Makeup Labs

Author: Sara Elhazimy

  • 5 Easy Holiday Makeup Looks for Summer 2026

    5 Easy Holiday Makeup Looks for Summer 2026

    You’ve packed the outfits, sorted the sunscreen, and figured out where you’re going. The one thing nobody ever plans ahead of a holiday is their makeup, and then you get there and end up doing the same thing every day by default. Not this summer, whether you’re spending two weeks in the Mediterranean or just a few days away, here are five easy looks worth having in your rotation, along with the products to pull each one off.

    In This Guide:

    1. “No-Makeup” Makeup
    2. Sunkissed Makeup
    3. Smokey Makeup
    4. Toasty Makeup
    5. Island Girl Makeup
    6. The full product list

    1. “No-Makeup” Makeup 

    The no-makeup makeup look is exactly what it sounds like, you’re wearing makeup, but nobody can really tell. It’s the most low-effort option on this list and also one of the most universally flattering, particularly in the heat when heavier products tend to work against you (Who What Wear, 2026).

    The key products here are the e.l.f. Sheer For It Blush Tint and the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. Dab the tint onto the apples of your cheeks and blend outward for a natural flush, then tap a little onto your lips too, since it’s designed to do both. Finish with the lip butter balm over the top for a glossy, hydrated finish, and that’s genuinely all you need. The Summer Fridays balm is 100% vegan and cruelty-free and comes in sustainable, recyclable packaging, which is worth knowing if that’s something you factor into what you buy, and e.l.f. matches it on that front too, since the brand is fully vegan and double certified cruelty-free by both Leaping Bunny and PETA. Brush your brows up, add a coat of clear mascara, and you’re done in five minutes.

    2. Sun-kissed Makeup

    Think back from the beach, cheeks warm, skin golden, that’s the sunkissed look: bronzed, glowy, effortless. It’s one of the most popular holiday aesthetics right now, with makeup artists noting that summer 2026 is all about enhancing what you have rather than layering on coverage (New Beauty, 2026). 

    The two products you need are the Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer and the ICONIC London Illuminator. Sweep the bronzer across the areas the sun would naturally catch, forehead, temples, bridge of the nose, and cheekbones, then press the illuminator onto the high points of the cheeks and the inner corners of the eyes for a lit-from-within glow. ICONIC London is worth a mention here too, since the brand is 100% vegan and cruelty-free across its entire range. Keep the rest of the face minimal so the bronzed skin stays the focus. A slick of gloss and you’re done.

    3. Smokey Makeup

    A smokey eye on holiday sounds like a lot of effort, but it doesn’t have to be. The version that works best in summer is softer and more smudged than the classic black cut-crease, using warmer or cooler tones depending on your vibe that evening (Marie Claire, 2026). 

    A KIKO Milano eyeshadow palette in smoky tones has everything you need in one place. Pick two or three shades and blend them across the lid, keeping the edges deliberately diffused rather than sharp, and it’s worth knowing that KIKO doesn’t test on animals, even though the brand isn’t fully vegan across every product. Then line the upper lash line with the e.l.f. Smoky Kohl Eyeliner, smudging it slightly with a brush or your fingertip for that lived-in, holiday-night-out feel. Keep everything else simple: a nude lip, a coat of mascara, and you’re good to go.

    4. Toasty Makeup

    The toasty look is warm, bronzy and rich, somewhere between the sunkissed look and a full glam. It’s the one for golden hour dinners, sunset cocktails, and anywhere you want to look like you’ve been in the sun for a week even if you’ve only just arrived.

    Start with the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzing Stick and blend it into the cheekbones, temples and jawline for a deep, sculpted warmth. It’s cream-based so it melts into the skin rather than sitting on top, which means it actually lasts. Top the lips with the Maybelline Lifter Gloss in a warm nude or peachy shade to complement the bronzed base. The combination of a creamy bronze base with a glossy lip is one of the easiest ways to look polished on holiday without feeling overdone.

    5. Island Girl Makeup

    The island girl look is the most editorial of the five but still very wearable. It’s dewy, fresh and a little undone, think effortless more than anything else, with long lashes, a barely-there lip stain, brushed-up brows and skin that looks naturally radiant.

    The Lancôme Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara is the hero product here, giving length and definition without looking heavy. Pair it with the SACHEU Lip Liner STAY-N in a sheer berry or rose shade for a just-bitten lip that lasts through dinner and beyond, and it’s a genuinely solid choice for conscious shoppers too, since SACHEU’s lip products are vegan and cruelty-free. Keep skin light and glowy, and let the mascara and lip stain do most of the work. For the full island girl look including faux freckles and a step-by-step breakdown, check out our guide to the perfect island girl makeup look.

