Photo: Instagram.com/billieeilish
After a rather subdued 2020, the beauty world found its groove again in 2021, with new iconic looks on the red carpet, massive product launches including a new wave of celebrity-backed brands, and experimental beauty driven by viral social media trends. Read on for 2021’s more exciting, intriguing, and celebratory beauty moments.
Red Carpet Glam Returns
Rym Saidi. Photo: Dazl Production
After a year of staying at home, the stars brought their A-game to galas, premieres, and parties. From Vogue Arabia’s own gold-themed Ball of Arabia, to the Met Gala and Cannes Film Festival, beauty looks were bolder, brighter, and more joyful than ever before.
Celebrity Beauty Brands
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It’s probably easier to pick out the stars who don’t have their own makeup, skin, or haircare brand at this point. Much like the early 2000s celebrity fragrance trend, it seems like every second launch in 2021 had an A-lister “spotting a gap” in the market. From musicians like Halsey, Ariana Grande, and Harry Styles, to Iman, Jennifer Aniston, Salama Mohamed, and a literal toddler.
We Revisit the 90s
Photo: Instagram.com/bellahadid
90s nostalgia hit hard, with 90s-inspired looks chosen by It Girls like Bella Hadid, Olivia Rodrigo, and Dua Lipa. Lip gloss, butterfly clips, and frosted blue shadow all look to trend beyond 2021, with next season also drawing heavily from the decade.
Chanel Celebrates 50 Years of No.5 with the ‘Chanel Factory
Chanel Factory 5 collection. Photo: Courtesy Chanel
The Chanel Factory had luxury beauty lovers scooping up limited edition launches celebrating the house’s signature fragrance. Freshly off the production line from the Chanel “factory”, we were treated to interactive pop-ups and quirky products based on Chanel No.5.
Hindash Launches His Own Brand
The Middle East’s dreamiest makeup artist launched his highly anticipated beauty brand in style, complete with a larger than life projection on the Burj Khalifa. His Beautopsy complexion palette was followed up with the Heroliner – most recently used on Adele by Nikki Tutorials – and with 2022 hinting at more to come from the Dubai-based Jordanian.
Stars Flaunt Going Grey
Andie MacDowell. Photo: Getty
Naturally grey hair was the surprise star at this year’s Cannes Film festival, with a trio of iconic actors with silvery locks on display. Helen Mirren, Jodie Foster, and Andie Macdowell all stepped out with stunning hair looks, from Mirren’s icy silver coif, to Foster’s face-framing grey strands and Macdowell’s enviable salt-and-pepper curls.
CBD Skincare Arrives in the UAE
Photo: Courtesy of Juana Skin
For the first time in the country’s history, the UAE allowed the sale of CBD skincare. Locally-founded brand, Juana Skin, was immediately on our radar, with its combination of skin-soothing ingredients, and potent yet calming CBD oils.
Billie Eilish’s Blonde Moment
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The singer broke the internet after her newly platinum hair plus a Marilyn Monroe-inspired pin-up look was revealed for her first Vogue cover. A far departure from Eilish’s black with neon green roots, she announced that the new look gave her a taste of anonymity. While she’s now back to black, the bleached blonde trend as continued with stars like Cyrine Abdelnour also going platinum.
Underlining Replaces the Classic Flick
Dior autumn-winter 21/22 haute couture collection. Beauty created and styled by Peter Philips. Photography: Sophie Tajan for Christian Dior Parfums.
2021’s most defining runway trend was undoubtedly the new look winged liner, with everyone from Chanel and Off White, to Giambattista Valli trying their own variation on the look. Our favorite was the striking underliner seen at Dior’s couture show – a thoroughly modern approach to winged liner.
Nail Art Trends
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2021 saw a huge amount of experimentation with nail art, on the runway and off of it, from blinged out nail art on Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, and Cardi B, to bright tips and graphic designs for Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner, and Rita Ora.
Tik Tok Crosses Over to Beauty
Love it or loathe it, the social media app Tik Tok made its presence felt in the beauty world, with amateur skincare ‘experts’ discovering the wonders of Vaseline for the first time, off-beat beauty hacks going viral, and makeup artists showing off their stash. We also found inspiration in Tik Tok’s regional stars, like Egyptian comedy queen and beauty fan Hadeel Marei.
