The tired beauty trends and treatments it's time to DITCH in 2025 - and what I'm replacing them with for epic results: POLISHED by Elise Wilson
Welcome to Polished with Elise Wilson, where FEMAIL's qualified makeup artist and hair stylist answers your questions, shares advice and trials the up-and-coming beauty and skincare trends so you don't have to.
I hate to say it, but some of your go-to beauty staples are officially on borrowed time.
And, if your makeup bag or skincare shelf hasn't had a proper clean-out and glow-up lately, consider this your sign to do so.
It's interesting because beauty in 2025 really is a tale of two halves: on one hand we're leaning into exciting ingredient upgrades in both skincare and fragrance, while on the other, we've gone full-circle back to (my) millennial roots of what we know and love - I'm talking about winged-liner, and I'm ecstatic about it.
As we hit the second half of the year, the beauty world has spoken and the verdict is clear with some cult favourites getting kicked to the curb in favour of fresher, smarter and often cleaner alternatives.
Think of it as a beauty spring clean. The kind where lipsticks are replaced by fruity stains, Shellac is snubbed for something much stronger, 'top treatments' are getting exiled and your trusty old tanning foam? Sorry, but she's on her last legs.
Oh, and if you're still clinging to your crusty tube of waterproof mascara, I'm here to stage a gentle intervention.
As a beauty expert, I get asked constantly about what's trending, what's dated, and what people should actually spend their money on, and this year it's all about skin-loving, low-maintenance, longevity-focused and, above all, smarter buys.
I've rounded up the top 10 trends that I am loving right now, and what you should ditch immediately if you want to stay ahead of the curve.
OUT: Shellac nails | IN: BIAB (builder in a bottle)
Look, I've never been a fan, but Shellac has officially had its day.
I'm very happy to report that a lesser-known alternative called BIAB (which stands for Builder in a Bottle) is the new go-to for long-lasting, natural-looking nails that actually help your real nails grow stronger.
It's basically the protein shake of manicures. Strengthening, protective and perfect if you're trying to ditch the cycle of brittle breakage. Plus, the high-gloss finish is pure luxury.
I was urged by a friend to book in at Sindoba in Sydney's eastern suburbs, because apparently their BIAB mani's are elite and last 'so long' because of the meticulous care and attention nail tech Soni takes.
At $150 per appointment, I was skeptical because for one, that is pricier than a traditional gel-mani. And two, I thought it would instantly chip and peel off like Shellac had always done for me - ruining my nail bed underneath while it was at it.
'Unlike acrylics BIAB is much more gentle and doesn't require harsh filing compared to gel or shellac,' Soni told me. 'It's also thicker and stronger, which means it adds more protection and is less likely to chip or lift.'
The fact that I can get four good weeks out of each manicure does justify the extra cost, but alas, I'm already addicted.
'BIAB is designed to be infilled, which helps maintain the nail structure and keeps the natural nail protected underneath. It's a lot healthier than removing and reapplying each time, and clients love the time-saving element too.'
OUT: Fillers | IN: Biostimulators
Aesthetic experts are seeing a major shift away from traditional fillers in favour of biostimulators like Rejuran (the one that uses polynucleotides (PN) derived from salmon DNA), PDO threads and skin boosters.
Instead of plumping instantly, they work with your body to stimulate collagen over time, giving you a more natural, gradual refresh. Think of it as ageing well... with a little help.
'The previously fashionable 'overfilled' look has fallen out of favour, with patients now preferring treatments that subtly enhance their natural appearance,' said Dr Josh Medical Director & Founder of Contour Clinics.
However, Dr Josh explained that unlike traditional dermal fillers, 'most biostimulators typically don't provide immediate volumisation'.
Instead, it's more about the long game - 'they activate your body's own regenerative processes, intensely promoting collagen synthesis. Over time, this leads to natural lifting, subtle volumisation, tightening, and improved overall skin quality'.
I was lucky enough to try a few Rejuran skin booster treatments with Dr Josh a few years ago and I loved the results.
The injections certainly stung a bit, and I looked like Quasimodo for a few hours afterwards (picture below for proof), but I was left with insanely glowing results that just kept getting better.
Over-laminated, 'electrocuted' crunchy brows? I've seen enough.
