(Image credit: @katiecung)
It's official: After a lot of time spent indoors over the last year and a half with no real reason to put on makeup,beautiful eyeshadowsandvibrant lipsticksare making a comeback. Yes, summer 2021 is uniting bothbeauty aficionados and curious novices ina quest to dust off our makeup bags and have fun experimenting. Of course, a return to makeup doesn'tneed to be about adhering to society's old beauty standards either; rather, it's a time to explore our makeup routines on our own terms in an effort to find the things that bring us joy. After all, who wouldn’t want to learn some new applicationtips from Alexa Chung's makeup artistor try new cultproducts? In truth, finding fun yet easy makeup looks during this time can be a simple way to cultivate a little delight in your day. So ahead, we’ve spoken to 15 women about the easy makeup looks that are currently making them smile. And don’t fret—we promise they’ll be as enjoyable to try on yourself.
Doin' the Bare Minimum
(Image credit: @sarahkretzu)
Doing your makeup doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have a full face. AsSarah Kretzutold us, "Glowing skin makes me feel good no matter what!” Investing in a product that leaves your skin dewy is the easiest way to make you look like you’re wearing a full face of makeup without actually doing so."
Drunk Elephant
D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops
Kretzu confessed that her secret to creating this dewy look is "to mixa skin tintwith Drunk Elephant’s D-Bronzi. It gives you a healthy dose of colour and glow without leaving the house!”
(Image credit: @thestylishsoul)
Kretzu isn’t the only one who swears by a natural-inspired makeup look’s ability to boost your mood. As Allison told us, "This is my favourite at-home makeup look because it’s natural and simple yet makes you feel elevated and put-together.”
Charlotte Tilbury
Hollywood Flawless Filter
So what product does Allison swear by to create this look? She confessed, "The product that makes this look so easy and simple is the Hollywood Flawless Filter by Charlotte Tilbury. It’s my favourite product ever—it gives your skin a natural glow with just the right amount of coverage so you don’t feel weighed down, but your skin looks amazing!”
(Image credit: @linnhniller)
Creating a bare-minimum, dewy look is one of the easiest makeup routines to adopt. AsLinh Niller told us, "When it comes to easy everyday makeup, I focus on keeping the skin hydrated and glowing by using a facial oil and an SPF moisturiser.”
Glossier
Futuredew
Niller continued, "I then highlight the cheekbones and brow bone, add a little mascara, brush up my brows, and add a bit of blush and bronzer on the hollows of the cheeks and dab some on my eyelids as well. It instantly makes me feel good and ready for the day!”
(Image credit: @mercedesmalana)
No matter your makeup routine, it should always bring you joy. Mercedes Malanasays,"Taking time for myself to put makeup on is a moment of self-care and almost therapy to me.” But she continued, "I lovenatural, effortless looks because my mum taught me less is more.”
Milk Makeup
Highlighter
For her effortless makeup look,Malana used Laura MercierTinted Moisturiser(£54),followed byNarsRadiant Creamy Concealer(£25). To highlight her eyes, she swears by Anastasia Beverly HillsBrow Wiz(£23)in the shade Medium Brown,L’Oréal ParisTelescopic Mascara(£11), and Milk MakeupHighlighter(£23) in the shade Lit onher cheekbones. Malana finished off this look withLaura MercierTranslucent Setting Powder(£32) and Physicians FormulaButter Bronzer(£14) in the shade Deep.
Read My Lips
(Image credit: @anna__laplaca)
If you’re looking for an easy makeup look that’s a little bit bolder, look to our very own editorAnna LaPlaca. As she told us, "My makeup here is inspired by that quintessential French-girl look, which is effortless and romantic, and surprisingly easy to re-create. It's anchored by bold, fluffy brows, a classic red lip, and a subtle flick of winged eyeliner.”
Chanel
Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour
LaPlaca continued, "I like to start with an even, glowy canvas for the skin (KosasTinted Face Oil, £40,is a favourite for this), then go in with a brow pen (I've been loving GlossierBrow Flick, £15)and brow brush to amp them up. If I have extra time, I'll add in the eyeliner, but honestly, it's optional. Finally, a swipe of my go-to Chanel lipstick, et voilà!”
(Image credit: @itsmekellieb)
Our editors aren’t the only ones who swear by the power and leisure of applying a bold lip. Kellie Brownis also a fan. As she told us, "I love this look because it’s simple and easy to do but impactful. It’s fresh-faced and a bit of pow all at once.”
Nars
Lipstick
"I’m using mostly Nars here to create this look with a foundation(£37)and lip,”Brownsaid.
Nars
Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation
You can wear just a lip for this look, or you can put on a layer of your go-to foundation.
(Image credit: @tylauren)
You don’t have to opt for a red lip though to pull off this easy makeup look. Look to Tyla-Lauren’s cute nude lip for inspiration. As she told us, "Nude lips are my automatic go-to becausethey always enhance a natural makeup look.”
MAC
Matte Lipstick in Taupe
Tyla-Lauren shared, "For the perfect nude lip, Taupe from MAC is my favourite because it complements my skin tone perfectly—I honestly think it works on everyone so well! And to finish off the look, I love adding a darker liner with it."
