Three Beauty Looks to Ring In 2020

2019 has been a strange year for most  of us: socially, politically and personally too. From academic and health struggles to family issues, to the many elections and strikes that took place, we were all very involved in life-changing moments.  Needless to say, this year has put us to the test and now it is time to say goodbye and look towards a new year – hopefully, a kinder one for everybody. 

As I prepare for New Year’s Eve, I always take extra care. It is a chance to celebrate all that I have survived and even achieved, and also to welcome all that is to come with open arms – and to me, that means experimenting with makeup. I trained as a ballerina for many years so, to me, makeup is a ritual, one that soothes and readies me for whatever sacrifice or satisfaction may lay ahead. 

In the 1920s, the most prominent look featured dark but thin eyebrows, dark eyeshadows, and heart-shaped lips. The new ‘20s – or as I’ve jokingly taken to calling them, the Rorying 20s – call for bold choices and soothing rituals alike. A balance between the two is what I have tried to achieve with these three new looks to welcome  in the new decade . 

Quick & Chic

This look is my “no-more-than-10-minutes-in-front-of-a-mirror” look. It is the kind of makeup I go for when I don’t have a lot of time but want to feel better about myself. The look is easy to achieve. After having prepped my skin and done my base, I start with a thin flick of liner, just at the outer corner of the eye, instead of a full eyeliner, using an angled brush and a dark eyeshadow (I like a reddish, dark brown). Then, I use my ever-trusted blush, NARS Orgasm, on both my eyelids and my cheeks to give a bit of luminosity. Bold eyebrows, always, achieved by using a mix of a precision pencil and setting gel. Finally, soft lips with a natural color and a little shimmer. Here I’ve used Huda Beauty’s Demi Matte Cream Lipstick in SheeO and BeautyPie’s Wondergloss. And voilà!

Let it Snow

As I returned to  Southern Italy earlier this month, it was nice to find myself in such a warm climate for the holidays, especially after the  freezing rain in Scotland. However, as always, I would have loved to have a snowy Christmas. Well, an icy makeup look shall have to do for me instead! White eyeliner has been all over the catwalks this year, and while it peaked my interest, I was never bold enough to try it. New Year’s Eve might just be the right time for it. Just optical white kajal as liner and a lot of mascara on the eyes. I used the same soft blush on the cheeks as in the above look, but this time, I turned to a bolder lip in dark maroon to contrast with the eyes. I might have been skeptical at first, but this look is now one of my favourites.

To Boldly Go

I had to name this look after a Star Trek reference, considering this is my boldest look yet (and also because I love Star Trek). However, my main inspiration comes from another intergalactic franchise. With this decade seeing the end of the Skywalker Saga in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, I found myself inspired by the cool blues of lightsabers, stars, and near-the-sea duels. The matte blue eyeshadow is tempered by the shine of a touch of Glossier’s Lidstar in Moon. No blush for this look, just the subtlest contouring. BeautyPie’s Wondergloss is the final touch on the lips. What better way to end the decade than looking into the intergalactic future?

Whatever look you choose for your New Year’s Eve, I wish you all a sparkling 2020!

---

Rory Mara is a founding member of and beauty writer for The Attic of Eighth. She loves the ballet, books, beheadings, and alliteration.