     

    The Full Product List

    Five looks, ten products, and enough variety to cover every occasion from a lazy pool day to a proper night out. Pack light, mix and match, and enjoy actually having a plan this time.

    Featured Products

    References

     

    This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure for more information.



  • A Guide to the Perfect Glow: Glowy Makeup Secrets You Can’t Miss

    A Guide to the Perfect Glow: Glowy Makeup Secrets You Can’t Miss

    There is a specific kind of glow that has nothing to do with highlighter. You know the one: skin that looks hydrated and alive, cheekbones that catch the light without anything sitting visibly on top, an overall radiance that looks like good health rather than good makeup. It is the most-searched finish in beauty right now, and also the most misunderstood.

    The mistake most people make is reaching for a highlighter and calling it done. Real glow is built in layers, starting well before you reach the shimmer. It starts with the base, runs through every product you layer on top, and ends with something that takes it from the face to the body.

    Here is how to do it properly.

    In This Guide:

    1. Why Glow Starts Before Makeup
    2. The Base: Your Secret Weapon
    3. Face Glow: Where to Place It and How
    4. Body Glow: The Step Most People Skip
    5. The full product list

    1. Why Glow Starts Before Makeup

    The most luminous skin in 2026 is not heavily made up, it is well-prepped. Beauty trend forecasters have pointed to a shift away from coverage and toward radiance this year, with the focus landing on skin that looks hydrated and naturally perfected rather than masked (Laura Mercier, 2026). That means the way you treat your skin before foundation touches it matters more than any product you apply on top.

    Hydration is the foundation of glow. Dry, dehydrated skin reflects light unevenly, which is why even the most expensive highlighter can look patchy on someone who skipped moisturiser. A good moisturiser applied generously and given time to absorb creates the smooth, plump surface that lets everything on top perform at its best.

    2. The Base: Your Secret Weapon

    The ILIA The Base Face Milk Essence is the kind of product that changes the texture of your skin before a single drop of foundation goes on. It’s a lightweight milky essence powered by hyaluronic acid and a barrier renewal complex, designed to be layered between skincare and makeup to lock in hydration and leave skin looking visibly plumper and smoother. It’s vegan, Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free, and formulated without fragrance, silicones or synthetic dyes, which makes it a strong pick for anyone trying to shop with a bit more intention.

    Apply it after moisturiser and before your tinted product or foundation. Skin will immediately look more alive. The dewy, barely-there finish it leaves means any base product you put on top sits differently, more like skin and less like makeup.

    3. Face Glow: Where to Place It and How

    Once your base is on, this is where the visible glow comes in. The key thing to understand about highlighter and illuminator placement is that less surface area, more intensity, usually wins. You’re not dusting shimmer across your whole face, you’re placing it precisely where light would naturally hit (NYX Professional Makeup, 2026).

    The e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter is a multi-purpose complexion booster that works as a standalone base on its own, giving skin a sheer, soft-focus radiance without the weight of a full foundation. It’s infused with hyaluronic acid and squalane to hydrate as it covers, and it comes in 15 flexible shades to suit a wide range of skin tones. e.l.f. is double-certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny and PETA, 100% vegan, and manufactured in Fair Trade Certified facilities, so it’s worth knowing the brand backs up its glow with some genuinely solid ethics too. Think of it as the step between skincare and makeup, something that evens everything out and makes skin look genuinely glowy before anything else goes on.

    For a more concentrated, high-impact illumination on the high points of the face, the Iconic London Illuminator is the one to reach for. Press it onto the tops of the cheekbones, the inner corners of the eyes, the bridge of the nose, and the cupid’s bow. Use your ring finger rather than a brush for a more skin-like finish, and build slowly rather than applying too much at once. Iconic London is 100% vegan and cruelty-free across the brand, and the Illuminator specifically has also been independently verified as reef-safe. It’s the product that creates that lit-from-within look makeup artists talk about constantly.

    The difference between a glow that looks natural and one that looks overdone usually comes down to placement and blending. Concentrated on the high points, blended softly at the edges.

    4. Body Glow: The Step Most People Skip

    Most glow routines stop at the face. The ones that look truly stunning don’t. When your face is luminous but your arms, shoulders and décolletage are flat and matte, there’s a disconnect that reads as product rather than radiance. Extending the glow to the body is what pulls the whole thing together, particularly in summer.

