Blush is one of my favorite beauty products. Whether it's a velvety pressed powder, a buttery cream, or a rom-com-worthy stick, I own it, love it, and use it. Lately, though, I've been reaching for a different type of blush more often than not. I'm talking about watercolor blush, or water-splashed blush. This is dreamy, serum-like blush that deposits a soft, blooming wash of color on the skin—almost like a Claude Monet masterpiece come to life.

These modern formulas are everywhere right now, with major brands like Victoria Beckham Beauty, Refy, and Chanel hopping onto the trend. Ahead, learn everything you need to know about these products, including how to apply them for a professional, painterly effect, according to two top makeup artists.

What is water-splashed blush?

Before I wax poetic about the best water-splashed blushes, let me press pause for a second because I know what you're thinking. Isn't it just liquid blush? Is this another case of clever internet coining? Surprisingly, no. Take it from high-fashion makeup artist Joseph Carrillo. "The real difference is texture. Water blushes are thinner, more fluid, and more translucent than traditional liquid blushes. They almost behave like a serum, so you add color without adding much weight or visible texture to the face," he says.

Carrillo says this product category isn't completely new; it's just trending right now. He uses Benefit Cosmetics' Benetint Lip & Cheek Stain ($28) as an example. As he puts it, it's "an oldie but a baddie" that has been creating a watercolor effect for decades. (As someone who's been a beauty editor for the better part of a decade, I can confirm.) "What feels new is how sophisticated the formulas have become," he adds. He credits that sophistication to K-beauty brands, which have been "ahead of the curve with these skincare-meets-makeup textures for a long time." It might have taken us a while to catch up Stateside, but watercolor blush is officially saturating the market, featuring elegant formulas and delivering ethereal color.

I'm not the only one who turns to artistic references to explain the effect of water-splashed blush. Celebrity makeup artist Lila Childs does too. "They give you that sort of wind-burnt effect, like you just went for a winter walk—a little rococo-esque," she says. "It should leave a natural skin finish, like how your skin looks when you wash your face and pat it dry before you put any product on it—taut and raw. You should be able to see the real skin underneath the blush."

Carrillo agrees. "I think of it like watercolor on paper," he says. "You can keep adding washes of color, but you never lose what's underneath. That's what a great water blush does on the face. You're building the flush without covering the skin. There's something very Renaissance about the result too. You see those pinks, reds, and warmth coming through the complexion, but you don't see where the blush starts and stops. The color feels like it belongs to the face. For years, we relied so heavily on muddy contour to create structure. Color can do that too. Blush can lift, sculpt, soften, or completely change the mood of a face depending on where you put it."

How to Apply Water-Splashed Blush

"I think there are some true watercolor-like blush formulas," Childs says, "but it comes down to application and technique to achieve the actual look." She recommends applying the product to the back of the hand and working it into the bristles of a brush. "This step is key if you are working with an extremely liquidy formula," she says. "I love the Rephr Brush 38 ($38) for this because it replicates that painterly effect. Once the product is evenly distributed into the brush, apply it by lightly tapping to brush on the apples of the cheek. With very light pressure, swipe the excess product in a wide motion across the face, hitting the bridge of the nose and cheekbones."

Check out Childs's watercolor-blush makeup tutorial.

Carrillo says you can use your fingers too. "Fingers are great when you want the color to melt into the complexion (that's what I do), while a brush gives you more control," he says. "I also like to work one cheek at a time because some formulas can set pretty quickly."

He recommends starting with less than you think you need and building it up from there. "Because these formulas are so fluid, the color can really bloom as you work it into the skin," he explains, emphasizing that placement is paramount. "Higher and farther back can give you lift and structure. Bringing the color toward the center gives you that softer, naturally flushed cheek." The same blush, he says, can create a completely different look.

"Anyone can wear these textures. They're especially beautiful on bare skin, over a skin tint, or over foundation when you don't want to keep piling on more texture. On deeper complexions, I make sure there's enough pigment and depth so that sheer still means visible," he adds.

The 11 Best Water-Splashed Blushes

Victoria Beckham Beauty Colour Wash Blush Water Tint

Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Blush

Refy Water Blush Liquid Cushion

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush

Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Liquid Lip & Cheek Stain

A'pieu Juicy Pang Water Blush

Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush

Wonderskin Wonder Blading All-Day Blush Stain

Nars Insatiable Longwearing Liquid Blush

Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint Lip + Cheek Blush Stain

E.l.f. Cosmetics Sheer for It Blush Tint

Ernesto Casillas has just come up for air. The celebrity makeup artist blinks onto my computer screen from his home in L.A. during a rare pocket of downtime—a "mini staycation," he calls it, before the hamster wheel of commitments cranks up once again for fashion week. Aside from a select few jobs and interviews (present company included), he's filling his calendar with little else besides daily workouts and rejuvenating facial treatments. "Excuse the redness," he says, angling toward the camera.

It's a well-deserved recharge, to say the least. For the past 10 weeks, Casillas has been globe-trotting with Zendaya through an escalating run of web-shattering press stops. First, the Odyssey premiere in London, where the actress sported "light, mesmerizing eyes" and a Schiaparelli gown hot off the haute couture runway. Then Paris, with a milkmaid braid, rosy cheeks, and frosted blue eye shadow. Next, New York, where Zendaya's windswept skin and bare lashes sparked a no-mascara movement. Over to Mexico City and back to London to promote Spider-Man: Brand New Day with romantic, rosy beats, then L.A. a week later, where Casillas pivoted to a smoldering smoky eye. Our interview happens to fall just days after Zendaya's rumored wedding celebration at the Beaverbrook estate, so I do wonder if he made one last, unlisted stop in Surrey. (Casillas doesn't mention it, and I know better than to ask directly, but given how long they've worked together, it's hard to imagine he wasn't involved in some capacity.)

"I've been enjoying seeing people re-create the looks online," he tells me. "I wasn't expecting the extent that the actual makeup looks went viral and how much of that attention was diverted toward me. That was a very pleasant surprise."

Of all the viral creations, none has captured the masses quite like the aforementioned no-mascara look at the Odyssey New York premiere. He's too humble to say it, so I will: Casillas knew he knocked that glam out of the park. "When we were done with the hair and makeup, we all looked around and were like, 'Honestly? Yes,'" he reveals. Fans swiftly responded with just as much fervor; at present, there are over 13.7 million TikTok videos related to "Zendaya Odyssey Makeup." Of course, Casillas's own BTS photos caused a frenzy on Instagram, where you'll find an endless scroll of praise from fellow industry bigwigs and celebrities alike. Even Donni Davy, who worked with the actress for years as the head makeup artist for Euphoria, chimed in on the conversation, saying the look "made [her] totally emotional."

"That was a very beautiful sentiment coming from Donni," Casillas tells me, "because she's very familiar with Zendaya's character as Rue. The show ending in her death was very devastating. Seeing this beautiful glowing angel… seeing her look super ethereal just does something to people."

Despite the buzz, Casillas tells me the London Odyssey glam was actually the hardest to get right given all the tiny details—spidery lashes (via individual Lashify clusters), luminous inner eye corners, naturally lifted contour. "I really took my time with the lashes," Casillas says. "It took time to sculpt the face and make sure everything looked pretty, blended, and seamless. … It's all the little details that you don't notice right away that add up."

But that's exactly Casillas's speciality: tiny, painstaking tweaks that culminate in a harmonious masterpiece. Like gazing a Georges Seurat painting, you step back and marvel at how it all came together. "I'm not always doing a super-creative eye shadow, but I will make sure that the lashes and the brows pop," he adds. In fact, halfway through the Odyssey press tour, he switched up Zendaya's brow pencil to a slightly warmer shade of brown to soften the contrast and help her eyes stand out—a super-small adjustment but one that he says made all the difference for the final beat.

"You'll see beautiful skin, and then you'll see the features," he says regarding his execution. I want you to see the woman before you see the makeup." A luminous baked powder (he's quick to call out Hourglass and Kosas) does just the trick to diffuse any sharp lines, until you can't tell where the bronzer ends and highlight begins. "After I've done the face, the highlight, contour, blush, I'll take a big fluffy brush, load it up with some of that powder, and buff everything together. Then meld it down with some [setting] spray." Again, simple, but it does a lot of the legwork on camera. "I went to college for photography and art. I think that helped me hone in on being a better makeup artist. You know, color theory, lighting, photography," he says.

Don't get him wrong, though: Casillas adores a striking, bold beat. An L.A. native with "Hollywood in [his] backyard," he has dramatic, pop star–inspired glamour essentially baked into his DNA. "I found a mentor who taught me, 'If you like this makeup that Christina Aguilera is wearing, try to find out who did her makeup, and study their work,'" he recounts. "That really shaped the way I view beauty. Some of those artists were Kristofer Buckle, Sam Fine, Francesca Tolot, and Billy B., and I had a few friends who really, really inspired me. Their talent was innate. The end result was always so beautiful. I didn't feel as talented as they were, but I knew that I was passionate and I could work hard to get to that level."

It's almost disorienting, Casillas's humility. This is a man who won two Emmy Awards for his work on CBS's The Talk, whose A-list roster reads like a red carpet call sheet, yet he speaks about his own talent like it's somehow up for debate. I would argue that you're wildly talented, I tell him. After all, you don't land clients like Queen Latifah and Ashanti when you're still in college without some serious technique. A smile. A soft "Thank you." Then, "I think what ultimately led to getting more celebrity clients is trust, right? There are so many of us who are talented, but the women in this industry want to feel safe with you."

Casillas knows how to read the room: He can be playful when the moment calls for levity ("I dance on set," his Instagram bio reads) or steady when someone is looking for a soft place to land. "It's easier to get to the top in the industry than it is to stay there. Your talent will get you up there, but what's going to keep you there is your energy," he continues. "That's something I pride myself in. Maybe I'm not the most talented, but I love what I do, and I love making sure my clients feel taken care of."

Is there a dream client he has yet to work with? Casillas keeps his manifestations close to his chest—I'm unable to draw a specific name out of him—but he does offer an open call. "My parents are Mexican immigrants, and my Mexican culture has definitely impacted the way that I perceive beauty," he shares. "I would love to have more Latinas in my roster. All my Latina baddies: I would like to work on y'all."

By the time this profile goes live, Casillas's staycation will be nearly over. He's staring down a jam-packed September—fashion month, the Emmys—still riding high off the press circuit he's currently proudest of. While he doesn't have an exact turning point in his career (he defines success as a "series of moments"), he recognizes that The Odyssey set the bar high, both in terms of virality and his own visibility. "I worked really hard over the past two years on self-love and my mental health, so now, I'm more comfortable putting myself out there," he shares. Expect to see a lot more of Casillas—the artist and the art—as he dives headfirst into fall/winter projects, such as Dune: Part Three, which premieres in December. Yes, as Casillas catches his breath from all the buzz, another Zendaya blockbuster awaits.

"I would like to play with specific colors on the eyes, for sure," he says of what's next. "That [press tour] is going to have a lot more looks that are super out-there." He lights up, precious downtime long forgotten as I can practically see the creative gears spinning. Pressed for specifics, he grins. "I would tell you, but I want to keep it a secret."

