‘Naked’ foundation, cushion compact–8 beauty trends that made 2016 great

The year may have brought bad juju to the entire universe, but it was a good year for beauty

Just like fashion, beauty trends—especially makeup —tend to be cyclical. While we are currently enjoying a resurgence of ’90s-inspired trends both in outfits and makeup (raise your hand if you’ve been sporting a plummy brown lip lately), we’re also about to enter the era of brightly colored eyeliner and eyeshadow—with a modern twist, of course.

One thing beautiful about resurrected beauty trends is that, while they echo looks of years gone by, new formulas and scientific breakthroughs give way to new products that become vanity staples. Here we list down some of our favorite trends and breakthroughs that we hope will stay longer than 2016.

The year may have brought bad juju to the entire universe, but it was a good year for beauty.

Make Up For Ever Water Blend Face & Body Foundation

This unbelievably lightweight foundation covers without making you feel like you’re wearing anything.

1. Super weightless foundation

A lot of keywords for foundation: “water,” “air,” “serum.” The quest for the ultimate weightless foundation will never end, but this year we discovered old and new favorites. Brands highlighted ultra-weightless makeup bases that promised full coverage with a naked “skin-like” feel. Our top favorites:

MAC Studio Water-weight Foundation

This easily blendable formula is a hit among bridal makeup artists.

Chanel Le Teint Ultra Tenue powder foundation

Gone are the days when powder foundation felt like it was sitting on top of the skin. Chanel’s version gives longlasting invisible coverage without caking, creasing or making the face look super powdery.

2. Cushion compacts

Makeup addicts who live in Asia get the best of both worlds. South Korea is arguably the current birthplace of groundbreaking beauty products.

Cushion compacts and sheet masks, for example, aren’t new to those who obsess over Kbeauty, but it has only recently gained a cult following in the United States. What’s good about trends from the East making their way to the West is that we get to experience the trendy product in diverse shades (most Korean makeup trends tend to stick to culturally marketable shades) and textures.

One such example is the cushion compact, a liquid-saturated sponge that dispenses product when you press a thin sponge against it. It’s highly buildable: apply one layer for barely-there coverage, or layer on for full but weightless cover.

It also comes with high SPF (we’ve yet to see one with less than SPF 50), so it’s a good way to reapply sunscreen on the go. Our picks:

Dior Capture Totale Dream-skin Perfect Skin Cushion, Dior at SM Makati

There are no words to describe just how gorgeous this cushion is. If you want to have smooth, poreless looking skin in a few swipes, this is the way to go. It’s very pricey (P3,950 for a set), but the effect you get is worth it. It goes on dewy but dries down to a satin, radiant finish.

Etude House Precious Mineral Any Cushion Pearl

Aura, Etude House

If you’re always in a hurry, you’ll love this formula that mixes coverage with a pearly highlighter in one application. This is what you should get if you want to look like a K-drama star.

The Face Shop Oil Control Water Cushion, The Face Shop

This lightweight water-based cushion is perfect for those with super oily skin. It dries down to a semi-matte finish and suppresses excess oil production.

Tony Moly BC-Dation Cushion, Tony Moly

Another multitasker that puts together the effects of a BB Cream, CC Cream and a liquid foundation, this handy compact covers blemishes without the weight.

3. Modernized permanent makeup

This year marks the renaissance of permanent makeup. Where it was once vilified for its unnatural long-term discoloration, the new generation of permanent makeup uses a different dye and techniques to produce an ultra-natural “I really woke up like this” effect.

Expect more and more makeup artists to add this skill to their repertoire and as this trend continues to skyrocket. But it’s important to be more discerning when choosing the one to permanently ink your face.

For eyebrow embroidery, where hair-like strokes are applied with a super-fine needle, make sure to choose someone who is an expert in eyebrow shapes, i.e. someone who will pick a shape that suits you and your face shape, and not just a standard cookie cutter or trendy shape.

4. Ultra matte lips

There was a time when our moms were obsessed with this super long-wearing lip color that was so long-wearing it also dried out the lips like a prune, which was why the lip color usually came with a moisturizing gloss on the other end. This year, the long-wearing ultra matte lip was back, but with a more lip-friendly texture. Our top favorites:

Colour-pop, Colourpop.com

This brand was reportedly the same one that made Kylie Jenner’s sold-out lip kits. At US$5.99 a pop, these affordable matte lip creams were easy to collect even though they were available only online (there were resellers, but