Body-painting is one of the hottest new beauty trends for 2019

New year, new you. The start of a brand-new year can be the perfect time to experiment with trends in style and beauty. The latest form of self-expression that’s heating up our social media feeds? Body-painting.

Searches for body painting are up 444 percent on Pinterest, so expect to see some beautiful body art everywhere you look in 2019. If you’ve flirted with the idea of getting a tattoo but aren’t ready for that level of permanent commitment, body painting can be a great way to try out the look of a tattoo on a temporary basis.

Check out this beautiful floral design, courtesy of face painting and body art artist Ashlie Thrush:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpiRl5yBfgE/

And artist @kenyvels_art created a vibrant floral piece for her leg:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhfl4amHzC5/

Art lover @_inu_iku_art_ legit painted a landscape on her leg:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsNzNnmH1Ef/

And we love this tattoo-like piece from @messyuncut:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfiBVLOlci9/

And by the way, how cool is this full-body rainbow look from makeup artist and body painter Julie Hassett?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsL2O2YhJsY/

Because it’s only temporary, people feel a lot freer to experiment when it comes to body paint.

“I can design a body suit for somebody, and most people just let me go with whatever I want,” professional tattoo artist turned body painter Melissa Thompson told the Missoulian.

Celebrities have already been spotted sporting body paint, including Ariana Grande in her music video for “God Is A Woman.” Check out artist Alexa Meade in action as she prepared Grande for the video shoot:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlMR7IOnrZF/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_loading_state_control

Lots of body paint was also used to pull off Margot Robbie’s transformation into Harley Quinn in “Suicide Squad.” She will reprise her role in “Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn),” due out in 2020.

“Honestly, for me, as Harley at least, the more skin showing the longer it takes in hair and makeup ’cause she’s got, you know, white skin and a million tattoos,” Robbie explained to W Magazine of the laborious process of getting into costume for the role. “So if anything outside, god, the scenes where I don’t even have the jacket on, that’s an extra 20 minutes in the makeup trailer.”

Of course, these last few examples are far more extreme versions of what you might want to do with your own look, but they’re also a sign that body paint is becoming more mainstream thanks to pop culture influence.

If you’re interested in dabbling in a body-painted look yourself, body painter Trina Marie has the lowdown on the best paints for your body.

Is this a trend you plan to try in 2019?