    The Sol de Janeiro Glowmotions Glow Body Oil does this better than most. Inspired by the Brazilian obsession with glowing skin, it wraps skin in a luminous shimmer while nourishing it with açaí oil, cupuaçu butter and coconut oil. It comes in two shades, Copacabana Bronze for warmer tones and Rio Sunset for a champagne shimmer, and the scent alone makes it worth buying. The entire Sol de Janeiro range is vegan, cruelty-free, reef-safe and comes in recyclable packaging. Apply it to bare skin after showering on the shoulders, collarbones and legs, skipping body moisturiser first so the oil can absorb properly.

    For holiday looks that make the most of this kind of all-over glow, take a look at our guide to the best holiday makeup looks for summer 2026.

     

    The Full Product List

    Glow is not one product. It is a system, and each layer builds on the one before it. Get the prep right, use your illuminator with intention, and don’t forget your body. That is all it takes.

    Featured Products

    References 

     

    This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure for more information.



  • Who Says Makeup Can’t Be Worn at the Beach? The Best Products for Hot Summer Days

    Who Says Makeup Can’t Be Worn at the Beach? The Best Products for Hot Summer Days

    You’re on the beach, the sun’s out, and you’ve finally found the perfect spot. You reach into your bag for your phone to take a picture and catch a glimpse of yourself on the screen, only to notice your foundation has melted into your pores, your mascara has migrated south, and whatever blush you put on this morning has completely disappeared. Sound familiar?

    The issue was never makeup itself, it was always the wrong makeup. Heavy foundation that slides off the moment the temperature rises, powder that turns patchy the second sea air hits it, mascara that ends up halfway down your cheeks before you’ve even got your towel out, none of that is a reason to go bare-faced. It’s just a reason to shop smarter.

    Whether you’re at the pool, on a sun-soaked terrace, or standing in the sea with your sunglasses on, there’s a whole category of products built specifically for this, heat-proof, sweat-proof and humidity-resistant (New Beauty, 2026). 

    Here’s everything you need for summer makeup that actually lasts.

    In This Guide:

    1. The Base: Lightweight Coverage That Won’t Budge
    2. The Brows: Definition That Survives Humidity
    3. Cheeks and Lips: Colour That Survives the Heat
    4. The Final Step: Locking Everything In
    5. The full product list

    1. The Base: Lightweight Coverage That Won’t Budge

    The biggest mistake people make with beach makeup is starting too heavy, and a full-coverage foundation in 30-degree heat is fighting a losing battle from the moment you apply it. The goal on a hot day is skin that looks healthy and even, not like you’re wearing makeup at all.

    The Kosas DreamBeam Sunlit SPF 30 is the ideal starting point here. It gives you sun protection and a sheer, glowy and bronzy tint in one step, so your base is already doing double duty before you’ve even thought about anything else, and it’s also vegan and Leaping Bunny certified, which makes it a solid pick if you’re trying to shop a little more consciously without giving anything up on performance. Press it into the skin with your fingertips for the most seamless, skin-like finish. SPF before any makeup on a beach day is non-negotiable, and this makes it genuinely easy to do (Who What Wear, 2026).

    2. The Brows: Definition That Survives Humidity 

    Brows are one of those things that can completely fall apart in humidity. Sweat, sunscreen and sea water can all take a well-groomed brow from polished to patchy within minutes, and the fix is a brow gel, ideally one with a genuinely strong hold rather than something that gives up by lunchtime.

    NYX Professional Makeup’s The Brow Glue has become a bit of a cult product for exactly this reason, holding brow hairs in place all day with a firm-but-flexible grip that’s water-resistant enough to handle whatever a beach day throws at it. Brush it through your brows in the direction of hair growth and you’re done, no pencil, no powder, just naturally defined brows that last. As with most NYX products, it’s also PETA-certified cruelty-free, so it’s an easy add to a more conscious beach bag too.

    3. Cheeks and Lips: Colour That Survives the Heat

    Powder blush is not your friend at the beach. In humidity it can look patchy, and in heat it tends to sit on top of the skin rather than melting into it, which is exactly the opposite of what you want on a day like this. Cream and liquid formulas are a much better bet, partly because they bond better to skin and partly because they don’t need layering to build colour.

    Benefit Cosmetics’ Benetint is one of the original long-wear tints and still one of the best. A rose-tinted liquid that stains the cheeks with a natural flush, it builds easily and gives that effortless sun-warmed look shown in this quick beach makeup routine. Dot it onto the apples of the cheeks and blend quickly with your fingers before it sets, and it doesn’t budge in the heat, working just as well on lips for a simple, sun-kissed look that holds up all day too.

    For lips specifically, the Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain is worth having in your beach bag, and it has the added bonus of being fully vegan and cruelty-free. Because it stains rather than sits on top of the lips, heat, sea water and the occasional drink won’t shift it. Apply it before any gloss or balm for colour that lasts all day with zero touch-ups needed.

