The Biggest Spring Makeup Trends Are Hella Controversial (2025)

The emerging beauty trends of the moment feel a bit rebellious. As a beauty editor, I’m used to a “Florals for spring? Groundbreaking!” type of response when I ask makeup artists about the looks they’re creating backstage at NYFW. But for spring 2025, there are zero floral-inspired makeup looks in that sight. Honestly, what’s trending right now is kinda controversial (heyyyy, skinny brows didn’t expect to see you here) and a departure from the status quo (body glitter and lived-in liner are back, babes). I mean, the world feels a lil weird rn, so it’s not surprising makeup trends do too.

To make sense of spring 2025’s biggest makeup trends, I consulted two makeup artists for their takes—including tips for recreating these looks for yourself, along with the best products to help you out.

Want more seasonal trend inspo? Check out these spring lip colors, spring nail ideas, and new perfumes.

As much as we’ve tried to push it away, the skinny brow trend just isn't going away. In fact, our fave faithful Gabby Windey embraces it. “Soften your brows first before tweezing them,” suggests makeup artist Kelli Anne Sewell. Brush them up with a clear brow gel and avoid filling them in to see the natural shape of your brows and get a feel of how much you might want to remove, she recommends. Or you can fill them in with a slightly lighter shade of your usual brow pencil to conceal them a bit.

Sewell predicts hydrated, blurred lips will be everywhere this spring. It makes sense, considering we saw it all over runways last fall at the Christopher Esber and Loewe shows. Best part? You don’t really have to purchase any new products to get the look. Just dab on your go-to spring lipstick and blur the edges with your fingers. But if you do want to pick up something new, the Versed Cashmere Color Smoothing Lip Blush and Refy Lip Blush are exactly the vibe—they glide on easily and leave behind a soft finish that won’t dry out your lips.

Cool tones have quickly become a runway staple (especially at Kim Shui, pictured here). From eyes to lips to cheeks, we’re okay with things looking a lil gloomy. It plays into the “quiet grunge” trend predicted by makeup artist Chantel Miller at the start of the spring/summer 2025 fashion show season, which prioritizes taupes, grays, beiges, and greiges. Just dust a wash of your go-to contour shade all over your lids, or take things a step further with a full lip look. MAC’s new lip shades are the perfect way to include this in your look—specifically Stone lipstick and Cool Spice lip pencil.

Just because we’re all about cool tones doesn’t mean the warm, summery vibes will completely go away. “I think we’ll see a push to warm tones on the eyes and face to mirror that sunkissed look,” says Sewell. Opt for a shimmery metallic shade in a cream or pot format to make sure it’s extra molten and wet-looking on your eyelids (see: Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeshadow in Dumb Luck or Ilia Eye Stylus Shadow Stick in Divine). Feel free to tap into the golden goddess energy by blending this toward your temples as a highlighter too.

For spring, your makeup looks don’t have to be too precious or perfect, á la this red carpet glam on Jenna Ortega. “That slightly smudged, imperfect liner—whether it’s a classic brown or a fun color—adds instant character and works on everyone,” says Jafri. She recommends swiping on a chubby eyeshadow stick, like Laura Mercier’s Caviar Sticks, in the waterline because it’s easy to smudge out with your fingers or a brush.

2002 called, and it wants its body glow back. Too bad, though, because 2025’s version is a lot glowier without all the chunky, uncomfortable glitters. We saw it all over celebs on the red carpet at the Oscars and Vanity Fair Red Carpets (Tate McRae, Doja Cat, and Keke Palmer). Last spring, One/Size released its famed On ’Til Dawn Setting Spray in a glitter version—and was selling on eBay for $210 after it sold out (luckily, now it’s available again). Try Tate’s trick by coating yourself in a body SPF spray—her fave is Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF Body Mist, or I like Kopari’s Sunglaze.

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than six years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories that range from Chanel makeup reviews to cherry makeup. She’s in the know on all the biggest and newest beauty trends, thanks to countless hours spent scrolling Instagram, bugging makeup artists, and huddling up with other editors backstage at every fashion show she can get into.