This Spring’s Biggest Makeup Trends Bring Your Fantasies to Life (2025)

Spring is a time for renewal, for optimism, and in the case of this year’s biggest makeup trends, a time when people are trying to make sense of the world through what they’re putting on their faces. “You could say that the political landscape is influencing this, but there seems to be a need for escape—a need for fantasy when it comes to makeup,” says New York City-based makeup artist Ehlie Luna.

Whether that’s TikTok’s “unapproachable makeup” trend manifesting itself in real life or celebrities returning to the glamour of Old Hollywood, makeup artists are seeing people take a strong point of view in their beauty choices. “People want to have their personality [reflect] more in their makeup,” Luna says.

Personality and fantasy don’t have to mean over-the-top makeup, though; in fact, this spring, makeup artists are finding people are more intentional than ever, “experimenting more and being more adventurous,” says makeup artist Daniel Martin. “But at the end of the day, they don't want to look like they’re wearing a lot of makeup.”

That means a strong emphasis on skin and defined eyes, and holding off on adding certain elements—the makeup equivalent of fashion’s “take one thing off” rule. “Maybe you’ll have a winged liner but with no mascara, a beautiful blush look without foundation, or the lip liner is there without the lipstick,” says makeup artist Carissa Ferreri. “Maybe you're not seeing it on the red carpet, but in real life, people are pulling back on products, which is a different approach to how we used to think about makeup.”

As the word “trend” holds less and less weight in this fast-paced, algorithm-based beauty world, makeup in spring 2025 is really about you and what makes you feel good. “The market is saturated with all these incredible products, but then how do you tailor them to your own needs?” says Martin. “It's about individuality. It's about taking all these trends that you're seeing and making it yours, authentically and honestly.” Below, some of the best makeup artists in the business explain how to get started.

Meet the experts:

• Ehlie Luna is a makeup artist based in New York City.
• Daniel Martin is a makeup artist based in New York City and the global director of artistry for Tatcha.
• Carissa Ferreri is a makeup artist based in Los Angeles and Barcelona.
• Tyron Machhausen is a New York City-based makeup artist and Chanel Beauty ambassador.
• Peter Philips is a Paris-based makeup artist and creative and image director for Dior Makeup.
• Neil Scibelli is a makeup artist based in New York City.
• Jo Baker is an LA-based makeup artist and founder of Bake Up Beauty.
• Jessica Trieber is the vice president of brands at Credo Beauty in New York City.
• Lisa Eldridge is a London-based makeup artist and founder of Lisa Eldridge Beauty.
• Romy Soleimani is a makeup artist based in New York City.

Early Aughts Pastels

Pastels, one of the biggest trends of the early 2000s, is back on the runway, red carpet, and makeup shelves (Dior and Chanel’s spring beauty collections are dedicated to these delicate hues). Muted hues on eyes, cheeks, and lips offer a playful yet refined burst of color, says makeup artist Tyron Machhausen, “yet they never feel too intense, making them perfect even for a more minimalist look.”

Pastels feel more elegant these days, thanks to better formulas (less frosty shimmer and chalky pigments) and how they’re being worn (all over the face rather than as one major statement on the eyes or lips). They pair particularly well with the glowy makeup aesthetic that people have been gravitating toward today, says Peter Philips, makeup artist and creative and image director for Dior Makeup: “No matter the finish—matte, satin, iridescent, sheer, metallic—pastels add luminosity to a look.”

For an easy way to try the trend, Philips suggests starting with a bronzy base, mascara, a bit of contouring and highlighting, and a juicy, neutral lip—then adding a touch of pastel (in any shade) along the inner corners of your eyes. You can also wear pastels as a wash over the lids or along the lower lashes (Chanel’s new Ombre Essentielle shadows in Menthe à L’eau or Mauve Sucre are perfect for this); as a twinkling highlight on your cheekbones (Fenty has mastered pastels that work for all skin tones with products like the Match Stix Shimmer Skinsticks, says makeup artist Neil Scibelli); or as a glossy topper to a neutral lip (we love the new, shimmering shades of Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in Pinkmania, Bluemania, and Peachmania).

Pastels can also be worn on multiple features at once. “A pastel eye and lip combo can look fabulous,” says Philips. “I make sure to add a bit of pastel blush to harmoniously connect the eyes and the lips so the makeup look isn’t too fragmented.”

Minky-Brown Shadows

Throw on a matte brown shadow, blend it all over your lids, and voilà! You’ve mastered one of spring’s biggest eye shadow trends, which also happens to be a tried-and-true makeup artist technique for softly enhancing the eye. “A neutral brown is a flattering staple that can be dressed up or down without looking like you tried too hard,” says makeup artist Jo Baker, who went with a dressed-up version for Jennifer Coolidge’s look at the Golden Globes, applying MCoBeauty Eyeshadow Crayon in Matte Chocolate all over the lids and adding lots of mascara.

