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20 Summer-Inspired Makeup Looks For Every Mood

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Courtesy of Andy Truong

The days are longer, the sun’s shining brighter, and summer makeup is on our minds. When it comes to our summer beauty looks, bronzed skin and beachy hair are no-brainers—and while dewy, no-makeup makeup is a fave for fun in the sun, something about summertime calls our bright side out to play. We’re embracing all the vibrant shades of the season—from bright cherry lips to turquoise eyeliners, and lots of sunny shadows that’ll help you make a splash. Need a little inspo to refresh your makeup looks? We’ve got some easy, bright beauty ideas with makeup tips from a slew of experts. Keep scrolling to get in on summer makeup looks for the books!


About the Experts: 

Andy Truong is a Salt Lake City-based celebrity makeup artist and founder of A.TRU Collection makeup.
Emily Gray is a celebrity makeup artist and spokesperson for CATRICE beauty.
Nydia Figueroa is a celebrity makeup artist and spokesperson for BE A 10 COSMETICS. 
Ash Walker is a beauty content creator and model.

1. Tropical Winged Liner

Close-up image of a tropical winged eyeliner look on Ash Walker

If we could count how many times we hit “save” on inner corner eyeliner looks lately—well, we’d have a lot. This super fun eye makeup trend shows no sign of slowing down, and beauty content creator Ash Walker’s beautiful multicolored version (that reminds us of a tropical vacay) puts it at the top of our list of summer looks to try. To create it: Walker says to line your eyes with bright orange eyeliner from the middle of your lash line to the outer corner. Then, wing up and out. Use a flat angled eyeshadow brush to apply yellow shadow to your inner eye corner in a sideways “V,” and connect it to the orange on your upper lash line. Finish by adding light blue to your lower inner eye corner, about 1/4 of the way in. (Walker used yellows and blues from HUDA BEAUTY Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette in Sapphire). 

Pro Tip: “I like to start with mascara first so I don’t have to worry about it getting on my eyeshadow when I apply, and it also helps me get a bolder, longer lash,” says Walker. 

2. Pretty Pastel Shimmer

Close-up image of Ash Walker wearing a gold hoop earring and rocking a shimmery pastel eyeshadow look

Nothing reminds us of breezy summer days like a pastel eye look—and this gorgeous, shimmery version is the perfect touch of glam for day or night. Bonus: Shimmery pigments will catch the light for an instant glow (no filter needed). Here’s how to get the look: Walker says to use a fluffy eyeshadow brush to blend light brown shadow (she used SHAINA B MIAMI Eyeshadow in Wynwood) on your outer eye corner and into your eye crease. Then, use a mauve eyeliner to create a soft wing. Follow up with shimmery, light blue shadow on the inner corner of your eye, blended straight up toward your crease. Finish by tapping rose gold shadow (like CIATE LONDON Marbled Metals Eyeshadow in Entwine) all over your lid for dimension.

Pro Tip: “I used the THEBALM COSMETICS AutoBalm Pic Perfect Palette in shade Ocean Drive (medium brown shade) on the outer corner of my eye close to the lash line to create depth, and to make my lashes look thicker,” says Walker. 

3. Playful, Pink Wings

Close-up image of Ash Walker rocking pink winged eyeliner look

We’ve tried every shade in the book when it comes to winged liner—purples, greens, and (of course) black—but we’ve got to admit it just doesn’t get more fun than pinky coral wings. Swapping your traditional liner for something that pops takes your summer liner looks to a new level. Here’s how to get the look: Walker says to use a coral eyeliner to line and wing out your eyes. Then, very lightly blend golden-brown shadow from the outer edge of your lash line up into your outer crease, and down onto your lower lash line. Take a bright yellow-green shadow (she used HUDA BEAUTY Obsessions Palette in Sapphire) and use your finger to dab a small circle of it 1/4 of the way onto your lid.

