Brat season this, brat season that—this time it’s brat summer makeup.
Similar to the Y2K makeup trend—indie sleaze makeup is often characterised by a grungy, lived-in aesthetic that embraces imperfection and a carefree attitude. Think smudged smoked-out liner, flushed cheeks and muted lips after a whole night of partying.
Heavily inspired by Charli XCX’s signature smoky look, the makeup trend has been all over social media platforms like Tiktok and Instagram thanks to the brat popstar’s album release that blew up all over the internet. The British popstar’s influence extends beyond her music, as her style embodies the carefree spirit of indie sleaze, contributing to her status as a cultural icon and inspiration for hot girl summer. This resurgence reflects a broader shift towards early 2000s nostalgia and a desire for more authentic beauty standards.
@aaleenahh charli’s brat-era makeup cause i’ve had this album on repeat since it came out #makeup #makeuptutorial #charlixcx #brat ♬ Girl, so confusing – Charli xcx
Below, we share some beauty products and tips to help you achieve the ultimate ‘brat’ summer makeup look.
Soft Smoky Eyes
Bold, thick liquid liner is out! A soft yet crisp smoked eyeliner made using a dark brown or black eyeshadow with an angled brush and some concealer to clean up the edges to get that signature sharp cat eye look. Or, simply use a light brown eyeshadow as the base, blending it with a darker colour and tight lining with a gel eyeliner.
Rosy Cheeks
Summer makeup is definitely all about the blush—there are multiple ways to do so. Apply the blush right above your contour to enhance the definition of your face shape if you’re going for the angled look, or simply right above the apples of your cheeks for an almost-drunken look. Go for a more neutral toned pink or a brown blush for the perfect brat blush.
Defined Ombré Lips
The key factor of brat makeup—darker lined lips. Get a neutral or cool toned brown lip liner depending on how you want your makeup to be. Glide your lip liner along the natural line or your lips or overline to create bigger, fuller looking lips.
Juicy Glossy Lips
Let’s not forget about the juicy glossy lips—the glossier, the better. Go for a tinted lip oil if you like the my-lips-but-better look, or a coloured lip gloss to finish off. Blend the lip liner and gloss to create the ultimate brat lip.
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