Backstage at fashion week, brown eye shadow has probably been the most-used makeup product because it’s a great way to achieve a no-makeup makeup effect. “When you’re applying a brown shadow around the eyes, you’re enhancing the darkness that naturally happens on our lids and underneath our eyes,” says Luna, “and any beauty look that pulls from nature is always universally appealing.” That even applies to the more glamorous interpretations of this trend, where lots of liner and maybe some crease shading are involved.

Contrast is key when choosing a matte brown shadow, so you want a shade that’s not too warm, not too cool, and a few tones darker than your skin tone. Multiple makeup artists give a shout-out to Danessa Myricks Colorfix Nudes, as the collection offers an option for all skin tones (Martin used one on actor Ali Wong at the Golden Globes).

You can use powder or cream, but eye crayons are probably the simplest way to achieve the look because you just scribble them over your lids, blend with a finger, and you’re done. We love Ilia’s new Eye Stylus Shadow Sticks in Faun and Noble for light to medium complexions, and Fenty Beauty’s matte Shadowstix in Shroom Mate and In Big Truffle for deeper skin tones.

Fresh Skin

People want to show off some skin this spring! Makeup artists have seen a marked shift away from heavier formulas as their clients seek base products that provide a skin-like finish or allow their complexion to shine. A lot of this is down to how much work we’re putting into our skin these days, including carefully curated routines and the use of pricey at-home devices. Says Machhausen, “The emphasis is on looking fresh-faced and polished, with a focus on skin care as the base.”

Having a solid skin-care routine is the most important step, but you’ll want to follow it with glow-inducing makeup products, and they have never been easier to find. A skin tint, which is both hydrating and buildable, is a great way to keep your skin looking glowy. Lisa Eldridge’s Seamless Skin Tint is one of our top choices because it’s not super oily, allowing other makeup like blush and highlighter to sit nicely on top of it.

Or you can take a page out of the pro-makeup-artist handbook and use only concealer as your base. “There are many concealers now that offer so much coverage that they can actually act as a foundation,” Martin points out. For this technique, makeup artists apply concealer strategically and only on areas of the face where coverage is needed—under the eyes, around the sides of the nose, on a blemish or dark spot—and they skip foundation altogether to let the skin (and skin care!) shine through. Ferreri names Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Concealer and Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer as two of her favorite formulas to use on clients.

But if you can’t quit foundation, there are some tricks you can do to make it look skin-like, says Ferreri. First, mix a few drops with your face cream, then warm it up in your hands before using your fingers to apply it in light layers to the skin. You can also get some tools involved: “I'm really into applying foundation with a denser brush—Hourglass’s Ambient Soft Glow Foundation Brush is my fave,” continues Ferreri, who uses it to apply a generous layer of foundation over the face before using a clean, wet Beautyblender to pick up excess pigment, add luminosity, and fuse foundation with the skin so it looks seamless. “Then you can go back and spot-treat areas where you need more coverage.”

You can use a highlighter with a wet effect, too, such as Haus Labs’ new Bio-Radiant Glassy Balm Highlighter Stick in Pure Glass or KJH.Brand Hyper Shine Serum, to create the illusion of dewy, super hydrated skin, says Luna.

Vintage Glamour

If you prefer makeup that looks like you’re wearing makeup, there’s a spring trend for you too. We predicted we’d see more glamorous makeup looks on the red carpet at the beginning of 2025; what we didn’t predict was that it would be the glamour of a bygone era. Modern celebs, including Zendaya at the Golden Globes and Cardi B at the Grammys, are repeatedly evoking Old Hollywood starlets with classic gowns, retro-inspired updos, and ultra-polished makeup looks.

Of course, references to Old Hollywood makeup on the red carpet aren’t new. What makes this resurgence feel unique is just how modern these references look, despite being clear nods to icons like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. The heavy powder and fierce contouring are gone—heck, you barely see a red lip! In their place you have fresh, luminous skin, immaculately groomed brows, soft contouring around the eyes and cheekbones, and subtle, neutral-toned lip shades. Says Luna, “It’s taking the wisdom of what we know now and filtering those intense, super-powdered fantasy vibes into something that feels like you can touch it.”

Makeup artists agree that the secret to this Old Hollywood redux is the skin. “A glamorous look can still feel modern when it incorporates a touch of natural beauty,” says Machhausen. “I always avoid over-perfecting the skin. It's essential for me to let freckles, beauty marks, and the skin's natural texture shine through.”

At the Golden Globes, Machhausen left Margaret Qualley’s freckles on display using the lightweight Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation. Makeup artist Hung Vanngo skipped foundation on Selena Gomez entirely, opting instead for her Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer and concealer.

Romantic Blush

Whether your makeup vibe is clean and fresh or full-on Chappell Roan, blush is still one of this makeup category’s most popular products. Patrick Ta, MAC, and Violette_FR are just three of the dozen or so brands that launched new formulas or added new shades to their existing blush collections in February and March.

