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In early 2022, Allure breathlessly forecast that green would be the beauty trend of the year, and they weren’t wrong. Green beauty in the literal sense has made far more of a splash than micro-moments like skinny brows. Like all good beauty trends, green lids started with Euphoria.
Throughout Euphoria‘s first season, bottle, electric and emerald greens decorated the lids of the Euphoria High hard partying hotties, and we watched on in bare-faced envy from our locked-down couches. By 2022, “Gen Z” green had been named the colour of the year, and the Spring ’22 runways from Versace to Prabal Gurung were replete with acid and emerald hues.
“We’re stepping out of our routines,” says Claudia Soare, who oversees product development at viral eyeshadow palette generator Anastasia Beverly Hills. “COVID was our ‘beige’ period, we were reaching for the barely-there makeup to get us through the day. Now we’re playing up the colour.”
But, a lot of people are hesitant to jump on the green bandwagon. Historically, it’s been considered a hard shade to work with. If you’re pale, colours like green and blue are more likely to wash you out, and even if you have a deeper skin tone, it takes a little more time than that two-second sweep of bronzer across the lids to polish and perfect.
Soare, who launched Anastasia Beverly Hills’ olive and peacock-hued Nouveau Eyeshadow Palette ($85) earlier this year, told us how to achieve the trend.
Image credit: Instagram @sydneyjharper
Image credit: Instagram @beautyisboring
Soare agrees with one point — cool tones are generally kept away from pale eyes and faces. But that doesn’t exclude all greens.
“Soft, earthy shades will best compliment fair skin tones,” she advises.
Image credit: Instagram @makeupbysamanthaharvey
Soare suggests a “hunter green” eyeshadow, with a bit of warmth to it to brighten baby blues.
“This will bring out the green flecks in the iris,” she explains.
Another tip is to work with multiple depths of green, which will create contrast.
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Image credit: Anastasia Beverly Hills
Image credit: Charlotte Tilbury
Image credit: Pata McGrath
Image credit: Charlotte Tilbury
Barbie Ferreira in "Euphoria" Image credit: HBO
Pastels and Brights
Those with brown eyes are most naturally suited to the green trend. Blues and greens add dimension and depth to deeper eye colours. “Try a blue-green to accentuate the warm, amber tones of the iris,” she suggests.
Image credit: Getty Images/Victor Vergile
Dua Lipa, Versace
“Warm, illuminating shades look great on medium skin. Rich, bright hues will flatter deep skin and brown eyes beautifully,” says Soare.
Image credit: Insatagram @hungvango
Another trend we’ve seen is electric greens — a hue commonly referred to as “arsenic green.”
The poison pill has never looked so good with celebs from Dua Lipa to Gemma Chan working it on the runway and red carpet.
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Gemma Chan, 2021 Met Gala
Image credit: Natasha Denona
Jodie Turner Smith on the LACMA Red Carpet Image credit: Getty/Axel Bauer Griffin
Emerald
Emerald greens add intensity and dimension to deep chocolate and hazel eye colours. They give a regal look to any red carpet moment, as modelled by Jodie Turner Smith and Emma Roberts.
Image credit: Instagram @lisaeldridge
Emma Roberts
Lisa Eldridge created what she described as a “bejewelled eye” for Emma Roberts to pair with her vintage dress and bling.
Instagram @makeupbymario
@lamarana.k for Makeup by Mario
Image credit: Getty/Vittorio Zunino Celotto
Naomi Campbell, Versace SS22
Image credit: Makeup by Mario
Image credit: Pat McGrath Labs
Image credit: Anastasia Beverly Hills
Emma Chamberlain at the 2021 Met Gala, Image credit: Getty/John Shearer
Ultra Violette
Finally? Glow-in-the-dark neon hues are the final trend to be popularised by Euphoria. Any shade will bring mesmerising intensity to any eye colour, a simple flick along the lashline will bring a euphoric pop to any beautiful look.
Image credit: Instagram @vanessahudgens
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Image credit: Suva Beeauty
Image credit: Danessa Myricks