This year, embracing our natural brow texture is the way forward. Think brushed up, but soft. Less glue stick, more whispery and wearable.
A great, soft brow gel and strategic growth serum (if you have sparse, or patchy hairs), will do more for you than another round of overly-laminating ever will.
Amy Jean Brows Lamination Brow Gel ($48) - The comb on this really defines my brow hairs and keeps unruly ones in check, all day and night but doesn't make my brows look electrocuted
OUT: Traditional Lipstick | IN: Lip Stains
Say goodbye to lipsticks that smudge, fade or migrate, because now it's all about a just-bitten tint that lasts all day without touch-ups.
Lip stains are sheer, buildable, and way more low effort. I especially love the 'peel-off' formulas that have been going viral on TikTok like Balaeric Beauty's below.
OUT: Powder Makeup | IN: Jelly and creams
I honestly think anyone over the age of about 25, powder makeup is officially passé, and other makeup artist's agree with me.
'I personally think cream formulations are easier to apply to the skin,' said celebrity makeup artist Michael Brown. 'They are more blendable therefore easier to customise to your preferred pigment intensity [and] give more glow than powders as well as being multi-purpose for lips and eyes.'
The new wave of jelly blushes and cream highlighters are lightweight, blend like a dream and give your skin that healthy, dewy glow we're all chasing.
Plus, they feel like skincare, don't go cakey and can be reapplied seamlessly throughout the day as and when you need to.
OUT: Flat lifeless hair | IN: Face-Framing Layers
An evergreen classic that works for all hair types, so I'm told - face-framing layers are something I've only just embraced myself.
That's all thanks to my recent visit to see celebrity hair-guru Anthony Nadar, who literally squealed when I suggested we actually 'do something interesting' with my cut - instead of my standard (and boring) one centimeter trim.
'This style is a staple,' he told me. 'Hair layers that hug both the jawline and cheekbones add definition to the face instantly.'
As you can clearly see from my before and afters - he wasn't wrong.
Tanning foams may give fast colour, but they're often drying and patchy… and orange?
I still think they have their place, however tanning milks are my new obsession and great for busy people to still deliver glowing results within just a few hours.
The formulas glide on like body lotion (warning: they don't have a guide tan, so blending thoroughly is key to avoid missing a patch), don't smell, are moisturising, buildable and subtle enough for year-round use.
If you're constantly scrubbing black smudges off your under-eyes, it's time to switch to a tubing mascara.
I've been onto them for years - they coat each lash in a water-resistant 'tube' that slides off with warm water, meaning no panda eyes, no makeup wipes, no drama.
And for those that are still getting long, super-heavy (and also damaging) semi-permanent lash extensions, I'm sorry, but they have to go.
Between the maintenance, the shedding, and the temptation to pull them off mid-week, they're not worth the stress.
A professional lash lift paired with a daily growth serum (I'm obsessed with Revitalash's, and it won't break the bank) is my new secret weapon. Your real lashes, but longer, darker and curled to perfection.
Sticky, hair-catching gloss? It does get a bit annoying, doesn't it?
Lip oils are having a big (read: HUGE) moment, and I for one am fully on board, especially through a harsh winter chill.
The new launches are hydrating, nourishing and give that same glassy shine without the tackiness.
Most also come infused with skin-loving ingredients like jojoba, peptides, hyaluronic acid, or a tint if you want three-in-one balm/ gloss/ lip colour.
IN (again): Winged Eyeliner
Yes, you read that correctly - she's back. I know winged eyeliner received backlash on TikTok in 2024 (if you missed it, wings were largely deemed passé by Gen Z), however the feline flick is making a strong resurgence.
This time though, the cat eye is less 'Instagram baddie' and more 'French girl cool.' So imagine sharp flicks with clean skin and no heavy eyeshadow.
Millennials everywhere, like me, will be fist pumping at the news.
So there you have it, my official beauty trend forecast for the rest of 2025.
If you're still clinging to powder compacts, tube gloss and orange tanning products, consider this a loving nudge to evolve.
