I Tried Summer's Big Makeup Trends—See the Looks That Got the Most Compliments

It won't come as much of a surprise that for the past year I've worn minimal to no makeup at all thanks to the fact I've been working and staying mostly at home. But now as the world slowly starts to return to normal and I finally have more events, get-togethers, and plans packing up on my cal this summer, I'm excited to wear and experiment with makeup again. So I turned to some of this season's biggest makeup trends for inspiration and decided to give them a try for myself.

Below, I'm sharing five summer makeup trends that not only fashion and beauty girls, makeup artists, and stylists are loving for summer 2021 but I personally believe are easily wearable myself. From pretty pastel eye shadow to glossy lips, take a peek below at my take on some of summer’s big makeup trends and shop the items to get the look.

Lavender Lids

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(Image credit: @isabelleikpeme)

We've already waxed lyrical about purple eye shadow—a trending hue we're seeing all over cool girls on Instagram right now (not to mention a runway hit). Whether you go for more of a pastel hue or a slightly deeper purple shade, it looks seriously good on all skin tones.

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My take on the trend:
(Image credit: @joiedejude)

Get the look:

Bright Lips

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(Image credit: @aimeesong)

There's no better time than summer to sport a bright, bold, and playful lip. Colors like bright pinks, bold reds, and popping corals are trending right now and guaranteed to add a vibrant touch to your look.

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My take on the trend:
(Image credit: @joiedejude)

Get the look:

Sunkissed Glow

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(Image credit: @nlmarilyn)

Bring on the highlighter this summer 2021! Radiant, bronzed, sun-kissed skin is the name of the game to achieve summer's must-have beachy glow.

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My take on the trend:
(Image credit: @joiedejude)

Get the look:

Glossy Lips

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(Image credit: @sasha.mei)

Gloss is back (perhaps we have the Y2K trend to thank for it), but this season it's all about subtle satiny lips that add just the right amount of shine.

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My take on the trend:
(Image credit: @joiedejude)

Get the look:

Brushed-Up Brows

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(Image credit: @kdeenihan)

When it comes to brow trends—the bigger and fluffier the better. Thick, brushed-up brows will open up your eyes and define your features. This was definitely a harder one for me to achieve because of my more structured thinner brows, but leaning towards a clear brow gel helped get the effect.

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My take on the trend:
(Image credit: @joiedejude)

Get the look:

Colorful Eyeliner

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(Image credit: @katiejanehughes)

If you love experimenting with makeup this is a must-try. Colorful eyeliner is a huge trend for summer 2021. We've seen graphic iterations along with more simple cat-eye flicks, but either way, it will add a chic statement look (and is especially ideal if you're not fully ready to commit to a bright eye shadow). Opt for bold and bright oranges, blues, or aqua greens.

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My take on the trend:

Get the look:

Up next, three makeup looks the fashion crowd will own.

Judith Jones
Senior Fashion Market Editor

Judith Jones is the senior fashion market editor at Who What Wear who specializes in shopping content and trend stories with high-affiliate impact. She shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands for every budget. Previous to working in fashion, Judith worked as a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) sharing her passion for travel and culture.