What's hot and what's not in the beauty landscape? HELLO! finds out

The weather is in a weird place; it's either hot and sweaty or wet and chilly with occasional thunderstorms. Nailing your beauty game in a weather such as this can be a huge challenge, as everyday is a question about what you are prepping for. Elsewhere in the Western world, summer has arrived, bringing trends that are now last season for us.

Before you sit in front of the mirror every morning debating on whether or not to skip foundation, opt for black or clear mascara, and which sunscreen to wear, continue reading so you already have your answers in. Scroll down below to find out what beauty trends are hot for this season and what's just not. 

Hot: Side Parts 

Middle parts have been the it-girl of hairstyling for a good while now; Gen Z has loved the middle part for a good chunk of their lives, but the adventurous generation loves a little style experiment every once in a while. Millennials can heave a sigh of relief as their favourite side parts are in again—yes, the same ones that they shied away from in their teen years. 

Thanks to the overexposure of the clean-girl aesthetic, we have had enough of middle parts and are willing to go the messy-girl style, starting with the rebellious side parts. 

Hot: Minimal Makeup 

Calling minimal makeup a trend would be wrong at this point; it's a timeless way of wearing makeup that all beauty enthusiasts have come to love. The demand for no-makeup makeup has risen so much in the past few years that it has revolutionised the beauty industry in big ways. Think tinted moisturisers and sunscreens, lip oils, makeup with skincare, the return of lip glosses, luminous skin, the clean-girl aesthetic, plucked brows, and sunkissed blush—all these beauty product launches and trends have been possible because of the demand the minimal makeup trend has created. 

In 2025, especially, celebrity red carpets have been full of chic and relaxed makeup looks featuring rosy pink and nude lips, lightly blushed cheeks, and minimal mascara, creating a clean canvas for natural beauty to shine through without overwhelming the skin. 

Hot: Tinted Sunscreens

Chemicals, minerals, hybrids, gels, sprays, creams, lotions, and sticks—sunscreens have it all. Now meet the tinted sunscreens, skincare's newest obsessions that double as SPF and a skin tint for the days when you don't feel like suffocating your pores with foundation. From dermatologists to beauty influencers, everyone is happily exploring the world of tinted sunscreens that are here to stay with endless options. Plus, if it rains, you don't need to worry about your foundation running down. 

Not: 3D Nail Art 

Cute but impractical, 3D nail art isn't a fit if you want to do... anything. These nails are great for show, but are a pain most of the time. Apart from not allowing you to do your daily tasks efficiently, these nails are a hotspot for many potential downsides, such as chemical leaching, allergic reactions, and nail damage. They are also expensive enough to cover your electricity bill for the month, making them not worth the trouble. 

Hot: Polka dot nail art

Instead of 3D nails, opt for Polka dot nail art, this season's cutest and chicest nail trend. With Hailey Bieber's and Dua Lipa's stamp of approval, polka dot nail art fits right into the minimalist trend of the recent past. Plus, polka dots are big right now in the world of fashion; why not coordinate our nails with the same? 

Not: Cool-toned eyes

Nothing beats the soft charm created by warm eyeshadows; switching them to cooler shades such as icy blue and violet isn't for us, and here's why; cooler shades can clash with undertones, creating an unpleasant colour and making your skin look ashy and dull. Cool eyeshadow tones, especially on warm skin tones like South Asians, make the skin look disastrously unflattering. If you still want to try your hand at cool-toned eyes, don't skip the bronzer to neutralise the effect. 

Hot: Recession Glam

Remember the infamous red lipstick theory of Covid-19? Meet its younger sister, recession glam. The minimal ways of life of 2025 can be blamed on recession (or the recession-core, at least). Recession glam refers to skincare and makeup routines getting pared back, not much different from minimal makeup. With trends such as tinted sunscreens, cleaner makeup, and wistful vibes, recession glam is making its way into 2025's top trends—whether or not there is a recession.

Not: Dramatic Eyelashes 

For years, we have favoured chunky, voluminous lashes with layers of heavy mascara that have weighed down our poor lashes. When mascara wasn't enough, we turned to lash extensions that, for the most part, looked like what they were—fake. In our search for perfect and thick lashes, we have tried some of the most absurd lash trends, including but not limited to spider leg extensions, creepily long and thin lashes and other cartoonishly fake versions. It's finally time to let your lashes breathe, and that's exactly why we are loving the ghost lashes. 

Hot: Ghost lashes 

Opposite of clumpy, long, and fake eyelashes, ghost lashes are a much-needed break for your eyelashes that will make them look light and wispy. As the name suggests, ghost lashes are a bare or slightly enhanced eye look centred around your natural lashes. You can skip mascara altogether, apply a lash serum, or at the very least opt for clear mascara. It's a low-maintenance beauty trend that for, once, we can't wait to embrace. 

So, what beauty trend are you adding to your beauty radar?