This season’s beauty trends are all about looking effortlessly good. Photo: Nudestix
If you’ve been holding back on makeup purchases, experimenting with different ideas and saving trips to the hair salon for emergencies, now’s the time to unleash all those pent-up beauty needs following the recently-announced relaxed pandemic restrictions.
Masking up indoors is still required, but it’s never a bad idea to keep it on when you’re in close proximity to others, even when outdoors.
The good news is, outdoor festivals, dining spaces and bazaars are gaining traction as people look for more creative ways to hold activities in breezy, open-air venues in the interest of staying safe.
Now that there’s no shortage of things to do and places to be, you’ll want to check out the latest Summer beauty trends to try out for your next outing. Here’s a rundown of the top makeup and hair trends that are making waves at the moment.
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Natural-looking brows are in. Photo: Instagram/Nathalie EmmanuelMakeup enthusiasts are always experimenting with various tones, and one of the latest trends is lining eyelids with light and fun pastel colours like rose, lilac and mint.
Blend different pastel hues together seamlessly by using the darker shades in the crease, lighter colours along the brown bone and inner eye, or sweep a metallic colour over the lid for an ultra-glossy sheen.
You can even use a liner brush to smudge eyeshadow along the eyelid or lower lash line to get just a hint of colour on an otherwise clear lid.
One trend that everyone is trying out is bold, gold eyeshadow for nights out and evening soirees.
There are tons of ways to fiddle with gold hues, whether you prefer a toned-down look by lighting dusting it over your lids or by layering it with a darker brown hue along the outer corners and finishing off with eyeliner.
For a more intense look, use your fingers instead of a brush to really press the colour into your lids.
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Fluffy and feather brows are in, and defined as thicker, natural-looking brows.
Fluffy brows involve brushing up brow hairs but making sure they look relaxed, and according to Vogue.com, feather brows is a spin on fluffy brows that takes its cues from feathers. The idea is to use a spoolie to create definition and flick the brows out to give an airy, lightweight look that still looks full.
If you get brow envy every time you spot a picture of model Kaia Gerber, you’re not alone as many have tried to recreate her gorgeous, full brows.
This new trend is called the fox brow, which involves using tape to pull the brows back into a flatter shape, while also giving your face a mini-lift.
TikTok users have brought this style to life by using brow pencils to elongate the ends of their brows to resemble Gerber’s enviable brow shape.
It’s not exactly a new trend, but it’s one that has outlasted and outlived many others, and why not? Who doesn’t want that healthy, fresh and slightly sun-kissed glow?
To get that radiant affect, look for cream blushes that have buttery formulas which help create that healthy glow, thanks to the moisture provided by oils used in their formulation.
The best way to get an even blend is to use your fingers or a beauty sponge, tapping lightly higher on the cheeks or under the eyes.
How about getting a textured bob in orange. Photo: Sum Yee Hair & BeautyIf you’ve made plans to attend a lot of concerts and festivals, be prepared for a lot of sweating which always results in smudged or smeared eyeliner.
Avoid all this with waterproof gel liners, many which claim to stay smudge-proof for up to 12 hours.
Look for creamy formulas that are easy to apply if you’re looking at precise lines, and if you’re unsure of what to get, watch and read reviews – there are plenty of makeup enthusiasts out there doing all the testing so you don’t have to!
For a more diffused effect, define the eyes along the upper lash line with your liner, and then blend with a brush. Create depth at the root of our lashes by pairing this with a contrasting colour.
The best thing about waterproof liner? The winged look will stay winged for as long as you need it to!
One way to achieve this is to extend the liner past the outer corner of the eye using short strokes until you get to the desired length, but there are also tons of tutorials using different methods to achieve many, many different winged looks.
Celebrities like Zoe Kravitz have been spotted sporting this trend, which is achieved by lining the upper waterline of your eyes with eyeliner to make your eyes appear larger and wider.
This also creates the illusion of thicker, darker lashes when you apply eyeliner straight into the lash line, and this is a great technique to try if you have hooded eyes, or if you want definition without looking too made-up.
Coat an eyeliner brush with black eyeshadow or a gel liner, hold your upper lid in place with a Q-tip, and wiggle the tip of your brush gently into the top waterline. Do the same with your lower lash line and clean up any mess with a Q-tip.
If you’re a low lip maintenance kind of person and hate the idea of reapplying and touching up lip colour, lip stain is the answer to your fuss-free pout needs.
Look for products that give you a light stain and all-day hydration, and go for a glossy finish to give your lips a slight shine.
Voyeur Waterproof Gel eyeliner lasts up to 12 hours. Photo: HourglassAlso, check for lip stain products that don’t bleed or feather out after application, especially if you’re going to cover your mouth with a mask until you get to your outdoor destination.
Now that mask-wearing rules have been relaxed, bolder lip colours are back, so go crazy with deep reds, cherry hues and bright corals.
For those who like being a little extra, gold is a top choice this season, an ideal choice to match those dewy, rosy cheeks!
Now that it’s all systems go for any hair treatment you want to get, people are going wild for colour after two years of either DIY dye jobs or letting their natural hair colour grow out.
Whether you’re looking for a bold new look, or just want natural-looking highlights, warm orange tones are a hot look right now.
If you’re feeling adventurous, one of the key looks recommended by Shiseido Professional is the textured bob with an orange tone against a sandy beige tone on the inside of the hair, inspired by the sunrise on a desert.
Wispy bangs is the perfect ‘introduction to bangs’. — Maren Morris/InstagramAnother current style is the idea of a sunset – a gradual flow from light at the roots to darker at the tips, a look which may require some root maintenance if you’re going to stick with it for a while.
Deciding on a new ‘do is always a tricky process, and how many times have you asked your friends “Should I get bangs?”, only to regret it later.
Hair grows, yes, but why subject yourself to potential distress if the end result doesn’t live up to your expectations?
One solution is to go easy on drastic ‘dos and start small. If you want to experiment with fringe, wispy bangs are the way to go.
Sometimes referred to as “the perfect introduction to bangs”, they’re not too thick or heavy and they can be cut to frame your face in a flattering way.
