The Coolest Summer 2023 Makeup Looks to Try Right Now
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The temps are rising, and you know what that means, right? Summer is on the horizon and it's time to play! In addition to getting outside, going on vacation, and taking in some much-needed R&R, it's the perfect time to have some fun with your makeup look. Some of the biggest trends we're seeing include no-makeup makeup, colorful eyeliner, and metallic makeup.
And there are plenty of other trends that can help you get out of your comfort zone. From the looks of our Instagram feeds, we’re seeing bright pops of color and unexpected finishes. Oh, and if you've fallen in love with face gems, not to worry—those are sticking around.
The one trend that's sure to be for everyone this summer? Doing what makes you feel good. We even rounded up a few ideas to get you started. From lacquered lips to sunset eyes, here are the looks we can’t wait to copy this summer. Scroll on for the best summer makeup looks to try between now and Labor Day.
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Instagram/@makeupbyhaileyhoff1/37Baby Blue Lids
Powder blue shadow carried a bad rep for years, but 2023's version of the look is not your mom’s or grandma's prom makeup. Now we can't get enough of these ’80s and ’90s vibes. Complete the look with a glossy frosted lip gloss.
Instagram/@patrickta2/37Grunge Girl
With the rise of the rock-star girlfriend comes moody makeup looks fit for late-night concerts and backstage passes. A smoked-out eye and nude lip are the perfect way to go.
Instagram/@danessa_myricks3/37Chrome Touches
Erica Taylor, a celebrity makeup artist and L’Oréal Paris League Expert, likes to balance out her bold looks. For instance, there can be focuses of high-shine while the rest of the face is left looking natural. Here you can see “an allover soft skin finish with a vivid duo chrome eye look,” she says.
Instagram/@ashkholm4/37Pops of Pink
There's no denying that Barbiecore pink is having a moment, especially in the form of poppy pastel and neon blush. Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush in Pink has gone viral on TikTok for its healthy pop of color. For deeper tones try Lawless Make Me Blush in Watermelon. Throw on a matching fuchsia lip and you're set.
Instagram/@jobaker5/37Precious Gems
Celebrity makeup artist Jo Baker loves to play with shapes and embellishments. On Lucy Boynton, Baker kept the complexion minimal but added some eye-catching gems and graphic liner.
Instagram/@mimicuttrell6/37White-Hot Liner
Bright white liner is a crisp twist on your classic cat eye. Stack a white liquid liner on top of your usual black wing to get the freshness of the white but keep all the definition.
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Instagram/@patrickta7/37Sun-Kissed Glow
It wouldn't be summer without some bronzey skin that glows from within. Load up on your bronzer and place it strategically in the spots that the sun would naturally hit. Think forehead, tops of cheekbones, and bridge of the nose. Patrick Ta used his own She's Sculpted shade to bronze and contour with She's Blushing blush to snatch the cheekbones.
Instagram/@makeupbymario8/37Skin Is In
Taylor says that the biggest makeup trend for summer is good skin. Makeup by Mario's SurrealSkin Foundation offers just enough coverage and luminosity while still appearing natural.
Instagram/@emilychengmakeup9/37Fluffy Brows
Even with ’90s barely there brows threatening to make a return, millennials are holding on to fluffier arches for dear life. Instead of piling on lots of products, it's more about a natural lamination effect. Try the ELF brow lift to get hairs neat and tidy.
Instagram/@katebosworth10/37Glossy Lips
In addition to dewy skin, lip oils are all the rage during summer. They offer tons of hydration with high shine and the perfect kiss of color. Try Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil for the perfect juicy lip.
Instagram/@babskymakeup11/37Magenta Lips
If poppy pinks aren't quite your thing, try a richer hue like Gemma Chen's deep magenta lip.
Instagram/@haileybieber12/37Monochromatic Magic
When in doubt, a monochrome look is the way to go. You don't have to overthink it; just choose a color—in Hailey Bieber's case a cool brown—and just go with it. Some products (like Nudestix) can be used on the eyes, cheeks, and lips, making it totally foolproof.
Instagram/@addisonraee13/37Sunburnt Blush
While we would never endorse getting a sunburn on purpose, there’s no denying how cute sun-drenched cheeks look, which is why sunburnt blush is one of the summer's top trends. The placement is what really sets sun-kissed blush apart from the other blush trends circulating right now, which focus on lifting and sculpting. Instead of up on your cheekbones, place blush on the spots where you naturally burn. “This look is achieved by carrying your blush high on the apples of the cheek and across the bridge of your nose,” says celebrity makeup artist Cortney Hart.
Insatgram/@lulustone_14/37Easy Eyeliner
For just a touch of glam, pair your go-to base with a quick flick of eyeliner (we like Glossier's Pro Tip). Don't worry too much about getting your wing perfect on the first try; you can always clean it up with some micellar water and a pointed cotton swab.
Instagram/@haileybieber15/37Underliner
This summer the coolest place to play is under your eyes. Undereye details are having a major moment—perhaps thanks to the makeup looks on the most recent season of Euphoria—from teeny-tiny rhinestones to Twiggy-inspired “lashes.” The easiest way to play up the area, though, is a dash of colorful liner as on Hailey Bieber.
Instagram/@melissa.hernandez16/37Summer Smoke
The return of parties calls for a classic smoky eye. A light touch and sticking to grays and browns makes darker shadow feel effortless, and pink lips give it a summer-ready touch.
