How to Create a Bold, Beautiful, New Wave Makeup Look in Minutes

Behind the New Wave Makeup Trend

When it comes to new wave makeup in particular, think back to the ’80s (like the era’s new wave music). Remember the culturally iconic looks of Adam Ant, A Flock of Seagulls, and Annie Lennox? We’re going back to those times.

“New wave makeup is a vintage style look that combines bright colors, bold lines, and dramatic shapes,” explains Los Angeles–based pro makeup artist Kim Paige. “It's playful and animated, but can also have a grungy vibe as well. It’s inspired by makeup from the 1980s and has a theatrical and exaggerated feel to it.”

The colorful, vibrant aesthetic also includes “thin brows, bright blush and lips, sharp and elongated eyeliner, and metallic touches,” she goes on to say.

How to Get the New Wave Look

“To create the new wave makeup look, you have the freedom to build upon your everyday natural look and get as dramatic as you want from there,” Paige explains, adding her step-by-step guide to the look below.

1. Create the Eye Art

“Once your base is applied, I would go straight to the eyes to convey the drama, better known as the wave,” the pro says. “I recommend using bright and bold colors to create a bold shape or fun lines around the eyes. This will make them the focal point of your look.”

For high impact on a budget, Paige is a huge fan of the BLACK RADIANCE x Cross Colours Paint Palette for just $10. We’re personally all for the LYS BEAUTY Love Yourself Eyeshadow Palette, which packs a pigmented punch. And you can’t go wrong with the statement-heavy COLOURPOP COSMETICS Through My Eyes Shadow Palette.

2. Minimize the Brows and Add Mascara

Take your brows to another dimension with Paige’s suggestion to draw in a dark, thin brow or even eliminate them altogether, depending on the look you want to achieve. She’s also a big proponent of blue mascara to add that “perfect touch” to pull the eye look together. The ITEM BEAUTY Boost Juice Dual-Ended Lash Primer & Colored Mascara includes one blue side and one pastel purple side, so do as you please!

3. Add Blush

Go big or go home, as Paige says, when it comes to blush, “Go with a bold-colored shade and don’t be shy with the color. Bold is important for this look.”

We can’t think of a more pigmented bold blush to better cap off this look than the FENTY BEAUTY Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush in Crush on Cupid.

4. Generously Apply Highlighter

While coquettish makeup may be off to the side for now, highlighter is not a thing of the past. When it comes to the new wave makeup look, the more, the merrier. Paige says to pick your fave—hers is the BLACK RADIANCE True Complexion 3D Highlighter—and she freely wears the trio on the eyes, brow bone, cheekbones, and even lips. We’ve personally always stayed true to the ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Stick Highlighter because it’s so easy to apply and looks radiant.

5. Lipstick Is a Must

What’s literally any look without lipstick? Paige says “to tie a new wave makeup look together, I’d do a grungy lip color that is similar to a deep berry, or even any other color that goes well with your overall look. To finish, lock in your look with some setting spray and your new wave makeup is complete.”

For this look, we personally recommend a matte finish, and the ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Matte Lipstick in Rum Punch fits the vibe perfectly. And, of course, for that final setting spray step, we can’t leave home without our trusty MILANI COSMETICS Make It Last Matte Charcoal Setting Spray to keep the matte look in check.