The 25 Best Beauty Instagrams of 2016
By Calin Van Paris. Photos: Courtesy.
For those who favor beauty, Instagram’s endless stream of visuals doubles as a quick-look time capsule designed for easy skimming in the absence of the above-the-neck muses. Every week on Vogue.com, we cull and share the most eye-catching captures posted on the app—from backstage makeup application to oceanside selfies—each image showcasing outward elements and health-conscious habits worth emulating. A quick backward scroll through our favorite photos is all that’s needed to identify the year’s most relevant moments and trends.
For many of the most popular posters, the whole of 2016 was a literal day at the beach. Emily Ratajkowski highlighted the importance of fitness and sun protection during a birthday break in Turks and Caicos, an exaggerated sun hat shielding her complexion, its frayed, downward-reaching edges pulling focus to a set of sculpted abs. Kendall Jenner opted for mirrored shades for her day in the sun, Lupita Nyong’o shutting her eyes and accessorizing with a grin instead. Elsewhere, Willow Smith’s by-the-sea snap was defined by toned limbs, a mane of baby dreadlocks, and a well-placed ukulele, while FKA twigs adorned her own textured, silver-tinged mane with subtle seashells for a boat ride in Ibiza.
Year-round metallics found fans in Kaia Gerber—who embodied a work of fine art with an eye-level smattering of gold leaf, an unexpected material also pressed onto Aureta Thomollari’s shiny, sleek updo—Solange Knowles, closed lids heavy with golden sparkles; and Bella Hadid, the model’s extended edging of light-catching liner made contemporary by way of abbreviated fringe and an on-trend choker. Always one to up the ante, Lady Gaga brought the love of things luminous to the wellness arena, pairing a body-length, silvery foil wrap with a sauna as a recommended treatment for chronic pain.
From Ciara’s wraparound fishtail (prettily adorned with wispy flyways) to Lily-Rose Depp’s insouciant ponytail (finished with a gauzy crimson ribbon) to Kim Kardashian West’s ironed mane (a look best whipped back and forth in the company of Naomi Campbell), 2016’s best hair moments brought age-old romanticism up to date. And in keeping with the forward-thinking theme, Olivia Wilde used the wide-reaching platform to celebrate the beauty of breastfeeding—#neverunderestimatethepowerofawoman—while Adam Levine honored wife Behati Prinsloo’s pregnancy with a sympathetic baby bump. At the end of the day (or year), beauty is about more than just looks: Health, culture, and overall wellness are all mirrored by appearances. Here’s to open eyes, open minds, and even more glitter in the new year.
This story originally appeared on Vogue.
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