In my early days of trying makeup, there were always products that I was more open to than others. I loved brow gel, eye shadow palettes, and all things contour and highlight. But if there's one thing I consistently stood away from, it was full-coverage foundation. I was always open to using concealer and tinted moisturizer, but the idea of a heavy formula that would clog my pores, cause acne, or look straight-up cakey was the last thing I wanted.

Since then, I've spent my years as a beauty journalist learning what makes a quality product, and in the process, I learned that not all full-coverage foundations are made equal. "A full-coverage foundation contains enough pigment to conceal most visible discoloration, including blemishes, redness, and hyperpigmentation, creating a more even-looking complexion," says celebrity makeup artist and educator Thynna Wagenblast. "Although full coverage is often associated with thicker formulas, newer technology has made it possible to achieve that level of coverage with lightweight, breathable textures."

Beyond my days of avoidance, I've grown to love quite a few of these foundations, but it also helps to have colleagues who've tested their fair share of them too. Between myself, my fellow beauty editors, and top-notch makeup artists, we've put together a list of the 10 best options on the market in 2026. Keep scrolling to see our picks.

The Best Full-Coverage Foundations, at a Glance

• Best Overall: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation
• Best Dewy Finish: Live Tinted Huestick Complexion Stick
• Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Infallible Fresh Wear 32 Hr Liquid Foundation
• Best Multipurpose: Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer
• Best Budget: Sheglam Skin Magnet High Coverage Foundation Stick

The Best Full-Coverage Foundations of 2026

Best Overall: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation

Best Dewy Finish: Live Tinted Huestick Complexion Stick

Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Infallible Fresh Wear 32 Hr Liquid Foundation

Best Multipurpose: Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer

Best Budget: Sheglam Skin Magnet High Coverage Foundation Stick

Best Matte Finish: Tarte Face Tape Full-Coverage Foundation

Best for Redness: Dermablend Flawless Creator Multi-Use Liquid Foundation

Best for Mature Skin: Shades by Shan The Foundation

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lightweight Longwear Matte Foundation

Best Blurring: Huda Beauty Easy Blur Natural Airbrush Foundation

How We Chose

As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best full-coverage foundation, we leaned heavily on firsthand testing, insight from makeup artists, and our knowledge as beauty experts. We also considered several factors, including shade range, key ingredients, finish, and customer reviews. We're aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details.

Why Trust Who What Wear

At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Since 2006, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.

Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.

I don't know about you, but summer through fall is my personal peak season for using bronzers. Although I'm generally spending more time in the sun during these months, I'm more concerned with using my favorite sunscreen to block UV rays and prevent skin damage. So instead, I use bronzers as my secret weapon for sun-kissed skin

Over the years I've tried hundreds of formulas, but if there's one thing I know for sure, it's that drugstore bronzers can be just as good as splurge-worthy ones. Sure, it's nice to occasionally spend a little extra on a high-end formula, but when results are undeniably good, opting for a more affordable option is basically a no-brainer.

To save you an extensive search, I decided to chat with a makeup artist and my fellow beauty editors to put together a list of the eight best drugstore bronzers on the market right now. Trust me when I say, your wallet will thank you later.

The Best Drugstore Bronzers, at a Glance

• Best Overall: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer Murumuru Butter Bronzer
• Runner Up: L'Oréal Infallible 24h Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer
• Best Lightweight Formula: E.l.f. Putty Bronzer
• Best Matte Formula: Nyx Professional Makeup Buttermelt Bronzer
• Best Natural Finish: Milani Silky Matte Bronzing Powder

The Best Drugstore Bronzers in 2026

Best Overall: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer Murumuru Butter Bronzer

Runner Up: L'Oréal Infallible 24h Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer

Best Lightweight Formula: E.l.f. Putty Bronzer

Best Matte Formula: Nyx Professional Makeup Buttermelt Bronzer

Best Natural Finish: Milani Silky Matte Bronzing Powder

Best Cream Formula: No. 7 Pro Artist Glow Cream Bronzer

Best Travel-Friendly Formula: L'Oréal Lumi Bronze Le Stick Soleil Bronzer

Best Budget: Sheglam Sun Beam Matte Liquid Bronzer-Earthy Sepia

How We Chose

As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best drugstore bronzers, we leaned heavily on first-hand testing, industry insiders, and our knowledge as beauty experts. We also considered several factors, including shade range, size, finish, and customer reviews. We're aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details.

Why Trust Who What Wear

At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Since 2006, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.

Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.

As a beauty editor, there are some things I know to be true. First, sunscreen is the best anti-aging product on the market. (You don't have to address sun damage if you don't get any in the first place.) Second, gray brow gel is the best makeup hack for full and natural-looking arches. Third, Korean makeup deserves just as much attention as Korean skincare.

Yep, it's true. Korean makeup is innovative and effective. And if there's one Korean makeup category I keep coming back to, it's blush. In my experience, these blushes have elegant, intentional formulas that sink into the skin and deliver either a soft, dewy glow or a velvety, blurred finish. I'm not the only one who thinks so. Celebrity makeup artists often keep Korean blushes in their professional kits. Take it from celebrity makeup artist Kelly Zhang, who says, "What really sets Korean blushes apart for me is the skin-like finish. Korean skincare has become so big in the U.S., and I think that same philosophy really carries over into Korean makeup. There’s such a focus on making the skin look healthy, fresh, and like real skin—and their blushes are a big part of that."

Zhang says K-beauty formulas tend to be sheer, lightweight, and easy to build. "They melt into the complexion rather than sitting on top of it. Even the cream blushes don’t feel overly heavy or greasy, so they can work beautifully on different skin types, including oily skin. To me, Korean blush is really about your skin, but better. You still see the skin underneath, just with this beautiful, natural flush of color." Ahead, see the eight best Korean blushes to try, according to celebrity makeup artists, like Zhang, and me, a makeup-obsessed editor.

The Best Korean Blushes, Listed

• Best Overall: Clio Essential Lip & Cheek Blush Tap
• Best Powder: Rom&nd Better Than Cheek Blush
• Best Liquid: A'Pieu Juicy-Pang Water Blusher
• Best Stick: Tirtir Mood Glider Lip and Blush Stick
• Best Blurring: Fwee Lip&Cheek Blurry Pudding Pot

The Best Korean Blushes

Best Overall: Clio Essential Lip & Cheek Blush Tap

Best Powder: Rom&nd Better Than Cheek Blush

Best Liquid: A'Pieu Juicy-Pang Water Blusher

Best Stick: Tirtir Mood Glider Lip and Blush Stick

Best Blurring: Fwee Lip&Cheek Blurry Pudding Pot

Lilybyred Luv Beam Cheek Balm

Peripera Syrupy Tok Cheek Liquid Blush

House of Hur Moist Ampoule Blusher

How We Chose

Beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock has a decade of experience testing and reviewing beauty products. She curated this list of the best Korean blushes by personally testing a variety of products, polling her fellow Who What Wear editors, and reading real-world reviews. She also consulted two celebrity makeup artists for their recommendations. At the end of it all, she had a robust, deeply researched list.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.

Hilary Duff is currently on the Lucky Me Tour, her first major headlining tour in almost 20 years. (The unenlightened might call it a comeback, but millennials know that she never really left the collective consciousness...not since her Lizzie McGuire days.) Her set list is a mix of 2000s hits (So Yesterday, Why Not, and Come Clean) and new songs from her latest LP, Luck...Or Something. The vibe is 2026 meets the early-2000s, and her on-tour beauty aesthetic reflects it. Think undone waves, glowing skin, and a hint of playful shimmer. "The sparkly, frosted eye is a playful nod to the Y2K era, while fresh, radiant skin keeps the overall look current and true to Hilary's style now," her makeup artist, Taylor Healey, tells me.

Every good makeup look starts with proper skin prep, but it's paramount before a demanding stage performance, when sweat, outfit changes, bright lights and high-def cameras are in play. "It really starts with the skin prep," Healey says. "Making sure the skin is exfoliated and hydrated makes all the difference in how the makeup wears and performs...Then finishing with a good setting powder and setting spray to help protect the makeup from the elements and transfer during quick-changes!"

Healey starts every session with Dermalogica skincare products, before moving on to a few stage-proof makeup essentials. Fortunately for us, she's sharing all the behind-the-scenes details. Ahead, see a selection of the products she relies on.

The Skin Prep

The Makeup

With every bridal season comes a set of standout trends that shape conversations around weddings. This season, we saw soft glam, slicked-back buns, and minimalist manicures. But of all these beauty moments, it was the no-makeup makeup looks that had my attention. As I went further down the rabbit hole of my algorithm, I realized that these women may have been influenced by an even less talked-about movement that put it all into motion—brides who decided to walk down the aisle with no makeup at all.

Suddenly, I found myself coming across dozens of newlyweds who had ditched makeup in favor of skincare that enhanced their natural beauty. Admittedly, I couldn't help but notice the mixed reactions. While some people deemed going makeup-free socially unacceptable, others found themselves inspired to follow suit. Early in my research, it was obvious that there isn't a single "type" of woman who makes this kind of choice. Ahead, see how two brides with vastly different relationships to makeup came to the decision.

A true veteran in the beauty space, Stephanie Santana, known widely on social media as Glamzilla, has dedicated the last 15 years to creating beauty content. Spoiler: It paid off big time. The Toronto native engages with over five million followers across platforms daily, sharing her thoughts on the latest beauty launches and beyond.

Most might assume that going full glam on their wedding day would be a nonnegotiable for a beauty creator, yet for Glamzilla, it was a true game-time decision that came after months of makeup trials. "My dream was to have the best celebrity makeup artist do my makeup," she says. "I did trials with everyone from Patrick Ta and Danessa Myricks to Beyoncé's and Cardi B's makeup artists, and it was the most beautiful experience ever because I got to see myself through different artists' lenses."

At the time, Glamzilla had been sharing content around her bridal journey and had even pitched her wedding story to several media outlets. "A month before my wedding, I was so stressed out about it, and I looked over at my husband in the middle of the night, and I realized I was missing the whole point," she says. "[This] was a moment to celebrate the love that I have with my partner that I've been with for the last 19 years." The next day, she made the decision to cancel all the major media plans.

Then, on October 1, 2025, just hours before her wedding, she had another change of heart that left an impact not solely on her but also on the people around her at the wedding and online. She wanted to go makeup-free. Although her husband didn't know about her decision in advance, he encouraged her to do whatever made her feel like herself earlier in the wedding-planning process. "I decided to do my own makeup, but when it was time to get ready, I looked in the mirror, and I was like, 'I'm going to marry him the way I wake up to him every morning. This is the version of me my children will see in the morning.'"

Leading up to the event, Glamzilla booked Hydrafacial, brow-lamination, and lash-lift appointments. But for her wedding day, she used skincare that she knew would deliver the glow she was after. Her key products included Caudalie's face mist, Glow Recipe's Prickly Pear Serum, and Tatcha's Dewy Skin Cream. For her final touches, she applied a bit of OleHenriksen's lip treatment, L'Oréal's Infallible Brow Lamination Gel, Huda Beauty's Easy Blur Primer, and Milk Makeup's Hydro Grip Dewy Setting Spray.

Ultimately, Glamzilla found that going makeup-free didn't simply eliminate an extra step in her bridal routine. It completely transformed the way she experienced her wedding. She didn't worry about her makeup smudging or transferring throughout the ceremony, and there was liberation in being able to feel every emotion on her special day without limits or a second thought. "I was so empowered, and I felt so beautiful just being loved," she says. "It wasn't about me—it was about the moment we were going to share together. It goes beyond full-coverage makeup, eyelashes, and lipstick. It was just a celebration of the journey and the love that we are celebrating."

