Cash App just released the Afterpay Spring/Summer 2025 trend report! And among the fashion must-haves and dopamine decor, we spy some standout beauty trends we’re dying to dive into. We’ve heard from the experts that bold beauty is majorly back, and now we have the data to confirm it. Welcome back, ’70s beauty; retro never looked so good!
Featured Experts
- Natalie Dresher is a makeup artist in New York
- Terry Barber is the MAC global director of makeup artistry
’70s Beauty Dominates Trend Report
According to the Cash App Afterpay Spring/Summer 2025 trend report, bolder and more electrifying colors have seen significant growth. That’s especially of note after so many years of clean girl dominance, where neutral and natural shades reigned supreme. In 2025, “Plum eyeshadow” grew by +50 percent YoY, and “orange eyeliner” was not far behind at +43 percent YoY.
While my mind instantly went to my alma mater, Clemson University, this color combo was also a notoriously popular ’70s beauty trend. Think sunburnt orange tones and rich plums in fun, floral designs or retro patterns. In 2025, we’re seeing graphic, bold eyeliner looks and washes of colorful eyeshadow that create a diffused, watercolor impression. And in these tones, the result is a fun and, dare we say, groovy look!
Here for Bold Beauty
We’ve been anticipating a return to bold beauty, with eagle-eyed experts noticing the changing trends quickly.
“I think having more ‘fun’ with makeup will come back into play,” New York makeup artist Natalie Dresher predicted in January. “The pre-shower makeup looks will become the standard of makeup. We will have fun with bold colors and outlandish, unique concepts! Pops of color, metallics, shimmer, bold eyes, all of these things will be back!”
And it just so happens that all these elements are key to ’70s beauty.
MAC global director of makeup artistry, Terry Barber, called the current trends back in February 2024! “We’re taking a trip back to the ’70s in a way,” Barber predicted. “For me, the ’70s was when color was at its most interesting.”
’70s Beauty Essentials, by the Data