    For a mascara that won’t move, the Maybelline Sky High Mascara is a beach bag staple. The waterproof formula gives length and volume without the dreaded panda-eye effect, even after a dip in the sea, and a few coats of this is really all your eye makeup needs on a day like this.

    4. The Final Step: Locking Everything In 

    Setting spray is the product that ties everything together on a hot day, and it’s not just for those doing a full glam look. Even a minimal face benefits from a quick spritz to lock everything in place before the sun has a chance to undo it.

    The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray is one of the best around for this. Celebrity makeup artist Carolina Gonzalez has described a good setting spray as your best friend in the summer, recommending you press products into the skin for longevity and finish with a spritz to keep everything in place (Who What Wear, 2026), and this one delivers exactly that. It’s a fine, even mist that sets makeup without making it look flat or heavy, and it’s also vegan and Leaping Bunny certified, so the ethics hold up as well as the formula does. Hold it about 30cm from the face and spray in a slow figure-of-eight motion for even coverage.

     

    The Full Product List

    The beach is not a reason to skip makeup, it’s a reason to wear better makeup. Swap the heavy formulas for lightweight tints, lean on waterproof mascara and a long-wear stain for colour, and finish with a setting spray, and that’s really all there is to it. For inspiration on what looks to actually wear once your base is sorted, check out our guide to the best holiday makeup looks for summer 2026 for ideas that work just as well by the pool as they do on a night out.

    Featured Products

    References

     

    This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure for more information.



  • Is Euphoria Makeup Back? Why Glitter Makeup and Face Gems Are Trending Again

    Is Euphoria Makeup Back? Why Glitter Makeup and Face Gems Are Trending Again

    If your TikTok feed has been filling up with rhinestone eyes, glitter tears and purple eyeshadow lately, you’re not imagining it. Euphoria makeup is back, and this time there’s a very good reason for it: Euphoria Season 3 finally premiered on HBO in April 2026 after a four-year wait, and the beauty world has responded exactly how you’d expect.

    The show’s lead makeup artist, Donni Davy, has described the Season 3 vibe as “feral, unapologetic, anti-clean girl high glam” (Marie Claire, 2026), which tells you pretty much everything about where things are headed this season. After years of barely-there skin tints and brushed-up brows, the pendulum has swung back toward colour, shimmer and a little deliberate chaos on the face, and honestly, it’s about time.

    Here’s what Euphoria makeup actually involves, why it’s resonating so hard right now, and how to recreate it.

    In This Guide:

    1. Why Euphoria Is Having a Moment
    2. The Eyes: Colour, Shimmer and Liner
    3. Face Gems: How to Wear Them Right
    4. The Lips
    5. The full product list

    1. Why Euphoria Is Having a Moment

    Euphoria’s original run back in 2019 didn’t just influence makeup trends, it created an entirely new aesthetic category. Glitter tears, rhinestone placement, neon graphic liner and bold pigmented eyeshadow became so recognisable that “Euphoria makeup” turned into its own searchable term in its own right.

    Season 3’s return has reignited all of it, and the timing couldn’t be better, with beauty writers noting that this kind of playful, maximalist eye makeup is set to dominate 2026, and crediting Euphoria as one of the shows that brought the trend into the mainstream in the first place (The Independent, 2026). Zara Larsson’s bedazzled tour looks have added more fuel to the fire too, and if you want to know more about those, have a read of our guide to Zara Larsson’s Midnight Sun makeup looks. Put it all together and you get a genuine cultural moment where glitter and face gems feel exciting again instead of excessive.

    2. The Eyes: Colour, Shimmer and Liner

    The eye look is really where Euphoria makeup lives. The signature isn’t one specific technique, it’s the combination of bold shadow, diffused colour and a kind of deliberate imprecision. Things aren’t meant to look perfectly blended or sharply lined here. The whole point is that it reads as emotional and expressive, a little undone in the best way.

    The Lancôme Hypnôse Eyeshadow Palette in Reflet d’Améthyste is the right starting point for the purple and pink tones that run through so much of this look. Sweep colour across the lid and brow bone without worrying too much about precision, then build depth at the outer corner. The Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise cream eyeshadow in Rose Gold adds a different dimension on top of that, since cream formulas catch the light in a way powder just can’t, giving you that glossy, almost wet-look lid that shows up throughout the show. It’s worth knowing this particular range is fully vegan too, which is a nice bonus if that’s something you look out for. Press it onto the centre of the lid over your powder base and blend the edges softly so it melts in rather than sitting on top.

