Culture

Ah, 2016 makeup—a time when contour was as sharp as a knife, eyebrows resembled rigid rectangles, and setting spray was practically glue. Looking back, it’s safe to say that makeup trends from 2016 were not for the faint of heart. Today’s TikTok beauty community revels in this era’s quirks, poking fun at it while marveling at how far we’ve come. From cheek-chiseling contouring to a blinding amount of highlight, let’s dig into what made 2016 makeup so awful—and why Gen Z’s TikTok can’t stop talking about it.

@isabelclanc

2016 youtube was iconic #millennial #2016 #nostalgia #genz #2016makeup #kylielipkit

♬ Roses (feat. ROZES) – The Chainsmokers

The All-Out Glam Look: No Chill Allowed

In 2016, subtlety was a foreign concept. Makeup routines were intensive, a marathon of products that left no skin surface untouched. The guiding mantra seemed to be “more is more,” and it wasn’t uncommon to start with three layers of primer and finish with two rounds of setting spray. TikTok creators like @throwbackglam and @contourkween have recreated these multi-step routines, reminding us of the laborious ritual that defined 2016 makeup.

@isianna_99

If you thought it was enough highlighter add more #2016makeup

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Brows So Bold, They’d Stare You Down

One glance at a 2016 eyebrow, and you’d be transported to a world where arches were carved with military precision. Think Instagram brows: outlined with a sharp, concealer-defined border, filled with heavy pomade, and impossibly square at the start. TikTok creators often spoof these brows, donning their “2016 brows” as a joke. Creator @nostalgiabeauty went viral with her eyebrow transformation video, using the caption, “When brows could block out the haters.”

The Glow That Could Guide Ships at Sea

If you wore makeup in 2016, highlighter was your shining star, literally. Whether you were heading out or just staying in, that cheekbone glow was visible from outer space. The highlighter obsession is perhaps the most talked-about feature of 2016 makeup on TikTok, where creators layer on shimmery products until their cheeks resemble disco balls. Today’s dewy glow is a faint whisper compared to the metallic shine of 2016.

The Contour Olympics

Contouring was a must-do in 2016, an intricate map of lines and shades designed to morph your face into Kardashian-like perfection. Back then, the sharper the contrast, the better. On TikTok, the “contour like it’s 2016” trend has creators applying stripes of bronzer, blending it out with dramatic flair, and even jokingly naming their contour sticks after construction tools. @throwbackcontour has a series dedicated to “2016 face-sculpting hacks that are better left in the past.”

The Rise of Matte Lips (and the Death of Lip Hydration)

No look was complete without a matte liquid lipstick in a nude or mauve shade that was borderline drying. Brands like Kylie Cosmetics were all the rage, selling out of lip kits in minutes. The end result was a lip look as cracked as the desert floor. TikTok creators today mimic this with comments like, “2016 matte lips could’ve survived an apocalypse.” @kylieschronicles jokingly says, “We sacrificed our lips for this.”

The 2024 Comeback: Embracing Natural Glam

Fast forward to now, and 2016 makeup is a relic of a bygone era. In 2024, we’re embracing minimalism, sheer coverage, and a glow that says “I drink water.” TikTok is filled with “glow-up” content comparing 2016 to present-day trends, with videos like “Then vs. Now: Makeup Edition” using the hashtag #2016makeup. 2024 makeup is all about enhancing natural features, a direct contrast to the ‘face armor’ of 2016. We’ve traded contour maps for natural shadows and swapped metallic highlight for soft, cream-based glows.

Why TikTok Can’t Get Enough of 2016 Makeup

The obsession with 2016 makeup isn’t just about reliving the past—it’s a reminder of how much beauty standards have shifted. TikTok’s beauty creators often mix humor with nostalgia, with captions like, “When your face could double as a reflective surface” and “Just going out for errands… after my 40-step routine.” Videos like @2016vibes’ recreations showcase the shift from rigid beauty rules to today’s anything-goes approach. This blend of satire and homage keeps 2016 makeup relevant, albeit in a less literal way.

