The Best and Worst Beauty Trends of 2025, According to Readers

2025 was a year of bold beauty statements and innovative skin-care breakthroughs, but not every trend was a hit. From glossy, slicked-back hair to multi-step routines and barrier-boosting formulas, the beauty world experimented with extremes—and our readers had strong opinions. We surveyed more than 400 NewBeauty readers* to find out which trends they couldn’t get enough of and which ones they were ready to leave behind.

The Best Beauty Trends of 2025

Barrier-repairing skin care emerged as the ultimate winner, with 23.5 percent of readers embracing ceramide-rich, microbiome-friendly formulas for healthier, stronger skin. 

Skin cycling—alternating active ingredients like retinoids and exfoliants with recovery nights to optimize results while minimizing irritation—followed closely at 17.9 percent, proving that strategic skin-care routines are here to stay. 

Rounding out the top three was K-Beauty innovations at 16.5 percent, with hydration-focused, multi-step routines continuing to captivate beauty enthusiasts.

The Worst Beauty Trends of 2025

On the other end of the spectrum, wet, slicked-back hair was the year’s biggest flop, with 33.4 percent of readers saying they liked this polished, runway-inspired style the least. 

Full-glam renaissance looks—bold eyeshadow, velvet lips and opulent finishes—came in second at 15.1 percent, signaling a shift away from heavy makeup. 

Berry and plum lip colors landed in third at 12.5 percent, suggesting that rich, romantic shades didn’t resonate as strongly as expected.

*Source: BeautyEngine Advanced Research, 2026