23 Beauty Moments That Marked 2023
From exciting news that made waves across the world to the most compelling figures and buzz-worthy trends, EnVi looks back at the very Best of 2023. In this installment, we round up the top celebrity beauty moments of the year.
Amid countless micro-trends, Fashion Week celebrity sightings, and advertising campaigns, it’s safe to state that the beauty world was packed with stunning looks and fun ideas in 2023. This year, the beauty industry was defined by Barbiecore, Y2K, and quiet luxury. But there were also strong beauty moments courtesy of subcultures on social media and TikTok trends — think of siren eyes, latte makeup, cherry cola lips and the super divisive blueberry milk nails.
In addition to these trends, when looking back at the best of beauty in 2023, we’ll also be thinking about hyperfemininity-fueled styles, striking hair colors and throwbacks to the past. Ahead, EnVi recaps the celebrity beauty moments that we’ll still be thinking about well into 2024.
Danna Paola’s Dark Beauty
Mexican singer Danna Paola turned micro bangs and a sleek front curl into her beauty signatures in 2023. The star took these hairstyles to the front rows, award ceremonies and her North American tour. And though the hair statements were noteworthy on their own, she added extra glamour by pairing them up with dark makeup. Smokey eyes, black winged liner and burgundy lipstick complemented the dark aesthetic the singer championed throughout the year.
Davika’s Feather Brows and Spider Lashes
From peach fuzz makeup to neon manicures, Thai actress Davika Hoorne embraced the hottest beauty trends all year long. To attend the Huading Awards in Hollywood, the star revived the feather brow trend of 2022. However, she didn’t take the classic route. Instead, she gave it a modern boost with spider lashes. Paired with Bulgari’s finest gems and a classy pin curl, Davika’s glam spoke for itself.
Feid’s “Gafitas” and Green Mullet
Feid’s penchant for dark sunglasses is a recurrent topic of conversation among fans of the Colombian reggaeton singer. “El Ferxxo,” as he is dubbed, is rarely spotted without his sunnies and they’re now a signature of his celebrity image. The singer even took a pair of sport-style frames to the Latin Grammys. To complement the edgy look, Feid opted for an eclectic blonde mullet with neon green dipped ends. For those who don’t know, neon green is the singer’s signature color so his look channeled Ferxoocore from beginning to ends — pun intended.
Felip’s Dyed Buzz Cut
Pinoy star Ken Suson, otherwise known as Felip, is always in for an unconventional hairstyle. For his January 2023 release “Rocksta,” the singer went for a striking hair makeover, replacing his middle-length hair with a buzz cut. But this was not a regular buzz cut. The singer elevated the look with a fun hair dye that recreated the spots on leopard skin. The design was reminiscent of the leopard print hair popularized in the 2010s, but it carried the modern edge that Felip has cultivated with his eclectic style choices.
Hande Erçel’s Feminine Glamour
Time after time, Turkish actress Hande Erçel finds herself commanding audiences with her makeup looks, impeccable fashion taste, and effortless beauty. The Bambaşka Biri star always delivers and her look for the 2023 Cannes Film Festival was no different. In true Hande style, the actress rocked a rose-toned glamorous makeup topped off with fluffy spider lashes. This feminine beauty repertoire paired perfectly with the bow details in her outfit, accentuating the femininity she is praised for.
Heart Evangelista’s Golden Hour Makeup
The ultimate source of all things glam, Heart Evangelista, embodied golden perfection to attend the MEGA Ball. The fashionista opted for a couture ensemble courtesy of Schiaparelli and gold-toned makeup. The socialite’s slicked-back bob opened up the face to reveal glowy golden hour skin. Winged, bronze shadow and fluffy lashes lifted the eye area while Heart’s lips were painted in satin nude lipstick for an extra touch of glamour.
Jackson Wang’s Gemini Hair
The king of funky concepts and fantastical performances, Jackson Wang, discovered an eye-catching hairstyle in 2023: Gemini hair. The two-toned dye job worked wonders during his international performances but was also the perfect complement for fancy galas. Enhancing his singularity as an artist, the tousled black and white hairdo was the ideally chic and unorthodox look for Jackson.
