Beauty Report 2017: What We Loved And What We Didn't

With 2017 drawing to a close, like any self-respecting lover of beauty, it's time to introspect. So we took a quick trip down memory lane with a magnifying glass to ferret out all the trends that hit the high notes, and those that failed abysmally, in the world of beauty. While some of these trends saw even celebrities take to them like fish to water, some left us truly befuddled. Here's a report of the top six beauty trends of 2017, some of which we couldn't get enough of and others, we wish had never seen the light of the day.

1. Thumbs Up - Eye Art

2017 saw not just a wash of eye shadow or a sharp cut and crease, but stunning, spectacular eye art. Almost like oil paintings on canvas, eye art was abstract and marvelous, combining elements like glitter, rhinestones and coloured liner. It may not be a trend we'd be able to imbibe on casual dinner date, but damn, did it look visually appealing.

 

A post shared by P e t r a (@bangtsikitsiki) on Dec 14, 2017 at 9:59am PST

2. Thumbs Down - Christmas Tree Brows

It's easy to get swept away in the spirit of holiday cheer, but eyebrows shaped like Christmas trees was taking it just a little too far, we thought. This year saw a rise in gimmicky brow trends, and so, a Christmas-themed look was meant to happen. Thanks, but that's a hard no, in our beauty book.

 

A post shared by Taylor R (@taytay_xx) on Dec 5, 2017 at 5:43am PST

3. Thumbs Up - Platinum Blonde Hair

Joining the ranks of the natural platinum blondes were a number of celebrities this year. From Cara Delevingne to Kristen Stewart, and even our very own, Lisa Haydon, 2017 saw many stunning women make the decision adopt the silvery, bleached look. We have to admit, the platinum blonde locks are definitely a refreshing change from the strawberry blondes and chocolate brunettes that have been ruling the roost for a while now.

 

A post shared by Lisa Haydon (@lisahaydon) on Dec 10, 2017 at 11:12pm PST

4. Thumbs Down - Everywhere Contouring

Sure, we're fans of contouring down the hollows of the cheeks and straight down the jawline. But that's as far as we're willing to go. Not everyone shared our opinion, though. 2017 saw the contouring craze spread to every single inch of the body from the back of the knees to the cleavage and even to the toes. More power to those who can make the time, but the over contoured look definitely didn't win our vote.

 

A post shared by Lindiwe Zulu (@pimpzillazul) on Feb 4, 2016 at 2:50pm PST

5. Thumbs Up - Glossy Lips

Matte finishes have been a raging trend for the past couple of years now, but 2017 is when glossy lips finally made their comeback. The shiny, lacquered finish showed up on the runways of Kenzo and Philipp Plein, and walked straight into our hearts. Welcome back, gloss.

 

A post shared by Eri the Fairy (@uptownbeautie) on Dec 19, 2017 at 10:47am PST

6. Thumbs Down - Aquarium Nails

If you thought it was only possible to flaunt static shades on your nails, aquarium nails are here to change that for you. Involving a time-consuming process of creating a miniscule liquid trap between acrylic layers, aquarium nails have a bit of movement in them but just imagine trying to open doors, or doing anything, with those talons.

 

A post shared by Alana (@the_nails_queen) on Dec 19, 2017 at 10:43am PST

Do you have beauty trends that won your heart and those that you wouldn't touch with a bargepole? Tell us in the comments below.