Beauty Diary: Gen Z reckon popular make-up look exposes your age
Young people have had enough of a beloved Millennial trait, with many arguing it “instantly exposes” someone’s age.
Face & Body
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First they came for our socks, then our French tucks and now Gen Z have decided to cancel another trend beloved by the generation before them.
The young people of 2024 have officially had enough of winged eyeliner, specifically the liquid variety, with many arguing it’s a beauty trend that “instantly exposes” someone’s age.
If, like me, that sentence sends a dagger through your heart – you’re definitely not alone.
In fact, the apparent demise of liquid eyeliner has left many Millennials raging, with some insisting Gen Z should “go to sea” and umm, never come back.
As one woman so eloquently put it: “They can pry the black liquid liner from my cold millennial hands. I will never stop a wing.”
Amen sister.
But here at The Beauty Diary, we like to throughly investigate every hard-pressing issue, so we called in the “Big Guns” in the form of Nica Marcello, a highly-experienced Australian make-up artist with extensive knowledge in beauty trends.
“Trends come and go, but the allure of liquid winged eyeliner remains timeless,” Ms Marcello, the National Education Manager at Revlon, said.
“While Gen Z might be exploring more natural or avant-garde looks, the classic winged eyeliner offers a level of precision and drama that’s hard to replicate with other techniques. “It’s a versatile look that can be adapted to suit various eye shapes and styles, making it a staple in many makeup kits.”
Ms Marcello stressed that even if liquid winged eyeliner isn’t the “go-to for everyone right now”, it will always have a place in the world of beauty because it can be as subtle or as bold as you want it to be.
“That’s what makes it so enduring,” she said. “The beauty of makeup is its ability to evolve and adapt.”
But while liquid winged eyeliner is always en vogue, those over the age of 27 – who now feel a little behind the Eight ball with trends – have been left wondering what to do if they want to embrace the new generation of make-up that is emerging.
“Can one of the young people let me know, are we still doing winged liquid liner?” a woman, named Lynette Hoyle, asked in a recent viral video.
“I don’t see young people doing it anymore and I’m concerned because it is the only way that I look hot.”
Ms Marcello said she’s noticed Gen Z prefer a more “natural look”, often choosing to apply an eyeshadow using a tilted eyeliner brush instead of traditional liner.
“Applying eyeshadow as eyeliner is a big new trend, it creates a softer, smokier line that’s easier to blend and adjust, offering a more natural look,” she shared.
“Really there are no rules, what matters most is how it makes you feel.
“Whether you love bold, dramatic looks or prefer something more natural, make-up is all about celebrating your unique beauty and having fun with it.”
For those diehard liquid liner fans such as myself, I’ve got a few products I cannot live without in order to create the crispest, cleanest lines with the least amount of fuss.
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner
Price: $40
Available at Mecca
This is my all-time favourite. It has a fine applicator which I love as I’ve never been able to pull off a chunky liner look, and the product stays on all day without fail. It applies silky smooth and dries really fast. Honestly, it’s the GOAT.
Charlotte Tilbury The Feline Flick
Price: $48
Available at Mecca
While brown isn’t the first colour that springs to mind when you think of an eyeliner shade, I recently purchased this in “Super Brown” and have been pleasantly pleased with the results. It gives a slightly softer finish to a cat-eye flick and I absolutely love it. The Charlotte Tilbury product itself is also fantastic, it has a super fine tip and dries almost instantly. Definitely would buy this one again.
If you have a question about a beauty product or an item you’d like to see road-tested in The Beauty Diary, jump into our official Facebook group where you can join like-minded beauty junkies. You can also catch me on Instagram and TikTok.
Originally published as Beauty Diary: Gen Z reckon popular make-up look exposes your age