    For the liner, the NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner gives you the clean, precise line you need along the upper lash line, and it holds up well even through a long night out since it’s waterproof. Draw it as sharp or as graphic as you want, there’s no wrong answer here. Then press the NYX Professional Makeup Face & Body Glitter underneath the eye or along the brow bone. This is the glitter tears moment, and it’s a lot easier to pull off than it looks once you’ve got the right product on hand. Both of these NYX products are vegan and PETA-certified cruelty-free.

    3. Face Gems: How to Wear Them Right

    Face gems are the detail most people find intimidating, but they’re also the one that makes the biggest difference to the overall look. The key is placement and restraint. A single cluster at the outer corner of the eye, or gems scattered loosely across the cheekbone, reads as intentional. Gems arranged in a perfectly symmetrical pattern across the whole face tends to read as costume rather than makeup.

    London-based makeup artist Amalie Russell has said that the key to wearing glitter tears or gems is pairing the look with minimal skin, so the result feels modern and editorial rather than overwhelming (The Independent, 2026). Keep your base light, let the gems do the talking, and scatter rather than pattern them. Use a small amount of lash glue on the back of each gem and press into place with tweezers, letting the glue dry slightly before you press down for a better hold.

    4. The Lips

    In most Euphoria looks, the lips are just as bold as the eyes. They’re glossy, shimmery and full of dimension, holding their own against all the colour and sparkle happening above them.

    The KIKO Milano 3D Hydra Lipgloss works perfectly for this. It gives a high-shine, hydrating finish with a slight shimmer in sheer to medium coverage shades, so you get that editorial, glassy lip that feels just as intentional as the eye look rather than an afterthought. Apply directly from the wand and build up coverage if you want even more dimension.

     

    The Full Product List

    The Euphoria aesthetic has always been about using makeup as self-expression rather than a tool for looking polished, and that’s exactly why it keeps coming back around. You don’t need a festival or a costume party as an excuse to wear glitter, you just need to feel like it. 

    Featured Products

    References

     

    This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure for more information.



  • Sunscreen That Feels Like Skin: The Best Sunscreens to Wear Under Makeup

    Sunscreen That Feels Like Skin: The Best Sunscreens to Wear Under Makeup

    You’ve finally found a foundation you love. It sits well, lasts all day and looks like skin rather than something painted on top of it. Then you apply your sunscreen first and somehow everything falls apart, your makeup pills, slides around, or sits in this odd cakey layer that looks nothing like the photos that convinced you to buy it in the first place. So you end up skipping the SPF, which isn’t great, or skipping the foundation, which feels like giving up. Neither should really be the answer.

    The problem isn’t sunscreen itself, it’s that most formulas are built for the beach rather than for layering underneath a base. Dermatologists have pointed out that the texture and finish of an SPF matters just as much as its protection factor when it comes to how well it plays with makeup (Byrdie, 2026). The sunscreens that genuinely work under foundation tend to be lightweight, fast-absorbing and practically invisible once they’ve settled. A few of them behave so much like a primer that your makeup ends up looking better with them than without.

    Here’s the edit worth knowing about.

    In This Guide:

    1. What to Look For in an SPF That Works Under Makeup
    2. The Best Picks Across Budgets and Skin Types
    3. How to Layer Sunscreen Under Makeup Properly
    4. The full product list

    1. What to Look For in an SPF That Works Under Makeup

    Texture is really the deciding factor here. The thick, lotion-heavy formulas that feel great on a beach holiday tend to create a barrier between your skin and your foundation, which is exactly why makeup slides or pills when you layer it on top. What you actually want is a gel, serum or fluid formula, something that absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling smooth instead of coated.

    Finish matters almost as much. If your skin runs oily or combination, look for a mattifying or satin finish SPF to help your base stay put through the day. Drier skin tends to do better with something dewy or hydrating that won’t sit patchily over foundation. It’s also worth checking whether your sunscreen contains silicones, since these can pill if your foundation uses a different base entirely. Patch-testing your SPF with your usual foundation before a big day out will save you a lot of frustration later (Who What Wear, 2026).

    2. The Best Picks Across Budgets and Skin Types

     

    Best for dewy, glowing skin: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics

    This K-beauty cult favourite has been everywhere over the past couple of years, and it’s earned the hype. It absorbs in seconds, leaves behind a satiny, faintly dewy finish with no white cast, and stays put under foundation without budging as the day goes on. The formula includes 30% rice extract along with fermented grain extracts, so it’s doing a bit of skincare work alongside the sun protection. Beauty of Joseon states that it doesn’t test any of its products or ingredients on animals, though the brand isn’t currently certified by Leaping Bunny or PETA, so it’s worth knowing the claim rests on the brand’s own word rather than third-party verification. For SPF 50+ at this price point, it’s genuinely difficult to find anything that competes (Yahoo Beauty, 2026).