Final Thoughts on 2016 Makeup: Was It Really That Awful?

In the end, 2016 makeup was a bold statement, a look of its own that required commitment. While we might cringe at those brows or laugh at contouring overkill, there’s something almost admirable about how 2016 makeup allowed us to experiment. It may have been a high-maintenance moment, but it was one that gave rise to countless beauty trends we still see echoes of today.

For those of us reminiscing on TikTok, 2016 makeup serves as a marker of where we were and how far we’ve come. Today’s makeup trends may not be as intense, but they carry the spirit of self-expression that 2016 pioneered—even if it’s a little less blinding.

Holistic learning takes a different approach to foreign language education. It focuses on learning in real-world settings, encourages physical activity, and emphasizes the importance of emotions in learning. It also promotes a balanced approach to learning. For example, holistic students are exposed to a mix of on-screen and off-screen activities and lessons.

Focus on the Whole Child

Using holistic learning materials and approaches, teachers can provide an immersive learning environment to encourage young students’ emotional and social growth. This learning style has been shown to boost academic achievement and reduce the impact of traumatic experiences on student performance. An experiential approach to language learning allows children to engage their mind and body in the same way they learn naturally.

They can use a combination of indoor and outdoor lessons, play-based activities, movement games that involve their whole body, and even sensory experiences such as playing in water or jumping in puddles. Incorporating holistic formative assessments into the education process also helps reduce implicit bias when assessing early learners’ progress. This is because the assessment is more culturally responsive and educationally comprehensive and utilizes artificial intelligence to help minimize unconscious bias in data collection.

Integrate Learning Outcomes into One Master Lesson

Learning outcomes are measurable and student-centered. They provide a clear definition of what students should be able to do at the end of the course and are used to determine how well a course meets its learning objectives. They are often used at the course level but can also be established more granularly within individual assignments.

To be effective, learning outcomes must be measurable and concise. Ideally, each outcome should contain one measurable verb (such as demonstrate or understand) rather than multiple verbs. When students know what they’ll be expected to do, they take greater ownership of their learning and tend to have more positive perceptions of their instructors and courses. This helps them to learn more effectively and efficiently.

Encourage Social and Emotional Growth

Incorporating holistic learning into classrooms helps students develop social and emotional skills. This type of education encourages curiosity and self-expression in a safe environment. It also promotes a sense of community and teaches children to respect nature and other people. It also develops transversal skills, a broad set of skills, work habits, character traits, and valuable knowledge insights across subjects.

These include empathy, compassion, creativity, teamwork, problem-solving, and multi-literacy. Holistic teaching recognizes that all children have their strengths and challenges. They may also have different learning styles. This is why teachers are trained to provide a supportive and nurturing learning environment. They also offer various tools like music and one-on-one time to help children learn independently.

Create a Safe Learning Environment

A safe learning environment promotes a positive learning experience for students. It allows learners to take risks, openly express their points of view, and grow academically and personally. This environment can include physical safety as well as psychological safety. The curriculum of holistic language learning is based on the idea that everything is connected in human experience, whether between mind and body or linear thinking and intuitive ways of knowing.

Its philosophy also encourages using formative assessments to reduce implicit bias in a classroom. With a personalized approach to language learning, teachers and coaches can tailor the learning materials for each student. This helps students to achieve success at their level and creates close community bonds in the classroom.

Support Individual Learners

Holistic learning teaches children to take responsibility for their learning by encouraging them to ask questions and pursue answers. The process also helps develop children’s transferable skills, or “transversal” skills, which include critical thinking, collaboration, teamwork, and self-expression. Educators must know their students’ growth when implementing holistic language learning and provide support accordingly.

They must create a safe environment where children can express themselves and explore their interests. In addition, teachers should also use formative holistic assessments to monitor a student’s progress. These assessment methods reduce unconscious human bias and are especially important for assessing early learners.