After all, beauty is about playing, updating and occasionally, letting go.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Who is the woman Matt Zukowski is spending time with amid his split with Tammy Hembrow? Lookalike blonde breaks silence after she is was spotted at pub with reality star
Melbourne-based sports journalist Tayla Little has broken her silence after she was spotted spending time with Matt Zukowski over the weekend, just hours before he confirmed his split with Tammy Hembrow. Tayla, who looks very similar to fitness influencer Tammy, 31, made headlines after she was pictured with the Love Island star, 29, at the London Tavern in Richmond on Saturday. What's more, Matt featured in one of her Instagram posts at an NFL Rams event held earlier that day. In the picture, Tayla could be seen on a blow-up slide with Matt and she captioned it with what appeared to be a flirty comment. '@mattzukowski won't play with me,' she wrote on the Instagram story. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. What's more, Matt featured in one of her Instagram posts at an NFL Rams event held earlier that day. In the picture Matt also posted some photos from the same NFL Draft party, which showed him posing next to the LA Rams mascot and cheer team. Tayla has responded to speculation about the nature of the pair's relationship, telling Daily Mail Australia there is nothing going on between the duo. 'There is no truth to the rumours being circulated,' she said. 'I attended a work event alongside a wide group of media and content creators, and that was the first time I had met this group.' It comes after Matt and Tammy finally confirmed finally their split over the weekend. Matt announced the couple's separation in a sombre Instagram Story on Sunday, telling fans the decision was not taken lightly. 'It's with a heavy heart I share that Tammy and I have decided to separate,' Matt began. 'Both of us have struggled with making this decision, however we need to do what is right for ourselves and her three children. Matt and Tammy confirmed their split just just seven months after tying the knot 'This wasn't a decision we took lightly. Our time together will always be cherished and never forgotten,' he added, before thanking fans for their support and asking for privacy. Despite their short-lived marriage, both parties have asked for privacy as they adjust to life post-breakup. 'We appreciate everyone's support and space at this time as we navigate the split,' Matt concluded in his emotional post. Tammy later addressed the split in an emotional TikTok video, telling fans she will be getting a divorce. 'I don't want to get into the details, and I want to be sensitive to everyone involved,' she told fans. 'Obviously when you marry someone, you do it thinking that it is going to be forever and I blame no one but myself,' Tammy continued while breaking down in tears. 'I've made not the best choices when it comes to relationships. I'm good at putting on rose-coloured glasses. 'Obviously the worst part for me is that I have kids. I don't care about me, I know I will be okay, but I feel awful.'
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Sydney's nightlife slammed by local woman - as she exposes major problem
A fiery young woman has unleashed on Sydney 's youth in a brutal social media rant, accusing them of killing the city's nightlife - not because there's nothing to do, but because they're too boring to enjoy it. Sydneysider Tazzy explained her rant was going to 'really piss a lot of people in Sydney off' but was something that needed to be said. The 30-year-old said Sydney's nightlife was often described as boring however the root cause was not a lack of interesting things to do but rather the people who go out in the city. 'You hear people say all the time that Sydney's nightlife is boring,' she said in a video shared to social media. 'But we need to address the problem at the root. It's not the nightlife that's boring. People from Sydney are insufferably f****** boring.' Tazzy said the demographic included Sydneysiders aged between 18 and 34-years-old who were supposed to be having fun but are not. She said some blame the cost-of-living crisis as the reason they don't engage in Sydney's nightlife as often. But Tazzy believed that was not an excuse, as young adults across the world were also struggling with the cost of living but still managed to have fun in their cities. Tazzy claimed Sydneysiders were 'well adjusted,' and that meant their prime years were boring. 'We have a good education system, so everyone gets raised pretty well adjusted. What you end up with is a bunch of 18 to 35 year-olds who are relatively well adjusted, and that just means that they're extremely f****** boring,' she said. She added that Sydneysiders are obsessed with fitness and health, which becomes their only hobby. 'If you ask most people in Sydney, they don't have any special interests. They don't have any passions. They don't have anything interesting that they can talk to you about,' she said. 'They actually just don't even have things to f****** say, because they are so f****** well adjusted. Their only hobby is physically working out.' She suggested that for many Australians, grabbing a coffee and walking their dog is often the highlight of their day. 