As the new year unfolds, so does the collective hunger for nostalgia. My For You Page is flooded with trends throwing it back to 2016, with creators like Tao recreating looks and brands like Rare Beauty tapping into the sentiment. Think back to the time period of Two Faced Palettes, Kylie Lip Kits, and the Hoola Bronzer, which I picked up in 2016, and honestly, never stopped using.

It’s no surprise that beauty lovers, myself included, are yearning for something louder again. We’re exhausted—and frankly a little bored—of the slick backs, sheer lips, and “barely there beauty”. It’s time for make up with, dare I say it, some personality. 

2016 was the peak for defined brows, and bold eyes with the lip shade to match. So what better way to celebrate the decade anniversary of those looks than by bringing them back? 

Maximalist glam is making a headway into this year and I’m all for it. Turns out, I’m not alone. Kaitlin Rinehart, Vice President of Merchandising at Ulta Beauty, has noticed a major transformation in the shopping patterns of current consumers. “While the way our guests engage with beauty continues to evolve, some trends from 2016 are resurfacing in exciting ways,” Rinehart told Yahoo News.

Now I ask myself what it is about minimalist beauty that has become uninspiring. For me, what once felt like the ultimate form of quiet luxury and soft elegance now feels like a demand to be ‘naturally perfect’, something we know does not exist. The clean girl aesthetic implies simplicity, but the upkeep behind the facade is a lot of pressure. Now that individuality is valued more than ever, it’s the chaos and rich context behind that bold look that I’m chasing. Allowing my beauty to show up in all its glory. 

There’s something bittersweet about tapping into our former selves through the beauty choices we make today. While we aren’t able to truly relive 2016, we never have to forget it.