     

    Best primer-SPF hybrid: Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50

    The Unseen Sunscreen is one of those rare products people recommend completely unprompted. It goes on clear, has a velvety texture that blurs pores and fine lines, and helps makeup grip to the skin in a way that genuinely extends how long your base lasts through the day. Supergoop is Leaping Bunny certified and PETA listed, the formula is vegan, and the brand describes its sunscreens as reef-friendly rather than fully reef-safe, since some formulas still rely on chemical UV filters rather than mineral-only ones. The formula is also silicone-based, so it pairs best with a silicone-based foundation, and you’ll want to leave it 30 to 60 seconds after moisturiser before applying anything on top.

     

    Best tinted option: Kosas DreamBeam Sunlit SPF 30

    If you’d rather cut a step out of your routine entirely, this one does double duty as sunscreen and a soft, glow-from-within base in one. It isn’t technically a tinted sunscreen, Kosas is upfront that DreamBeam doesn’t contain pigment in the traditional sense, but the Sunlit shade carries a soft golden-bronze hue designed to flatter deeper skin tones and give a sun-warmed finish, as opposed to the Original’s peachy-pink tone, which is built to cancel out the bluish-white cast that zinc oxide formulas usually leave behind. The mineral formula uses non-nano zinc oxide, which is considered reef-safe, and it’s non-comedogenic and silicone-free too. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free and Leaping Bunny certified, with recyclable packaging. On lighter makeup days, or whenever you’re short on time, this paired with a coat of mascara and something on the lips is genuinely all you need.

     

    Best for sensitive skin: La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid

    La Roche-Posay has a long track record as a dermatologist-recommended brand, particularly for reactive or sensitive skin. The Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid is lightweight and non-comedogenic, absorbs without leaving residue, and is unlikely to trigger breakouts or irritation, with the added benefit of Mexoryl 400 filtering technology for protection against longer UVA wavelengths. It’s worth knowing this one doesn’t carry any cruelty-free certification, so if that matters to you, it’s a pick to weigh against the others on this list. Still, it’s a solid option if you’ve tried some of the more talked-about SPFs here and found your skin didn’t agree with them. Sometimes the answer isn’t the trending pick, it’s the one that just works reliably every time.

     

    3. How to Layer Sunscreen Under Makeup Properly

    Order matters more than people think. Sunscreen should go on as the final step of your skincare routine, after moisturiser and before any makeup. Give it at least a full minute to absorb before starting your base, otherwise the two products end up mixing together and neither does its job properly.

    Apply with your fingertips rather than a brush for the most even coverage, and don’t be stingy. Most people under-apply SPF significantly, which means they’re getting far less protection than the bottle promises (Healthline, 2026). A full teaspoon for the face and neck is roughly the right amount to aim for.

    If you’re spending a full day outdoors, remember that SPF does wear off over time. Topping it up over makeup is easiest with a setting spray that contains SPF, or a loose mineral powder pressed lightly over your base. For more on keeping your whole look intact in the heat, our guide to the best makeup products for hot summer days covers everything else worth packing alongside your sunscreen.

     

    The Full Product List

    The right SPF doesn’t just protect your skin, it can genuinely make your makeup look better. Pick the option above that suits your skin type, give it a proper minute to settle, and see what a difference it makes to how your base holds up for the rest of the day.

    Featured Products

    References

     

    This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure for more information.



  • How to Achieve Natural Faux Freckles and the Perfect Island Girl Makeup Look

    How to Achieve Natural Faux Freckles and the Perfect Island Girl Makeup Look

    The island girl aesthetic is one of those looks that seems effortless until you try to recreate it and realise there are quite a few deliberate steps involved. Sun-kissed skin, brushed-up brows, long lashes, a barely-there lip and scattered freckles that look like you’ve spent a week in the Mediterranean. It reads natural, but it’s really not accidental at all.

    Faux freckles in particular have had a major resurgence in 2026, with beauty writers pointing to a wider shift toward makeup that celebrates what makes skin unique rather than smoothing it all away (Ma Grande Taille, 2026). The key to making them look real is subtlety, irregular placement and keeping everything else minimal enough that the freckles don’t compete with a heavy base. 

    Here’s how to put the whole look together from start to finish.

