Timeless Beauty Trends

by Ilse Devereux

When we think of beauty trends throughout past decades, which ones can we consider classic? It’s easy to think of fads that come and go: over-lined lips, rainbow-colored hair, feathered brows, you name it. Hair and makeup styles are forms of self-expression and with so much information readily at our fingertips (literally!), people have become more comfortable trying out something new. As with fashion, some beauty fads from the past eventually make a comeback. While there are a few I’m happy to see return, there are plenty that should stay in the past. Take, for example, the 90s brow. I can’t believe that’s making a comeback after the decades it has taken us to grow back our brows.

Beauty products are meant to make you feel good about yourself. That’s a little hard to do these days, with Instagram

influencers, TikTokers and Kardashianites establishing impossible standards of beauty and shoving thousands of products and makeup routines down our throats. I’m here to tell you: stick to a timeless look. Fads are fun and there is a time and place for them, but I’d much rather slap on a pretty lip and cheek color and call it a day.

Think of these icons: Ava Gardner, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, I could go on and on. You know what they all have in common? Their timeless beauty. We still look to them for inspiration. One of my favorite quotes is from Coco Chanel: “the best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you.” Coco’s classic look was red lipstick and pearls. How perfectly timeless. You might not want to sport a sexy red pout on a day-to-day basis, but red lips are timeless and appropriate when you have somewhere to go.

Along with red lips, here are three classic looks that will never go out of style.

1. Clear glowing skin is at the top of the list. Take

care of your skin, it’s the only one you’ve got. Take pride in a skin regimen. Treat yourself to a facial. It doesn’t matter if it’s at home or at a spa. But if it’s a spa I can certainly direct you to the best estheticians in town. Go easy on the foundation; too much will look cakey. I love a tinted serum or buildable foundation such as Ilia’s C Beyond Triple serum or Westman Atelier’s Vital Skin. For a youthful glow, add a dusting of powder and bronzer such as Westman’s Vital Pressed Skincare Powder and Peau de Pêche.

2. To highlight your healthy complexion, add

blush! Blush has been around since the beginning of time. Fake the exercise-induced flush with a sheer creamy blush. In a pinch? Use your lipstick! My mom taught me this trick in my teens and I still use it to this day and with most of my clients. In fact, many makeup companies are catching on and are creating lip-to-cheek products. My go-to picks are from RMS and Rituel de Fille.

Photo by Kat Stevenson Photo by Kat Stevenson

3. Lastly, the smokey eye. Though it may not go with

every outfit, there are many ways to update this timeless look. The dark-almost-black smokey eye can be toned down for a daytime look. I like to use a brown eyelid color over black eye pencil with lots of mascara to create that mysterious, sexy look à la Kate Moss. My go-to khol pencil is by Jillian Dempsey and any matte shade of brown shadow will do.

I recently saw an Instagram post with an image of Sophia Loren that read, “In a world full of Kardashians, be a Sophia Loren.” I say, in a world filled with filters and too many products and too many celebrities, keep it simple. Keep it timeless, whatever timeless may mean to you.

Ilse Devereux is a makeup artist in Metro Detroit and northern Michigan. She started her career 20 years ago at Utopia Salon in Northville, then worked at salons such as 6 Salon and Masq Beauty in Birmingham, Michigan, before branching out to become a freelance bridal makeup artist. Many of her clients date back to the time Ilsedid their makeup for their high school dances.

Ilse recently moved to Ann Arbor after many years of living in Detroit with her husband. You can find her at London Beauty (formerly known as Lily Grace) here in Ann Arbor. Ilse dedicates her free time to networking and supporting female entrepreneurs in Metro Detroit and exploring Ann Arbor’s parks and trails.