The summer of 2024 heralds a captivating return to natural beauty, with a pronounced emphasis on glowing, healthy-looking skin. As leading experts in the beauty industry highlight, the essence of this season’s makeup trends lies in the artful balance of radiance and subtlety.
The Art of Radiant Skin
Renowned international makeup artist for Clarins states, “Radiant skin has been a cornerstone of numerous trends for years. This summer, we witness an eclectic blend on runways – a juxtaposition of bold lip colours (as seen at Gucci and David Koma), oversized crystals (Halpern), or heavy gothic eyeliner (Rodarte, Valentino) against a backdrop of flawless, naturally glowing skin, lightly touched by concealer. This stark contrast renders even the boldest makeup elements wearable in everyday life.”
Clarins’ summer collection, “Cosmic Summer,” exemplifies this trend with products like the Golden Glow primer, infused with pink-golden particles, and the Bronzing Compact powder, enriched with moisturising coconut oil and organic safflower seed extract to enhance the tan. Achieving this effect of natural radiance, however, requires meticulous care.
Crafting the Perfect Glow
Expert makeup artist underscores the importance of preparation for achieving that coveted natural glow: “To recreate the illusion of a sun-kissed radiance as if just returned from a tropical holiday, forget matte textures. Begin by thoroughly prepping the skin with hydrating products – toner, serum, and cream – then blend a drop of illuminating makeup base into a lightweight foundation and apply evenly across the face.”
The creator and creative director of a leading beauty brand asserts that “glowing skin,” having ascended as the primary trend of the summer, will remain relevant for the foreseeable future. “There are myriad interpretations of this makeup style, but I recommend focusing on multifunctional products that offer both softness and a hint of matte finish while maintaining natural radiance. The key rule is to opt for the lightest coverage product, even if you have skin imperfections.”
Embracing the Blush Trend
The prevailing trend towards natural beauty is complemented by the technique known as “draping.” This method involves strategically placing blush on the cheeks, temples, and eyelids to impart a healthy flush and a subtle sun-kissed effect. An expert makeup artist advises, “For a youthful, glowing complexion, try draping. In this makeup technique, blush plays a pivotal role: apply it to the cheekbones, temples, and eyelids for a cohesive look.”
Genosys’ BB Cushion with a tinting effect and SPF 50/PA++ exemplifies the ideal product for achieving a radiant finish. When paired with generously coated lashes, it creates a strikingly fresh appearance, noted by another makeup artist: “This season, we observe a trend towards a ‘doll-like’ effect with voluminous mascara application, which can complement both ‘Barbie’ and ‘grunge’ styles.”
The Minimalist Eye
Interestingly, an alternative trend gaining traction involves a minimalist approach to eye makeup. Some beauty gurus are forgoing eye makeup altogether, resulting in “clean” eyes devoid of shadow, mascara, and liner. This minimalist trend, while understated, is both striking and versatile, ready to be adopted at any moment. “What’s more,” an expert notes, “graphic and ‘cat-eye’ liners remain in vogue, often in vibrant hues. Shimmery eyeshadows, glitter, and metallic gloss are also welcomed this season, not just for parties.”
Natural Brows and Bold Lips
Summer 2024 favours natural brows, with graphic shapes now a thing of the past. Instead, use only a fixing gel, and if needed, enhance fullness by drawing individual hairs with a fine pencil or liner. Complementing this natural aesthetic, lips are the focus of bold colour choices. A renowned makeup artist suggests, “This summer, opt for lips in vibrant, juicy berry shades. Choose hydrating lipsticks, balms, and glosses, or add a gloss over matte textures for a more dramatic effect.”
The Glazed Lip Trend
Returning trends from the 1990s, such as “frosted lips,” are making a resurgence, characterised by a glittery effect achieved through a combination of pearlescent gloss and lipstick. Leading makeup artists emphasise that this summer’s must-have lip looks include “glazed” and “blurred” lips. “Top products for this summer are glosses, balms, lipsticks, and oils with a glossy finish. The enduring trend of the 2000s, coupled with influencers’ frequent use of gloss to create fuller, well-cared-for lips, keeps this look at the forefront. Equally relevant is the ‘blurred lips’ effect, which originated in Asia and is ideal for those with fuller lips. To pay homage to the ’90s, make the lip contours darker than the lipstick shade to add volume.”
Tips for a Modern Lip Makeup
A couple of practical tips for achieving the perfect summer lip makeup are shared by a leading makeup artist: “Regardless of the shade you choose, the application method determines whether your look will be current or not. Use glosses as a top layer over lipstick or liner. For a more long-lasting effect, fill in your lips with a more durable product before adding a touch of gloss. To create a blurred lip effect, apply concealer on your lips, then blend a gel-powder lipstick from the centre of the lips outwards.”
The Complexity of “Natural” Beauty
Thus, the concept of natural beauty in summer 2024, characterised by nude and soft inner glow, is somewhat conditional. This approach is primarily reserved for the skin, which serves as a luminous canvas for bright, sometimes provocative accents inherited from the ’90s and early 2000s.
Products like the Blanc de Runway All Day Serum Makeup Fixer and the White Truffle Return Oil Cream Cleanser by d’Alba perfectly illustrate the intricate blend of skincare and makeup necessary to achieve this season’s looks. While the luminous skin trend is inherently summery, its principles can be adapted to suit various seasons, ensuring that the radiant, healthy glow remains a timeless beauty goal.
In conclusion, the summer makeup trends of 2024 celebrate the delicate dance between natural radiance and bold, expressive elements. With the right products and techniques, achieving this sophisticated balance is within reach, allowing everyone to embrace their natural beauty while experimenting with eye-catching accents.
