Celebrate The Year of The Rabbit With These 10 Stunning Makeup Looks

A MUA shares her tips for pulling off Year of the Rabbit beauty.

While New Year’s Eve makeup is all about over-the-top glitz and glam, Lunar New Year beauty is a bit more nuanced. With festivities carried out over the course of 15 days (from the first lunar month’s New moon and ending on its Full moon) versus one celebratory night, the spirit and significance of each Spring Festival will vary in accordance with the year’s zodiac.

Whereas 2022 gave off bold year of the tiger vibes, 2023 favors a less-is-more approach to beauty that keeps with the year’s shengxiao: the rabbit. The fourth animal sign of the Chinese zodiac, rabbits are known for their elegance, creativity, and gentle nature. So to celebrate this Lunar New Year, we thought it apt to honor its muse by rounding up our favorite rabbit-inspired makeup looks.

Keep scrolling for 10 beauty looks to try this Lunar New Year—with makeup tips from celebrity MUA Tobi Henney.

Stretch your rabbit creativity with original eye makeup. “The mix of lines, dots, and brush strokes creates a fun but simple look,” says Henney. It’s her take on abstract eye art.

“To pull off this style, use a liquid liner—I love Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen ($62). Place a ‘dot’ directly in the center of the lash line. Add a little line on the outside of the eye at a thirty-degree angle. To finish with the colored accent, I dipped a fan brush in Mac Pigment ($25), spritzed with Mac Fix + Spray ($31), and dragged the pigment for the effect as pictured.”

Rabbits may be described as shy or timid, but beyond their seemingly bashful exterior (self-induced with blush, here) is a cool and confident interior. Hop on the blush bandwagon—the multifaceted makeup product is having a major moment, by the way—and experiment with your favorite TikTok application technique.

In addition to the animal zodiac associated with each lunar year, there is also a corresponding element — 2023’s being water. The last water rabbit year was back in 1963, which we’re paying homage to by highlighting one of its biggest trends: graphic liner. Here, makeup artist Nicole Thompson uses Clinique Liquid Eyeliner Pen ($23) in Brown to create a liner look that is a little extra. For a subtle flush of color on cheeks and lips, she opts for Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream ($27).

Water years are said to be approachable and adaptable and this beauty look is just that. A nude makeup palette will take you from day to night without a hitch. The earth-toned smoky eye is much more wearable than the classic rendition, plus it pairs perfectly with a nude lip.

We’re fawning over these feathery lashes and peach accents that read as visually effortless—but the intrigue doesn’t stop there. Take a closer look and you will notice white liner applied at the lower lash line. (Rabbits are detail-oriented, after all.) Bonus: White eyeliner will also make you look more awake, and who doesn’t want that?

Monochrome makeup— like monochrome outfits—is a simple yet effective way to elevate your style. “This is a fun, flattering look for any party or evening event when you want an interesting makeup look that’s easy to create,” comments Henney.” When choosing a color palette, consider going pink as it signals good luck for rabbits. And if you really want to commit to the one-color theme, go matchy-matchy with millennial-pink hair (yes, it’s still trending).

“Start this look with a flawless base by applying a light foundation—I love Armani Luminous Silk ($69) applying with Trademark Beauty Foundation Brush x Tobi Henney ($56),” says Henney. “Finish by blending with a damp Beautyblender. Groom the brows using Refy Brow Sculpt ($24). For the eye, use Trademark Beauty Brushes x Tobi Henney ($24) 1, 2, and 4 to create the perfect winged liner shape with Mac Cosmetics Pro Palette Paint Stick ($23) in Pink. Add an eyeshadow in the same tone to ensure the paint sets and doesn’t move.”

On the other hand, where a single color palette is striking, a multicolored one is playful. Purple also wields good fortune for rabbits so this eyeshadow color combo really lays the luck on thick. Meanwhile, frosted lips prove that Y2K beauty is back.

New York-based MUA Hung Vango manifests the rabbit’s beauty and elegance in this stunning makeup look that’s especially flattering for those with hooded eyes. Rather than apply eyeshadow from lash line to crease, he goes just beyond the lid to accentuate this eye shape. A little rouge—on the lips and cheeks—creates a flawless finish.

Rabbits may represent fertility but the good news is that you don’t need to be expecting in order to land that pregnancy glow (read: a dewy complexion). Case in point: This aqua blue liner look that starts with great skin, emphasizes Henney. “It’s all about glowing, natural skin with a pop of color on the eye.”

“Use Cosmedix Face Mask ($46) to prep, add Rationale Serum 1 ($182), Serum 2 ($174), and Hydragel for glowing skin,” instructs Henney. “Next prime with Victoria Beckham Cell Rejuvenating Primer ($60) in Golden. Add Cle De Peu Concealer ($75) where needed. Curl the lashes using Tweezerman Lash Curler ($12). Then, apply Fenty Beauty Fly Pencil ($23) in Blue to create a winged liner, and make it a little thicker to make it pop. Add the same colored eyeshadow on top to set. Follow with some peach blush to the cheek using Trademark Beauty Blush Brush x Tobi Henney and Roen Cheeky Cream Blush ($36) in Peach Flush. Finish by adding lashings of mascara. I love Benefit Roller Lash ($28).”

If you were born in the Year of the Rabbit, it’s believed that misfortune may befall you in 2023. However, to ward off the bad juju, simply wear red—preferably à la glamorous smoky eye and matte pout. The result is head-turning, earning it a permanent place in our beauty playbook.

Note: This article was originally published on Byrdie.