Basic Instinct: The Top Spring/Summer 2023 Beauty Trends You Need To Know

From blushing beauties to bold lip statements, spring/summer 2023’s most directional beauty trends veer towards substance and simplicity.

PRETTY PUNK
Started by rock chicks in the 1950s, adopted by the Tumblr girls in the early noughts and revived by the Gen Z crowd in recent years, this season’s emo eyeliner look works across all eye shapes, but prep work is of utmost importance, according to makeup artist Sha Shamsi.

“I recommended applying an eye primer or a mattifying liquid foundation, then setting it with powder before drawing the desired shape over [and under] the upper and lower lids using a waterproof pencil,” she says. “Next, trace over using a waterproof liquid liner.

If the prep work is perfect, even those with oily lids won’t face smudging.

SUMMER STATE

The healthy flush one gets from a good workout was all the rage at the spring/summer 2023 shows. Makeup artist Larry Yeo’s trick to achieving it?

Use universally appealing hues such as mauve, berry and golden pink. “It’s also about taking time to work products into the skin and getting that sheen,” he adds.

As for how best to apply the product, Yeo recommends using the index and middle fingers to dab it onto the apples of the cheeks before blending it downwards for a softer and more natural finish.

MESS APPEAL

Whether one prefers a nude look with some dimensional finish or a bold colour with bite, the season’s smudged lip requires no finessing to pull off (it is meant to look natch, like it has been done in the dark or on board a moving vehicle).

According to makeup artist Kenneth Chia though, the best way to wear this trend is to go for a more intense look. “Start with matte formulas, [and tap] darker shades on the lip corners and lighter ones in the middle, or vice versa,” he suggests.

Perfectionists can prep their lips with a liner for more longevity, but “the charm and modernity of a smudged lip are in its imperfection”, he says. “That’s what I find really sexy about this trend.”

SIDE LINES

The beauty of the style is that anyone can try it, regardless of hair length, texture and volume. Christvian Wu of ARX recommends taking a good look in the mirror first to decide which way one’s hair should go—”Check which side of the face is more lifted and then part hair off to the opposite side,” he says.

On how to achieve a clean split, he suggests: “For people with oily hair, use a dry shampoo before styling. If you have dry hair, apply a leave-in treatment from the roots down to the ends. A wet product such as a gel will make curly hair easier to work with.”

His tips for softening the severity of the look? Add volume on the side if you have a long and angular face; for those with a rounder shape, add volume on the top to lengthen the face.