Strategically polished is the aim of the beauty game this summer. Yes, we love a no make-up-make-up look always, but with the plethora of shiny new products launching just in time for the warmer weather, we’ve noticed a real shift towards buttery, juicy, fluffy make-up moments.
Lips that shine but are never sticky, strong but minky brows (no sharp lines, please), soft eyeliner (slept-in, not drawn on), and luminous skin without being slick. The SPF formulations have never been better either, so consider this your cheat sheet to a modern make-up finish that’s perfectly summer safe.
Buttery soft skin
“Glass skin” is still an enviable goal, but butter skin is the finish we’re looking to this season. Butter skin is the midpoint between glass skin (too shiny) and matte (too flat), so think supple, slightly bouncy skin, and with a gentle sheen that catches the light naturally.
When it comes to make-up, look for products that melt into the skin and focus on hydration with your skincare. A hyaluronic acid serum should be a daily non-negotiable, offering hydrating benefits without the oil slick of a heavy moisturiser. Spritz with a mist before you apply.
Make-up wise, forgo high coverage foundations in favour of a skin tint before applying your colour products. The new NYX Buttermelt collection of blushes and bronzers has been created with this finish in mind and infused with mango, shea, and almond butters so the texture melts into skin leaving a natural glowing flush or bronzed warmth.
M.A.C Skinfinish Lightstruck Liquid Highlighter is a serum-meets-highlighter hybrid that helps enhance your glow too. A drop tapped onto cheekbones or mixed with foundation catches the light in all the right places, no glitter, no disco ball, just that “lit-from-within” radiance we all love.
For those with an oily complexions, keep your translucent powder placement to the T-zone only, and, of course, touch-up as needed throughout the day.
The lips are juicy
We’re seeing innovations in juicy lip stains, oil-gloss hybrids, and glassy tints that encourage a glossy look without being drippy. The latest launches give a luminous sheen initially, but once the pigment sinks in you get a soft wash of colour that resists fading. Plumping formulas infused with the likes of chilli pepper quite literally bring the heat and there are two major players in this category: Maybelline Lifter Plump Gloss and YSL Loveshine Gloss. Both offer a wide shade range and full-gloss finish with an instant and noticeable plumping effect.
To make your gloss last, start with smooth, hydrated lips — a quick scrub or swipe of balm, then blot before applying your gloss so it grips, not slips. For fuller-looking lips, focus application in the centre of your mouth and softly blend outwards.
Minky brows are the moment
Forget laminated brows that look like they’ve been shellacked into place, the new brow aesthetic is minky: brushed up, softly sculpted, and touchable. The goal is a bushier brow that looks polished rather than unkempt, filling in gaps where you need to but adding volume and soft texture also. Choose a clear formula or a tinted product matched as closely as possible to your natural hair colour.
Kosas Air Brow Fluff & Hold Treatment Gel is ideal and it’s available in 10 shades, including grey. To fill in gaps, a product that produces hair-like strokes will help brows look fuller without being blocky. With a double-brush tip, L’Oréal Paris Infallible Faux Brow Pen is a great option and it stays put through swimming, sweating, and partying.
Liner is smudged, not sharp
You can stop practicing the perfect cat-eye for now, because this summer it’s all about a slept-in eye look that still feels French, just less Emily in Paris, and more Belly’s friend Celine in The Summer I Turned Pretty. Opt for kohl or gel pencils that you can blend with your finger (bonus points if they’re a little creamy and melt in the heat). Browns, plums, and muted metallics feel softer than harsh black and play nicely with summer’s bronzed skin and glossy lips.
The protection selection
No glow survives without a good shield, so pair these looks with a luminous SPF that layers under make-up without pilling. Emma Lewisham’s SPF 50 Mineral Glow Serum is a top pick, due to its bronze tint and subtle shimmer. An SPF mist that can be applied over make-up throughout the day, such as Garnier Vitamin C Mist SPF 50+, not only keeps you protected from the sun’s rays but boosts hydration for that all-day glow. And don’t forget to throw a broad spectrum lip balm or gloss in your bag too.
This article originally appeared in Fashion Quarterly‘s Summer 2026 issue.
Words: Lucy Slight.
Photography: Supplied.