Crafty Cat Eyes
(Image credit: @katiecung)
Perfecting your cat eye takes practice, but once you become a pro, it’s one of the easiest makeup looks. Don’t believe us? As Katie Cung told us, "This is my go-to flawless look; the crisp cat eye makes me feel super confident and like I can achieve anything!”
KVD Vegan Beauty
Tattoo Eyeliner
Cungcontinued, "I always use a felt-tip liner to do my cat eye and do the wing part with a pen-style liquid liner.”
(Image credit: @erin.kean)
Once you’ve mastered your cat eye and want to have a little fun, we suggest trying Erin Kean’s neon pink cat eye. As she told us, "I find bright colours always elevate my mood, whether it be a neon pink eyeliner or a bold red lip. Something about colour does wonders for your confidence.”
Urban Decay
24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Woodstock
Kean suggests that "any pink eyeliner would be perfect for re-creating this look.” And rather than applying the eyeliner to the inner lash line, apply it to your crease, and wing it out for a cute, creative take on your cat-eye look.
(Image credit: @maaaaakyy)
If pink isn’t your colour, maybe this blue cat-eye look fromMacarena Nieto is more your speed? As she told us, "It’s the simple things that bring joy,” and we couldn’t agree more.
Marc Jacobs Beauty
Fineliner Ultra-Skinny Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner in Code Blue 22
Whether you opt for a deep indigo or a bright pink, this cute cat-eye variation is an easy makeup look to try. All you’ll need is a good eyeliner.
(Image credit: @signecatseyes)
If you really love spending time playing with makeup, you’ll want to try this look from Anoushka. She told us, "Makeup is a way to be creative, especially when you have spare time to do it.” And frankly, it doesn’t get more creative than this filled-in cat eye.
Morphe
The Jaclyn Hill Eyeshadow Palette
This makeup look is easier to re-create than it looks; rather than just outlining your lid or your eyeliner, outline the under-eye, top eye, and outer edges. Then, fill in your full lid with an eye shadow of your choice. Anoushka recommends usingFenty Beauty’sPrecision Blending Eyeshadow Brush(£20) to blend your shadow.
Glossier
Lash Slick
Finally, to ensure the perfect electrifying eye look, Anoushka swears by putting on Glossier’s Lash Slick mascara to finish it off.
(Image credit: @makeup_and_mimosas)
If you’re still not sold on this makeup look, letFatima inspire you. As she told us, "If you’re looking to elevate your look, it’s always great to start with the eyes! I’ve been using my downtime to challenge myself creatively with what’s in my makeup bag and have been swooning over statement eyes; specifically colour liners.”
Nars
Velvet Shadow Stick
Fatima recommends creating this look to find your perfect base foundation (hers is Estée LauderDouble Wear Makeup in Toasty Toffee, £35) followed by the colour liner of your choice. Ultimately, when it comes to creating cute makeup looks, in the words of Fatima, it’s all about "finding what accentuates your own features.”Be it a cat eye or something else, now’s the time to get creative and find the makeup routine that’s easiest for you.
A Lil' Lid Action
(Image credit: @himichelleli)
It doesn’t get more delightful or downright easy than applying a little colour to your lids. As Michelle Li agreed, "This is an easy makeup look that packs a big punch.”
E.l.f. Cosmetics
Putty Eye Primer
Li continued, "To create this look, I used E.l.f.’s eye primer and just applied some eye shadow with my fingers.”
Urban Decay
Wired Pressed Pigment Eyeshadow Palette
"To finish off the look, I added color to my lids then accentuated it with another color in the corner of my eyes!” Li explained. Who said makeup had to be hard?
(Image credit: @thatsaleaf)
"When the mood strikes, I love experimenting with colours for my eye makeup,” Elif professed to us, and frankly, we back her on that statement. Experimenting with colourful eye shadow is one of the easiest ways to create a cute makeup look.
Nyx Professional Makeup
Sweet Cheeks Creamy Powder Blush Glow in Silence is Golden
You can opt for a fun yellow like Elif did or pick your own statement colour to inject alittle delight into your life.
(Image credit: @_tashbaker)
You don’t have to opt for a bold, bright colour to add some pizzazz to your eyelids. In fact, you can create the same bold makeup look that’s more versatile with a metallic eye shadow, like Tash Baker. In Baker’s words, "a pop of a metallic colour all over the eyelids is versatile as ever—it can be paired with a monochromatic look or to add a statement to a more neutral look.”
Kosas
10-Second Liquid Eyeshadow
For this look, Baker recommends applying Kosas’s Waterfalleye shadow all over your lid. She finished off the look with KosasWet Lip Oil Gloss in Dip(£25) along with KosasColor&LightCrème in Velvet Melon(£32) on her cheeks.
(Image credit: @thestylecat)
Easy makeup inspiration can come from anywhere, andJess Cheng is proof of that. As she confessed, "This green eye shadow look brings me joy because it is inspired by my favourite meme of Kermit the Frog falling off a building.” Memes inspiring makeup? Here for it. At the end of the day, where you choose to pull inspiration from is part of the fun.
Glossier
Skywash in Lawn
Falling for Cheng’s look? The eye shadow palette she used is theRevolution x Patricia Bright Rich in Colour Shadow Palette(£20), oryou can get the same effect by sweeping this Glossier shade on your eyelid.
This postwas originally published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
Up next,4 joyful eyeshadow looks to try right now.
Explore More:
