We’ve all had that one miracle beauty product that does exactly what it says on the tin but ended up in the bin for a completely different (and heartbreaking) reason—its packaging wasn’t practical or aesthetically pleasing, or worse, both. And we all know by now that when it comes to us gen Zers, we value looks just as much as ‘personality’.

While older generations might deem this attitude as a sign of privilege, I like to think of it as proof that we know what we deserve. When faced with such a high amount of options, especially when it comes down to cosmetics, why should we settle for anything other than the best? Gen Zers want the best of both worlds, if you will.

And I’m here to give you just that with these 5 makeup products and accessories that are cute enough to eat. Whether you’re more into minimalism or usually go for full-on snazzy designs, no other industry does pretty packaging like the beauty industry. So get ready to have your mind blown, and thank me later.

Though the Los Angeles-based brand, which is named after a lifeguard tower in Santa Monica, is relatively new to the beauty industry, it hasn’t stopped it from already proving its worth. Its range of products is made from the cleanest ingredients, with no chemicals or fragrances.

Introducing the holy trinity for your cheeks: Tower 28’s ‘Extra Cheeky Trio’. This particular set features a blush, bronzer and highlighter in a range of shades. The creamy formula means the powder blends seamlessly into your skin.

Tower 28 went down the simplistic route with its cosmetic design packaging (which has become a growing trend in recent years within the beauty industry). Each product of the trio comes in a clear square-shaped case and features the name of the brand on top in a variation of pink hues.

 

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Tower 2 ‘Extra Cheeky Trio’, $50, available at Tower 28.

Spectrum is well known for being the makeup brushes connoisseur and never fails to disappoint with its stunning collections. Mean Girls, on the other hand, is probably the most iconic film of the 2000s. Take both of those things and you get a match made in heaven that includes a Burn Book bag in which you can store an eight-piece brush set.

The set’s brushes feature hot pink handles and bristles along with a different Mean Girls quote on each of them. If pink isn’t your colour, Spectrum also made a Janis Ian-inspired set that comes in dark purple. Loves it!

 

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Spectrum ‘Mean Girls Brush Set and Burn Book’, £84.99, available at Sephora.

Founded in 2021 by Palestinian twin sisters Simi and Haze Khadra—who were crowned the new “beauty it girls” by Elle in August 2022—SIMIHAZE BEAUTY has already conquered the hearts of numerous makeup enthusiasts.

Though some might say that the brand’s success is mostly due to the DJ duo’s countless friendships with the super famous (from the Kardashians and Hailey Bieber to The Weeknd), I blame the incredibly cute packaging its products come in.

If you are anything like me, the cold weather we’re currently witnessing is leaving your face looking washed out, making you look even more tired than you already are. Of course, the easy solution to that sick-looking complexion would be to wear your favourite foundation and call it a day.

However, foundation tends to be heavy on the skin and can end up drying it even more. That’s where SIMIHAZE BEAUTY’s ‘Sun Flush All-Over Face Tint’ comes in to save the day. Easy to apply, super lightweight, and available in a range of shades, this is the perfect product to bring back some colour to your face.

Not only is the product actually amazing, its packaging is just as good. The sisters once explained that they created the brand “as a journey through dualities”—am and pm, form and function, minimal and maximal. They wanted products that enhance, not cover, and textures as unique as you are.

Their products are intuitively and artfully designed, housed in custom, raw resin-like, sculptural packaging, inspired by the twins’ love of fine art, to provide consumers with a multi-sensory experience from the exterior through innovative and skin-loving formulations.

 

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As if that wasn’t enough, the brand also sells a ‘Glow Case’ keychain where customers can put their favourite SIMIHAZE BEAUTY product in and attach to their bag for the day. One word: obsessed.

 

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SIMIHAZE BEAUTY ‘Sun Flush All-Over Face Tint’, $35, available at SIMIHAZE BEAUTY. ‘Glow Case keychain’, $15, available at SIMIHAZE BEAUTY.

Ever since singer Ariana Grande launched her r.e.m beauty line back in 2021, it has grown increasingly popular among makeup pros and Ari stans alike—but is the hype to be believed? Though I definitely have a few r.e.m. products that I simply couldn’t live without, I think that the brand’s packaging definitely plays a part in its success.

Bold and subtle, r.e.m. packagings keep to a strong motif of metallic silver and opaque whites throughout the whole range.

One of the brand’s most popular products is the ‘Essential Drip Lip Oil’—not only does it give your lips a beautiful glossy shine, it also nourishes, softens and prevents them from becoming dehydrated and cracking.

The oil comes in a clear sleek rounded bottle with a silver top lid that clearly embraces a soft, chrome future aesthetic. The product also features a special applicator with a small bead in the middle which helps the product glide flawlessly onto your lips, but also makes it feel like your lips are getting a massage. Who wouldn’t love that?

 

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R.e.m. beauty’s ‘Essential Drip Lip Oil’, £15, available at r.e.m. beauty.

It was only two years ago that Glossier was considered to be a brand on the verge of collapse. However, with a floor-to-ceiling packaging rejuvenation, the cruelty-free beauty supplier has reinstated itself as a certified makeup mogul.

Its packaging is simplistic and no fuss, and as the first cosmetic brand to jump on the minimalist bandwagon, it doesn’t need the glitz and glam to grab our attention. It has already stood the test of time.

Although it’s incredibly hard to pick only one Glossier product to highlight as the brand’s item with the most aesthetically-pleasing packaging, I just had to go for the ‘Cloud Paint’. I hope I’m not blowing your mind right now in a ‘I was today years old when I found out…’ way but the buildable gel-cream blush’s packaging references the design of actual paint tubes and Pantone swatches.

This in turn makes the different coloured tubes look really nice lined up together, influencing customers to want to have more than just one.

 

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Glossier’s ‘Cloud Paint’, £17, available at Glossier.

Another year, another unattainable beauty standard. Cosmetic surgery waits for no one, and it seems as though the minute we get to grips with one facial aesthetic trend, another pops up on our FYP, perpetually reminding us of all our insecurities, like a never-ending game of Whac-A-Mole.

From lip fillers to the oh-so-famous brow lift, buccal fat removal is the newest beauty trend dominating the internet. But what is it actually about? And why is this potentially dangerous cosmetic procedure capturing the hearts and minds of gen Zers everywhere?

Buccal fat is the tissue—around the size of a grape—found between the midface and lower face. Its presence results in the creation of a rounder and softer jawline. It functions as a cushion between your two chewing muscles, the buccinator and masseter.

For patients seeking buccal fat removal, a surgeon will make a small incision on either side of their mouth and remove that area of fat from the face, thereby allowing their jaw to give off a sculpted effect and hollow cheeks.

While this procedure has been readily available for decades, it’s really started to become a phenomenon in the beauty world at the very end of 2022 thanks to celebrity intervention and mass promotion online, particularly on TikTok. As to be expected, there’s been a mixed response from creators and users alike, with some praising the procedure for reigniting their confidence, and others discouraging unnecessary cosmetic work that could perpetuate archaic beauty standards.

@jacimariesmith

Replying to @wheatykells my thoughts on buccal fat removal

♬ original sound - jacimariesmith

@rachelocoolmua

Buccal fat removal can SUCK IT #roundface #roundfacecontour #fullface #contourtutorial #makeuptutorial #blush

♬ You Don't Own Me - Lesly Gore

From supermodel Bella Hadid to TV personality and resident Twitter warrior Chrissy Teigen, Los Angeles has been a hub for celebrity buccal fat removal endorsement. Glee star Lea Michelle also potentially joined the growing trend after a recent Instagram selfie sparked online curiosity.

 

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Round faces have always been subject to criticism in relation to the still highly prevalent western beauty standards. Similarly to how society places greater value on thinner bodies, chiselled jaws and defined cheekbones continue to take precedent.

The surgery is not only dangerous but it also comes with a hefty price tag too, with estimations ranging from around £3,000 to £5,000.

Indecisive gen Zers beware,  this procedure is irreversible, and although it may appear flattering at first, in the long term, it could potentially accelerate the ageing process. As you grow older, you naturally lose volume in your face. By removing the small layer of flesh prematurely, you take the risk of looking gaunt further down the line.

If your heart is set on the infamous buccal fat removal however, make sure you’ve done extensive research and try to go to a reliable surgeon. How much buccal fat you have is dependent on the individual—which only increases the risk of something going wrong—so it’s imperative you only have removed the correct amount for you.

Of course, no one should have autonomy or influence over what you do with your body except you—the choice is yours and yours alone. While this cosmetic trend may reflect the persistence of unobtainable toxic body standards, it’s also a way in which individuals can pursue agency over their own bodies and potentially take steps towards feeling confident in their own skin.

Other potential complications can include post-operative swelling, the very unsexy hematoma, muscle weakness and less commonly, damage to the saliva duct if the incision is too high.