These Makeup Artists Are Making Horse Girl Glam a Thing
Hooves up for Lunar New Year.
According to the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Not only is the Lunar New Year said to bring rapid change and personal growth, it’s also prime time for all of the self-proclaimed horse girls. In honor of the festivities, editorial makeup artists are drawing inspiration from the horses themselves in order to dream up 2026’s most whimsical beauty trend: horse girl glam.
Led by makeup artists like Astya Ferina, Éamonn Zeel Freel and Mia Dermanovic, horse makeup references the lustrous skin and gorgeous patterns of our favorite majestic creatures. Although horse girl glam can take many different forms, it usually consists of spotted details, glistening eyeshadow and an occasional SFX moment. While some makeup artists literally transform themselves into horses, others take a more abstract route and execute glowing eye looks reminiscent of a horse’s shiny coat.
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For Astya Ferina, horse girl glam is not only an opportunity to experiment with new techniques, but also a reminder of what the Year of the Horse symbolizes. “As soon as I found out 2026 is the Year of the Horse, I knew I had to create something inspired by it — and knowing the horse symbolizes freedom, that energy really spoke to me,” she tells Hypebae. “In a way, it’s also a reminder for myself to be free this year and to run towards everything I want. It sounds cheesy but it became some sort of a New Year’s resolution for me.”
While horses are seen as a representation of confidence, energy and ambition, horse girl glam is a playful way to tap into the most bold parts of ourselves. Through the lens of innovative makeup artists, Lunar New Year has become not only a celebration of new beginnings, but also an opportunity to honor the inner horse girl inside all of us.
Ahead, we outline all of the best horse-inspired makeup looks to get you in the Lunar New Year spirit.
Majestic Stallion
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Appaloosa Glam
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Shimmering Stead
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Galloping Glow
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Spotted Beauty
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