Finally, we don’t have to wait anymore – summer is officially here! And with the summer season comes the party season, which means it’s time to pull together your beauty looks for all those backyard barbecues, Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve bashes.
RELATED: Easy summer hairstyles you have to try
RELATED: 8 of the best holiday beauty hacks
But before your calendar fills up with events and pre-party beauty appointments, make sure you’ve got your #beautyinspo sorted. Take your cue from summer’s biggest beauty hits and get ready to take some next-level silly season selfies with these hot new looks.
From makeup trends to the latest hairstyles, take notes from the catwalk and you’ll soon be rocking your best beauty looks of the year this festive season.
HIGH-VOLTAGE EYES
Bold and beautiful is the order of the day with this look. From cobalt to yellow, it’s all about BIC highlighter brights on the eyelid. The best news is, such a strong eye requires a muted, minimal face – a good foundation and concealer with just a touch of blush should do it. If you want to take the look down a few notches, swap out your classic black kohl for vibrant blue liner. Just make sure you prime your lids before you start, because bright yellow eyeshadow fall-out? It ain’t cute.
bh loves:Models Own Rockstar Eyeshadow Palette, NYX Cosmetics Eye Shadow Base, Alluring Minerals Mineral Eyeshadow.
WRAP PONYTAILS
The Fenty x Puma runway shows always serve up some of the most daring looks of the season (because it’s Rihanna – duh!), but the SS18 show at New York Fashion Week providing some surprisingly wearable hair trends this year. Rihanna’s long-time stylist Yusef created these athletic hair looks with neon bungee cord and we’re so obsessed. Not so into the neon bungee vibes? Keep it simple for party season by adding hair cuffs to a multi-ponytail.
bh loves:Lady Jayne Metal Ponytail Semi Cuff, Headline Hairpieces Ponytail, Scunci No Damage Knotted Ponytailers.
THE BIG SMOKE
It’s the smokey eye, but not as you know it. A party-season staple, the smokey eye has had a dressing-down – think less smoulder and more simple. It’s all about keeping the darkest part of a smokey eye contained in certain areas of the lid. Concentrate your darker shadows and liners on the outer edge of the eye and along the bottom lash line for a modern take on a classic.
bh loves:Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner, Chi Chi Angled Eyeliner Brush, M.A.C Eye Shadow x 15.
BABY WAVES
So undone it’s almost like a post-ponytail kink, this barely-there wave is the perfect low maintenance look for all the lazy girls out there. Keep your hair’s natural texture front and centre with a no-fuss cream like the models at Alexander Wang SS18 and wrap random sections of hair loosely around a curling wand. Finish with nothing more than a spritz of sea salt spray for added ‘oomph’.
bh loves:Redken No Blow Dry Just Right Cream, EVY Professional E-CURL, O&M Surf Bomb Sea Salt Spray ($27.45, adorebeauty.com.au).
NEON NAILS
Nails are loud and proud this season, which works perfectly with the fun and glitz of the party season. Turn your manicure up a few decibels with punchy pinks, zesty orange and pretty glitter. If you’re feeling super festive, why not do both? Layer a glitter polish over a bright hue for a look that’s large and in charge.
bh loves:PA Nail Polish, COLOUR by TBN Nail Polish.
DYNAMIC DEW-O
The glow-up is real this season! Far from the blinding powders we see at the bar, this subtle sheen is more likely to be spotted on fresh-from-the-beach sunkissed cheeks. Use cream-based highlighters that melt into the skin for a clean, natural look on the face, and add some shimmer to your limbs with a body illuminator. The skin takes centre stage with this trend so make sure you’re keeping things 100 with a good face mask and regular exfoliation (we love the Proactiv® Proactiv+ Skin Smoothing Exfoliator and Proactiv+ Skin Purifying Mask).
bh loves: SALT By Hendrix Body Glow in Golden Hour ($39.95, saltbyhendrix.com), PS Paula’s Secrets Crème Highlighter, LUMA Illuminating Highlighter.
SLICK CHICK
Wet-look hair was all the rage last year and this trend is showing no signs of dying down. This season though, wet-look styles are less beachy and more polished thanks to the ever-sophisticated pushed-back hairstyles all over the runway. Make your locks sleek with a styler then use a gel-based product to push back the roots. Finish with a gloss-enhancing hairspray and you’re done! If you’re not after the glossy finish of a wet-look you can skip the product and try this style dry with brushed-back volume instead.
bh loves:ghd IV styler, VO5 ® Wet Look Styling Gel, TONI&GUY Wet/Dry Detangle Comb, L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni.ART Wet Domination Shower Shine.
What’s your favourite summer beauty trend this season?