Jennie Kim’s Bandagecore Beauty
Always count on Jennie of BLACKPINK to arrive in looks that are as surprising as they are glamorous. Stepping out for Chanel’s Fall Winter 2023 show, the global brand ambassador sported a Lara Croft-inspired braid, ‘90s smokey eye makeup and a band-aid underneath her right eye. Serving function, the band-aid unintentionally added a fashionable and quirky touch while protecting a scar. Jennie didn’t usher in a new era of “bandagecore” as some publications anticipated, but the look and the singer’s ability to turn everything into a beauty statement continue to live rent-free in our minds.
Jisoo’s Homage to Audrey Hepburn
BLACKPINk’s Jisoo is a powerhouse in the beauty industry. From sparking trends to inspiring buzz-worthy products, the singer and actress never ceases to amaze the world with her take on sophisticated glam. During Haute Couture Fashion Week, the superstar delivered a copy-worthy hairdo that paid tribute to cinema icon Audrey Hepburn. The look consisted of a neat high bun and wispy baby bangs, reminiscent of those popularized by Hepburn in films such as Funny Face and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. As anyone could expect from the K-pop starlet, this look was quickly replicated among her peers, leading to a K-pop-infused micro bangs renaissance. In the words of her fans, Jisoo is the standard.
Johnny’s Hollywood-Approved Mullet
Collecting Fashion Week appearances, gala invitations, and international performances, it’s safe to say that 2023 was a busy year for K-pop star Johnny Suh. In May, the Chicago-born singer attended the annual Gold Gala, celebrating the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. For the event, the star sported a sleek pompadour mullet. The trend has long been rooted in the greaser subculture that saw its heyday in the ‘50s and ‘70s. However, Johnny put a spin on the classic look with a Hollywood-approved approach that amplified a more mature appearance. Paired with a Thom Browne suit, the hairstyle exuded leading man spirit.
Karol G’s Pink Mermaid Waves
Known for her striking and ever-changing hairstyles, Karol G finally found her power color in pastel pink. Stunning her followers, the vocalist pulled off a surprise hair transformation from her former red locks. Karol’s pink mermaid waves aligned perfectly with the Mermaidcore and Barbiecore crazes that took flight in the summer of 2023. The hair color was so trendy that Karol’s biggest fans ran to hair salons to try out the look themselves.
Liza Soberano’s Latte Makeup
Filipina sensation Liza Soberano had quite a busy year, city-hopping between fashion capitals and attending runways, galas and other events. Every time, she served prolific beauty looks. For instance, attending the Gold House A100 Welcome Reception, Liza put a spin on balletcore with a hairbow and pastel nails. She also embraced Audrey Hepburn-inspired hair at the Prada SS24 show. And most notably, she made the rounds online with her iteration of latte makeup for The Vogue Philippines Gala. Liza’s glam was all about brown and nude color palettes, which paired perfectly with the sculptural Rajo Laurel dress she wore.
Margot Robbie’s Barbie Ponytail
No celebrity delivered Barbiecore beauty better than Barbie herself — aka Australian actress, Margot Robbie. The star embraced all of Barbie’s style essentials with looks inspired by iconic dolls of eras past. Hair blows, pink eyeshadow and nude lipstick were some of the elements Robbie tapped into for her red carpet appearances. Yet, the ponytails created by hairstylist Bryce Scarlett were perhaps the most memorable hairdos in Robbie’s Barbie book. Perfectly retro and styled with Redken products, the ultra-high ponytails featured a fun front swoop that added quirkiness and personality without sacrificing elegance and femininity.
Maris Racal’s Strawberry Girl Glam
When it comes to glamorous looks with brilliant execution, Maris Racal is the girl. The Filipina actress sported a dramatic take on the strawberry girl makeup trend to perform on the music show ASAP Natin ‘To. Bright glitter sparkled on her lids and scarlet blush was diffused on her cheeks. To finish off the look, Maris sported marsala lip liner and cherry cola lipstick.
Mark Lee’s Galore of Beauty Trends
K-pop’s Golden Boy, Mark Lee, made splashes with his 2023 single “Golden Hour.” The song was a tongue-in-cheek, bar-filled display of creativity that came accompanied by an equally creative music video. Rapper extraordinaire, dedicated singer, and all-rounder Mark Lee will never fail to wow us, but he took his beauty game up a notch in the video clip. Blonde hair, Y2K-style baby braids and subtle nods at the pink undereye trend were just a few of the beauty staples he embraced for his solo exploit. Trendy, fashion-forward and aptly suited for the concept, Mark’s look was immediately ingrained in our minds as one of the best beauty moments of 2023.
