9 summer makeup trends that you should really know about

I don't know about you, but there's something about the sun hitting just right, that makes me want to rethink my whole makeup look. And the summer makeup trends we've spotted emerging from social media 100% understand the assignment when it comes to reflecting that warmer weather, with some truly dreamy makeup moments.

Take the mermaidcore movement that's been exploding across fashion and beauty. Expect to see a whole wave of glossy complexions, sparkling eyeshadows, dewy lipglosses and wet-look hair moments right on cue to glisten in the sunshine.

Glazed is still on the agenda, but lips are getting all the attention with some of our favourite brands following in the footsteps of Dior's cult Lip Glow Oil and releasing yummy renditions of their own (see: Merit, NYX and Rare). And of course, Hailey Bieber's Rhode lip treatment and glazing fluid has finally made it to the UK so we can get in on the glazed donut action.

Want something a little grittier? Grunge kept things moody through winter, but the look is going nowhere for spring and summer, the only difference? We'll see a more lightweight take on the trend with delicate textures and sheerer smoked-out eyes.

As for the rest? Keep reading for our round-up of the best spring summer makeup trends of 2023…

Sheer-bold blush

Sheer and bold aren't exactly two words that should work together, but the sheer-bold blush trend is proof that the two can work in harmony. Heading into the next couple of seasons blush is going big. There'll be more of it (swept liberally across cheeks, temples and the bridge of the nose), but to keep it feeling fresh, we're seeing sheerer formulas. We love liquid versions like Vieve's Sunset Blush Balms, Saie's Dew Blush, Iconic's Sheer Blush, Glossier's Cloud Paint and Charlotte Tilbury's Matte Beauty Blush Wands.

Mermaidcore

Heading into summer, mermaidcore is set to make waves and its infiltrating beauty trends, too. It's popular each summer (with dolphin skin having gone stratospheric previously), but with Halle Bailey's remake of The Little Mermaid giving us modern nostalgia, we're ready to embrace it in an even bigger way. Expect to see aquatic eyeshadow shades, ultra dewy skin, wet-look hair, glossy lips and even pearl details like face or eyeliner stickers. We love e.l.f's Mermaid Shimmy Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow, Chanel's Baume Essentiel and VO5's Wet Look Styling Gel.

Colour pop eyes

One easy switch to instantly add a cool refresh is to swap out your regular black liner for a colourful alternative. Expect to see more pastels and neons sketched across lash lines, or full-out bright colour pop eyeshadows. It's a statement, but paired with more minimal, everyday makeup look, it can feel low-key and infinitely wearable. We love the H&M Liquid Liners, Stila Stay All Day Dual-Ended Liquid Eye Liner, Barry M Hi Vis Liquid Eyeliner and Lottie London Color Cloud Longwear Matte Liquid Eyeshadow.

Lightweight grunge

One makeup trend that's not going anywhere? Grunge – but make it spring-summer appropriate. Rather than full matte foundations, thick liquid lipsticks and heavy smoky eyes, we're seeing the glam grunge aesthetic get a lightweight update with semi-matte complexions or even tinted moisturisers. We're seeing lip stains sub in for lipsticks (for all of the impact without the weight) and we've seen pantyhose smoky eyes offer up a sheer, gauzy take on the classic smoky eye. We love Rare Beauty's Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation, Kiko's Long Lasting Colour Lip Markers and Charlotte Tilbury's The Sophisticate Luxury Palette,

Glazed lips

The ‘lip oil’ hashtag on TikTok has 1.2 billion views and “Dior lip oil” has over 650 million views all on its own, so it's probably no surprise that glazed lips are one of spring-summer's most popular trend – because no season works with a glossy wash of colour more perfectly than the sunshine seasons to really set off that glassy shine. We've said it before but we're living for the new renditions from Merit, NYX and Rare.

‘90s frosted shimmer

We've brought back ‘90s lip liner, ’90s grunge and we even keep seeing skinny eyebrows everywhere (wahh, not brave enough). So it was only a matter of time before we mined the archive further and resurrected the frosted lips and eyeshadows that Pamela Anderson and Brandy made famous way back when. The pretty trend leans into the silky balletcore beauty moment that TikTok is currently loving and it's just plain stunning for spring and summer. We love Pat McGrath's Lust Gloss, Fenty's Diamond Milk Gloss Bomb, Hourglass' Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow and Urban Decay's Mono Moondust Eyeshadows.

Barbiecore

Heading into summer Barbiecore beauty is the one to watch, and it's bringing with it hot pink nail polish, fluffed-up lashes, glitter accents and pink statement lips. With Margot Robbie's live action Barbie movie out this July, searches for the “Barbie ponytail” up by 30% and Viva Magenta named the pantone of the year, it's clear Barbie fever is about to peak in 2023. We love OPI Two-Timing The Zones Infinite Shine Nail Lacquer, Natasha Denona's Valentine's Kit eyeshadow palette and Kylie Cosmetics Velvet Lip Kits.

Coquettecore

With over 8.4 billion views on TikTok, the coquette makeup trend leans into old-school femininity (think pink, pearls, lace and bows). It's a look that's been referenced throughout the years, blending sultriness with innocence, but at its core, this new generation of coquette makeup simply leans into an unashamedly “girly” aesthetic because it's cute, and we can. This means fluttery lashes, elongated siren liner and fresh, flushed cheeks. We love Maybelline Sky High Mascara, NYX Epic Ink Liner and NARS The Multiple Orgasm Blusher.

Underpainting

Hailey Bieber's makeup artist, Mary Phillips, shook the beauty internet when fans found out the easy trick she uses to create the most natural-looking contour (literally painting it on before applying foundation so it peeks through more subtly). And we've seen the softer contoured look trend ever since, so expect to see a lot more underpainting heading into spring and summer.

This article first appeared on glamourmagazine.co.uk

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