How To Master *That* Pastel Trend You’re Seeing Everywhere Right Now

 

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A post shared by HUDA KATTAN (@hudabeauty) on Feb 24, 2020 at 7:17am PST

Mint, baby pink and light blue aren’t just for Easter any more. The beauty world is raiding the gelato shop for inspiration this season, and the looks couldn’t be any prettier. Want to embrace these soft and delicate shades this summer? Let us pas-tell you more…

Eyes

Taking a single shade of eyeshadow up to the brow bone is not the most well-regarded of makeup techniques (in the drag world, it’s earned the nickname ‘garage doors’), but there’s a lot to be said for a one-and-done eye look. A soft sweep of lilac, baby pink or periwinkle blue shadow with lashings of mascara is a lovely, and most importantly easy, way to get in on the pastel makeup trend. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, look to our perennial beauty crush, actress Lucy Boynton. Her makeup artist Jo Baker applied puff of sherbety blue, pink, orange and yellow for dreamy watercolour eyes at Venice Film Festival last year. Whichever method you choose, keeping the rest of the face natural is the key to making the look fresh and modern, as opposed to a nightmare from the ’80s.

 

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A post shared by JO BAKER (@missjobaker) on Sep 3, 2019 at 7:58am PDT

Lips

The pastel trend doesn’t really extend to lipstick, and for good reason. Do we really want to return to the concealer lips of the 2000s? No way. But your lip colour can tie into the trend and complete the look beautifully – think cherry blossom shades in natural, just-bitten stains, inspired by K-beauty. Of course, you could also throw all that out of the window and pair your pastel pink eyeshadow with crisp red lips for an editorial feel. Follow your heart.

 

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A post shared by JO BAKER (@missjobaker) on Feb 1, 2019 at 9:40pm PST

Cheeks

Did someone say nightmare from the ’80s?! Because along with puffy sleeves and power shoulders, big bold blush is back, baby. ‘Draping’ (applying blush high on the cheeks and up to the temples) was all over the catwalks at the various Fashion Weeks this year, and while those MUAs went the whole hog with neon pink and red, it’s actually quite wearable when you plump for lighter shades. Go tonal and pair a peachy blush with pastel peach eyeshadow and glossy lips – it’s youthful, it’s cute and not a bit clownlike, provided you take your time and slowly build up the blush to your desired effect.

 

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Nails

Who could have predicted five years ago that in 2020 we’d be taking nail inspo from Harry Styles? The former boybander has embraced the man-icure as of late, sporting pastel pink and blue nails on the cover of his latest album Fine Line and matching his claws to his lavender shirt at the BRIT Awards in February. He’s not the only one going back to primary school beauty mainstay of painting every nail a different colour – it’s all over Instagram right now, and looks especially charming in co-ordinating pastel hues.

 

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A post shared by Nails By Apryl (@nails_by_apryl) on Jun 5, 2020 at 2:08am PDT

Hair

Bored of your balayage? Go pink (or blue, or green, or peach). Pastel hair doesn’t have to be perfect – in fact, grown-out roots and faded colour is kind of the point – and thanks to semi-permanent dye, it disappears after a few washes. The Schwarzkopf LIVE Pretty Pastels range comes in shades of steely blue, mint and rose gold, and is super easy to apply at home. Obviously, pastel shades will show up best on lighter hair, so blondes and highlighted babes looking for a switch up – your time is now.

 

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