As a former bridal makeup artist herself, Glamzilla knows a thing or two about what drives the preferences of nearlyweds, but her own journey unlocked a new perspective. "At the end of the day, you're going to cry and laugh it off," she says. "What you want to be able to capture in those photos is the joy, the love, and the happiness." She adds that brides would come to her wanting to get the perfect makeup look, hoping it would translate flawlessly on camera for others to see. "The reality is the moment is already perfect," she says. "People saw me because I was loved and joyful, and I think that's what every bride should focus on—the feeling, not the look. I would do it over and over again, and it was really the best decision of my beauty journey."

Samantha Wills, from Ongarue, New Zealand, felt similarly about her experience. However, her relationship with makeup prior to her February 1 wedding last year was much different. The question wasn't if she should go without makeup. It was the opposite. "I'm not a makeup person, and I never have been," she says. "The thinking behind it was more of a 'Should I maybe wear some makeup because it's my wedding?'"

As a farmer, Wills was already used to skipping makeup, and in some ways, it influenced her outlook on getting glammed up to begin with. "Living this lifestyle is so raw and natural, and that's how I wanted to be walking down the aisle," she says. "I wanted my husband to see me for me."

Similar to Glamzilla, Wills booked a pre-wedding hydrodermabrasion treatment to prep her skin. For her wedding day, she stuck to skin-loving products such as Monat's Be Gentle Creamy Cleanser, Skin Revitalizing Essence, and Be Balanced Lightweight Moisturizer, to name a few. "I didn't want to be any different when I met him at the altar, and that was why I didn't wear any major makeup," she says. "I put on some fake lashes, lip gloss, and brushed my brows."

While her decision felt natural, Wills also received support from her family and bridesmaids. "I actually went to put a little bit of foundation on, and they all looked at me and said, 'No, you don't need that. You look beautiful as you are right now," she says. In hindsight, Wills believes that, had she decided otherwise, it would have added stress and made her more prone to overthinking.

Her choice didn't just create the comfort she needed. It also made it possible for her to be fully present. "It was the most amazing day," Wills says. "I didn't have any expectations, and I suppose that has a lot to do with the people I have around me. But they really allowed me to do that so that I was stress-free on the day that I'm supposed to be."

It's not uncommon for some people to look back on their wedding day and think about what they would've done differently, but for Wills, being a makeup-free bride remains one of the best choices she made. "I'm only filled with joy every time I look at the photos," she says. "There's no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision."

It's clear that the conversation around bridal beauty is evolving not only within the online community of brides-to-be reconsidering their approach but also among makeup artists. Bridal hair and makeup artists Olivia Lo and Melanie Herriot, who specialize in natural makeup, have noticed an uptick in women ditching heavy layers for light, effortless looks. "I've definitely noticed a significant shift over the past year or two," Herriot says. "Previously, foundation was part of almost every bridal application, but throughout 2025 and into 2026, I've found myself reaching for foundation less than ever before."

Lo has had a similar experience, noting that it seems less about wearing less makeup and more about wanting makeup that feels authentic to the individual. "Ultimately, I find that my brides want people to notice them before they notice the makeup," she says. "I know I've done my job well when my brides hear 'You look beautiful' rather than 'Your makeup looks beautiful.'"

Both experts have heard a wide variety of reasons for less makeup, ranging from clients not wearing it in everyday life to having a spring or summer wedding. "For years, brides were told they needed heavier makeup to ensure it showed up in photographs, but modern makeup artistry has completely dispelled that myth," Herriot says. "We now have products and techniques that allow skin to look fresh, luminous, and incredibly natural while still photographing beautifully." She also calls out that celebrity influencers such as Hailey Bieber and Sofia Richie have heavily influenced the pivot to skin-focused bridal beauty.

Whether it's worth investing in a makeup artist for a full no-makeup look is truly up to each person. "I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that hiring a makeup artist is only about applying makeup," Lo says. "In reality, it's about having a professional assess your features, skin type, lighting conditions, and overall wedding aesthetic to help you feel like the best version of yourself." In addition to finding the right skincare products, Lo points out the usefulness of treatments such as facials, lasers, microneedling, and Botox early in the process so that your skin feels healthy and ready the day of.

Across the board, there's an undeniable emphasis on the importance of feeling. How do you want to feel when you're getting ready to walk down the aisle? When you're standing across from the person you'll spend the rest of your life with? When you're surrounded by your friends and family or even when you're looking back on your photos years later? There's no right answer, but whatever you land on will always be your most reliable guide.

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Few makeup artists harbor star power similar to their famous clientele. Pat McGrath climbed the ranks as an editorial makeup artist for top fashion houses, gaining a following of fans that included A-list names like Taylor Swift and Naomi Campbell. McGrath quickly became a golden fixture in both the beauty and fashion industries herself. Mario Dedivanovic, affectionately known as Makeup by Mario, earned a name so closely intertwined with Kim Kardashian's that his own instills the same shock and awe as the celebrity herself. It takes years of muscle, grit, and painterly finesse for a makeup artist to ascend to the same astral plane as their famous subjects, and one person we spy making the same journey is Saudi Arabia–born, Los Angeles–based 29-year-old makeup artist Yasmin Istanbouli.

Passive beauty fans may be hearing Istanbouli's name for the first time, but everyone with a smidge of interest in pop culture has seen her handiwork. The burgeoning artist has been by Charli XCX's side since before the birth of Brat, launching a new era and look for the ever-evolving pop star and inspiring the masses to shift from clean girl beauty to pared-back party girl makeup in 2024. Two years later, Istanbouli has played a prominent role in forging the modern definition of grunge—an unfussy, editorial iteration shaped by her sharp photographer's eye.

To sit in the makeup artist's chair is to be reinforced as an It girl, and notable faces like Olivia Rodrigo, Nara Smith, Madison Beer, and Amelia Gray (we could go on) have been transformed beneath her brushes into sleeker, edgier versions of themselves. To see their faces on her Instagram is to look at the stars, their teams, publicists, and agents with an arched brow of approval. "You know about her too?"

From the smoky, smudged shadows of Charli XCX and Troye Sivan's Sweat tour to Hilary Duff's sculpted features and Camila Cabello's onstage glam, Instanbouli is slowly but surely etching her name among the greats. Keep reading to see what makes her her—from her creative inspirations to memories of meddling in her mother's makeup and the items on her "someday" shopping list.

Are you based in L.A.?

Yes, based in L.A. I'm from Saudi Arabia, and I moved to L.A. at the end of 2021. I came here for college but officially got my work visa by the end of 2021, so I've been here ever since.

What made you want to go into beauty? Was this always the plan after college, or was it what brought you out west?

Where I'm from in Saudi is coastal; it's very similar to L.A., in a way. When I first visited L.A. when I was in middle school (we just came for a summer vacation), I just loved it, so I always knew that I wanted to live here at some point. When I was in college, I actually wanted to get into photography, so I did a lot of video editing, photography, film photography, and animation. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to be in the photography world.

Then, in junior year of college, I got really into RuPaul's Drag Race—like, obsessed with watching them do their makeup—and I started getting stoned and sitting in my bathroom for hours doing drag makeup on myself with my friends for fun. Then I started playing around with makeup and buying more, like Urban Decay, all of their palettes. But when I graduated college, stepping into the photography world sounded scary to me because I felt like I wasn't that technical of a person, so I talked to my mom about doing makeup.

Priscilla Ono, who's Rihanna's makeup artist, had a three-day course in L.A. coming up right after I graduated from college, so my mom gifted me a ticket as a graduation present. We didn't expect anything to come out of it. I just wanted to do it, but that was the light-bulb [moment]. Of course, she taught us about the business and the more technical side of [the industry], but she was giving me such great feedback that I thought, "Oh, maybe I could do this professionally."

At just 29, you did not start doing this that long ago!

It's kind of funny because this is my job, and I'm obviously so lucky to do this. For where I'm at and for my age, it may seem like I got a very quick, strong start, but it's all Instagram, to be honest. I've just been doing the Instagram thing for a while.

How did Instagram become a conduit for you?

Ever since I was a high school student in Saudi, I was very interested in photography. I also loved L.A., so I was following a lot of L.A. people, and I was obsessed with Tumblr. I was very much curating a classic aesthetic on my Instagram, and I got really into it during college too. I've also had a public account since high school, which is kind of controversial for a girl in Saudi. I remember my dad was like, "Your Instagram is public?!" So I was very into putting myself out there.

When I started doing makeup, I was just hitting up the L.A. models—the girls that I was following for a while—and was like, "Can I do your makeup for free? We'll just take some pictures, whatever." That was what got the ball rolling because then those girls would post and tag me even though I didn't have a name at that point. That's where Instagram helped.

You and Charli must really jive because you understand the artistic side of things, especially with this upcoming album, Music, Fashion, Film. You two are such a synergetic pairing in that way.

I don't know if I'm not giving myself enough credit (I haven't been doing this for that long, so I still have a lot to learn), but I feel like people are hiring me because of vibes. Charli and I really get along, and it just makes the makeup process easier. She trusts me. I remember the first time I met her. She told me two things, and I still stick by it to this day: "I don't like covering my under-eyes, and I love gray." So ever since then, I've just stuck to that, and she's such an easy person to work with. Beautiful face. It's like a match made in heaven.

When did you first work together? I feel like we were introduced to this grungier look in the Brat era, but do you two predate that album?

We started working together pre-Brat. I was introduced to her through an incredible hairstylist, Fitch Lunar, who's probably known Charli for 15 years. We were at a shoot, and he was like, "Do you know Charli XCX?" I was like, "Yeah, of course." This is what I mean when I say it's all vibes. He said, "I feel like you guys would get along." He told her about me, and then not too long after that, she hit me up to do her makeup when she came out as a surprise guest at a Caroline Polachek concert in L.A. in 2023. After that, she started booking me for little things here and there, and then it really took off when she booked me for tour.

You are literally responsible for the Brat makeup trend. That's wild!

It's also her, though! When I look up pictures of Charli in her past eras, she was really into glam and color and glitter. But for Brat, from very early on, she said, "I just want it to be very stripped back and more me," which is how I love to do makeup. So it's very, very collaborative. Some days, she'd say, "I want nothing," and then other days, she'd be like, "Let's do a messy, black eye." We were just doing it on the fly during tour, really.

Between the tour girls, it's you and Sophia Sinot. It's your work with Charli, and it's Sophia with Zara Larsson. Those are the girls to watch.

Stop it! To be put up next to Sophia Sinot… I'm honored.

It's true! We need a collab someday. But let's take things back to the beginning. What or who comes to mind when you think of your first memories of makeup?

Definitely my mom. I still remember her Chanel lipstick. She loves Chanel nail polish and lipstick to this day. I was obsessed with her lipstick, even the smell of it. She had a gorgeous vanity, and my mom doesn't wear much makeup, but she always had so much of it. I remember grabbing her Chanel lipstick and then, obviously, covering my whole mouth, and then I suddenly dropped and smashed it.

What a chic mom.

When [Charli and I] were on tour or traveling together and I'd wear an outfit, people would be like, "That's so cute. Where'd you get it?" And I'm like, "It's my mom's." My whole closet is my mom's vintage.