    In This Guide:

    1. Less Is More
    2. Faux Freckles That Actually Look Real
    3. Brows, Lashes and Cheeks
    4. Natural Lips
    5. The full product list

    1. Less Is More

    The island girl look doesn’t work with a full-coverage base. The entire point is that skin looks like skin, with visible texture, natural radiance and the suggestion that you simply woke up looking like this. A tinted moisturiser, a lightweight skin tint, or even just a dab of concealer where you need it most is enough.

    Whatever you use, keep it sheer and apply it with your fingers rather than a brush. Press it into the skin rather than sweeping it across, and leave the area where you’ll be adding faux freckles completely free of product so they can sit directly on clean skin for the most realistic result. Setting powder should be used sparingly and only where needed, since too much will flatten the finish and make the freckles look painted on rather than natural.

    2. Faux Freckles That Actually Look Real

    This is the step people get wrong most often. The instinct is to place freckles too symmetrically, too darkly, or across too large an area of the face. Real freckles concentrate where the sun hits most, across the bridge of the nose and the upper cheeks, occasionally dotting up toward the temples or forehead. They’re irregular in size, uneven in spacing and slightly varied in depth.

    The NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner in brown is what you need here. Using the fine tip and a very light hand, dot tiny irregular marks across the nose and inner cheeks rather than drawing continuous lines. Vary the pressure so some dots are slightly darker and some are barely there, then immediately tap each one lightly with your ring finger to soften and blur the edge slightly, which is what makes it look like pigment in the skin rather than something sitting on top of it. Blend, then step back and check the overall effect from a distance before adding more. This kind of softer, layered approach to faux freckles, sometimes referred to online as “fawn freckles,” keeps placement concentrated through the centre of the face with just a light scattering onto the cheeks, which tends to read as far more natural than the heavier, more uniform dots people used to go for (Bustle, 2026). It’s also worth knowing the Epic Ink Liner is vegan and PETA-certified cruelty-free, like the rest of the NYX range.

    3. Brows, Lashes and Cheeks

    Island girl brows are full, natural and brushed upward rather than precisely filled. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel is the product for this. Comb it through your brows in an upward direction, add a little volume at the front and through the arch with short strokes, then let it set. This particular gel is vegan, and ABH as a brand is PETA-certified cruelty-free. The result should look groomed but never drawn on.

    For lashes, the Lancôme Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara gives length and definition without looking heavy or spidery. A single coat on the upper lashes is usually enough for this look, since the goal is open, bright eyes rather than full drama.

    For cheeks, sweep the Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer lightly across the cheekbones and temples for the sunkissed warmth that anchors the whole look. Then add the Benefit Benetint for a natural rose flush, dotting it onto the apples of the cheeks and blending quickly outward with your fingers for a flushed, just-been-in-the-sun effect that sits beautifully alongside the faux freckles.

    4. Natural Lips

    The lip for this look should do almost nothing except look like a better version of your natural lip. No liner, just a sheer stain or gloss that adds a hint of colour and a touch of shine.

    The SACHEU Lip Liner STAY-N is exactly right here. A sheer berry or rose shade gives a just-bitten finish that lasts well and doesn’t require any touching up, and it’s also fully vegan and cruelty-free if that’s something you factor into what you buy. Apply directly from the applicator and press your lips together to blend. That really is all you need.

    For a full look at how to wear this aesthetic across a holiday, check out our guide to the best holiday makeup looks for summer 2026.

     

    The Full Product List

    The island girl look is about restraint as much as anything else. Get the freckles right and keep everything else simple, and you’ll have one of the most versatile, wearable looks of the summer.

    Featured Products

    References

     

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  • Zara Larsson’s Midnight Sun Makeup Looks: A Step by Step Guide

    Zara Larsson’s Midnight Sun Makeup Looks: A Step by Step Guide

    If you’ve been anywhere near TikTok or Instagram this year, you already know about the Zara Larsson Midnight Sun era. The Swedish pop star has been serving look after look on her world tour, and her makeup, created by close friend and collaborator Sophia Sinot, has taken on a life of its own online (Refinery29, 2026). Think rhinestone-scattered cheekbones, purple and pink eyeshadow blended into something that looks like a sunset, face gems cascading down the temples, and lips so glossy they could double as a mirror. 

    As Sinot explained it, the clean girl era has had its moment, and she felt it was time to bring some fun back into makeup (Napier, 2026), and honestly, looking at how this trend has taken over everyone’s feeds, she’s onto something. The Midnight Sun aesthetic has been described as cosmic-fairy-meets-iridescent-siren, which sounds a bit much until you actually see it: bold enough to stop a scroll, but surprisingly wearable once you break it down step by step (Who What Wear, 2025).

