Our awkward stage looked a little something like this: We piled on the makeup in our preteen excitement of experimentation, only to later squirm uncomfortably when faced with the photographic evidence of what we'd actually done. Maybe you can relate. But, Bella Thorne? Yeah, she never had one of those phases. (Though she has experienced her share of skin struggles, as she told us this summer.) Despite having tens of thousands of pictures taken of her from the time she was a tween, Thorne’s beauty style has remained flawless, embodying less-is-more — but with just the right amount of color.
Her beauty M.O. hinted at '60s-inspired flair for years, but then completely transformed to include an arsenal of looks. Right now, it appears she's never been more willing to push the beauty boundaries — almost-black lips to crimped ponytails — and we can't get enough.
So, in honor of Thorne turning the big 1-9, we're offering up our favorite kind of birthday celebration: a complete breakdown of her beauty evolution. Check it out in the slides ahead.
Back in 2008, baby Bella kept makeup minimal: a touch of mascara, gloss, and pink-flushed cheeks that could rival Shirley Temple’s.
Photo: Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.
The following year, she made some bigger beauty statements. To wit: Thorne stepped into bang territory, and added the subtlest streak of purple to her hair — you'd have to squint to see it. She also upped the makeup factor, trying her hand at strobing.
Photo: Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.
By 2012, Thorne landed on a '60s-inspired beauty look which she'd frequently return to for red carpet appearances: pale lips, full hair — in a classic bouffant style, of course — and fluttery falsies.
Photo: Barry King/FilmMagic.
Another staple of Thorne’s style? Textured, lived-in braids. This one, woven with jewel-toned velvet ribbon (perhaps foreshadowing the actress's bold dye job years later) popped against her equally bright pink lips and liner in 2013.
Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images.
Thorne was still new to the topknot game at red carpet appearances — but it looked so good, it definitely wouldn't be her last. Here, she paired the high bun with face-framing bangs and a zingy orange lipstick to match her ensemble.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images.
In yet another nod to ‘60s mod style, the actress tried a faux bouffant 'do that looked like it could have come right out of the musical Hairspray.
Photo: Mike Windle/WireImage.
Thorne continued to stick to her signature bangs, but here she swapped her usual barely-there lipsticks for a bright pink-red — a perfect contrast against her purple lapel.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.
In 2014, Thorne ditched the bangs completely, walking the red carpet with the fringe swept off of her face with beachy waves to boot. To complement her Cali-girl vibe, she kept her makeup simple — just a matte pink lip, glimmering eye shadow, and winged liner.
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.
Just when we thought she had her signature look down pat, she switched it all up in early 2015. Exhibit A: This graphic, gray-blue cat eye and twisty topknot.
Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images.
These messy, swept-up double buns gave us major Princess Leia vibes when she wore them to the Refinery29 holiday party back in 2014. We especially liked the smudgy, micro-lined eyes that instantly edged up the look.
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic.
Thorne looked straight out of Grease with this slicked-back ponytail, siren-red lips, and black-rimmed eyes.
Photo: Joe Kohen/Getty Images.
Thorne stepped out in late 2015 in total Barbarella -inspired glam, throwing it back to her early years' perfectly coiffed comfort zone with this half-up 'do and dramatic lashes.
Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic.
She kicked off 2016 with near-black lips — and totally pulled it off. How? She kept the remainder of her makeup simple and paired the look with soft, effortless S-waves to prevent it from appearing too gothic. (Not that we're not into that, too.)
Photo: C Flanigan/Getty Images.
We're digging Thorne's recent red carpet look: This high ponytail with tight, gorgeous, '80s-inspired crimps throughout called back to a style she hasn't worn for years. It also happens to be a great look for a birthday night out.
Photo: Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images.
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