You have such an impressive client list, from Charli to Olivia Rodrigo, Nara Smith, Madison Beer, and beyond. Who is still a dream client of yours?

I have a few! I recently worked with Olivia Rodrigo, who was definitely on my list. Love her. And as someone who's half Palestinian, Bella Hadid. Bella's makeup artist, Nadia Tayeh, is also Palestinian, and she's amazing. She's my idol, and they're a match made in heaven. We actually just ran into each other in passing. We were working with two different clients at the same hotel in New York, and I was a full-on fangirl.

Love Hailey [Bieber], and I would also love [to work with] Jenna Ortega. I think she's really fucking cool; she's so stunning and so low-key. Hannah Einbinder too—I love her. Obviously, this is my job, and some days, it's not a personal thing, but I really want to work with people that are aligned in terms of morals and what we care about. That's a big deal to me.

Yes, 100%. Your roster is filled with quite the crew of fashion people too, and you fit right in. How would you describe your personal style?

I love being comfortable. When I was in college, I was wearing Dickies, Converse, and my dad's T-shirts. I didn't tap into my feminine side at that point in my life, so when I moved to L.A. and lived with my best friend… She has the classic tube tops, miniskirts, big hoops, lashes, and a tan. She looks so hot and confident. She started letting me borrow her clothes. At that point, I really tapped into my feminine side.

I love basics—a good pair of jeans, a good jacket—but it depends on what I'm doing. I don't consider myself a fashion girl, but I feel really good when I'm wearing a good leather jacket and a good tank top. I have a lot of Skims, Brandy Melville, and Tank Air and always a good pair of jeans. My mom always says that you know someone has good taste when they wear good shoes, so I'm trying to elevate my shoe game right now.

What are three things on your shopping wish list right now?

I love a good YSL or ACNE Studios leather jacket. I have so many leather jackets. They last forever. Oh, and I want to get ballet flats with a pump from Repetto or somewhere similar. And I mean, anything from The Row—someday, I'll get there.

My mom is the blueprint for me, and she loves to shop. Every time I go back to Saudi, she's just giving me things, like her OG 2001 Balenciaga City Bag, so I don't need to shop. I feel like that's why I don't know if I have good taste or not, because I'm just taking from her.

It's called inherited taste! Who are your fashion and beauty references?

Of course, Charli. She can just go out in a T-shirt and baggy jeans and look amazing. I also love Alex Consani. When she wears no makeup and has her hair down, she's just so chic to me. Alex can look very casual chic or high fashion but always effortlessly. I just think she's extremely, extremely cool. I've worked with her once, but she's definitely high up there on my list of people whose makeup I want to do. It was a long time ago, and I need a rerun.

In that same vein, where do you usually like to shop? In your mom's closet, I'm sure.

My mom's closet, for sure! I'm not much of a shopper, but when I do shop… Charli and I went to Nordic Poetry in London and found some really cute stuff. Lara Koleji and Procell in New York. There's this one store in L.A. that I haven't been to but really want to: Staklena Kuća. Kate Berlant, who is very chic (she's a comedian and has amazing style), told me about that store. I'm more of a vintage shopper, so if I'm buying new things, I'm usually just getting basics.

If my wallet allows it, definitely ACNE. Love The RealReal, also Gimaguas and Paloma Wool. I went to a Paloma Wool pop-up in London and bought a lot. I'm really into accessorizing right now. I love a cute scarf with a leather jacket, a tank top, and jeans.

On the other hand, what beauty brands and products do you love to collect?

I love Dior makeup. I use a lot of Dior on myself, and my mom always had a lot of it. Once I got into makeup, she would give me some of her products to use on myself, and a lot of it was Dior. I love the packaging, their palettes, and I have a lot of them. You know how makeup artists depot products. We take all the eye shadow palettes out of the actual packaging and put them in a bigger palette. I feel like I can't do that with the Dior ones. I'm like, "They're so precious and gorgeous!"

Another brand that's a staple for every makeup artist is MAC. They just have everything! I love their mascaras, lip liners, lipsticks, skin products, all of it. I've been really into Haus Labs and Merit. I have a drawer dedicated to Merit. I gave a Complexion Stick to each of my sisters. We all have very similar complexions, and whenever I'm with them and I have it out, they try it and are like, "Oh my god, this is amazing." So I just keep giving them Merit Complexion Sticks!

Fill in the blank: I feel most confident when ________.

I feel most confident when I'm having a good hair day. My hair is my armor. I like having long hair, and whenever I cut it, I'm instantly insecure, but when I'm having a good hair day—because it's just also hard to manage (I have frizzy hair)—I feel unstoppable.

Last question: What's your star sign, and do you think it reflects who you are?

I'm a Cancer sun, Virgo rising, and Leo moon. I've always felt very connected to my sign. I'm a Cancer, so I'm obviously very sensitive, and I do consider myself a nurturer. I am very much a sensitive girl, and I think Leos are, out of all the fire signs, the more sensitive ones. Charli's a Leo! I love Leos, and they're really fun.

If you don't already follow Kelli Anne Sewell on Instagram and TikTok, I highly recommend doing so—like, right now. The NYC-based makeup artist and content creator regularly shares expert application tips and tried-and-true product recommendations with her combined 625K followers. She also shares in-depth tutorials and master classes on her app, Makeup by Kelli Anne. She juggles all of that while her celebrity clients count on her for red carpet makeup. I'm talking about names like Alex Cooper, Madison Beer, Alix Earle, and Kelsea Ballerini, among others.

Today marks a milestone in her career. Sewell just launched a brand-new makeup-brush collection in collaboration with Real Techniques, and she's on a mission to educate everyone on how best to use them to elevate their makeup routines. Yes, that even goes for makeup-sponge loyalists.

As with the rest of Real Techniques' portfolio, these makeup brushes are affordable and accessible, which is why this collaboration makes so much sense. Sewell is a makeup artist for the people, translating top-level techniques and insider expertise into digestible, easy-to-follow advice. Meanwhile, Real Techniques takes high-quality materials and luxe-feeling bristles and offers them at a budget-friendly price point. The intersection seems obvious.

I caught up with Sewell ahead of today's launch to talk about the brush collection, the TikTok beauty trends she loves and hates, and the one makeup tip she wishes everyone knew. Below, read our exclusive interview.

Talk to me about your partnership with Real Techniques, why it was such a good fit, and why you wanted to release a brush collection.

When I was approached for this opportunity, it was a no-brainer. I'm a self-taught makeup artist, so as I was building out my kit of tools and brushes and things that I could use to teach myself, I was walking into Walgreens, Target, or wherever it was, and I was picking up a Real Techniques brush.

I've had brushes from the brand in my personal collection for over a decade. It's so nostalgic. You think of the hot-pink packaging or the orange packaging, all of the bright colors. I found videos of me using them from 2017 and 2018. I was like, "Now, I'm going in with my Real Techniques brush." I've always loved them because they've always felt like really high-quality brushes, and the price point is incredible.

I'm being exposed to so many amazing resources and connections, and I'm learning so much. I've always wanted to channel my artistry into the hands of the everyday girl, and that's what I do on my app. I want to educate. I want to take everything I'm learning as a celebrity makeup artist and funnel that to anyone who loves beauty. So I feel like partnering with a brand that is so accessible to so many was, once again, a no-brainer. It's allowed me to put my artistry into the hands of everyone, and I love the idea that you don't need to spend $70 on a brush to be able to look and feel your best. I'm so excited for this because they're such a good price point, and the quality is insane.

I don't know if this is hygienic or not, but I have Real Techniques brushes from when I was maybe 16, and I'm in my 30s now.

As long as you're washing them, who cares?

As a celebrity makeup artist, was it easy to envision an essential brush kit, or was it deceptively difficult? How did you choose which brushes you wanted to be a part of this?

It was honestly daunting. For our first meeting, they were like, "I want you to show up with 30 brush ideas." I felt like the stakes were high because this is my first time really putting something out into the world that isn't a video.

I want these brushes to land with the makeup artist, but makeup artists want entirely different things out of brushes than the everyday girl wants. So I was really like, "How can I—knowing the struggles of the everyday girl when it comes to learning makeup and then the gaps in the market when it comes to being an artist—blend those two to create what I have?"

You'll notice throughout the collection [that] certain things appeal to the everyday girl, and then certain things are a nod to the makeup artist. Through communicating via DMs, at my master classes, and really talking to my community, I think girls feel really overwhelmed with what to use their brushes for. Two things that I was super adamant about with the brushes were, one, there is a brush for every step in your routine, and it clearly labels what it is. You have your skin-prep brush. You have your foundation brush. Another educational point was whether it's for creams or for powders.

My whole theory behind the brushes is that you have one for every step in your routine and that each dual-ended brush allows you to do your cream side and your powder side. The cream side has a little diamond indicator. You're able to pick up and, in two seconds, know what you're using it for.

I think my audience on social has definitely caught on to this, but I'm a big "light layers" person, which is the thought process behind what we're calling the Light Layers Premium Set ($65). If you want really natural, long-wearing makeup, you work in light layers. When you break that down even further, it's a lot of switching between creams and then a light layer of powder and then continuing to build from there.

Then we have two individual SKUs, which are called the Everything Brushes. These are to appeal to the minimalist girl. You could pick up these two brushes and do a full face. You can travel with them because I don't like traveling with a ton of brushes. They're sold individually, and I think that if I were someone who was new to makeup, this would be a little less overwhelming.

Definitely. What are a few standout brushes from the collection that you're really proud of?

There are two brushes that I think fill such a gap. The one that I'm the most proud of is the first-ever Skin Prep Brush. It's the only silver one in the collection. I'm really big on the idea that your makeup is only as good as your skin prep. I also love doing lymphatic drainage on myself, so I was really adamant that I wanted a brush that would allow me to sculpt my face while I'm putting on my moisturizer. It pushes fluid out while you're using it. There are videos of me in the Real Techniques office, where we're on the third iteration of this brush, and I was taking scissors to it in the office, being like, "No, it needs to angle like this."

A lymphatic-drainage Skin Prep Brush is brilliant.

And you flip it around and do eye cream. You basically just apply your moisturizer, and it sculpts your jawbone, the cheek… You can feel it moving and helping with de-puffing. You obviously have to drain the fluid down your neck and practice all the lymphatic principles, like opening your lymph nodes, etc., but I love that this brush will allow you to do that.

My second favorite brush is the Lip Contour Brush. I cannot go a single glam without this. One side looks like a normal flat brush, but it is the thinnest, most precise brush, and I like to use it in two ways. I prep my client's lip with a lip mask, but at the end, I'll actually work concealer into this, and it cleans up the lip really nicely. The best part, though, is the little blur brush on the other end. It's meant to blur out the edges after lining your lips. It's the perfect shape.

I'm still not over the lymphatic-drainage Skin Prep Brush. Some people are intimidated by the thought of using makeup brushes if they're used to only using, let's say, a makeup sponge or even just their fingers. What are the benefits of using a brush, and how can it elevate one's routine?

That's such a great question. It really is personal preference. I get it. Some people are so used to using a sponge, but what I always say about sponges is that I think it's just a different type of makeup application. People that like sponges are the people who are using way too much product. What a sponge does is absorb the product off your face. That's why it softens the look of things on people who are using too much product. Using a sponge is actually a makeup-artist technique to remove and take things off.

