Pastel hues are this season’s hottest make-up trend – here’s how to get the look without breaking the bank
WITH days of grey skies and drizzle still on the horizon, it’s time to inject a bit of colour into your day-to-day.
While the weather might not be playing ball – and sand, sea and sunshine still feel months away – it’s time to start brightening up your everyday make-up look.
And it needn’t be tricky – pastels are not only versatile, but they’re easy to apply and pull off, and our top picks won’t cost you the earth.
So, dust off your matte lipsticks and shimmering palettes because, this season, make-up is going bold.
WATER BABE
If we could describe spring in the UK in one word, it would be: “unpredictable”.
Summer still feels very much out of reach – except when it comes to your make-up bag.
An eyeshadow palette full of twinkling turquoise and matte azures might not immediately be high on your wishlist, but blue eyewear is making a comeback.
Blues tend to be highly pigmented, as well as easily buildable and blendable – plus they’re guaranteed to transport you to warmer climes every time you catch your reflection in the mirror.
Huda Beauty Color Block Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette Blue & Green, £27 from Boots – BUY NOW
To create a look that’s reminiscent of coastal waves, sweep a turquoise shade across your eyelid with a blending brush then tap a darker blue into your outer corner.
Next, trace your lower lash line with a lime green shade. This will elevate your look by creating light and depth – a centuries-old technique used by artists to paint waves. Voila!
If blue and green shades don’t typically reside in your makeup kit, invest in Huda Beauty Color Block Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette Blue & Green.
This palette is full of complementary shades, meaning playing with colour is no longer out of your depth.
NO SHRINKING VIOLET
Pastel hues are undeniably flattering, playful and expressive – but recreating a look that you’ve only seen on models or influencers can be intimidating.
However, a pastel look needn’t be tricky.
If the thought of sorbet shades sends you into a sugar-rush panic, make lilac your pick of the bunch.
Nyx Professional Makeup Epic Wear Long Lasting Liner Stick in Graphic Purple, £7 from LookFantastic – BUY NOW
The grey undertones make it more subtle than most pastel hues, so it won’t mean you’re the centre of attention.
Lilac is flattering for all eye colours, and a pencil eyeliner is a foolproof way to apply it.
Simply trace your upper and lower lash line with Nyx Professional Makeup Epic Wear Long Lasting Liner Stick in Graphic Purple for a wide-eye look that’ll only take five mins.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer, £56 from Cult Beauty – BUY NOW
Copper tones perfectly complement lilac shades, so reach for your bronzer to finalise the look.
Using a cheek brush, sweep Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer over your cheekbones and towards your hairline.
THINK PINK
Over the past year, make-up has pirouetted into the balletcore trend – meaning our feeds have been full of looks inspired by tulle skirts and satin shoes.
Laura Mercier Colour Infusion Blusher in Strawberry, £31.50 from Harvey Nichols – BUY NOW
While dusty pink still deserves a place in our make-up bags, toughen up your look by pairing baby-pink blush, like Laura Mercier Colour Infusion Blusher in Strawberry, with a bright-red matte lip.
Merit Signature Lip Matte in Power, £28 from Merit Beauty – BUY NOW
Now, your matte lipsticks may have been banished to the back of your cupboard, but it’s time to rethink, as new formulas like Merit Signature Lip Matte in Power are both hydrating and longlasting.
Vieve Eye Wand in Rose, £23 from Vieve – BUY NOW
As for your eyes, a dusty rose shade will elevate your look without drawing attention away from your red lip.
Opt for a cream shadow, such as Vieve Eye Wand in Rose, as it will move with your skin and stay put all day.
GET MINTED
Gone are the days when colourful mascara was only spotted at fancy-dress parties and catwalks.
Recently, colour mascaras have taken social media by storm, with many of us now wearing bright hues on the commute, in the office and to the shops.
Not only can colourful lashes complement your eye colour, but they’re also a great cheat if you’re not a fan of eyeshadow.
3INA The Color Mascara in Turquoise Blue, £12 from Superdrug – BUY NOW
If you find that your artistic talents aren’t up to the job of blending out eyeshadow, one of the easiest routes to wearing pastels is to swap black mascara for a bright, colourful hue.
Go for a bold, turquoise hue, such as the 3INA The Color Mascara in Turquoise Blue.
Rimmel London Ultimate Boost Volume Mascara Primer, £7.99 from LookFantastic – BUY NOW
To get the most out of the pigment and really make the colour pop, apply a white primer first, such as Rimmel London Ultimate Boost Volume Mascara Primer.
HELLO SUNSHINE
Just a small step away from gold, yellow make-up is much more flattering than you may think.
Jameela Jamil, Rochelle Humes and beauty’s It Girl Hailey Bieber have all sported a butter-yellow flick, so it’s only a matter of time before it hits the mainstream – and it needn’t be tricky.
Stila Stay All Day Muted-Neon Liquid Eye Liner in Mellow Yellow, £23 from Stila – BUY NOW
If you’ve got a steady hand, a liquid liner, like Stila Stay All Day Muted-Neon Liquid Eye Liner in Mellow Yellow, can provide enviable precision that stays put all day.
Makeup Revolution Streamline Waterline Eyeliner Pencil in Yellow, £3.50 from Makeup Revolution – BUY NOW
However if your dressing table is a wobbly train seat or a bumpy taxi ride, reach for a pencil liner, like Makeup Revolution Streamline Waterline Eyeliner Pencil in Yellow, which is easier to remove and requires less precision.
Once you’ve plucked up the confidence to play with yellow hues, it’s easy to get carried away – but don’t overdo it.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir, £28 from Cult Beauty – BUY NOW
To ensure that your yellow flick stays at the centre of attention, keep the rest of your look paired back.
On your lips, apply a clear, juicy gloss, like Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir, which nourishes lips without being sticky.
SHOOT CREDITS:
Photography: Jonas O’Sullivan; Make-up: Anna Gibson using Stila; Hair: Guy Kremer using L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni.Art; Model: Tinna B at Profile Models; Beauty editor: Tara Ledden; Beauty assistant: Mia Lyndon