Spring and summer bring with them fresh blooms, sunlit days, and a sense of renewal. As the world turns more colorful, your makeup can too! One of the best ways to embrace the season's beauty is by incorporating soft, pastel shades into your makeup routine. Whether you're heading out for a daytime brunch or enjoying a summer evening stroll, a pastel makeup look adds a delicate, romantic touch that perfectly complements the warmer months. Let’s dive into how you can create this stunning look, focusing on soft shades for the eyes, cheeks, and lips.
Before you apply any color, it’s important to create a smooth, fresh canvas. Start with a lightweight, hydrating primer to give your skin a dewy finish, perfect for the spring-summer vibe. Choose a foundation or tinted moisturizer that provides light to medium coverage to let your skin breathe in the warmer weather. After applying foundation, lightly set it with a translucent powder to avoid excess shine.
Your eyes are the star of this look, so choose pastel shades that suit your skin tone and bring out your natural eye color. Soft pinks, lilacs, mint greens, and baby blues are perfect choices for spring and summer. Here's a step-by-step guide for creating pastel eyes:
Step 1: Prime Your Lids
Apply an eyeshadow primer or a light concealer over your eyelids to ensure the pastel shades pop and last throughout the day.
Step 2: Choose a Base Color
Start with a soft pastel shade as the base for your eyelids. For example, if you have fair to medium skin, a peachy-pink or lavender would look stunning, while deeper skin tones can opt for mint green or pastel blue. Use a fluffy eyeshadow brush to apply the color evenly across your lids.
Step 3: Add Depth
To add a subtle depth to the look, use a slightly darker pastel shade in the crease of your eyes. A soft lilac or baby blue works well to give dimension without overpowering the light pastel vibe. Blend the color with a soft, circular motion using a crease brush.
Step 4: Highlight the Inner Corners
A touch of shimmer in the inner corners of your eyes adds brightness. A pastel shimmer in white, pearl, or champagne tones gives your eyes a fresh and open look. You can also use this highlighter under your brow bone to lift the arch.
Step 5: Line the Eyes
To keep the look soft and fresh, skip the heavy black eyeliner. Instead, use a white or nude eyeliner on your waterline to make your eyes appear bigger and more awake. For a playful touch, you can also line your lower lash line with a pastel eyeliner that complements your eyeshadow, such as mint green or pale pink.
Step 6: Finish with Mascara
To complete your eye look, apply a coat of mascara to your upper and lower lashes. For an extra pop, opt for a pastel-colored mascara, such as lavender or light blue, which adds a whimsical twist to the look. However, black or brown mascara will also do the trick if you want to keep it classic.
For the cheeks, you want to go for a natural, flushed look that mimics the soft hues of spring blooms. A pastel pink or peach blush is ideal for adding a gentle pop of color to your face without overpowering the eyes.
Step 1: Choose the Right Shade
For fair skin tones, a light pink or soft peach will give you a lovely glow, while medium to dark skin tones can go for slightly bolder pastel shades like coral or rose pink. Apply the blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend it upward toward your temples for a natural lift.
Step 2: Add a Soft Highlight
To enhance the dewy, fresh look, apply a pastel-toned highlighter to the high points of your face—your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, and your Cupid’s bow. Choose a highlighter with a subtle sheen, such as a soft pink or pearl shade, for a radiant finish.
Your lips should complement the pastel tones on your eyes and cheeks, creating a cohesive, soft look. Opt for pastel pinks, peaches, or even lilac shades that are light and airy.
Step 1: Prep Your Lips
Make sure your lips are smooth and hydrated by applying a lip balm or scrub beforehand. This will ensure your pastel lipstick goes on smoothly and stays looking fresh.
Step 2: Choose a Lip Color
For fair skin, a soft pink or peach lipstick works beautifully, while medium and deep skin tones can experiment with pastel corals or even a pale lavender for a unique touch. If you prefer a more subtle look, you can use a pastel lip gloss that adds shine and a hint of color.
Step 3: Apply the Lip Color
If you're using a lipstick, apply it directly or with a lip brush for precision. For a softer, more natural look, blot the lipstick with a tissue after applying it, or dab the color onto your lips with your finger for a more diffused finish.
To finish off your pastel makeup look, you can add a bit of glow to your skin with a setting spray that gives a dewy finish. This will help lock in your makeup and keep it looking fresh all day long. If you want an extra pop, a touch of pastel nail polish can tie the entire look together and give you a perfect spring-summer vibe.
A pastel makeup look is the perfect way to embrace the light, airy essence of spring and summer. With soft shades on the eyes, cheeks, and lips, you’ll look effortlessly fresh and radiant, whether you’re enjoying a sunny day outside or attending a special event. So, gather your pastel palette and get creative with this romantic, season-appropriate makeup style that’s sure to turn heads!