People are recreating their 2016 makeup routines and we’re overwhelmed with nostalgia

What do we love more than scrolling through TikTok? A nostalgic makeup challenge… on TikTok, of course. So when we noticed that people had started recreating their makeup looks from 2016, we grabbed our fan brush and jumped right on in. We are SO ready for a look that sends us back to those simpler times, when we didn’t know what a pandemic was, a ‘lockdown’ was something we thought we’d vaguely heard at a wrestling match before and Boris Johnson was still just was just happily sliding down zip lines as the Mayor of London. Oh, and we weren’t constantly feeling stressed about the rising cost of living. Remember those days? Ah, bliss. 

Anyway, sorry we digress, back to makeup. The trend looks like it started back in 2021 but it only really kicked off recently, with some videos using the hashtag #2016makeup receiving over 4million views and others receiving thousands of comments with followers gladly jumping on the train back to the contour techniques of yesteryear. It’s basically users showcasing their blocky eyebrows, heavy concealer, baking with loose powder, and lots of contour, and we are SO here for it. 

But for anyone who has blocked out the last decade, let’s just do a quick recap on what 2016 makeup actually is. In the 16’s, makeup trends were all about flashy, intense smokey eyes, clean cut creases, heavy contouring, matte foundations and thick matte liquid lips. Quite different from the looks we see today, which are more natural in comparison, with bushy brows, glossy lips, glowing/dewy skin and rosy cheeks.

So, let’s kick off this makeup memory lane deep-dive with Maddie Hill’s video, the creator’s video has been seen by over 1.5 million people, received over 115,000 likes and hundreds of comments from TikTok users who loved watching her recreate those thick-drawn eyebrows, layered-on foundation and concealer-drawn eyeshadow. 

The throwback makeup features heavy lipliner and LOTS of translucent powder, but we have to say, we don’t hate the finished look. And we particularly love the velvet chocker… anyone want to join our campaign to bring those back?! 

Needless to say, the comments section was flooded by comments complimenting the look and giving their own opinions and the throwback trend. “Tbh it’s not so bad but it’s just the eyebrows and eyeshadow…,” wrote one TikTok user, while another commented: “2016 make up is the best.”

Though some felt that, actually, not much has changed. “Am I the only one who still follows quite a few of these makeup steps in 2022?!” asked a disgruntled user, another chiming in: “Umm… not me just having finished this look on myself.”

Then there’s user @aod.makeupartist, whose take on the trend shows her highlighting her cheekbones to high heaven… seriously, you could spot those apples a mile away. She also sets the video to that 2016 hit, Closer by The Chainsmokers. Eugh, don’t get us started. 

“This was back when we actually got in depth tutorials on YouTube. So it’s still the only thing I know how to do 😂,” commented on viewer, in response to the big brows and contrasting black and pink smokey eye. “The most spot on 2016 makeup look,” added another, while a third wrote: “The eye makeup still slaps tbh.”

And the videos keep coming, I mean, you could literally spend an entire week scrolling through the  #2016makeup hashtag (not a bad idea TBH), but these are a few of our favourites:

Basically, what we’ve gleaned from this little brush with memory lane, is that trends change but the basic principles of makeup stay the same – and can be played with depending on what you feel works best for you. 

Now, 2016 revival, anyone? TBH, we’d be happy to be anywhere other than in 2022 right now.