson. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean it's time to start penciling in harsh solid block brows again.  "Line under the brow and fluff the color up so it creates the definition under... but brush up the color from that line and diffuse it upwards," suggested Johnson. "[It creates] a more natural version of the 2016 brow."

In 2016, hair trends were graphic and fun. Bright colors and dip-dyed ends were popular. Ombré hair, which gradually fades from one color at the roots to a different shade at the ends, offered a sort of middle ground between bold and natural. Now, this low-maintenance style is back with a twist. "The key differences between the original ombré and the latest reincarnation are that the contrast is less; only one or two shades difference between the darkest to lightest parts, and the gradient line sits around the eyes and cheekbone, highlighting these areas," hairstylist Tom Smith told Stylist.

It's time for a revival of the bouncy, oversized curls that were popular in 2016. The natural-looking waves that have trended in recent years are deceptively high maintenance. "Modern wave hair is completely unrealistic for most because it doesn't hold and you need 25,000 pounds of hair to make it look good," says makeup artist Kate Johnson. By contrast, the bigger, pin-up curls are universally flattering, even if you have short hair. "More people can do them because they're less structured and allow for more freedom," says Johnson. "It's classic, pretty and feminine."

"Platinum hair is 100% back!" makeup artist Kate Johnson exclusively tells Women.com. After years of your-hair-but-better colors trending — like the highly coveted "desert sand blonde" hair color trend — this statement color looks fresh and exciting. That said, this super light hue has been updated for 2026. Think slightly softer shades than Kim Kardashian's nearly white 2016 hair.  "Now [people] are going platinum but on the beige side," she says. "So that's a level 9 or 10 with a neutral rinse, by comparison." This also makes it a little bit more low-maintenance than other styles. "It's more natural because it's gentler on the hair and easier to maintain for someone who is already a darker or medium blond... [It] doesn't look so insane when the roots start to grow in."

Gen Z might be all about the middle part, but the 2016 side part is due for a major comeback. To avoid looking like a Millennial who can't stop clinging to the past, refresh the look with a deeper part and more movement. "Back then, the look was sharp and deeply defined and often slicked down, flat to the head, and sometimes paired with heavy side-swept bangs," hairstylist Tom Smith told ELLE. "This time around, it's softer and more wearable with a bit more volume." There are a few tricks to help tell if a side part is the best style for you.