3 of the best summer makeup trends

Summer is here and boy are we ready! It’s the festive season and pared-back realness is taking centre stage. Simplicity and ease are key in getting that laid-back, coastal vibe. Bright colours, dewy skin and a golden flush across the cheeks are high on our list of must-haves.

To get your complexion, eyes and lips summer-ready, here’s our pick of the best makeup trends to try.

RELATED: Fast track to beach babe

RELATED: Makeup for a perfect complexion

Sophisticated summer skin

It used to be all about raw, super-fresh skin. This summer, the beauty trend is more about skin that’s polished, but looks real. “We are now seeing a more polished finish, the rawness is still there but it’s not underdone, there’s a little more sophistication,” explains Carol Mackie, M.A.C Cosmetics Senior Artist. Rather than going bare, she suggests applying a foundation mixed with liquid illuminator over hydrated skin, to get a glowing effect.

For a bronzed look, opt for natural shades that mimic naturally flushed skin. “Think warm roses, to soft golden flushes, soft terracotta, [and] soft feminine monochromatic colours,” says Carol. To keep the look summer fresh, don’t go overboard when styling your caterpillars. Subtly emphasise your brows by filling in any gaps with a powder or pencil, then simply set with a brow gel.

bh loves: M.A.C Strobe Cream, RosehipPLUS™ Hydrating Day Cream, Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Cushion, Nude by Nature Mineral Bronzer

Bright colour and glossed lids

Nothing feels more like summer than bright, bold colours. This season, we’ll be seeing coloured eye makeup in different ways through diverse textures. “[It’s] a very modern way to make colour more flattering through classic placement but with different textures; matte, sheer and glossed-over,” says Carol. Yellow in a variety of shades and tones is predicted to be big this summer. “Think overripe lemons going into burnt toffee, oranges from bright to bronzed copper,” suggests Carol. If you’re not confident enough to use a coloured eyeshadow or eyeliner, try bringing in colour with a bright nail polish shade.

Another eye makeup trend that’s fresh from the runway is glossed eyelids. Apply an opaque or translucent gloss over eyelids to get the look. Add a few individual false lashes for dewy eyes with natural-looking, luscious lashes. If dark, smudged eyes are more your style, try the worn-in eyeliner trend. “We are continuing to see this trend brought over from last season because it speaks to real individuality, the confidence to just let makeup be,” says Carol. Forget over-blending and over-powdering the eye, let your makeup reflect your carefree, warm-weather attitude.

bh loves: M.A.C Paint Pot eyeshadow in Let Me Pop, Rokk96 nail polish in Bananas!, 1000 Hour Artificial Lashes Individual Lashes, Eye of Horus Goddess Pencils

New nude or refreshed red

This season’s biggest trend for lips is MLBB, aka ‘my lips but better’. The new nude is so subtle it looks close to your natural lip colour, only better. “It looks like there is almost nothing on the lip, but it’s a layering of neutrals and subtle enhancement of the lip shade using soft nude colours,” explains Carol. Apply a lip liner in a classic nude shade and either a nourishing conditioning balm or nude lipstick to get your own MLBB look.

If nude’s not your thing, you can’t go past a classic red lip. Try applying it in an updated, modern way. Carol suggests blurred-out edges, “[which] can be achieved by applying lipstick and kissing all night,” or by gently buffing out the edges with a brush for a soft, romantic feel. Alternatively, a high-gloss, red patent-finished lip is on-trend and perfect for summer.

bh loves: MODELROCK Cosmetics Liquid Last: Liquid to Matte Lipstick in Born This Way, MOR Lip Macaron in Rosebud, Nutrimetics nc Perfecting Lip Pencil in Nude, Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Hibiscus

Which makeup trends will you be trying this season? How do you change up your beauty routine for summer?