Summer is (almost) here— which means sandals, straw bags, and sunglasses are back—and so are summer makeup looks. ‘Tis the season to break out the bronzers, highlighters, peachy-toned blushers, and dewy skin tints, and I’m more excited than ever. Mostly because, in anticipation of a new season (and therefore the opportunity to shake up my go-to makeup looks), I’ve been busy stalking my Instagram feed, saving celebrity summer makeup looks to my ‘makeup ideas’ folder for inspiration.
As much as I wish I was an experimental makeup kinda gal, it always helps me to have a visual reference, especially when trying a new look for the first time. From Em Ratajowski’s sunkissed cheeks to Zoe Kravitz’s smudged cat-eye liner, these celebrity-approved summer makeup looks are certain to inspire your creativity this year. Plus, I’ve pulled together some on-trend product recommendations to help you pull these looks together.
From fresh takes on glowing skin to the coolest new ways to wear blusher, scroll on for the best celebrity summer makeup looks I’ve spotted this year.
Bright, colourful eyeliner has long since been one of my favourite ways to express my makeup creativity—especially for summer. Paired with bronzed skin and a neutral lip, it really is *chef’s kiss*. However, if the idea of using a coloured liner is not really within your comfort zone, take your cue from Ms Bieber and experiment with the trend using a muted shade, such as lilac or baby pink. This pale shimmering purple is super subtle but instantly eye brightening. Keep the rest of your makeup fairly muted and neutral to allow the liner to take centrestage—a tinted lip balm, just a touch of blusher and bronzer, and a clear brow gel are all you need to complete this look.
The metallic lilac pigment looks like an exact match to the one Bieber is wearing. It’s actually surprisingly easy to apply (you just need an eyeliner brush and water), and once it’s on your lid, it won’t budge.
Okay okay, it’s going to take more than just a regular liner brush to achieve the super skinny line you need to keep this look pretty and subtle. I love this Laura Mercier one because the angled tip makes application effortless.
It’s official, 2023 really is the year of blusher—as proven here by Lizzo in a look that is all about the cheeks. You may have already heard of blush draping, a technique which sees blusher applied along the cheekbones rather than solely on the apples of the cheeks. Similarly to contouring, this helps to lift the cheekbones and elongate the face. It’s easy to achieve and looks great on everyone. Again, because this look is colour-heavy, try to keep the rest of your makeup neutral. Take a leaf from Lizzo’s book and opt for natural-looking faux lashes, a brown toned matte lip, and immaculately groomed brows.
Add colour with a cream blush to begin with—this REFY formula is sheer but can easily be built up to pack a punch of pigment.
Next, dust a powder blusher on top, extending colour upwards towards your brow bones—bonus points if it’s heavy on the shimmer.
I’m every bit as obsessed with Sofia Richie’s honeymoon makeup as I was with her wedding makeup. This fresh-faced natural look is exactly what I’ll be wearing on hot summer’s days, because layers of foundation and concealer is not it. To achieve this no makeup-makeup look, a subtly tinted base, a dewy lip balm, clear brow gel, and cream blusher is all you need.
Granted, this is a makeup primer, but it also makes for the perfect skin-finishing base if you don’t want to wear heavy base makeup. It gives skin a fresh, pearlescent sheen which looks so bright and healthy.
As far as tinted lip balms go, Fenty’s really is one of the best. it has the perfect balance of pigment and shine, and is packed with moisturising ingredients.
When it comes to glam, evening-appropriate makeup looks for summer, you can always count on the Kardashians for inspiration. I’m honestly obsessed with everything about this look—the lashes, the brows, the matte lip, the slicked back hair, and of course, the fun pop of orange pigment. Again, this is a really great way to experiment with colourful makeup without needing a 16-pan eyeshadow palette and 15 different eyeshadow brushes. In fact it’s so easy, you could even use your fingers to apply the pop of colour. Add lashes, a liquid lip, and a soft dusting of bronzer, and you’re done.
if you use this cream pigment, you’ll only need a tiny drop to achieve this look—be warned, it’s seriously pigmented. Dab it on, allow it to dry slightly, then use a small fluffy brush to blend the colour into shape.
Glossier’s answer to matte liquid lipsticks are a far cry from the drying formulas we’re used to. Thanks to its super hydrating formula, it feels totally weightless.
I’ve lost count of how many images of Zoe Kravitz’s eyeliner looks I’ve saved on Instagram—she gets it right, every single time. The secret to pulling off this look is a super sharp pencil eyeliner, applied with a tightlining technique so as to appear as soft and natural as possible. To tightline, you’ll want to angle your liner upwards into your lashline, applying pigment in amongst the roots of your lashes rather than above them. Ensure that your entire lashline is covered, then extend downwards a little in your inner corners and upwards in the outer. This look isn’t about precision, so don’t worry if your flick isn’t perfect. Finish by using a precision smudging brush to soften the liner and blend out the cat-eye.
This brown-black eyeliner is the perfect shade for this look as a true black can look a little too harsh.
This is exactly the kind of smudging brush you’ll need—the short compact bristles will prevent pigment from being buffed out too far.
If summer could be summed up in one makeup look, it would be this one. Glowing skin, bronzed cheeks, and strategically placed highlighter really are the holy trifecta of summer makeup. Although Hilary’s sunkissed skin looks totally natural, this look is heavy on the bronzer. Use a matte product to sculpt, followed by a shimmery formula to add warmth where the sun hits, and finally, a cream highlighter to add sheen to the high points of the face.
This not-quite-a-skin-tint, not-quite-a-bronzer product is a foolproof way to achieve sunkissed skin in one fell swoop.
Dab this cream highlighter beneath the arches of your brows, on the high points of your cheekbones, and down the centre of your nose for instant glow.
Whilst we’d certainly never advocate sunburned skin, it has to be said that a skin faux sunkissed effect is majorly trending in makeup this summer. Whether you use a blusher or a bronzer, all else you need is a large fluffy brush to recreate this look—just dust the pigment loosely over your cheeks and nose.
This pink-toned bronzer is a really great one-and-done product if you’re into minimal makeup. What’s more, it even comes with an enclosed brush for on-the-go application.
If you prefer a powder formula, try SUQQU’s Pure Colour Blushes, which have am ombré effect so you can decide whether your cheek colour leans pink or peachy.
Speaking of peach, when it comes to blusher and bronzer, we’re seeing warm, orange-toned products taking centre stage in so many celebrity makeup looks this year. The great thing about a peachy cheek product is that you can also use it as eyeshadow, which is a great way to tie your look together. Throw a matching lipstick into the look à la Rochelle Humes, and your look is complete.
These silky powder bronzers from Guerlain are so easy to blend.
There’s a reason why this apricot-toned blusher is sold out almost everywhere—it flatters all skin tones and is perfect for summer.
