(Beauty)

Why ‘Hot Mess’ Should Be Your New Beauty Mantra

Victor VIRGILE

One thing was very clear at New York Fashion Week: there’s a growing rebellion against perfection. In the age of the painstakingly composed Instagram and the unattainably retouched editorial it’s refreshing to see designers shunning polish and keeping it real. From dewy natural skin and messy hair to neutral nails these beauty looks have us inspired to pare back, scale down, and embrace our natural features. (Then pile on the fabulous clothes.)

The Trend: Real Skin

We are forever inspired by the effortlessly chic French girl and her minimal beauty routine, and the runways thoroughly embraced that vibe. Looks were heavy on the moisturizer and light on foundation so you could actually see the skin. At Rag & Bone, models channeled New Wave goddess Jean Seberg.

Photo: Courtesy of Nars

The Trend: Real Skin

At Prabal Gurung models were given an outdoorsy, post-hike glow.

Photo: Getty Images

The Trend: Real Skin

Alexander Wang proved that it’s cooler to do makeup without brushes and tools.

Photo: Courtesy of Nars

The Trend: Day 3 Hair

We loved the models’ manes at Tibi where Unite Editorial Director, Kevin Ryan described the look as “lucky messy hair”—a.k.a. that moment when you casually brush your fingers through your hair and everything miraculously falls into place.

Photo: Getty Images

The Trend: Day 3 Hair

DVF proved that you don’t need every hair in place to still be ladylike. We’re still dreaming about those loose twisted chignons.

Photo: Courtesy of Tresemme

The Trend: Day 3 Hair

At 3.1 Philip Lim, slept-in, air-dried hair took the place of too-perfect beach waves.

Photo: Getty Images

The Trend: Basically Bare Nails

We love a neutral nail for its ability to go with anything and hold up when the chips start to appear. There were beautiful, natural tones everywhere from Donna Karan to Rag & Bone.

Photo: Courtesy of Deborah Lippmann

The Trend: Basically Bare Nails

The pretty polish at Rag & Bone had pink undertones.

Photo: Courtesy of JinSoon

The Trend: Basically Bare Nails

Over at DKNY, Essie nail artist Michelle Saunders gave models the “fastest manicure at Fashion Week”—sometimes even allowing the models to swipe their own polish straight down the middle of their nails for a quirky DIY effect.

Photo: Courtesy of Essie