While we’re still not entirely sure whether festivals will be going ahead as planned this summer, neon makeup has already arrived with fluorescent colours taking over every single beauty look on every celebrity eye crease and every influencer’s nail designs – and, according to pro makeup artist James Molloy, it’s here to stay.
“Neon brights are bringing back an element of fun and self-expression into our makeup routines,” he says. “Whereas in the past, neon makeup has been more of a statement, it’s now being applied in subtle, painterly ways that makes it far more wearable.”
Here’s our ultimate guide to help you embrace the trend for the upcoming season, plus all the catwalk and Instagram inspo you need for reference.
Electric lines
Brilliantly bold lines is the simplest way to trial the neon trend while also playing into this season’s biggest makeup trend – negative space liner. “You’ll want to keep the base makeup minimal but radiant,” explains James. “Add a thin line of black liquid liner on the lash line to define the eyes and make them pop. Then, mix a loose neon pigment with a little mixing medium and use an eyeliner brush like the MyKitCo. Flyliner brush to draw on a precise line just above the crease, winging it out at the outer corner. Always finish with a balmy nude lipstick like one of the new The Easy Nude shades from HIGHR (my favourite is the shade It Was All A Dream)”
If you’re feeling particularly creative, try taping two brushes together to create a double-lined design like makeup pro Holly Aldous.
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Neon nails
The undisputed nail trend for summer is neon. The one rule? The brighter the better. From punchy yellows to bold blues and luminous lime greens, from Kylie Jenner to Rihanna, everyone is rocking neon nails on our Instagram feed. Perfect for poolside posing and the best way to complement a tan, neon is the only colour to plump for this season and mix-and-match is encouraged.
Eighties eyes
We are taking it back to the 80s, taking inspiration from our favourite social media stars Nikkie Tutorials and Danielle Marcan.
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Either create an ombré effect by using different amounts of mixing medium and noen pigment to create varying intensity, or else, try applying all over the lips and gently buff out the edges for a cloud like finish.
Bold Hair
Make like Kylie Jenner and Miley Cyrus and trial a bold new hair colour with a neon wigs. Whether long and straight with a full fringe, or a peek-a-boo pop of colour on a blunt bob, it’s time to play with shades of candy pink, sky blue, electric purple, citrus orange and even lemon yellow.
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Here are our top product picks to create that neon look…
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