2019 heralds the rise of an anti-beauty movement. Beauty now presents itself as a way of transformation, a boundary-pushing type of expression which feeds a must feel answerable for our freedom, in a world shaped by a 2018 doom and gloom 12 months. A subculture of experimental and exhibitionist artists is bringing daring aesthetics to the fore, redefining the notions of imperfection through body modifications.

From body paint to hued pubic hair, photoreal tattoos, dental braces to facial jewellery prosthetics, 2019 will set the tone for the subsequent decade. The deeper we go into crisis and the more homogenised our consumer world becomes, the more beauty will offer an escape, a direct path to self-empowerment and individualism.

Through the sheer power of raw self-expression and a limitless attitude, beauty trends are showing what innovation is fundamentally about. Not predominantly led by tech or science, albeit key developments are at all times happening on this field, but by the elemental means of creating, with our bodies because the canvas. The result’s an artful and experimental approach to pushing boundaries, forcing us out of our comfort zones and changing notions of inclusivity. Beauty isn’t any longer about looking what’s deemed “good”. It’s now about shattering conventional perceptions.

In 2019 we’ll proceed to see artists and influencers hack the human template, giving us a d.i.y. preview of the longer term possibilities of bioengineering. Although the scientific breakthroughs aren’t yet available to the mass, their presence has entered our psyche, doped up by Instagram offering creatives an unhinged platform (except in the case of nipple bearing).

Braces are the brand new grills

As a place to begin, braces and freckles which once can have caused embarrassment are actually celebrated, enhanced with color and metallics as seen in Asos’s recent Pride campaign featuring @uglyworldwide. Braces have a good time the awkwardness of youth, echoing the continued trend (omnipresent since 2014) for 90s nostalgia and embracing the kid inside us. Braces shall be the brand new grill, an indication of pride, as signalled by photographer @JoshuaWoods and make-up artist @athenapaginton.

Skin conditions will now not be othered

In our article “what humans will appear like over the subsequent 100 years”, we focused on types of skin pigmentation that can change into aspirational between 2018 and 2028. Vitiligo, the community inside and around it can proceed to harness the individuality of the condition to emulate body paint – consistent with the trend for individuality – enhancing and fidgeting with the skin’s chromatic contrasts unique to all and sundry.

The rise of body modification

Moving on from natural conditions, artificial body modifications will increase in popularity starting from contact lenses to face jewellery prosthetics and surrealist faux tattoos. Our Instagram culture has unleashed a necessity for theatrical effects and daring looks, heralded by make-up artists turned influencers. In 2019 the race to interrupt recent ground will add to the momentum of beauty influencers inspired by sci-fi. To assume the longer term, they use Twentieth-century art movements as a springboard. Surrealism and Graffiti encourage temporary tattoos with artists akin to @Phillip.Kremer and @maytahmi manipulating the face to the purpose of creating a satire of the human condition. Brands akin to Libertine and Loewe also tapped into the emerging trend for faux tattoos with a lighter tone of their Spring Summer 2019 collections.

Must have gone to Specsavers

Contact lenses may even play into the trend for otherworldly, ugly beautiful and disturbing creatures as we see an emergence of looks mixing 70s punk and 90s rave cultures. White lenses in addition to orange tones emulating Living Coral, the Pantone color of 2019 shall be the distinguished trend.

Face jewellery will change into a recent beauty category

Body jewellery in 2019 will grow as its own beauty category, outside of the accessories market. Emulating prosthetics, specifically for the face and nails, these pieces will fully change into a component of our make-up routine. Make-up artist akin to Sam Schavlev @sam_makeup_art shall be inspired by “mutant beauty” whilst @lisetgarza and @nailunistella use precious stones and metal to show our hands into articulated jewellery pieces.

Complex braiding

Relating to hair, attention to architecture shall be key. We’ll see complex braiding in addition to “foreign body” insertions akin to rings, safety pins and chains, echoing the trend for body jewellery. The styles may have a historic and tribal connotation, culturally aggregating African Masai tribes, Egypt and Greek goddesses shown here by hairstylist Takayoshi Tsukisawa. Wood or horn components shall be replaced with plastics (the recycled nature preferably) and metal ornaments akin to amulets as seen with @xpresioncreativos’ creations.

Back to the 90s

Also celebrating structure in a more geometric way are hairstyles tapping into eighties and early nineties hip-hop. Stylist @rickrobertshair nods to Kid n’ Play and Grace Jones. Whilst Jamie Gonzales emulates early 90s David Sims photography adding a recent touch with bright ombre hues starting from fiery to mellow orange.

Pubes shall be hued

In hair colors, 2019 will signal a shift from powdery pinks and vivid greens to yellow. @janine_ker_hair harnesses the color in addition to daring patterns into her creations, consistent with our trend vision for patterned hair. The trend for hued body hair will make its way down from underarm to pubic hair, echoing a growing attention to the world with a bunch of pubic hair oil brands akin to Fur.

The body is a canvas

Probably probably the most daring trend for 2019 shall be the rise of body and face paint. A product of drama-infused editorial and catwalk styling, we’ll see every single day looks emulating this in a paired down way. For instance, only specializing in eyebrows. The inspiration is raw and led by each performance art – think Yves Klein’s Anthropometry performance and Paris is Burning drag queen beauty. The body is an art canvas and this notion is being expanded by a bunch of creatives including polymath artist and designer @marasheva in her performance for @tamburinsofficial. The trend is the proper vehicle for chromatic and textural experimentation and may be paired down into futuristic eyeliner inspiration as seen in Tiffany Patton’s make-up shot by Matthew Priestley.

Vivid daring brows

The identical attention to color and painterly textures affects eyebrow treatments. Neon green emerges as a key color in addition to tribal tattoo inspired touches spurred by the long-lasting Michele Lamy. Brands might want to explore daring hues and the way to achieve them with natural ingredients, a movement spearheaded with brands akin to Milk.

Sharpen your lip liners

Lips in 2019 shall be sharply defined and outlined. Make-up influencers will proceed to explore graduated effects, but the main focus shall be on a distinguished lip, highlighted with daring and dark colors. We may even see 3D lip embellishments adding the theatrical quality of the 2019 Beauty Trends, as shown within the work of make-up artist Kanako Takase showcased in V Magazine’s September issue.

Conclusion

In the wonder story we’re writing on the dawn of the subsequent decade, influencers, brands and end users are conjointly taking matters in their very own hands to redefine the codes. The communities once on the perimeter will grow in influence. The following a long time’ majority shall be different when it comes to looks, beliefs and race. Independent pondering shall be key to thrive, very much illustrated within the art-infused, boundary-pushing trends emerging for 2019. The irony of trends is that the longer term is currently unpredictable, unstable yet making a preferable future is undoubtedly within sight, and those that manifest their vision will lead in 2019 and beyond.