Summer beauty

Shahnaz Husain *

The temperature is rising and so should our look quotient. Summer is here, and with it comes some of the year’s most exciting makeup trends. As the sun shines brighter and the days get longer, it’s time to refresh your beauty routine with the latest beauty trends.

The warmer season calls for new summer makeup trends that will help you beat the heat in style. The hottest looks for the hottest season encourage fun and experimentation for your lids, lips, and face.

Summer 2024 is going to be all about flaunting dewy, glowy skin. Think radiant, natural-looking skin finishes, bright blushes, bold brows, glossy lips, and statement eye makeup looks.

A trend of minimal (less) make-up will be the trend this summer. Heavy eye makeup may become a trend of the past. Fewer skin care products and make-up cosmetics will be used, especially in summer, in keeping with the minimal wave. Tinted moisturisers, primers and serums are being used.

The prediction is that glowing skin, created with highlighters, will be in. Leave out the glitter where highlighting is concerned, but use the highlighter on the high points of the face, like cheekbones, and brow bones. Go for a neutral and natural blush, to emphasize the highlighted areas of the face.

There are some new popular products in skin care, like Serums and Face Oils and these will influence summer trends. A serum is in the form of a liquid and is different from a moisturising lotion.

It does not moisturise the skin but is designed for many other functions, like age control, removal of pigmented patches or spots, brightening the skin, improving skin texture, protection of the skin and hair, etc. It forms a protective layer over the skin and hair.

Products that are gentle on the skin will be trending during the summer of 2024. The skin’s pH balance and normal oil-moisture barrier are very important for the good health of the skin. Skin care products that are free from parabens, sulphates and mineral oil are already preferred and people will move away from acid peel treatments.

There will be an increase in awareness of sun protection. So, an increasing rise in the use and sale of sunscreens, sunblock products and protective creams is expected.

The dramatic red for lipsticks will be very much the trend. To make sure your lips stay vibrant all day, try using a lip liner to create a base, then fill in with your hot summer favourite shade. Nothing screams summer better than bright and bold lip shades like coral, hot pink, and orange.

For the day, go for reddish shades that move towards pink, or try fuschia, or coral red. Models are wearing chocolate brown too. For summer nude shades in lipstick will be trendy. A sheer shade is good for the day.

Black-lined eyes continue to be in and so is liquid eyeliner. In fact, liquid eyeliner is best for achieving a dramatic look for the eyes. Go for grey or brown eye shadow and apply a line of black eyeliner close to the lashes on the upper lid.

It is also expected that French Manicure may be back. But, instead of the long white tips for nails, the minimal trend may take over and a narrow tip of colour may become the new trend.

Putting the hair up will also be in vogue, especially for summer. Where hairstyles are concerned, the prediction is that the trend may be to put the hair up in buns, chignons, or even topknots.

The spiky bun may also be a trend, with some ringlets framing the face. The classic ponytail has been dictating trends for some time now. For summer the ponytail will continue to be popular. A high ponytail will be trendy, with part of the hair wound around it.

With ribbons or other hair accessories, a ponytail can provide a touch of glamour. One can have a ponytail for a formal or an informal look. The prediction is that braids are also going to be in. Micro plaits will be trendy. Colouring the hair may also have a new trend of mixing two colours. Fringes will become shorter.

Get that summer fresh look this summer with glossy skin. The trend is all about looking radiant and fresh.

However, all in all, 2024 will be a year of beauty care with products that protect and restore the good health of the skin and hair. The focus will be on healthy, organic beauty care. There will be a fresh look to make-up and grooming.