4. Brights and Blues

Close-up image of a tropical blue, green, and yellow eyeshadow look on Ash Walker

Blue shadow is making a big comeback—but it’s nothing like those solid washes of color from the 80s. Horizontal layers of neon yellow, green, and blue make for one of the most eye-catching shadow looks we’ve seen to date. To create it: Walker used a mix of brights from the HUDA BEAUTY Obsessions Palette in Sapphire (but you can do it with just about any mix of brights!). Just blend light green from the inner corner of your eye, through your eye crease to the end of your brow. Add a sweep of light blue or teal below the light green. Take a deep, shimmery blue shade and blend it lightly from your upper lash line toward your eye crease. Use a liner brush to wing your eyes with the same shimmery blue shade.

5. Purple Haze

A close-up image of Ash Walker wearing a pink and shimmery purple eyeshadow look

A wash of bold color all over your lids is one of our favorite summer trends—and it’s perfect when you want maximum impact with minimal effort. You just need five minutes and a few of your fave shadows to make a bold statement. To create it: Walker suggests using a fluffy eyeshadow brush to blend medium brown and gold brown shadows (she used LAURA GELLER Urban Garden Eyeshadow Palette - Central Park in shades Turtle Pond and Bethesda Terrace) into your eye crease and up toward your brow, then along your lower lash line. Apply shimmery purple shadow (like CIATE LONDON Marbled Metals Eyeshadow in Wicked) all over from your lash line up toward your brow. Finish with a touch of rose gold on the inner corner of your eye.

6. Pink Pop

A closeup photo of a model with a pink pop makeup look
Courtesy of Andy Truong

Makeup artist Andy Truong uses bright eyeliner to easily incorporate color into a look. The pro then tops it off with bright cheeks and a wash of pink or peach on the lips. Truong used the MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Resist Color Ink Liquid Eyeliner in Pink Blaze.

7. Golden Sunset

A photo of a model with a dewy bronze makeup look

Truong keeps it classic with a touch of rose and all the dewy bronze. The pro uses a warm bronzer to warm up the cheeks, and eyes and then adds a touch of gloss to the lips for the perfect lightweight, glowy summer look. Truong’s favorite bronzer for this look is the CHARLOTTE TILBURY Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Cream Bronzer because of its radiance and easy-to-blend formula.

8. Summer Heat

A closeup photo of a model wearing peach blush and pink-peach colored lipstick look

Nothing screams summer like fun, bright colors—and when Truong feels indecisive between a pink or a peach, the pro opts for this bright coral shade. You can then keep it simple with the eyes and cheeks, using monochromatic tones that pair well with a fun bright lip. The lip used for this look was the DIOR Rouge Dior Lipstick in Dioramour.

9. Beach Party

A closeup photo of a model with a nude pink lip color and a beach party makeup look

Contoured eyes, bronzed, peach-kissed cheeks, and a nude pink lip is the go-to look for someone who’s not shy of full glam on a hot summer day. Truong’s look is perfect for a pool party or a day on the sand.

10. Pretty in Pink

A closeup photo of a model with pink cheeks and wearing a pink lip gloss

All the pink and all the glow! Truong recommends this look for anyone who loves their gloss and pink cheeks. You can keep the look monochromatic with pink eyes, lips, and cheeks for a  girly-girl’s staple! Truong’s favorite product for emphasis on the cheeks is the DIOR Backstage Rosy Glow Blush.

11. Metallic Magic

Makeup artist Nydia Figueroa loves sizzling gunmetals with pops of glitter and smoke for summer night looks. The star of the show here is the silver metallic glitter in the center of the lid, paired with a soft smokey gray around the eyes. A beautiful shimmer for this look is the DANESSA MYRICKS Beauty Colorfix Metallics in Titanium. Figueroa advises to take a small amount of this shimmer on your ring finger and pat it on the center of your lid for a beautiful pop of color.