Nychaa’s Smokey Siren Eyes
Famous for her fresh-faced beauty, Thai actress Nychaa caused a buzz on social media when she opted for a beauty change-up for the opening of Saint Laurent’s pop-up store at Siam Paragon. Embodying Saint Laurent chic, Nychaa’s glam centered around a midnight black hooded dress draped over her body. The Phloeng Phrang Thian star paired the sophisticated outfit with smokey siren eye makeup. Then, influenced by the concealer lips trend, Nychaa’s makeup continued with a couple of swipes of nude lipstick. Delicate crimped bangs that peeked out of the hood completed this ethereal look.
Olivia Rodrigo’s Vampy Lip
Just like Jisoo, Olivia Rodrigo had a Hepburncore moment in 2023 when she sported baby bangs at the Met Gala. However, the singer’s greatest beauty slay of the year came courtesy of deep red lipstick. Ahead of the unveiling of her sophomore album GUTS, Olivia released “Vampire.” The single was prefaced by a series of still images that captured the singer rocking a red pout that, evidently, nodded at the song’s title. As a Gen Z icon, Olivia quickly prompted a vampy lip revival with this easy-to-replicate beauty statement. Red lips are never a bad idea, right?
Paloma Elsesser’s Pixie Cut
Chilean-American model Paloma Elsesser made a case for pixie hair on the cover of Vogue Mexico. Pictured amidst the quaint town of La Jordana, Paloma rocked the minimalist hair choice and channeled the “nonconformity and empowerment” of 1950s and 1960s icons like Jean Seberg and Twiggy. Piecey baby bangs topped off the miniature hairdo for an effortless approach to beauty.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Bow Game
Singer, actress and style icon Sabrina Carpenter was not playing around in 2023. The singer owned every relevant beauty trend, from blueberry nails to Barbiecore makeup. In between, she also had a chance to popularize “Vanilla Sugar Blonde” hair and push for the coquettecore agenda. Whether she opted for small ribbons at the ends of pigtails or large bows tying her hair into a half up half down hairstyle, Sabrina was on a mission: taking bows to the next level.
Honorable mention to her glittery Barbiecore eye makeup.
Sasha Colby’s 1970s Locks
Native-Hawaiian drag queen Sasha Colby shot to fame as the winner of Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 15. In fact, Sasha made history as the show’s first winner of Polynesian descent. During her time on the show, the performer became widely recognized for her sleek ponytail and even launched a hair extension line. While she had plenty of noteworthy style moments in 2023, one of the buzziest happened in June when Sasha stunned in luscious long locks for Galore Magazine. Dressed in a 1970s-reminiscent outfit, the TV personality was photographed in a Cher-inspired layered wig that departed from her signature image.
Shakira’s Neon Nails
Shakira broke the internet with her single “BZRP Music Sessions #53” in collaboration with Argentine DJ and record producer Bizarrap. The song and music video received their well-deserved accolades — the video clip even broke YouTube records — but a little detail claramente (clearly) went unnoticed. Yes, everybody was obsessed with the wordplay in the lyrics and Shakira’s Barbiecore look but the Colombian legend also sported neon nails. In a year dominated by hot pink and hyperfeminine aesthetics, the fluorescent manicure was a reminder that not everything is about the latest trends or grand beauty statements.
Tu Tontawan’s Draculaura Glam
Dior brand ambassador Tu Tontawan has made a name for herself in beauty spheres with her signature jet-black hair and classy take on makeup. Her best beauty look of 2023, however, departed from this sophisticated image. Celebrating Halloween, the F4: Thailand star underwent a beauty transformation to channel Monster High’s Draculaura. The makeover involved streaks of pink hair, layered hair bangs, and the coolest strawberry girl makeup. We’re obsessed.
XG’s Y2K Universe
Finding inspiration in the early aughts, girl group XG rocks Y2K-inspired makeup looks with every comeback. Glassy butterfly nail extensions, frosted eyeshadow, and cyber-inspired eyeliner are just a few of the many styles in their beauty repertoire. Every time they mix Y2K trends with their daring style, XG proves they can deliver beauty looks straight from another universe.
Interested in more beauty content? Check out the beauty products EnVi’s editors swore by in 2023 here.