The whole point of my artistry and what I want people to understand is that it's easier to slowly build makeup on your face. You don't need to go in with 10 pumps of foundation. You don't need to draw on everything with your concealer. Once again, if that is your technique, I understand the sponge, but how I like to do makeup and what I encourage everyone to do is work in light layers. I think it's really achievable with these brushes to slowly build up the coverage and to really treat yourself like you're Picasso.

I love that.

Because of the softness of the bristles, you're not going to get brush streaks. I actually have been doing this technique with the Adjustable Powder Puff ($10). You get two of them. I actually used one on a client today.

With the old powder puffs I was using, I felt like I always had to pinch them to get that really nice roll. If you're a makeup artist, you're always putting them on your pinky so when you're working on a client's face, you don't get fingerprints, and you can steady your hand. These puffs would fall off because they're so big, so we basically made a little "bra strap" on the Powder Puff so you can adjust it. It won't go off your hand, and it gives this little roll.

At the end of doing my makeup, let's say I look in the mirror, and I'm like, "There's a little too much coverage" or "I'm too matte" or whatever. I'll actually take the Rhode Glazing Mist ($30) or any sort of hydrating spray, and I spritz the puff. Pressing it right into the skin at the end gives it the most hydrated blur.

This is so intentionally designed. I know you mentioned using the Powder Puff on a client, but have you had a chance to use and test all of your brushes on clients?

Oh yeah, I've been throwing them in there. I want to see what brushes I'm gravitating toward in a sea of them. I've given them to clients as touch-up brushes. I've been trying to get them in the hands of people that I work with and hope to see them using them.

Okay, let's talk foundation application specifically. I've always struggled to apply full-coverage foundation with a brush because it reads so heavy on me.

Let's say I'm using the M.Ph by Mary Phillips Le Skin Weightless Serum Foundation ($49). She's the queen of underpainting, and a huge part of her underpainting technique is the last step: foundation. She likes to take a fluffy brush and almost feather it on the face. So for me, as a makeup artist, with the Foundation Brush, I see it as a way to apply foundation in two different ways.

Let's say you wanted the most coverage. I would use the denser cream side and really just stamp it on and buff it onto the skin. You're going to get really nice coverage. But say I was underpainting and I wanted to just feather on a really lightweight, sheer wash of foundation. I would use the other side of the brush. Basically, the denser the brush, the denser and more compact the coverage. With something fluffy and large, you're getting a fluffier and more sheer finish.

This makes so much sense. It's opening up a whole new world for me. I love a sheer, natural-looking foundation, so I'll have to try this.

If I were you and I had a full-coverage foundation but I wanted to get a more natural look out of it, I would take a tiny pump. You could even add in a pump of moisturizer to sheer it out from a formula standpoint, but then I would take a really fluffy, big brush, and I would work it into it, and then I would literally feather it over the skin. You will get the softest wash of the product.

I'm going to try that immediately. What's another makeup tip you wish everyone knew?

I think understanding the difference between bronzer and contour is a huge unlock. A lot of people think bronzer and contour are the same, and they're not. Even with our brushes, there is a very clear difference between the contour brush in terms of shape and density versus the bronzer brush.

If you think about where you would apply bronzer, it's where the sun hits you, so [it's] where you look sun-kissed, which is why you want something that has more of a warm undertone. … You can have a more generous placement, in comparison, with contour. With contour, you're carving and creating shadows, so the placement is actually super precise and more in the hollows of your face.

I think that powder has gotten a bad rep because people [don't] apply it lightly enough. I think everyone needs powder. It actually extends the longevity of makeup and makes your makeup look more natural. A lot of us get caught up in all these dewy products, putting them all over our faces, and then we look oily. Your natural skin finish is not overly dewy everywhere; it's a little bit matte in some areas and highlighted in other areas. Learning how to layer your powder in strategic ways and with a very light hand—hopefully with my brushes because that's what it encourages—makes you look more natural, and your makeup can last way longer.

One hill I'll die on is that powder blushes are just as good as dewy ones. I feel like everyone just wants a dewy blush right now.

It's like how we're seeing the trend of mousse products. Everyone's getting sick of all the dewy stuff. A mousse basically dries down to the texture of a powder. It blurs over your imperfections and makes you look poreless, and that's what powder does. Powder is forever going to make you look more airbrushed, especially in the summer when people are like, "My makeup's melting off my face!" I'm like, "Are you setting your makeup with powder?" They're like, "No." Why do you think that something liquid would not melt off your face?

There's a video on my app called Sweat Proof Base. I was in Mexico at a wedding, and it was the hottest and most humid climate I had ever been in—worse than Miami. I have to do 12-hour makeup because I was a bridesmaid. So I did this layering technique of powders to last me this long.

Are there any specific TikTok makeup trends you love?

I'm obsessed with Aussie girl glam. ... I feel like I've seen a lot of no mascara. I love a no-mascara look. And mousse makeup! We all did the overly matte, and then we all did the overly dewy, and now, I think mousse is that perfect hybrid. It blends like a cream, works for all skin types, and blurs and finishes like a powder, so I feel like it's approachable for everyone. I'm sickly obsessed with the Prada Touch Cream-to-Powder Soft Blur Longwear Blushes ($42). Westman Atelier just came out with a mousse-like bronzer. I'm seeing it everywhere.

On top of that, I feel like people are really allowing themselves to create again and have fun with makeup. I think people are so tired of wearing the same look every day. Self-expression is always going to stand. We're seeing grungier eyes, even on the fashion runways, per Gucci. Those always lead to these looks and movements, like party girl—smoky eyes, fun lips, etc. It's all about not taking life too seriously. Obviously, all of this works together, fashion and beauty trends. It's like you need to go out and live life. It's okay if you're hungover on a Saturday and your eyeliner is smeared—make a look out of it.

Shop Kelli Anne Sewell x Real Techniques Makeup Brushes

They say that the eyes are a window to the soul, and I'd add that eye makeup is a reflection of style. Whether you're a makeup maximalist or minimalist, onlookers catch a glimpse of your creative persona via the wash of colour splashed across your eyelids or the whisper of smoky eyeliner rimming your orbs. Your eyes don't just say that you're warm, inviting or not in the mood for talking—they also say that you have a good enough understanding of colour theory to know that rich burgundy shadow makes your brown eyes pop or that you made the conscious choice to go mascara-free to let your lipstick do the talking.

Since I'm always looking to reinvent my eye makeup, one of my first references is the French—what with their mystique, eclectically chic clothes and effortless beauty. Though Parisian women may be best known for their statement red lips, French makeup artist Violette Serrat calls one of her latest ventures, the Violette_Fr Plume Eye Shadow, one of the most authentic to her lifestyle.

"In a way, Plume Eyeshadow might be the most French-inspired formula we’ve created yet," says Serrat, the artist and brand's founder. ("After Bisou Balm," she clarifies.) "I’ve always been obsessed with the eyes in old French cinema—nothing too perfect or overly 'done,'" she explains, "just this soft, lived-in sensuality that makes you look more like yourself, but with a little mystery." Yes, there are cream eye shadow sticks, liquid shadows, and powder formulas galore, but Serrat found herself floundering when she tried to look for something sheerer, more foolproof, and perfectly French-friendly: meaning you can truly swipe and go.

"I realised there was nothing on the market that gave you that feeling in an effortless, intuitive way," she tells Who What Wear. To fill the gap, her team hit the cosmetics lab to cook up a cream-to-powder texture that offered the blending ease she sought with the smoky, gauzy finish she craved. "It has this incredible melt-to-matte effect that fuses with the skin and creates a soft veil of colour instead of something harsh or flat," she explains. In short, they're inherently immune to mistakes. In Serrat's words, the resulting blue-tinned, dreamy shadows that look closer to a trick of the light than a makeup product are things you could "build, smudge, and wear instinctively." Sounds like a French reverie.

The "French Girl" Approach

"For me, the 'French girl' approach is really about restraint," says Serrat. Sheer washes of colour and diffused colour sound easy-breezy but are typically the result of several ultra-thin layers blended into oblivion by a highly trained makeup artist. "I wanted to create a formula you could literally swipe on with your finger in two seconds and go. If you’re spending an hour in front of the mirror trying to perfect your eye shadow, you’ve already lost that effortless feeling," she adds. Effortless beauty should be effortless, no?

5 Ways to Wear the Plume Eye Shadows

Yes, I dedicated an entire paragraph of this piece to the French approach to beauty, but the secret is scarily simple—messy, hurried and virtually technique-less. However, I'm an American interpreting French beauty, so naturally I'm making things a bit more complicated. Keep scrolling to see the five ways I'm manipulating this shadow this summer.

Watercolour Wash

The first, and most authentic French technique, is the smudge-and-go. Thanks to these hazy, sheer shadows, you can rub the pad of your finger onto the cream powder and muss it onto your lids for that hazy wash of colour. "One trick I love is working the shadow onto the volume of the eye," says Serrat, referencing the centre of the lid. "I add to the centre of the eyelid, then focus depth into the crease and along the lash line, stretching it out toward the outer corner of the eye," she explains. "It gives the eyes this alive, smoky look that feels cinematic and sensual without looking overworked."

Colour Used: Pluie Violette

Hazy Liner

One of my favorite ways to do eye makeup is to accent the lash line with a soft flick of eye shadow, not liner. It's softer, making it suitable for daytime, but it can also be intensified for a deeper look once the sun goes down. (Or anytime you want, it's your world.) " I love taking a small brush and pressing it along the upper and lower lash lines, almost like a soft liner, then winging it out slightly," says Serrat. "It gives the eyes definition and depth but in a much lighter way than a classic eyeliner."

Colour I Used: Charbon Fumé

Soft Smoke

While I love tracing a clean wing with these soft shadows, the formula envelopes the eye in a seductive fog when smudged into the lash line. "I’ll use a combination of fingers and a brush to add colour across the eyelid, concentrating more depth in the outer corner and tracing it along the upper and lower lash lines," says Serrat. "Then, I’ll softly blend additional colour just above the natural crease to create the illusion of wider, more open eyes," she adds. This, she says, is a great way to "open" hooded eyelids.

Colours Used: Charbon Fumé and Bois Brûlé

Flash of Light

Think of eye shadow as an outfit: You can play with layers until the look feels right. "I’ll swipe on a shimmer shade of Plume Eyeshadow and finish with tiny accents of Lune Liner in the corners of the eyes to catch the light as the face moves," says Serrat. "I never want it to feel 'full glam,'" she states. "It should feel spontaneous, like the makeup became part of you." The key to one of these effortless yet undeniably cool looks is stepping outside your comfort zone—you won't find anything new there. "Makeup should feel expressive, not restrictive," she muses.

Colour Shown: Pluie Violette

Halo Eyes

I love a sultry halo eye after the sun goes down, and these shadows are especially suited for the occasion. The blendable cream pigments are easy to smooth over the eyes in a sheer wash, which creates a solid base for the rest of the look. With a small blending brush, I gently apply my deeper shade (in this case, Bois Brûlé) to the inner and outer corners of the eye, sweeping toward the centre but leaving a blank space in the middle. (Pro tip: Blend out any harsh edges with your fingers for a smoother look.) Selecting a shimmery accent shade, I'll coat the pad of my fingertip in the sparkling shadow and swipe it over the centre a few times to build intensity. From there, you can blend any rough lines with a fluffy brush—but don't overdo it, as the small imperfections are what keep these looks interesting.