Instagram/@merrellhollis17/37Bright Liner
A swipe of hot pink liner (or your shade of choice) brightens everything up in such a fun, summery way. Fluttery lashes and nude lips complete the look and are guaranteed to make your selfies pop off.
Instagram/@allanface18/37Pink Flush
If you're feeling a little blah after a winter indoors, a wash of hot pink across eyes, lips, and cheeks will perk your whole face right up. The key to keeping things breezy is going for sheer textures, so opt for a glossy stain like InnBeautyProject's Glazed Lip Oil.
Instagram/@maryphillips19/37Warm Browns
Brown tones on lips, eyes, and cheeks pair perfectly with a (safe!) summer tan. Try a multistick like Nudestix Nudies to get you out the door in under five minutes.
Instagram/@merrellhollis20/37Bold Wings
You can't go wrong with a classic thick wing. Just be sure to use a waterproof formula, like KVD Beauty's Tattoo liner, so it stays in place through sweaty nights.
Instagram/@melissa.hernandez21/37Warm Terra-Cotta
Embrace the summer vibes with a warm terra-cotta smoky eye. It's so pretty and couldn't be easier to pull off. Grab a liquid shadow like Violette FR's Yeux Paint in Cuivre de l’Aube and use your finger to smudge it around your top and bottom lash lines. Consider this your beach-to-dinner look.
Instagram/@emilychengmakeup22/37Glazed Skin
If you prefer natural summer makeup looks, embrace glistening glazed-donut skin (you may as well lean into the sweat, right?). Cheng used Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation and concealer for Yara Shahidi's dewy base, seen here, and kept the glow going with a touch of Mono Couleur Couture shadow in Gold Star on her lids.
Instagram/@merrellhollis23/37’90s Beat
Channel your favorite ’90s icons with matte eye shadow and deep lip liner. For this look, makeup artist Merrell Hollis used the Makeup by Mario Master Mattes eye palette and Make Up for Ever’s Artist Color Pencil in Dimension Dark Brown.
Instagram/@allanface24/37Glossy Lids
Chances are your eye shadow is going to crease anyway, so you may as well embrace it with a glossy finish. We love the pop of green on Vanessa Hudgens's inner corners, but you can tap Danessa Myricks Beauty Dew Wet Balm over any shade you choose for that crazy shine.
Instagram/@allanface25/37Sunset Eyes
A blend of copper and gold shadows perfectly mirrors the summer sunset. Try Pat McGrath's Mothership V Palette in Bronze Seduction for a similar look.
Instagram/@lilly_keys26/37Frosted Lips
Frosted eye shadow had a resurgence this spring, and for summertime the finish is moving down to the lips. Frosted lipstick was a ’90s staple, but done in a rose gold tone, it feels totally fresh—and way cooler than a classic lip gloss. Try Byredo’s lipstick in Amber in Furs for a subtler shimmer, or MAC's Frost Lipstick in Spanish Fly to take it all the way.
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Instagram/@mollygreenwald27/37Stardust Shadow
Think of Stardust Shadow—basically just a sprinkling of low-key shimmer—as grown-up fairy dust. Be sure to check out our favorite shimmer shadows here.
Instagram/@patidubroff28/37Lacquered Lips
A classic red lip with a glossy finish oozes glamour. To get a similar look, start with a layer of Chanel's Rouge Allure Velvet Extrême in Pivoine Noire for a base that lasts all night, and add a generous coat of red gloss like Rouge Coco Gloss in Rouge Carmin to bump up the shine and color.
Instagram/@allanface29/37Blue Ombré
This ombré eye is major enough on its own, but the blue mascara really brings it to the next level.
Instagram/@emilychengmakeup30/37Chocolate Smoke
Shades of rich warm browns complement tanned skin better than smoky gray. A glossy brown lipstick like Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color in Rich Cocoa Brown completes the look.
Instagram/@zoeisabellakravitz31/37Classic Red
When it's too hot to try, slap on a red lipstick and call it a day. Take a cue from Zoë Kravitz and pair her collab with YSL Beauty with a breezy white top and not much else.
Instagram/@allanface32/37Neon Pop
How cool is this dab of neon shadow? It just goes to show that eye-catching makeup doesn't have to be complicated.
Instagram/@allanface33/37Orange Lips
Another unexpected yet bold lip color? Bright orange. Paired with gold shadow, it screams summer. Avendaño used MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick in Style Shocked! for the above look.
Instagram/@brennadmakeup34/37Gold Pop
Make any eye shadow feel a little more summer-ready with a pop of gold shadow in your inner corners. Some dewy blush and a sheer lip gloss complete the look.
Instagram/@emilychengmakeup35/37Burnt Orange
Another high-impact, low-effort option is a dash of burnt orange shadow across your lids. We like Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Wild One.
Instagram/@officialsheiks36/37Soft Graphics
For a 2023 spin on the graphic liner trend, keep things softer and subtler. Use a gray pencil instead of a black liner, and blur the edges for a look that's still cool, just a little less bold.
Instagram/@charlottetilbury37/37Coral Lips
Coral often slips under the radar, but it's really the perfect summer shade—it has a little more oomph than pink or nude but is more easygoing than a full-on red. Here Pheobe Denver wears Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk and Tinted Love Lip & Cheek Tint in Blushed Rose for the perfect pool-day pout.
