Summer is the best time to try radiant, fun makeup that not only brightens up your natural beauty but also reflects the sun-soaked look. As days get longer and the light gets to golden-hour levels, your beauty routine can start to revolve around luminous skin, pops of color and lightweight finishes. Whether you’re planning to attend a beach party, have brunch on a rooftop, or simply enjoy a walk under the sun, these makeup looks ensure that you will stay fresh, cool and glowing. Below, 11 of our favorite summer makeup ideas to spark your next warm-weather beauty look.
1. Sun-Kissed Glow-Up
This look speaks of reflecting and radiating the golden sunshine on to your skin. Begin with a hydrating, dewy foundation or skin tint to build the base of your dewy-skin foundation. Use a warm bronzer on the cheeks, temples and bridge of the nose to create a sun-kissed appearance. Choose a cream bronzer to get that flawless sun-kissed glow. Accentuate with champagne or gold shimmer on your cheek bones and the inner corners of the eye. This look works well with a shiny nude or peachy lip. And voila, the finishing touch with a setting spray that provides a luminous finish, to keep moisture and shine locked in. This nothing-to-it-bronze is perfect for golden hour selfies, a day at the beach or a poolside hang. It’s minimal and radiant, and it focuses on glowing, healthy skin. For added support, add in a body shimmer oil to your shoulders and collarbone to marry the glow. The key to perfecting this look is blending, and finding warm tones that complement your natural skin. You’ll have the look of someone who has just returned from a tropical escape — even if you’re still hanging out in your own backyard.
2. Tropical Coral Pop
It is a cheerful look that adds pops of coral to your summer makeup. Coral is universally flattering on most complexions, and it adds warmth and light without being overbearing. Start with a sheer, matte foundation that adds a natural glow to your skin. Brush on a generous amount of coral blush on your cheeks, and even lightly over your nose, for a fresh, sunburned glow. Then use peach and coral shadows to blend on eyelids, with a touch of shimmer at the center for depth. Use a warm brown pencil to line your eyes for gentle definition. Get the lips and you’re golden (coral sounds even better over the lips)—go for a creamy coral lipstick or gloss to bring the entire look home. This makeup can be worn with brunches, garden parties, whenever you feel lost in that sea of neutrals. Coral brings to mind the bright hues of tropical blooms and sunsets, and is the ultimate summer vibe. And don’t overlook the opportunity to coordinate your nails for that monochromatic life. Living coral is filled with a vibrancy that can quickly elevate your mood, as well as, your overall appearance -giving off a sense of warmth and freshness with a loud ‘summer’ statement.
3. Ocean-Inspired Blues
We’re all for taking the plunge this Summer in favor of daring, ocean-blue makeup. Forget all your imperfections and start fresh with perfectly matte skin for your eye makeup to glow! Choose a hydrating primer to keep skin fresh and smooth. For the eyes, use a wash of turquoise or cobalt blue shadow all over lids. Color darker navy into the outer corners for depth, and rim the lower lash line with a matching aqua for an ethereal, under-the-sea vibe. Finish with a swipe of volumizing mascara — black or blue, depending on your level of daring. Go minimal with the rest of your face with a light pink blush and a clear or nude gloss instead so that your eyes are the center of attention. This daring style is perfect for festivals, rooftop dinner parties, and summer nights out. The secret is to mix textures: a matte finish on skin with metallic eyeshadow and glossy lips. You could also pick an accessory (like a bright blue headband or earrings) and try matching the liner or shadow to that instead. This watery palette calls to mind the peace and mystery of the ocean, and provides a cool antithesis to summer’s heat.
4. Golden Goddess
Set your Inner Goddess free and try a full spectrum of gold that has the power and warmth of the sun! Reach for a dewy foundation and sweep a liquid highlighter over the high points of your face before applying powder. Opt for different shades of gold eyeshadows (champagne, true gold, bronze) to create a multi-dimensional eye. Bring on the drama or just a touch of old-Hollywood glam with fluttery lashes and winged eyeliner. Sweep a bronzy blush and a gilded highlighter across your cheeks, nose and on your Cupid’s bow. End with a gold-flecked gloss or metallic lipstick for that goddess-level shine. This is the look you pull out when you need to make a statement — we’re talking summer weddings, fancy soirées, or decadent nights out on the town. Gold jewelry will up the luxe factor. The key is balance: You want to keep your application soft and glory instead of heavy and glittery. You want to glow, not gleam. Apply body shimmer or highlighter on your shoulders and collarbones for full-on goddess action. This radiant aesthetic is all about projecting confidence and sophistication, from the inside out and then some.
5. Watermelon Sugar
This style is juicy, full and down-right fun—just right for those hot summer days and fruity cocktail nights. Start with a dewy base which is achievable with bb cream or tinted cream. A cotton candy-scraped glow on the cheeks and nose will create that watermelon flush. Combine pink and green pastel shadows on the eyes — sweep pink in the crease, green along the bottom lash line or at the inner corner. A single swipe of shimmery highlighter on the lids pulls it all together. on the lips is a glossy watermelon-pink shade. This is a playful look that embraces color and freshness and is perfect for a pool party or beachside BBQ or for your playful day outing. Keep them feathery and natural to continue the lighthearted mood. To give it a fun spin, consider adding tiny faux freckles, or a watermelon nail art. It’s all about balance — as much as the colors might pop, the application should feel light and airy. This outfit just screams young, juicy summer fun.