Colours I Used: Orchidée Céleste and Bois Brûlé

More Effortless Single Eye Shadows to Try

They say that the eyes are a window to the soul, and I'd add that eye makeup is a reflection of style. Whether you're a makeup maximalist or minimalist, onlookers catch a glimpse of your creative persona via the wash of color splashed across your eyelids or the whisper of smoky liner rimming your orbs. Your eyes don't just say that you're warm, inviting, or not in the mood for talking—they also say that you have a good enough understanding of color theory to know that rich burgundy shadow makes your brown eyes pop or that you made the conscious choice to go mascara-free to let your lipstick do the talking.

Since I'm always looking to reinvent my eye makeup, one of my first references is the French—what with their mystique, eclectically chic clothes, and effortless beauty. Though Parisian women may be best known for their statement red lips, French makeup artist Violette Serrat calls one of her latest ventures, the Violette_Fr Plume Eye Shadow, one of the most authentic to her lifestyle.

"In a way, Plume Eyeshadow might be the most French-inspired formula we’ve created yet," says Serrat, the artist and brand's founder. ("After Bisou Balm," she clarifies.) "I’ve always been obsessed with the eyes in old French cinema—nothing too perfect or overly 'done,'" she explains, "just this soft, lived-in sensuality that makes you look more like yourself, but with a little mystery." Yes, there are cream eye shadow sticks, liquid shadows, and powder formulas galore, but Serrat found herself floundering when she tried to look for something sheerer, more foolproof, and perfectly French-friendly: meaning you can truly swipe and go.

"I realized there was nothing on the market that gave you that feeling in an effortless, intuitive way," she tells Who What Wear. To fill the gap, her team hit the cosmetics lab to cook up a cream-to-powder texture that offered the blending ease she sought with the smoky, gauzy finish she craved. "It has this incredible melt-to-matte effect that fuses with the skin and creates a soft veil of color instead of something harsh or flat," she explains. In short, they're inherently immune to mistakes. In Serrat's words, the resulting blue-tinned, dreamy shadows that look closer to a trick of the light than a makeup product are things you could "build, smudge, and wear instinctively." Sounds like a French reverie.

The "French Girl" Approach

"For me, the 'French girl' approach is really about restraint," says Serrat. Sheer washes of color and diffused color sound easy-breezy but are typically the result of several ultra-thin layers blended into oblivion by a highly trained makeup artist. "I wanted to create a formula you could literally swipe on with your finger in two seconds and go. If you’re spending an hour in front of the mirror trying to perfect your eye shadow, you’ve already lost that effortless feeling," she adds. Effortless beauty should be effortless, no?

5 Ways to Wear the Plume Eye Shadows

Yes, I dedicated an entire paragraph of this piece to the French approach to beauty, but the secret is scarily simple—messy, hurried, and virtually technique-less. However, I'm an American interpreting French beauty, so naturally I'm making things a bit more complicated. Keep scrolling to see the five ways I'm manipulating this shadow this summer.

Watercolor Wash

The first, and most authentic French technique, is the smudge-and-go. Thanks to these hazy, sheer shadows, you can rub the pad of your finger onto the cream powder and muss it onto your lids for that hazy wash of color. "One trick I love is working the shadow onto the volume of the eye," says Serrat, referencing the center of the lid. "I add to the center of the eyelid, then focus depth into the crease and along the lash line, stretching it out toward the outer corner of the eye," she explains. "It gives the eyes this alive, smoky look that feels cinematic and sensual without looking overworked."

Color Used: Pluie Violette

Hazy Liner

One of my favorite ways to do eye makeup is to accent the lash line with a soft flick of eye shadow, not liner. It's softer, making it suitable for daytime, but it can also be intensified for a deeper look once the sun goes down. (Or anytime you want, it's your world.) " I love taking a small brush and pressing it along the upper and lower lash lines, almost like a soft liner, then winging it out slightly," says Serrat. "It gives the eyes definition and depth but in a much lighter way than a classic eyeliner."

Color Used: Charbon Fumé

Soft Smoke

While I love tracing a clean wing with these soft shadows, the formula envelopes the eye in a seductive fog when smudged into the lash line. "I’ll use a combination of fingers and a brush to add color across the eyelid, concentrating more depth in the outer corner and tracing it along the upper and lower lash lines," says Serrat. "Then, I’ll softly blend additional color just above the natural crease to create the illusion of wider, more open eyes," she adds. This, she says, is a great way to "open" hooded eyelids.

Colors Used: Charbon Fumé and Bois Brûlé

Flash of Light

Think of eye shadow as an outfit: You can play with layers until the look feels right. "I’ll swipe on a shimmer shade of Plume Eyeshadow and finish with tiny accents of Lune Liner in the corners of the eyes to catch the light as the face moves," says Serrat. "I never want it to feel 'full glam,'" she states. "It should feel spontaneous, like the makeup became part of you." The key to one of these effortless yet undeniably cool looks is stepping outside your comfort zone—you won't find anything new there. "Makeup should feel expressive, not restrictive," she muses.

Color Used: Pluie Violette

Halo Eyes

I love a sultry halo eye after the sun goes down, and these shadows are especially suited for the occasion. The blendable cream pigments are easy to smooth over the eyes in a sheer wash, which creates a solid base for the rest of the look. With a small blending brush, I gently apply my deeper shade (in this case, Bois Brûlé) to the inner and outer corners of the eye, sweeping toward the center but leaving a blank space in the middle. (Pro tip: Blend out any harsh edges with your fingers for a smoother look.) Selecting a shimmery accent shade, I'll coat the pad of my fingertip in the sparkling shadow and swipe it over the center a few times to build intensity. From there, you can blend any rough lines with a fluffy brush—but don't overdo it, as the small imperfections are what keep these looks interesting.

Colors Used: Orchidée Céleste and Bois Brûlé

More Effortless Single Eye Shadows to Try

Nothing humbles you quite like standing at the CVS counter in full glam, mentally spiraling to the melodic chirp of self-checkout scanners. "Could I see it?" I gingerly ask the cashier, who patiently flashed me his computer screen as I inspected the gritty image that would linger for the next decade, clutching my lip liner as if it was a lucky rabbit-foot. Look, I'm realistic. I'm not expecting to magically sprout Bella Hadid's bone structure or anything, but 10 years is a long time, and I want a passport photo that doesn't make me cringe every time I show it to an airport gate agent. Is that such a tall order?

Apparently not, according to TikTok. A quick search on the app will generate countless videos titled something along the lines of "How to take your passport photo like a baddie." The trailblazer is arguably UK-based content creator Georgia Barratt, whose viral 2022 makeup tutorial currently sits at 16.5 million views, but really, the formidable challenge of taking a "good" ID photo is nothing new. Consider Victoria Beckham, who kicked off a legitimate photo shoot—glam team included—at her DMV appointment in the 2007 reality TV special Victoria Beckham: Coming to America. "You don't do retouching?" she deadpans to the government employee. License photos, the great equalizer! Now, in a world where selfies have a shelf life of roughly 10 seconds before the algorithm pushes the next Gen Z content dump, the analog ID becomes a significant memento.

"I also think it's the contentification of everything and the obsession with looking hot in environments where it's not expected," makeup artist Lila Childs explains. (Exhibit B: TikTok's jumbotron trend, where users create AI videos of themselves looking snatched as they catch themselves on the big screen. It's very Pamela Anderson circa 1989, when the star was discovered at a BC Lions game.) A flattering passport photo becomes the ultimate flex—like you've mastered your angles and defied the odds of bad lighting. If a few makeup techniques can shoulder the effort, well, that's something worth saving.

So what does passport makeup entail? Simply put, "the goal is to serve," declares celebrity makeup artist Kelli Anne Sewell, who created a 37-minute video dedicated to perfecting the look. "Think super-sculpted cheekbones, soft-matte skin that blurs in pictures, a defined and lifted eye with a baby wing, and a really pouty lip." It sounds sublime, but achieving that perfect baseline is more difficult than you think. Passport makeup is a bit more camera ready, says Sewell, meaning it requires heavier coverage than you might be used to. At the same time, however, it needs to appear totally clean and natural. Your government document should look like you, after all. "It's less about looking overly glamorous and more about looking naturally refined and confident," adds celebrity makeup artist Kelly Zhang. Given the delicate dance, I asked the three experts to walk me through each step before venturing over to my local CVS. This is on-the-ground journalism, no?

Do you absolutely need to wear full glam for your passport-photo appointment? Of course not—louder for the people in the back. As with any beauty trend, feel free to absorb what you please and leave behind what doesn't serve you. But for those curious about the best tricks and techniques, scroll ahead for the only passport makeup guide you'll need.

1. Contour Generously

Contouring as the very first step might seem confusing, but beauty fans know exactly where I'm going with this. To achieve a naturally sculpted effect, makeup artists recommend the underpainting method, in which you apply your contour and highlighter before foundation and/or concealer. "This carves out all the shadows and gives you that extra-snatched look, especially around the nose," explains Childs. Don't be afraid to really pile on the contour either, especially around the eyes and underneath your cheekbones. Zhang points out, "Cameras tend to flatten the face more than real life, so I usually recommend slightly more definition than you think."

2. Apply a Soft-Matte Base

Dewy, megawatt skin looks ethereal IRL, but in a photo—especially one snapped in suboptimal lighting—all that glow can read a little wonky. "Flash photography can exaggerate shine," Zhang explains, adding that she avoids shimmer, glitter, or anything overly dewy. Rather, she recommends applying a lightweight, skin-like formula on the center of the face ("around the T-zone, under the eyes, forehead, nose, and chin," she instructs) to keep the skin looking dimensional yet natural. "The foundation that always hits with photography is Armani Luminous Silk," Sewell is quick to declare. "It's a makeup-artist staple for a reason."

3. Set With Powder

Setting powder is the unsung hero of passport makeup. Even if you're not someone who typically sets their base (ahem, me), you'll definitely want to spend a few extra seconds to lock everything in place, especially around the T-zone and cheeks, where the camera flash might exacerbate shine. "I don't 'bake' on the day-to-day, but I would definitely do an under-eye powder bake for this look," Childs adds. Bonus points if you grab an option that simultaneously blurs and brightens, like Makeup by Mario's Soft Blur Setting Powder—Sewell's go-to.

4. Add a Touch of Blush

Blush has the power to literally change your face shape—hence why it's my desert-island beauty item! A few strategic swipes can create an instantly sculpted, lifted look, so Childs recommends applying your product of choice right underneath your pupil and sweeping outward, stopping at the temples instead of directly on top of the apples of your cheeks, which results in a more youthful flush. You'd be surprised by how much of a difference that tiny tweak can make.

Contrary to what you might think, though, you don't want to use too much blush here. The most popular passport makeup look is more about sculpted contour and a pouty lip than vibrant cheeks, so there's no need to pack on the pigment. You'll also want to make sure to diffuse any harsh lines for a soft, effortless blend. Pro tip: Go back in with your seasoned foundation brush or sponge to encourage a seamless blur.

