Abstract Beauty Looks Are The Creative Makeup Trend To Try In 2024

Get ready to exercise your creative muscle in 2024 with a trend that transforms your face into a work of art. From shapes and swirls to bold lines and fun pigments, abstract beauty looks are a captivating and imaginative avenue for self-expression. The sky truly is the limit when it comes to your own personal makeup artistry. "The trend in eyeliner is stylized with no rules," Terri Bryant, a makeup artist and founder of Guide Beauty, told Refinery29 in December 2023. "While bold shades will be everywhere, classic black is equally on trend, and striking yet artfully subtle. In contrast to bold, graphic lines, we'll see a diffusion of pigments for skin, cheeks, and lips."

While you may not turn to this trend for everyday looks, you shouldn't reserve rocking abstract makeup solely for special occasions or big events. Dinner dates, a night out with the girls, a Saturday morning at the museum — abstract eyeliner and geometric shapes are coming out to play more and more. If you aren't sure where to begin, we've got plenty of inspiration for your abstract beauty journey.

A great way to try out the abstract beauty trend is to start simple with a geometric eyeshadow shape. You may want to use a stencil if you're a first-timer, or if you're confident in your freehand skill, all the better. If you opt for a bright hue, keep the rest of your face soft and subtle with light blush and sheer lip gloss to let your eye craftsmanship shine.

If you aren't ready to dive into big and bold shadows, start with a unique technique like negative space eyeliner. Choose a fun color, and always feel free to think outside the box. Skipping eyeshadow and sticking to just mascara will showcase your artistry even more. It may take a try or two to replicate your work on the other eye, but keep at it and you'll find a new makeup obsession.

For a stunning, unique look, try a watercolor-inspired scene featuring a soft blend of pigments not only on the eyelids but also around the eyes. Blending will be your best friend when accomplishing a watercolor look, as you'll want the eyeshadows to bleed together like watercolor paints do. Just make sure to go light with the pigment to get a true watercolor, stained glass-inspired lucidity.

If you love to draw or paint in your free time, then you're already mostly there when it comes to the abstract makeup trend. Whatever you'd doodle on a piece of paper can be a new inspiration for your makeup. These can be squiggles and dots or something more intricate — whatever your inner artist admires. To tie the entire look together, use a bold lip color like a cherry red shade.

Choosing some of your favorite bold hues, try an exaggerated wing with plenty of negative space. This is a fun track to take if you want to start with something manageable that still draws plenty of attention. Some subtle dots placed at the edges of the eye make another lovely addition, though this look stuns without them, too.

Using your eyes as a landscape for creativity is one of the main draws of this trend, and opting to create a mask of your own design is a beautiful way to experiment. You'll want to take your time and go slowly to really perfect the shapes you choose. Don't forget to finish the look with a bright lip color, and consider trying the bold blush trend to enhance the look, especially if you chose cosmic eye makeup in shades of red, pink, or orange. 

Using this trend to show off your artistic skill is what we love to see. If you've got the time and the tools, creating a marbled paint landscape across your eyes is sure to wow anyone you encounter, including yourself. Just make sure to outline your eyes with a black liner for definition — you don't want your eyes to get lost in the artwork. Finally, top the look off with pressed powder to keep your artistry in place.