12. Bronzed Beauty

Glowy skin is always in, but Figueroa says this season is all about strategic placement of highlighter for a natural sunkissed glow instead of a blinding highlight. A pro-tip for applying highlighter that looks lit from within? Use an illuminator under your makeup first, then, using your fingers, apply the highlighter where the light naturally hits your face. A liquid illuminator she stands by for this technique is LIMELIFE BY ALCONE Perfect Glow Drops

13. Rosy Glow

Pink is a major win this summer for the eyes, cheeks, and lips. Figueroa uses the same shade of pink in different tones to give this look dimension. She uses blush on the eyes and cheeks, and loves the BE A 10 COSMETICS Be Cheeky Blush in Audacious to complete this type of look. She takes the blush and drapes it over the cheeks up to the temples and then takes the same shade and pops it over the eyelid and into the crease for a wash of color. She recommends pairing it with the BE A 10 COSMETICS Be Precious Lipstick Stain to complete the pretty in pink look! 

Glazed skin was one of summer's biggest trends last year, and Figueroa says this summer will be all about clear gloss and tinted lip oils. She loves the ESSENCE MAKEUP Cranberry Lip Oil for glazed lip with a tint of color. 

Figueroa says soft matte is the vibe this summer. She suggests skipping the face powder all over and only using it where needed for oil to let the shine pop through slightly. A great foundation for a soft matte look is the L'ORÉAL PARIS Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation. This is a demi-matte formula that can last all day under the hot summer weather. 

16. Powder Pop

With Beyonce’s Renaissance tour in full swing, makeup artist Emily Gray has been seeing an emergence of metallic eyeshadow looks, especially in silver. She likes mapping out the eye look using a gray eyeliner, like the CATRICE 20H Ultra Precision Gel Eye Pencil in 20Grey. Smudge and blend the liner into the eye shape you desire, using a small flat brush before the pencil dries. Once you have that eye base down, go in with a silver eyeshadow. Gray loves the ISAMAYA Industrial Colour Pigments palette. The palette has several silver shades, so you can create a multidimensional metallic look. You can leave it as it, or add a winged liner for some added dimension. 

Gray’s been adoring the blues, greens, and slight shimmers for mermaidcore makeup looks. To achieve this, grab a blue liner to plan out the shadow shape. She loves the VICTORIA BECKHAM BEAUTY Satin Kajal Liner in Surfside, a medium blue. After the shape is blended out, top it with a liquid eyeshadow like the HALF MAGIC BEAUTY Serving Siren. You can keep the eye look matte or add some glitter to the center of the lid. Gray is into the LHLA Spacepaste in Phantom because it’s an iridescent sky blue. Top it with a black mascara and there you have it, a mermaidcore eye look perfect for summer.

18. Lip Liner Pop

Perhaps we’ll never get over 90s makeup trends, and Gray is completely okay with that. Some of her best-loved makeup trends are from that era. Distinctive lip liner, especially brown, is big on the carpet. To get this look, choose a dark brown liner (Gray loves the CATRICE Plumping Lip Liner in Go All Out). Line your lips in your desired shape (Gray overlines a bit), and take a small lip brush or your finger and blend the liner very slightly. Then take a contrasting shape of lipstick, like a light nude, and tap in the center of your lips. Make sure not to blend the two colors, as you’ll want the liner to really stand out. 

19. Blushing Babe

One of Gray’s favorite trends this summer is the super blushy makeup look. The blush effect, when applied to the apples of the cheeks, under the eyes, and on the nose, adds such life to the face and offers a youthful appearance. To achieve this look, Gray mixes cream and powder blushes. She starts with cream blush and bronzer. She blends the cream out with her fingers, a beauty sponge, or a dense brush. After applying setting powder to the face, add some powder blush in a slightly different color to add some dimension to look. 

With the release of the new Barbie movie this summer, expect to see a bunch of Barbie-inspired makeup looks. Think: Pink blushes and shimmering, pink lips. Gray doesn’t think the looks are going to be overly done and cosplay-like, but rather soft shades of pink to enhance your natural coloring. We agree—Barbie Pink is definitely going to be one of the summer colors.

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About the author
Dahvi Shira
Dahvi Shira
Dahvi Shira is a Los Angeles-based beauty writer, who has a passion for hair, makeup, and skincare. She contributes regularly to Mane Addicts and her blog, Skyelyfe. Her work has also appeared on Glossy, People, E!, Sweety High and more.
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Article Last Updated June 14, 2023 12:00 AM