7 “Outdated” Beauty Trends That Are Making A Comeback In 2024
It’s been proven time and again that what goes around most certainly comes back around. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about clothes that have been up in your attic since the 1990s or haircuts that you thought were left in the 1970s. Trends tend to reinvent themselves with a more modern perspective and masterful effect, and we’d be lying if we said we weren’t happy to see some beauty techniques and products of decades past come back in style.
Forget about “outdated” beauty tips; let’s celebrate the ones that are currently the newest “it” things for 2024. Here are 7 old-school beauty trends making a big comeback this year.
Red Nails
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While the classic French manicure came back into the fold last year—and temporarily displaced Funny Bunny and Bubble Bath—neutral nails are getting overlooked for something slightly more exciting this year: red nails. During the holidays, deep cherry red nails were trending big-time, and nothing will ever compare to the confidence that three coats of Big Apple Red gives instantly. Neutral nails make you feel put together, but red nails make you feel like a powerhouse—which is the exact energy to take through 2024.
“Blowout” Haircuts
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While sleek bobs and super shaggy cuts have been ruling supreme on two ends of the spectrum over the past few years, there’s been a turn towards a more natural and low-maintenance option: the “blowout” cut. With layers that start below the chin and frame your face so flattering, this hairstyle is supposed to exude the self-assurance and effortlessly chic attitude of the quintessential 1990s model cuts (think Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer). It’s impossible to not feel confident with a fresh face-framing blowout swinging with every step, and that’s exactly what to ask for at the salon.
Powder Blush
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While liquid makeup has completely overhauled most of our routines—and rightfully so for a youthful, glowy finish—there is one product that has proven to be an exception: powder blush. And a lot of it. Applying an overly generous amount of blush has emerged as the trend of the 2020s, primarily as a way to make a statement with even the most subtle makeup. At its core, blush is supposed to evoke a healthy and radiant complexion. While some liquid formulas are worth your money, it’s time to start finishing off with sweeps of powder blush to set everything and contour your upper cheekbones, á la both the blush-heavy eras of the 1930s and 1980s.
At-Home Hair Color
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Well, sort of. The potential negatives of using permanent hair dye at home certainly outweigh the benefits. You might have watched your elders bring home boxed dye from the drugstore, but it’s best to leave it to the professionals. However, there are more and more color-adjacent products coming onto the market that help refresh and add vibrance to your strands without any risk of damaging your hair or causing hard-to-fix mistakes. Look for tinted products that give a wash of color and smooth out your hair for a salon-like toning result. You can find many brands touting healthy and temporary hair color refreshes and root touch-up systems that are worth trying if you are attempting to cut down on salon visits.
Velcro Rollers
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Speaking of enviable blowouts, there have been many techniques and tools to try to achieve the bounciest, most volume-packed subtle curl, yet none has ever topped the result of a set of classic velcro rollers you might have seen your grandmother use. Many Southerners might even have vivid memories of being dropped off at school while their mothers were still wearing velcro rollers, but that doesn’t mean we should let those stories hold us back from the truth. If you can master them, you’ll never use anything other than hair rollers, which is exactly why they’ve stuck around and absolutely taken over the hair world recently. Don’t knock them until you try them.
Matte Lipstick
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While lip gloss has largely remained the favorite tube of the past two decades, a more natural-finish lipstick has slowly been gaining popularity as the better alternative. It’s not matte in the way of those drying, peeling matte lipsticks of the 2010s, but more of a hydrating, yet not glossy finish more characteristic of the traditional lipsticks you’d find at the department store. While red lips will never go out of style, the shades du jour are meant to be much more flattering on your own natural lip color tone, such as rose pinks, dusty mauves (like the famed Pillow Talk), and rich berries. It lends a more mature and put-together feel than the super glossy looks previously preferred. Just a subtle sweep of classic lipstick adds the perfect finishing touch.
Simple Skin-Care Routines
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Sometimes, there’s no substitution for what has always worked. In the world of 12-step skin-care routines and retinol “alternatives,” people are finally discovering that simple can be better. Nighttime routines used to consist of cleansing your face, putting on a basic retinol, and finishing with a generous slathering of Pond’s Cream. For anyone concerned with skin health and aging, that straightforward combination still works like a charm. Often, using too many products can be unnecessary, cancel each other out, or even stress out skin for undesired results overall. 2024 is going to be a busy year, and women are veering towards simple. Effective skin-care routines can cut down time, effort, and money.