5. Elongate the Eyes

When it comes to sculpting the orbs, your eyeliner does a lot of the heavy lifting. "I would tightline the upper waterline to sharpen the eye," shares Childs, who swears by the technique for her everyday eye looks. To wing or not to wing is ultimately up to personal preference, but if you do crave a simple cat eye, I'd suggest a baby flick over extended, razor-sharp liner—just enough to add extra definition without overpowering the whole look.

Next, contour the eye with a neutral brown eye shadow. "Apply through the crease toward the top of the nose and then take the excess along the lower lash line," Childs instructs. As you can probably surmise, this is not the time to break out your glittery eye shadow palette. Remember, "shimmer can reflect harshly in photos," Zhang notes, which is why she recommends matte-brown eye makeup. "Curling the lashes is also extremely important because it instantly opens up the eyes in pictures," she adds.

Whether you use black or brown mascara, make sure to spend extra time coating the outer lash corners, which, according to Childs, perfectly elongates the eyes. She even recommends dragging the wand outward as you're applying to create a flared-out effect.

6. Overline and Gloss

Passport makeup goes hand in hand with a blurred, soft-focus aesthetic, but when it comes to lips, feel free to glob on the shine. First, you'll want to sculpt the shape. "Just overline your heart out," instructs Childs, who praises Sacheu's DoubleDown Liners that "make the lips look twice their size." For lip colors, a neutral pink or brown typically photographs best, Zhang notes, and Sewell adores a "nice mauvy nude." No matter which route you take, a touch of clear gloss on top can create the illusion of full, pouty lips. Just make sure you pop it right on the center for optimal dimension.

Extra Tips to Keep in Mind

• Set all your cream products: "After your cream products, set everything with the powder counterpart: powder bronzer, powder blush, setting powder. This will make the makeup last longer and also bump up the color payoff," shares Childs.
• Avoid too much SPF makeup: Make no mistake—sunscreen is nonnegotiable! But for your passport photo, Zhang advises against an SPF-heavy skin tint, especially if it contains zinc oxide (the primary filter in mineral sunscreens). "Some formulas can create flashback in photos and make the skin appear too white," she explains. It's not a given, but you might want to stick to one layer of sunscreen just to be safe.
• Know your angles: Beyond makeup tips, I had to ask the pros for some posing guidance. They're privy to on-set magic, after all! "I've learned a lot in the past few years working with photographers on shoots," shares Sewell. "Definitely chin down and almost a soft squint to the eyes. I always put my tongue on the roof of my mouth to elongate the neck too." From there, both Childs and Zhang recommend standing up straight—simple yet effective. As Childs states, "I know you can only see your face, but it makes a difference!"

I'm a makeup enthusiast, and there is no season I enjoy leaning into thematically more than summer. There's something about the warm weather, relaxed schedules, and fun fashion that makes me want to stay outside all day and night, whether I'm exploring a new beach town on vacation or frolicking through the humid city streets with my girlfriends. Whatever the case, summer makeup has a certain spice to it that other seasons lack: It's the quick smudge-and-go liner before happy hour and the bold lipstick that I only reach for when I have a tan. The possibilities feel endless, and celebrity makeup artists agree that summer makeup should be fun.

Bronzed, sun-kissed skin and a sunlit glow will forever be mainstays in any summer makeup routine, celebrity makeup artist Carolina Gonzalez tells Who What Wear. "Always a blushy, little sunburnt moment," she specifies. However, there are a few trends shaping the makeup sphere this season that weren't factors in 2025. Cultural moments like Charli XCX's current rock-star era attached to the forthcoming release of her album Music, Fashion, Film in late July and Gucci's subversive cruise 2027 show are inspiring beauty to follow in fashion's grungy footsteps, and viral celebrity MUAs' signature techniques, like blurred "Nina Park lips" and "Painted by Esther blush," continue to trend.

In short, there's a whole lineup of makeup trends—both new and old—worth knowing about this summer. Keep reading for makeup-artist breakdowns of each one, plus products that will help you get the look at home.

6 Summer Makeup Trends to Try in 2026

Beach Skin

As Gonzalez put it, sun-kissed skin isn't going anywhere. In fact, we're taking things a step further into sunburn territory. This trend, complete with strategically placed rosy-orange blush and bronzed, juicy skin, is exemplary of art imitating life, eliciting images of beach days and flushed skin, sans the painful and itchy flaking that comes with the actual thing. Please don't forego sunscreen this summer to achieve this look naturally! Instead, tap a bronzy or terra-cotta blush over the apples of your cheeks and the center of your nose before blending everything out with your fingers for a natural, lived-in look. Whether you're building on a post–beach day tan or imitating one, this trend will bring your skin to life this summer.

Shop "Beach Skin" Products

Watercolor Blush

There's no denying that blush is having a moment right now. Whether it's the name of the blush technique you're employing or the brand you're wearing, every beauty lover is tapped into the flushed look right now. One thing that stays consistent is the internet's love for sheer, cloudlike color. "I'm obsessed with the watercolor makeup trend right now," says celebrity makeup artist Nam Vo. "Think sheer washes of blush, blurred edges, and that effortless lit-from-within glow."

Gonzalez agrees, having popularized vintage-inspired, poppy blush on her longtime client Sabrina Carpenter. "Armani Beauty's Luminous Silk Cheek Tint in Brick Brown has been my go-to for the cheeks," she divulges. "I love applying it on the back of my hand first, then using my ring finger to dab it onto the cheeks, lips, and the tip of the nose."

It's placement that matters most here, according to Vo. "Blush is no longer just on the apples," she explains. "It's contour. It's structure. It's glow almost draped up into the temples for that sculpted effect."

Shop Watercolor Blush Products

Grown-Up Glitter

As if mimicking music-festival lights and midsummer fireworks, sparkly eye shadow and whimsical shimmers are taking center stage. Gonzalez calls out "glitter and gels on the eyes" as one of her mega trend predictions, recommending Armani's Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow in Tobacco as a must-have for summer glam. "It gives you a little bit of sparkle, but it's not so satin," she explains. Whether you reach for fairy-dust pink or silvery sparkles, this trend was made for hot summer nights under disco lights.

Shop Grown-Up Glitter Products

Y2K Rock-Star Glam

As we mentioned, the "cool-girl grunge" trend that's gripped the last few seasons isn't going anywhere this summer. It's just taking new shape. Charli XCX has been the purveyor of so many rock-star eye makeup moments this season, inspiring us to pair gray smoky eyes with juicy, hydrated skin in the promo for Music, Fashion, Film. Models like Gabbriette and Alex Consani make us want to sleep in black eyeliner for their effortlessly cool, messy makeup looks from Gucci's cruise 2027 show. Extra points for Y2K-inspired frosted lipstick and shimmery brow bones.

Shop "Y2K Rock Star" Shadow Products

Hyperreal Skin

Healthy, luminous skin is still one of the pinnacles of summer beauty; however, Vo sees things taking a meta turn this year. "We're also seeing skinimalism evolve into what I call hyperreal skin," Vo muses. "It's still natural but more intentional with strategic glow, sculpt, and hydration." In the age of AI, artists are turning away from the faux glamour of digitally enhanced skin and focusing their attention on hydration and glowy, natural-looking highlighters so their clients can always put their best skin forward—no filter necessary.

"Radiance will always be the main character for summer," says Vo. Just make sure to prep your skin correctly for the best results. "Start with a rich moisturizer and a glowy primer," she advises, then go in with skin makeup only where necessary. Vo explains that she prefers to use "lightweight, radiant foundations" or even just concealer only where it's needed for the most natural effect.

Shop "Hyperreal Skin" Products

Hazy Pout

"Brush-blurred lips are having a moment. They give that soft-focus, 'just bitten' effect without looking overdone," says Vo. Think of it as that hazy sunrise over the horizon line on a hot summer's day. This look, popularized by the work of celebrity makeup artist Nina Park, went viral for making celebrities' lips look naturally plumper, and all you have to do is gently buff your overlined lip liner with a small blending brush. "And don't skip a glossy lip balm or oil to finish the look. It ties everything together," Vo advises.

Shop "Hazy Pout" Products

How is summer 2026 makeup different from last year?

"Summer 2025 was more about clean girl, minimal, almost-bare skin. Summer 2026 is still fresh but more expressive," says Vo. "We're layering sheer textures instead of stripping everything back, and bold blush is here to stay." We're talking about more color, glow, and individuality. "It's less about perfection and more about artistry that still feels wearable," she explains.

How should we summer-proof our makeup?

These stunning looks take some work, so the last thing you want to do is sweat them right off. Luckily, the pros have a few tips.

"Less is more in the heat. I always say thin layers set strategically," advises Vo. "I'll use cream products first, then lightly set only where needed—like the T-zone—so the skin still looks juicy." Gonzalez models similar behavior, opting for liquid products, like Armani's Luminous Cheek Tint, during the daytime and topping things off with a powder blush in breezier evenings. "It sets the liquid blush in place. It really locks it in and won't move," says Gonzalez. But if you think you might end up sweating, Gonzalez says to skip the powder blush, as it can end up looking streaky.

One last tip? Stock up on reliable setting spray and blotting wipes. "A good setting spray is your best friend," Gonzalez says sagely. "I also like to press products into the skin rather than swipe for better longevity." It's for this reason that she keeps blotting papers on hand during the summer, which "will keep your glow fresh, not greasy," she states.

Meet Our Experts

• Carolina Gonzalez is a celebrity makeup artist who has glammed the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Tessa Thompson, Sofia Carson, and more. She is a member of the Armani Beauty Collective and is based in New York City.
• Nam Vo is a New York City–based celebrity makeup artist and content creator known for coining the term "dewy dumpling" skin for her ultra-glowy makeup style.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.

If there is one thing you should know about me, it’s that I am not what anyone would describe as a "go-with-the-flow" bride. I am a spreadsheet bride. A color-coded timeline bride. The kind of bride who created a wedding planning folder before she was even engaged and somehow convinced herself that researching linen swatches at 11 p.m. counted as a relaxing hobby, much to the chagrin of my now-husband.

So when it came to my civil wedding day, there was one decision that surprised nearly everyone around me—including, at times, myself: I decided to throw caution to the wind and, instead of entrusting a team of beauty experts or celebrated-MUAs, I did my own makeup.

To be clear, this wasn't some grand statement against professional makeup artists. Quite the opposite— I have an almost embarrassing level of respect for them as someone who's version of makeup is much akin to Hannah Horvath's in Girls, only wearing mascara on Saturdays. Makeup artists possess what feels like a supernatural ability to transform a face while somehow making it look effortless. They can contour without evidence, conceal without texture, and create the kind of glow that makes you look like you drink three liters of water a day and have never experienced stress. I, meanwhile, often give myself such aggressive blush placement that I look like I'm going through my yearly summer rosacea flare-up.

Yet, the closer I got to my wedding, the more I found myself gravitating toward the idea of doing it myself. Part of it was practical. As any bride quickly learns, weddings—even those that just involve a trip to City Hall—have a magical ability to turn ordinary purchases into luxury expenditures.

But if I'm being completely honest, money wasn't the primary reason. The deeper truth was that I wanted to look like myself. Event makeup often leaves me feeling overdone: too heavy, too cakey, too much lipstick. So I did what any Type-A bride with access to Wi-Fi would do: I researched obsessively.

