Runway Revelations: Decoding the Captivating Beauty Trends of Fashion Month SS25

Fashion month is always a whirlwind of sartorial splendor, but the beauty trends that emerged for Spring/Summer 2025 were truly captivating. From iconoclastic hair pieces to makeup as clothing, the runways of New York, London, Milan, and Paris showcased a dazzling array of innovative and avant-garde beauty looks. ESSENCE delves into the biggest beauty trends that are set to dominate the style scene in the seasons ahead.

Unleashing the Extraordinary: Runway Beauty Trends that Defy Conventions

Iconoclastic Wigs: Defying Tradition, Embracing the Unconventional

The runways were ablaze with a bold new take on hair, as designers and stylists pushed the boundaries of traditional coiffure. At Mugler, avant-garde hair artist Zhou Xue Ming set the tone with sliced hair pieces fixed in front of ballerina buns, creating a striking, sculptural look that was echoed by Luar's chopped and screwed hairstyles in New York. In Paris, Junya Watanabe's wigmaker Eugeine Souleiman took inspiration from the film Ex Machina, crafting asymmetrical bald caps that challenged the norms. Meanwhile, Milan's Bottega Veneta ditched sleek hairdos in favor of shredded afro-like wigs, blurring the lines between fashion and art.

Makeup as Couture: Transforming the Canvas of the Body

The lines between makeup and clothing were blurred as designers and makeup artists collaborated to create truly innovative looks. At Area's 10th anniversary show, makeup artist Yadim's thumbprint makeup tattooed the collection's prints onto the face and body, while at Avavav, Adidas tracksuits were painted directly onto the models, eliminating the need for fabric. Polka-dotted skin at Moschino and imitation stockings at Iceberg further pushed the boundaries of what constitutes beauty, turning the human form into a living, breathing canvas.

Grandeur in the Eyes: Captivating Makeup Statements

The eyes took center stage as makeup artists showcased their artistry. At Loewe, legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath metallized the eyes of models using shimmering shades, while at Rick Owens, makeup maven Daniel Sallstrom tapped into a bold, burnished red eyeliner paired with a Tailor Grey eyeshadow. Marni's pencil-thin, bunny-hop-arched brows and Alexander McQueen's double-winged eyeliner that extended into the hairline added an air of drama and intrigue. At Harris Reed, makeup heir Sofia Tilbury used pinched lashes and golden shadow to transform models into Victorian dolls, blending the past and present in a captivating display.

Luminous Skin: The Timeless Allure of Natural Beauty

Amidst the bold and unconventional trends, a common thread emerged: the celebration of natural, luminous skin. Makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench used the clear MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick over bronzed cheeks at Vivienne Westwood, while at Miu Miu, Pat McGrath's Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection System primed, perfected, and prepped the skin to a flawless finish. The '50s tradwife aesthetic at Acne Studios embraced bare skin with just a touch of pastel yellow cream shadow, showcasing the enduring appeal of a natural, radiant complexion.

Nostalgic Glamour: Embracing the Allure of the 90s

The 90s continued to captivate the fashion world, with designers and makeup artists channeling the era's cool-toned neutral glamour. At Dolce & Gabbana, models shapeshifted into a modern-day Madonna, opting for a soft matte nude lip instead of the iconic red. Grey-eige eyeshadow on the brow bone and smudged overlined '90s nude lipstick at Casablanca and KNWLS, respectively, evoked the decade's effortless cool.

Unsettling Allure: The Rise of Unconventional Beauty

Amidst the captivating trends, a more unsettling beauty aesthetic emerged, with black, white, and colored contacts adding an otherworldly, alien-esque touch. At Diesel and Rick Owens, models donned amphibian white contacts and exaggerated eyeliner, while Avavav's bruised eye makeup doubled down on the unsettling nature of the trend, blurring the lines between the beautiful and the unsettling.As the fashion world continues to push the boundaries of creativity, the beauty trends that emerged during Fashion Month SS25 have set the stage for a captivating and unconventional future. From iconoclastic wigs to makeup as couture, the runways have unveiled a new era of self-expression and artistic innovation, leaving us eager to see what the seasons ahead will bring.