Typically, the month of January is reserved for setting and (trying not to fail) our New Year’s resolutions. We set the month aside for us to build the right momentum for the rest of the year, so we can reinvent—or at the very least, improve—ourselves. Yet, three weeks into 2026, everywhere we turn, we’re instead greeted with images of our friends and family 10 years younger. It seems the internet’s latest obsession lies in what we were all collectively up to in 2016.
While we’re still poring over our questionable fascination with chokers and skater skirts, for us—your beauty fiends at Vogue Singapore—what ultimately defined the 2016 era was the explosion of beauty trends. It was the year we saw the boom and rise of numerous beauty YouTubers, like NikkieTutorials and Michelle Phan, who remain strongholds in the online beauty space today. Through their beauty tutorials, wisdom transcended borders and the beauty realm took on a life of its own, with shifts in consumer perspectives that played out on an industry level as well. It was less brands, brands, brands—and more about the wild, experimental ways everyone was approaching their day-to-day regimes. From teasing and fluffing the tresses to create the flawless top knot, to learning how to define the lip line for the Tumblr-perfect pout, 2016 served as one of the most iconic years for the beautyverse. Here, we break down some of the most remarkable beauty trends from 2016 that we want to see again, even 10 years down the road.
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The return of the true matte
The 2016 take: In the Year of the Beauty YouTuber, the then-It girls—we’re talking about Jenn Im and Zoella, for instance—ruled the day (and our screens) with their impeccably sculpted pouts. Matte lipsticks littered the bottom of every make-up bag of the 2016 cool girl, pushed into the mainstream by King Kylie herself who had launched Kylie Cosmetics just a year earlier. For her brand’s debut product, there was nothing more iconic at the time than a good lip kit, consisting of a sharp lip liner and matte liquid lipstick.
What we’ll be doing differently in 2026: While we have definitely outgrown the flaky pains of dry formulas, what we’re still reaching for in 2026 is a good vampy lip. Bold and unapologetically attention-grabbing, deep purple hues and rich berry tones are making a comeback in 2026. An MLBB (my lips but better) moment will never go out of style, but this year, we’re embracing sheer drama on the lips again.
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A trip to space
The 2016 take: The rise of space buns was just one of those beauty moments you had to be there for. We all remember the days we sat for hours in front of the mirror trying to get our space buns to be perfectly symmetrical. Though space buns never truly left the beauty sphere—the hairstyle tends to make not-so-surprise appearances at music festivals—we’re seeing more celebrities mimic the 2016 style with unabashed fervour.
What we’ll be doing differently in 2026: Our advice to give the hairdo a modern refresh? Lean into a jagged hair part that’s equal parts whimsy and edge. Plus, rather than tuck the ends of your locks into each bun, leave the tips out and spike them up with some gel for a bold attitude.
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Brows on fleek
The 2016 take: If 2016 make-up could be characterised by one thing (or two, in this case), it would be sharply-cut eyebrows. In the mid-2010s, we arguably saw more effort being put into the brows than any other part of one’s make-up regimen. Think thick, defined arches animated by heavy-handed eyebrow pomades—à la Anastasia Beverly Hills and Benefits Cosmetics—and a brightening concealer that carves them out so sharp, they could slice the skin.
What we’ll be doing differently in 2026: Fast forward 10 years, lush eyebrows are coming back in a different way. In place of the 2000s-esque straight brow look we’ve been seeing for the past few years, we’re now noticing more cool girls—including Blackpink’s Lisa—abandon their tweezers in favour of natural, fluffier brow shapes. But don’t worry, we’re not about to enter our caterpillar brow phase again, at least not for now.
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Rainbow runs
The 2016 take: Another King Kylie classic beauty trend that’s set to see a resurgence in 2026 is the exploration of near-neon locks. No colour is truly off-limits—most definitely not the electrifying energy of turquoise, as beloved on Jenner. Just as we did back then, 2026 invites us to capture a sense of raging individuality with daring hair dyes. It’s less about changing who you are, and more about being so viscerally confident that you can switch things up on a dime.
What we’ll be doing differently in 2026: Leave those dry, split ends out the door and do pamper your tresses. Instead of reaching for the burning box dyes and bleaches, we’re paying attention to hair health, just as much as creative expression. Do the treatments, see a specialist, invest in those serums—you’ll thank us for it.
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So long, clean girl
The 2016 take: The clean girl aesthetic has become somewhat of a fixation in recent years, with more celebrities and influencers opting for a “less is more” attitude when it comes to beauty. It’s all about that imperceptibility: details that look effortlessly chic, yet ironically require time, effort and nuance to pull off. But now, in 2026, we’re bound to see more of the return of high-octane make-up looks that scream pure glamour. We’re talking defined contours, coupled with intentional bronzing and blinding highlights, circa 2016.
What we’ll be doing differently in 2026: While the no-make-up make-up look will always occupy a special place in our hearts, the beauty industry is about to be swept off its feet with dimension that dares to be seen. Time to put your newfound BeautyTok knowledge to good use: soft contour lines or a deeper blush shade for a subtle cheek sculpt. We’ve learnt that beauty is not one-type-fits-all, after all.
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Bleached blonde Barbie
The 2016 take: As much as we loved to play up the rainbow magic of our locks in 2016, we also couldn’t get enough of the brash powers of the bleached blonde Barbie. No natural pigments here—even if you were a natural blonde. It was when all the It girls loved the near-platinum shade of blonde, especially when it became part of an unblended ombré. A rite of passage, if you will.
What we’ll be doing differently in 2026: A gentler ombré effect, or something closer to colour melting is where it’s at. Less like a straight chop across the hair, and more elevated and layered with high- and lowlights—for that boost of personality.