I watched TikTok videos while brushing my teeth, paused tutorials to study blending techniques, and read comment sections like they were academic journals. Unsurprisingly, my research soon escalated into cold-DMing some of the internet's favorite makeup artists—from TikTok-famous beauty creators to the experts responsible for celebrity red carpets and glossy magazine covers—to ask how they achieve that effortlessly glowy bridal look. The advice? Shockingly easy to follow. I applied my newfound knowledge to several at-home glam sessions, leaning over my bathroom sink and applying foundations, bronzers, and concealers in highly methodical formulas my makeup fairy god-mothers passed down to me. Spoiler alert: I've never looked better.

The biggest surprise wasn't that I managed to do my own wedding makeup. It was that, for once, all that obsessive research actually paid off. The result was a bridal look that felt polished, glowy, and unmistakably me. Here are the lessons—and products—that got me there.

Don't Skip Out on Skin Prep

One of the first things I learned is that bridal glow starts long before foundation ever touches your face. Every artist I spoke with emphasized that great makeup is really the result of great skin prep.

Makeup artist Kirin Bhatty puts hydration front and center: "For bridal glow- light layers of makeup paired with targeted skin prep is key. I always begin with a Joanna Vargas mask and my shark Depuffi to get skin sculpted and hydrated- perfect for makeup application."

Preparation also means knowing when to stop. "Ideal bridal glow, I’d say make sure if you’re getting any skin treatments like chemical peels or anything like that to do it a month at least before," advises makeup artist Aya Tariq. "You just don’t want your skin to be too irritated for makeup."

Meanwhile, celebrity makeup artist Lila Childs recommends adding glow before makeup even begins. "I have been loving using the Chanel LES BEIGES Sheer Healthy Glow Highlighting underneath the complexion and mixing it with moisterizer. It looks absolutely beautiful on the décolleté as well!"

Avoid Too Much Product

If there was one piece of advice that surprised me, it was that bridal makeup isn't about piling products on. In fact, it's often the opposite.

"Having a light touch and choosing products that are glowy by nature is the key to looking fresh on your big day," says Bhatty, who recommends sheer, luminous formulas that allow skin to shine through.

Makeup artist Dani Parkes echoed a similar philosophy: "Soft layers. I think if you really focus on going in with small layers then building the perfect base will help you achieve that glow."

Even Tariq, who prefers fuller-coverage formulas, emphasizes restraint. "Go for good coverage with minimal amount. I like using full coverage everything because it helps me put less on the face. It looks better in pictures."

The takeaway? More makeup doesn't necessarily equal better makeup. The goal is coverage where you need it and skin everywhere else.

Highlight, Highlight, Highlight.

I quickly learned that achieving a bridal glow isn't about one miracle highlighter. It's about strategic placement and layering different textures.

"Highlight is really key when going for glow, so I mix several formulas (balms, creams, powder and liquid) on different points of the face and décolletage to get the glowy results I’m after," adds Bhatty. She also recommends thinking beyond the cheekbones: "I make sure to pay attention not only just to orbital bones, but the nose, ears, Cupid’s bow, and collar bones too."

Makeup artist Ana Siguenza takes a similarly layered approach. "A bridal glow is all about adding a trifecta of pearl, shimmer, and sparkle for beautiful and realistic dimension that looks chic and timeless."

Childs also suggests using illuminators both underneath and on top of makeup. "You can also use it with a fine tip brush at the end of makeup on the high points of the face to add additional highlighting."

Test Out Lip Combinations

While I spent most of my time obsessing over foundation and blush, nearly every artist reminded me that lips deserve just as much attention.

"Lips are one of the most important things when it comes to bridal makeup in my opinion because if they lack color, it can wash out the face," says Childs. To keep color lasting throughout the day, she recommends lip stains: "I think all brides should use a product like this to keep the saturation in their lips visible throughout the day."

Bhatty agrees that longevity matters. "Choosing a kissable shade is usually best," she says, explaining that she often opts for stains or softly blurred lipstick applications that require fewer touch-ups.

And because wedding days are emotional—and filled with hugs, kisses, photos, and happy tears—Tariq recommends carrying a touch-up kit. "Keep a touchup kit on you, many people will be giving you hugs and kisses and the makeup could move."

Shop my Bridal Makeup

If you've ever gawked at a celebrity's red carpet photo, wondering, "How the hell do they look so glowy?" you've come to the right place. Yes, celebs often have an entire team of derms and facialists to ensure they arrive with an angel's complexion, and, sure, the lighting at these high-profile events is always A+, but there's a sneakier—and far more attainable—reason their glam looks nothing short of spectacular: body highlighter.

It may seem simple, but according to celebrity makeup artists, this little hack is key for elevating your entire look. "I always say makeup shouldn’t stop at the face," declares celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta. "When the skin on the body has the same lit-from-within radiance as the face, everything feels more cohesive, elevated, and luxurious. It catches light beautifully, especially in photos and on the red carpet." It's why he never lets his own celebrity clients—such as Candice Swanepoel, Lila Moss, Victoria Monét, and Alix Earle—out of his sight without applying a bit of body glow on strategically precise areas. Neither does Charlotte Tilbury, who considers body highlighter one of her red carpet secrets for years. "Body highlighter gilds the skin in glossy, ethereal radiance, drawing light to the center of the limbs to add dimension in the most flattering places," the iconic makeup artist tells Who What Wear. "It makes the skin look healthy and luminous and gives the illusion of a more sculpted, snatched-looking silhouette for that supermodel effect." Three words: Sign me up.

Now, body highlighters cast a rather wide net. Some are thick and balmy, others are serum-like and shimmery, and some even feature complexion benefits like sun protection and skin firming. I've tested basically every one on the market, so scroll ahead to select the best one for your routine and goals, as well as expert application tips for a celeb-level glow.

The Best Body Highlighters, at a Glance

• Best Balm: Patrick Ta Major Glow Balm
• Best Sculpting: Charlotte Tilbury Supermodel Body Highlighter
• Best Bronzing: Fenty Beauty Body Lava Body Luminizer
• Best Lotion: Body Gloss Ultra-Rich Body Lotion
• Best Stick: Dibs Beauty Status Stick Face-and-Body Highlighter

The 8 Best Body Highlighters of 2026

Best Balm: Patrick Ta Major Glow Balm

Best Sculpting: Charlotte Tilbury Supermodel Body Highlighter

Best Bronzing: Fenty Beauty Body Lava Body Luminizer

Best Lotion: Body Gloss Ultra-Rich Body Lotion

Best Body Oil: Anastasia Beverly Hills Shimmer Body Oil

Best Stick: Dibs Beauty Status Stick Face-and-Body Highlighter

Best Scent: Sol de Janeiro Glowmotions Glow Body Oil

Best With SPF: Kopari Beauty Sun Veil Illuminating Sunscreen SPF 30

What to Look For

• Format: Body highlighters come in a variety of shapes and sizes. If you prefer an allover glow, you might find success with a shimmery body oil or glossy lotion, which often come in bigger bottles. If you're hoping to apply just a bit on precise areas (your collarbones, tops of the shoulders, etc.) a balm or stick with an accompanying brush might serve you well.
• Shades: You can certainly opt for a balm, oil, or lotion with zero tint (just a healthy, glossy glow), or you can find formulas with a champagne, pink, or bronze hue for a bit more warmth. Ultimately, it's up to personal preference.
• Skincare perks: Why not get the most bang for your buck? Most body highlighters are brimming with healthy hydrators—hyaluronic acid, squalane, and plant-based oils, for example—but you can also snag one with extra benefits like sun protection, skin-tightening, and a glorious scent (not a skincare benefit, per se, but an extra perk nonetheless!).

How to Apply Body Highlighter

You'll want to apply body highlighter as the last step of your makeup routine, ideally once your outfit is on and you're almost ready to head out the door. "That way, you can see exactly where the skin will be exposed and place the glow intentionally," Ta notes. It also ensures that your glow will look super fresh and radiant. "I’ll usually do final touch-ups on the body at the same time I’m doing the last complexion touches on the face," he adds. At home, I personally like to apply my body highlighter right before spritzing on my fragrance—the very last step of my beauty routine.

If you choose to apply any bodycare beforehand (which you certainly should, says Tilbury, who recommends pairing her highlighter with her Magic Body Cream), make sure it has a moment to absorb before adding more glow. "Smooth, hydrated skin reflects light so beautifully, so prepping your skin makes all the difference," Tilbury adds.

As for where to apply? "My go-to placements are always the collarbones, tops of shoulders, décolletage, your arms, and down the legs," Ta advises. "Those areas naturally catch the light and instantly make the skin look more sculpted." Tilbury seconds those placements, suggesting you focus on the center of your arms and legs to create the illusion of length. Of course, you can feel free to apply anywhere else you're showing skin (or skip any clothed areas); the great thing about a good body highlighter is that you can't go overboard. Bring on the glow.

Can You Use Regular Highlighter on Your Body?

Technically, you totally can. Especially if you only want a bit of glow on precise areas—like, say, the collarbones—there's nothing stopping you from dusting on your everyday highlighting powder or dabbing on a pearly liquid formula. That said, "body products are usually formulated differently," explains Ta. "Face highlighters are often more concentrated, while body luminizers are designed to diffuse over larger areas and melt into the skin more seamlessly." So if you're hoping for more coverage, it's best to snag one of these body versions above. And as Ta mentioned, any glitter particles tend to disperse much more effortlessly in a properly formulated body product, which winds up looking more realistic.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Over the years, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.

We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I’m obsessive about makeup. From luxury French foundations to ultra-chic eyeliners, I am constantly seeking out the coolest new formulas to hit the market. But just because I like expensive brands doesn’t mean that I discount the drugstore when searching for my next product. In fact, quite the opposite. I know from my own experience that a high price tag does not immediately guarantee a better formula—and celebrity makeup artists, who have gone so far as to give me a shopping list of drugstore buys that rival designer splurges, would back me up on that. Unbeknownst to many, foundation falls within this category.

According to celebrity makeup artist Kasey Spickard, it’s not price nor fancy brand name that separates a good foundation from a great one. It’s actually wearability, finish, and shade range. “Does it crease? Does it settle into fine lines and wrinkles? Does it feel lightweight, like a second skin, or does it feel heavy, like you’re wearing a lot of makeup?” He asks out loud. “That’s what matters to me.”

After testing more than 20 drugstore foundations over the past two years (and wearing solely drugstore formulas for a week straight), I found the 10 formulas that didn’t make me miss my designer bottles a bit. Below are the foundations that deliver everything, including glowy skin, matte finishes, 30-hour wear, a touch of sun protection, and more, all for less than $17.

The Best Drugstore Foundations of 2026, at a Glance

• Best Overall: Maybelline Plump & Glow Foundation
• Best Glowy: L’Oréal Infallible 32H Fresh Wear Foundation
• Best Matte: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation
• Best Serum: Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Serum Foundation
• Best Full Coverage: Milani Conceal and Perfect 2-In-1 Foundation and Concealer

Best Overall: Maybelline Plump and Glow Foundation

Best Glowy: L’Oréal Infallible 32H Fresh Wear Foundation

Best Matte: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation

Best Serum: Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Serum Foundation

Best Full Coverage: Milani Conceal and Perfect 2-In-1 Foundation and Concealer

Best Stick: SheGlam Skin Magnet High Coverage Foundation

Best Blurring: e.l.f. Cosmetics Soft Glam Satin Foundation