The Bazaar Arabia Beauty Trend Report 2025
Beauty takes a bold turn this S/S25 season. Discover the trends that dominated the runways, with tips, tricks and product picks on how to create the hottest looks straight from the catwalk…
Heavy metals
The easiest way to add instant edge? A metallic touch. Runways shimmered with high-shine accents, proving that silver, gold and chrome are the new neutrals. At Valentino, Alessandro Michele’s daring beauty looks featured septum and labret piercings paired with dewy, understated make-up. Over at Rabanne, the classic gold manicure got a futuristic upgrade with metal cuffs encasing nails. Meanwhile, at Miu Miu, Pat McGrath turned lips into jewellery, outlining the Cupid’s bow with a slick of metallic liner.
Chopova Lowena dialled up the drama with giant, reflective glitter encircling the eyes, while Christian Siriano showcased streaks of metallic pigment through the hair and gleaming silver shadow across the lids.
Take a leaf out of Pat McGrath’s beauty book and use a metallic liner to define your lips or reach for a chrome eyeshadow to take your usual smokey eye up a notch. To bring some subtler heavy metal energy to your look, simply dab a touch of silver on the inside of your eyes to make them appear bigger and brighter.
Lash out
It’s safe to say lashes are having a maximalist moment, proving that bigger, bolder and more dramatic is the way forward. From thick and clumpy to doll-like and disco-ready, statement lashes stole the spotlight across the runways. At Harris Reed, Sofia Tilbury used a “pinched eyelash technique” with Charlotte Tilbury’s new volumizing mascara to create a wide-eyed, retro doll effect. Meanwhile, at Bottega Veneta, Pat McGrath channelled full Studio 54 energy, applying shimmering silver falsies for a high-shine, disco-era finish.
At Luar, lashes were deliberately over-the top, with thick falsies on both the top and bottom for a striking, hyper-feminine stare. Diotima painted lashes in bold hues of white, red and yellow, giving a dipped-in-pigment effect, while Dries Van Noten created fiery, high-impact lashes with magenta and yellow mascara. Whether you go for punky clumps or full-on falsies, one thing is certain – this season’s lashes are anything but subtle.
Pretty in pastel
Pastels for spring? Groundbreaking. But this season, they’ve been given an unexpected edge. At Sandy Liang in New York, pastel pouts added a wash of colour to an otherwise pared-back look. Soleimani mixed bright lip colour with white pigment to create a stark bubble-gum pink lip. Meanwhile, at 3.1 Phillip Lim, soft washes of iridescent lavender haloed models’ eyes and cheekbones in place of blush, proving that grunge is getting a glow-up.
Across the Atlantic, London Fashion Week served its own soft-goth spin, with muted dove-grey lids at KNWLS and cool terracotta lips. Marques Almeida, Shuting Qui, and Peter Do embraced the full spectrum of pastels. Think bright pinks, lilacs, and spring greens – while Torishéju added a dreamy touch with shimmering pastel tear trails.
Even lashes got the pastel treatment, with peach mascara at Dries Van Noten and icy white lashes at Ganni. Terry Barber summed it up at Marques Almeida, calling his pastel pink eye look “a confectionery/pharmaceutical take on eye colour.” If you’re trying the trend, keep the rest of your look minimal – just pick one pastel shade and let it shine.
Into the blue
Call it a blue renaissance. From the dreamy pastels of the ’70s to the electric Y2K revival, designers made a case for blue as the definitive shade of the season. At Marques Almeida, Tove, Private Policy, Chet Lo, and Luisa Beccaria, we saw everything from frosted cerulean washes to deep, smoky navy lids, and even bold blue brows and streaks of sapphire hair extensions.
At Marques Almeida, MAC’s Terry Barber created a frosted “Pan Am Blue shadow,” drawing inspiration from “70’s British sitcoms to cult indie movies.” Over at Tove, lead makeup artist Lynsey Alexander took the look moodier, painting lids with inky navy for a sultry, smouldering effect.
If you’re ready to brave blue, opt for creamy formulas with high pigment payoff for intensity that can be layered and blended to perfection. A swipe of pearlescent powder adds a soft shimmer, while a simple swap from black kohl to a bold cobalt liner delivers instant impact. Whether you go subtle or full throttle, this is one beauty trend that’s making waves.
