The Rococo aesthetic is already starting to make waves online and in the new year it’s expected to continue to trend. According to the Pinterest predictions, Rococo makeup and outfits will be all the rage in 2025. The aesthetic is a nod to the past with a modern twist but how can you achieve the look and will it work for Black women?
What is the Rococo Aesthetic?
Rococo is a design style that originated in early 18th century Paris. According to Britannica, it is characterized by lightness, elegance, and an exuberant use of curving natural forms in ornamentation. When it comes to fashion during the Rococo period, think Marie Antoinette who was at the forefront of this style. It is all about large pouffy skirts, frilly details, bows, pearls and feathers. Women often wore corsets and voluminous hoop skirts. Pouffy, sky high hairstyles were also a part of this era.
What is Rococo Makeup?
Like fashion, makeup was a big part of the traditional Rococo period. During this 18th century time, women wore pale, washed out faces, thin eyebrows, rosy cheeks and would, at times, add a beauty mark. Now, women are revisiting the Rococo makeup aesthetic as a means of artistic expression and experimentation.
On social media women share their take on the modern Rococo makeup look. The updated version is less fantastical and more understated but still likely would get stares if worn out on a random weekday. The looks often included wigs piled high, heavily powdered faces, stained lips and pink cheeks. They also tend to use powder to hide their natural brows and pencil in thin brows instead.
How Can Black Women Achieve the Rococo Makeup Look?
Despite Rococo makeup being so heavily based in whiteness, Black women are finding a way to make the look their own. Black content creators on TikTok are showing how to adapt the look for melanated skin. Creator Literal Lyssa shows a full makeup routine which includes priming her skin and using a lighter foundation to give the pale skin appearance Rococo makeup is known for. She also uses concealer and setting powder on her eyebrows to disguise them so that she can draw on thinner brows.
Creator manilovesmovies used the Rococo makeup look for her 2023 Halloween costume. She combined the makeup style with another major trend, Pat McGrath’s porcelain or glass skin.
Creator namglami dubbed herself a modern rococo gyal in her take on the makeup trend. She combined a no eyebrow look with a lip that merged dark cherry and nude in one.
Where to Buy Rococo Makeup
Any makeup can be used to achieve the Rococo makeup aesthetic. It’s all about application style rather than particular products. However, if you want to go full on Rococo, the brand Flower Knows offers a full Rococo collection including several blushes. From the collections’s packaging to color offerings, it’s truly a Rococo inspired endeavor.