'That's why it's all about dogs, because, like, that's the only interesting thing that they have to in their life,' she said. Tazzy said there are only four interesting groups of people who enrich Sydney's nightlife: creatives, queers, drug addicts, and ethnics from out west. She claimed cities like New York, Paris, and London stood in stark contrast to Sydney, as the 'sheer diversity of people' made the environments 'electric.' The music producer added Sydney's creative industries were suffering as a result, with not enough creative people in the art and music scenes to support new artists. She ended her rant by saying she was exhausted trying to make friends in Sydney. Many social media users agreed with Tazzy's scathing assessment of Sydneysiders, with many claiming the city was socially empty. 'Fully agree! 95 per cent just walk around like NPCs (non-player characters), all dressing the same, doing the same things, same music etc,' one person commented. 'This is so true, I moved here four-ish years ago and when I met people they're asking where I went to school. Mind you we're in our 30s,' a second person wrote. A third said, 'This is so real. I moved here about 18 months ago and honestly, I've never experienced a city that feels so socially dry. 'It's just crowds of insufferably straighty-180s. There's almost no eclectic energy, no sense of play or vulnerability. There's no spontaneity, no vibrant third spaces, and no creativity unless you really go hunting for it.' A fourth added: '100 per cent agree. Moved here four months ago from Tassie and can't wait for my contract to end. It's objectively pretty here but soulless and like 80 per cent of the content from Sydney I see is just 5am run clubs in Bondi. Nothing else.' Others disagreed with Tazzy, suggesting that if she didn't like the city, she should move elsewhere. 'Girl why are you so pressed, just move,' one person commented. 'I agree to a degree. We exist where we do have more interests. You just haven't found your people yet,' a second person wrote. A third added: 'People just have different priorities, it's not that they're boring. You just have to find your people. I personally won't find my people out in the clubs every weekend, that doesn't make me or my kind of people boring.'
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Kmart quietly drops surprise range of homewares overnight ahead of official August living launch: 'I need it all'
In the lead-up to its eagerly awaited August living launch, Kmart has surprised shoppers with a secret new range that's already causing a buzz among fans. This latest drop is packed with versatile pieces that effortlessly combine function and flair. The Arch Black floor mirror ($129), a sleek, full-length buy with a minimalist arch silhouette and black frame, promises to add a modern elegance to your home. Its slim design means it fits neatly into smaller spaces, while the full-length reflection ticks the boxes for practicality and style. For those after a softer, textural touch, the Curved Boucle floor mirror ($75) is a standout piece, wrapped in a plush boucle fabric that introduces both warmth and sophistication into the room. Lighting fans will find plenty to get excited about too, with the Alex floor lamp ($79) bringing warmth through its wood base and pleated shade, casting an ambient glow perfect for cosy evenings or relaxed reading nooks. And for the nights when soft, portable light is just what you need, the rechargeable Nico portable lamp ($19) in retro red and lilac offers a charming glow that's easy to move around wherever the mood strikes. Not forgetting bathrooms, Kmart has introduced the Isla bathroom cabinet ($79) - a clever blend of open shelves and concealed cupboard space that's ideal for keeping toiletries and towels organised without sacrificing style. But it's not just about décor. Kmart also knows Australians appreciate a clever cleaning hack. The dust slippers, priced at just $6, allow you to tidy as you move, catching dust and dirt effortlessly. While the 3-in-1 cleaning gloves ($4) promise streak-free glass, polish, and dusting with ultimate ease - perfect for those who want quick results without the fuss. In the kitchen, Kmart continues to impress with smart, affordable gadgets. Their air fryer oven ($119) has already won fans for convenience and versatility, and now the compact omelette maker ($20) makes whipping up a fluffy, two-portion treat quick and mess-free - a win for busy mornings. Herb enthusiasts will appreciate the Herb keep savers ($5.50), which prolong freshness and cut down on waste - a small but thoughtful addition that foodies can't get enough of. The new tropical dinner plates ($8) add a splash of fun with palm leaf, shell, and peach designs that brighten up any meal Meanwhile, the new tropical dinner plates ($8) add a splash of fun with palm leaf, shell, and peach designs that brighten up any meal. It's this combination of style, practicality, and price that keeps Australians coming back to Kmart. With this new secret drop offering fresh ways to update homes ahead of the full living launch, it's clear Kmart is once again tapping into what everyday shoppers want: affordable pieces modelled off the 'it' buys of the moment. Whether you're redecorating, upgrading your lighting, or hunting for clever kitchen helpers, this new range has got people talking - and reaching for their wallets.