Blurred lines
Soft, smudged, and effortlessly undone – it’s all about blurred lips this season, offering a fresh alternative to the ultra-precise pouts of seasons past. It’s a look that feels carefree yet intentional, like a lipstick that’s been perfectly worn-in rather than painlessly applied.
At Ulla Johnson, lead makeup artist Romy Soleimani created the ultimate hazy berry pout, pressing Sisley Paris’ Phyto-Lip Twist Matte in Kiss onto the centre of the lips before blending it outwards for a soft-focus effect. Marco Rambali embraced bold fuchsia shades, while Versace, Peter Do, and Doublet leaned into deep Bordeaux hues for a moodier take, and Grace Ling kept things understated with muted neutrals.
Backstage, makeup artists used fluffy brushes to soften edges, but with the right formulas – think velvety mattes and blotted balms – you can achieve that perfectly lived-in lip with just one swipe. Imperfection has never looked so chic.
Feel the flush
As temperatures rise, makeup is mirroring the heat. Sun-kissed skin and beachy blush reigned supreme at Ralph Lauren, Zimmerman, and Ann Demeulemeester. Di Petsa, 16Arlington, Nensi Dojaka, and Vivienne Tam sent models down the runway with a fresh, post-holiday glow, and Collina Strada proved that healthy, radiant skin, prepped with just skincare, is the ultimate beauty statement.
Jason Wu saw powder blush applied over skincare for a dewy finish, while Patrick Ta at Monse layered his Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo for added warmth. 16Arlington’s woman embodied “The Heat” with Lauren Parsons’ “hot girl” look – glowing, sun-kissed skin with effortless fresh off the sand vibes, whereas Di Petsa swept bright blusher across the cheeks and nose, mimicking a natural sun flush.
With cream blush at its peak, expect this trend to continue into 2025. Sweep yours across cheeks and nose for a sun-drenched effect.
Nailed It
Nails aren’t just an accessory this season, they’re the main event. From jewel-encrusted tips to architectural designs, The S/S 2025 shows made a serious case for high-drama manicures, where detail reigned supreme.
At Nensi Dojaka, Ama Quashie’s petal-drop manicures brought a delicate, ethereal touch to the traditional gothic black nail, while Chet Lo turned convention on its head with inverted silver acrylics, creating the illusion of a manicure applied in reverse. Over at Di Petsa, it was all about black French tips accented with glimmers of gold for a touch of the heavy metal trend glamour. Grace Ling pushed stiletto nails to new dimensions with extra-long, sculptural silver acrylics, while Private Policy leaned into the 3D nail movement, pairing light-reflecting silver polish with bold blue eyeshadow for an almost cyber-chic effect.
Then came Simone Rocha’s crystal tassels – utterly impractical but undeniably show stopping. For those seeking something more wearable, Matteo Vale’s deep silver-outlined nails and Alice + Olivia’s floral French manicure offer a fresh take on classic styles, proving that even the most minimalist of beauty lovers can embrace a little embellishment.
Slick it
S/S 2025 made one thing clear: high-shine, super-sleek hair is back in a big way. From razor-sharp blow-dries to glossy, sculpted buns, the runways were a masterclass in polished precision. Some took the trend further; with hair so slick and high shine it looked wet.
At Max Mara, Odile Gilbert created ultra-neat, slicked-back chignons, parted either in the centre or dramatically to the side, while Jawara Wauchope used GHD tools to lay hair impossibly flat before styling it into intricate low buns at Missoni. McQueen and Schiaparelli also leaned into the liquid-sleek aesthetic, whether left loose or pulled up into a sculpted knot. Over at Off-White, ballerina-worthy buns took centre stage, and Carolina Herrera cemented the trend with slick chignons punctuated by sharp centre parts.
The key? High shine, minus the grease. Expect a surge in gel and hairspray sales as we all chase that lacquered, glass-hair finish. Perfect for both high-fashion moments and low-maintenance days in between washes.
Lead image: Xavi Gordo/ Trunk Archive
Images supplied.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia April 2025 Issue.