    Here’s how to get it.

    In This Guide:

    1. The Base: Glowy, Not Cakey
    2. The Eyes: Purple, Pink and Plenty of Shimmer
    3. The Blush: Turned All the Way Up
    4. Face Gems and Glitter: The Signature Detail
    5. The Lips: Glossy and Glazed
    6. The Full Product List

    1. The Base: Glowy, Not Cakey

    The base for this look is all about skin that looks alive rather than perfected. Zara’s skin on stage reads luminous rather than matte, so reach for a light-coverage foundation or tinted moisturiser, something that lets your skin breathe instead of masking it completely, and apply it with a damp sponge without overworking it into the skin.

    A light dusting of setting powder under the eyes only is really all you need here, since anything more starts to dull the glow you’re trying to build. The goal is a base that almost disappears so the eye and cheek drama can do the talking later on. If you want to go deeper on how to get that lit-from-within finish to actually last, our guide to glowy makeup secrets walks through how to build it without it sliding off your face by midday.

    2. The Eyes: Purple, Pink and Plenty of Shimmer

    This is where the look really comes alive. Sinot’s signature on Zara is a wash of colour across the entire lid and up into the brow bone, with no sharp cut crease and no harsh lines, just colours that melt into each other like an actual sunset.

    The Lancôme Hypnôse Eyeshadow Palette in Reflet d’Améthyste is exactly what you need for this. Start with a soft lavender or lilac tone across the entire lid and brow bone, then deepen the outer corner with a richer purple or magenta, blending until the edges are diffused and dreamy rather than crisp.

    Once the shadow’s set, it’s time for shimmer. Press NYX Professional Makeup Face & Body Glitter onto the centre of the lid and inner corner using your ring finger, and resist the urge to blend this part out since you want it sitting as a concentrated sparkle exactly where the light hits. NYX has also been PETA-certified cruelty-free for years now, so if that’s something you look out for when buying makeup, it’s worth knowing this one ticks that box too.

    Lashes should be full but not overly dramatic, just a few coats of black mascara and you’re done on the lash front. The eyeshadow and gems are doing enough work already.

    3. The Blush: Turned All The Way Up

    Zara’s blush placement is genuinely one of the most recognisable parts of the look, and it’s not subtle in the slightest. It sweeps high onto the cheekbones, blends up toward the temples, and sometimes wraps slightly under the eye to create that flushed, almost sun-warmed look.

    Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush in Happy is perfect for getting this right. Use a fluffy blending brush and apply in circular motions, starting at the apple of the cheek and sweeping upward, then keep building it up rather than holding back. If it looks like a lot, you’re probably on the right track, since the blush on Zara’s tour looks would read as “way too much” by clean girl standards, and that’s really the whole point. It’s worth knowing too that the formula is Leaping Bunny certified and fully vegan, so the brand’s ethics keep pace with how good the actual product is.

    4. Face Gems and Glitter: The Signature Detail

    This is the step that ties the whole thing together. On stage, Zara and Sinot scatter rhinestones and face gems across the cheekbones, temples, and sometimes along the inner corners of the eyes, and while it sounds extra (because it is extra), the effect is genuinely stunning both in photos and in person.

    Reusable, adhesive-backed face gems are easier to apply than you’d think. Use a small amount of lash glue or the adhesive included in the kit, apply it to the back of each gem with tweezers, and press onto clean skin, placing them in loose clusters rather than perfectly symmetrical rows since the imperfect scatter is what makes the look feel intentional instead of try-hard.

    You can also dust a little loose glitter along the cheekbone above the gems for extra dimension, layering sparkle so it catches light from a few different angles at once.

    5. The Lips: Glossy and Glazed

    After all that eye drama, the lips need to stay simple. Zara’s lip looks on tour tend to be a rosy nude or soft pink, nothing that competes with the eyes, but just enough to look glossy and glazed.

    Line your lips lightly with a nude liner to define the shape, then apply the Maybelline Lifter Gloss in Moon straight from the wand. This gloss gives a plumped, high-shine finish that reads beautifully on camera and in the mirror, and thanks to the hyaluronic acid in the formula, your lips actually feel hydrated instead of tacky or stiff.

     

    The Full Product List

    Zara’s look is proof that maximalist makeup isn’t about doing the most, it’s about doing it with intention, and you can start with just one element of this and build from there. For more inspiration on bringing texture and shimmer into your everyday look, have a read of our piece on glitter makeup and face gems making a comeback for ways to wear this trend well beyond the stage. You don’t need to be performing at a sold-out arena to have a bit of fun with your face.

    Featured Products

    References

     

    This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure for more information.