6. Peachy Glow-Up
Peach is the quintessential summer color: light, vibrant and flattering on nearly anyone. Begin with a lightweight foundation or skin tint for a breathable base. Take a peach cream blush and apply it onto the apples of your cheeks, sweeping it slightly to the temples. A shimmer of peach on the eyes can do wonders —just sweep a shade like a light shimmering peach all over the lid to keep everything vibrant and glowing in the best way. You can also add a dash of bronze in your crease to add nuances to your eyes. A peach tinted gloss or balm adds a hint of colour to the lips without dominating the face. Whether you’re headed to a casual picnic or to a romantic sunset date, you can wear this look on a daily basis. Wear with a peachy highlighter for glowing all over. Therein lies the loveliness of this look: it is soft-focus harmony; it’s as delicate as it is striking. Peach hues replicate the natural blush of your skin when you’re kissed by the summer sun for a sexy, luminous look. Throw in some soft waves to your hair and some dainty gold jewelry, and this whole sun kissed farce is fulfilled.
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7. Neon Flick Eyeliner
This one is for the wicked and vogue. Nothing sexier than neon: A swipe of a neon shade in limes, electric pinks, and neon’s would make your makeup look like as if it were taken straight from a runway show. Start with a clean base–a demi-matte base in the case of Hedwig and minimal contouring, says Ramos. Keep the lids neutral or naked, but add a graphic wing or a floating crease line with your neon liner. You want precision, so use a fine-tip brush or pen-style liner. Pair this with nude lips and a peachy cheek to allow the liner to stand out. Ideal for gigs, nights out dancing or any kind of urban summer events, this is a head turner! You can even coordinate your liner with your outfit or nails for a fully put-together look. Want to turn heads even more? Dot or shape a dot or shape at the inner corner or under the eye. If you want to dabble in color without going full-on rainbow eye, neon makeup is your friend. It’s modern, its electric and it’s totally I nstagram M able. As long as you have a good primer or setting spray to lock it in through the heat.
8. Rosé All Day
This makeup is perfect for a romantic evening out with your favorite summer wine and your favorite date. Think flushed cheeks, rosy lids, and a glossy pink pout. Begin with a dewy base, and sweep a pink blush liberally over to cheeks and temples. Apply gentle pink shadows on the eyelids but make sure to slightly shimmer the inner corners for illumination. A brown or plum mascara makes the look seem fragile. Pick a rose-pink lipstick or gloss to bring everything together. This is the kind of cute romantic look, perfect for day dates and bridal showers, or picnics. The aim is for everything to be harmonious and monochromatic and all new looking. Add a touch of rosy champagne to bring the look together. Rosé All Day makeup captures the pure luxe look of the cocktail hour by the beach in the late afternoon. It +It’s flirty but never fussy, embodying that impossible ground of casual chic. Finish with a dewy setting spray to help maintain the glow and comfort of everything you’ve applied all day long.
9. Desert Heat
You want to capture the warmth of sunbaked deserts in burnt oranges, terracotta and sandy neutrals. The smolder in this can also look very pretty on medium to deeper skin tones, but the look is re-creatable for any skin tone. Begin with a soft-matte foundation and warm bronzer. Choose a terracotta blush and dust burnt orange shadow over lids and down into the outer corners of the eyes. Keep it warm through a pat of gold or copper shimmer. Lips can be nude, or they can exaggerate into a rich cinnamon gloss. Such a bold, earthy, and dramatic look this one is for summer nights. Consider this the smoky eye’s summer cousin. It’s great for nights out, desert festivals or golden hour shoots. Those earthy tones keep this looking modern and earthbound, and those sparkling gives summer shimmer. Accessorize with statement earrings and locks of wild, loose hair to balance the fire.
10. Pastel Dream
This gauzy summer look is made of cloudlike pastels — lilac, mint, baby blue and buttery yellow. Begin with a natural-coverage foundation and luminous primer. Pick a couple of pastel shades (two or three at most) that you can lay across your lids, painted on like water color. Sweep a wash of pastel pink or lavender blush onto your cheeks and apply a soft pink highlighter. Keep the lips low-key in a tinted balm or milky gloss in a pastel shade. Dreamy and playful, this look would be perfect for any daytime event (spring to summer transition anyone?) or festival! It’s also great for playing with color at little risk. The innocence of pastels radiates happiness, perfect for sunny days full of play and imagination. Feel free to go all the way with this look and add pastel clothes, accessories, or both. The light colored reflect light very nice, they’re beautiful in the sun.
11. Dewy and Barely There
Minimal doesn’t have to be boring — particularly in the summer. This field-fresh face is all about hydration, natural texture, and a little touch of color. Starting with a radiant, skin-friendly primer and a light foundation or tinted moisturizer. Spot conceal if you like, but allow your skin to breath. Apply a cream blush in a pale pink or coraI shade and just dab it on your cheeks. Dab some balmy highlighter on the high points of your face for a glory finish. Brush your brows up and finish with clear gel. Curl your lashes and swipe on some brown mascara for cutesy wide eyes. Keep lips natural with just a bit of tinted balm or gloss. This style is perfect for the hot days you want to look put-together without layers of product. It’s great for running errands, beaching (in one’s isolated state), or a Zoom call where you still want to appear fresh-faced but low-key. Love your freckles, your skin’s color, and your natural beauty. This is summer beauty at its cleanest, lightest, most breathable.
Whether you’re glamming it up or keeping it soft and natural, summer is the time to let your skin shimmer and your creativity run wild. Here, discover 21 brilliant makeup ideas to toast to warmth, light and above all, yourself—so you have plenty of options to glow all season long. Try stuff out, get creative, and remember that the key piece of any makeup look is going to be how you feel, you pretty little thing, you: confident, beautiful, and downright radiant.
