BEYOND BEAUTY & MAKEUP: The Makeup Trends dominating Commercial shoots

In the dynamic world of commercial photography, makeup trends continually evolve to meet the demands of brands and their audiences. For Sunshine Coast MUA, staying abreast of these trends is essential to deliver looks. Here's an overview of the current makeup trends we think are dominating commercial shoots:

Image: Rama Visuals
Model: Chelsea Moody

1. Embracing Natural Beauty The shift towards authenticity in advertising has led to a preference for natural, minimalistic makeup. Brands aim to showcase genuine beauty, resonating with consumers seeking relatability. This trend involves subtle enhancements that highlight individual features, promoting a fresh and approachable image while allowing their brand identity to do the speaking.

2. Incorporating Bold Accents While natural looks prevail, there's also a trend of integrating bold elements to create visual interest. This includes vibrant eyeshadows, bold lip colours, or unique eyeliner designs. Such accents can make a campaign stand out, adding a modern, edgy and eye catching flair.

3. Prioritising Skin Health A radiant complexion serves as the foundation for any makeup application. Emphasising skincare ensures that the skin appears healthy and luminous, reducing the need for heavy coverage. This approach aligns with the growing consumer interest in skincare, wellness and individual beauty.

4. Monochromatic Makeup for Brand Cohesion A growing trend in commercial and branding shoots is monochromatic makeup, where eyes, lips, and cheeks share the same colour family to create a cohesive feel across their brand. This approach enhances brand storytelling by aligning the model’s makeup with the brand’s aesthetic, whether it’s soft neutrals for a minimalist luxury brand or bold hues for an energetic, youthful campaign. Monochromatic looks also photograph beautifully, ensuring consistency across different marketing materials.

5. Hyper Glossy Skin Another rising trend in commercial and branding makeup is hyper glossy skin - a perfected yet natural looking complexion with a dewy, almost glass like finish that instantly elevates any look to high end. This look enhances skin texture without appearing overly made up, making it ideal for high definition photography and video campaigns. Brands love this trend because it conveys freshness, health, and a modern, effortless glow, resonating especially well with skincare, wellness, and lifestyle industries. Light reflective products like balms, sheer highlighters, and strategic gloss placement help achieve this luminous effect.