After years of cream and liquid blushes dominating the market, though, it looks like we’re seeing the return of powder. Says Jessica Trieber, vice president of brand at Credo Beauty in New York City, “Powder blush is making a comeback this spring with rich, velvety formulas in wearable shades, all with soft, blurring finishes.” One such formula is Saie’s new Supersuede Baked Blush, which contains mica and silica to achieve a soft-focus effect, plus kaolin clay to stop the powder from getting cakey. Then there’s Tower 28 GetSet Blur and Set Matte Powder Blush, which is getting billed as a setting powder and blusher in one, and YSL Beauty’s velvety Make Me Blush Bold Blurring Blush that blurs pores as it deposits color.

Powder blush that can give skin an airbrush effect and a little luminosity is also a great way to re-create the diffused, romantic looks we’re seeing on the red carpet from the likes of Ariana Grande, Sofia Carson, and Hunter Schafer. Makeup artist Karoline Karakeosian used Valentino Beauty’s Eye2Cheek Blush in Rosa Emozione on Carson at the SAG Awards, while Sandy Gazer turned to Saie’s new formula in Ciao for Schafer’s appearance at the Independent Spirit Awards. Layer different shades of pink, peach, and terra-cotta powder blush and you can also tap into the watercolor blush trend that’s resurfacing this spring.

Laissez-Faire Lip Combos

The internet can’t stop talking about lip combos, but there's been a mystifying lack of lipstick in those conversations—and on recent runways and red carpets. Makeup artists have been into layering tinted balm or gloss over lip liner for a fresher, more multidimensional approach. “Doing the lip liner and the lipstick and the lip gloss feels a little passé right now,” says Ferreri.

It’s also a lot of effort. “I’m a makeup artist, so I love lipstick, but tinted lip balm is just easier,” says Martin, who used a liner-balm combo—specifically, the Tatcha The Kissu Lip Mask over Rouge Dior Contour No-Transfer Lip Liner Pencil—on Ali Wong at the Golden Globes. “And a lot of people don’t want to think about touching up their lips.” A longwear lip liner is key when layering balm or gloss on top, Martin adds.

When working with these liner/balm or liner/gloss combinations, makeup artists start by outlining the lips with a pencil before using a brush to contour, softening the edges, and bringing pigment slightly toward the center of the mouth. (Rhode’s new Peptide Lip Shape, with its chunkier tip, was basically made for this technique.) “That way, you don’t have these harsh edges, but your lip is significantly more enhanced,” says Ferreri. “Then your gloss or tinted lip balm melts it all together to look natural and healthy. Our current obsessions include Makeup by Mario’s Supershine Lip Gloss (Luna is also a fan of the gloss-oil-balm hybrid), while Nars Afterglow Tinted Lip Balm has been a longtime Allure favorite for its hydrating formula and flattering pigments.

Tulip Pink Lips

In a year dominated by neutral and berry lip tones, one splashy color is popping up over and over again: bright, tulip-pink. We love this hue worn in all its vibrant glory, using a full-coverage lipstick, like the Pat McGrath Labs Dramatique Lip Pencil in Flashbulb Fuchsia. The shade also looks beautiful as a stain, which is how makeup artist Romy Soleimani applied it at Ulla Johnson’s spring 2025 show.

For an effect that was a little lived-in but also a little extra, Soleimani applied the Sisley Paris Lip Twist Matte in Kiss using a small lip brush, then tapping the pigment on the center of the lips before feathering it out with her fingertip, so that it disappeared as it reached the lip line. She then intensified the center of the lips with a matching lip liner, creating the effect of a flower in bloom. (You can also achieve a similar look with just one product, courtesy of Violette_Fr Bisou Balm in Sucette, which is a sheer matte that gives lips a lovely blurred effect.)

However you wear it, the great thing about this color is that it’s surprisingly foolproof: “It’s one of those colors that is very complementary for every skin tone,” Soleimani said backstage at Ulla Johnson.

Brown Mascara

This spring we suggest lightening up a bit—when it comes to your lashes, that is. Brown mascara is the season’s biggest lash trend. Interest has surged 162.3% on Google Search and nearly 120% on TikTok compared with this time last year, according to Spate Data, with more and more brands launching their own versions. Our new favorite? Beauty Pie Wrap Star-Tubing Mascara in Classic Brown, which is one of the few brown tubing options out there. Says Scibelli, “Brown mascaras are definitely becoming the next staple in a mascara routine.”

The beauty of brown mascara is that it gives you definition around your eyes without the intensity of black pigment, and lets you dip your toe in the no-mascara trend if you’re hesitant about leaving your lashes bare. “In the ’90s, when I was starting out, you never wanted to see anything really strong on the lashes, so I often used brown mascara,” says makeup artist Lisa Eldridge, who is a longtime fan—and is launching a brown version of her brand’s Kitten Lash Mascara, featuring an incredible formula and an easy-to-use wand.

Eldridge believes brown mascara gives eyes a completely different vibe. “It creates quite an ethereal look that enhances the natural beauty of the eye a lot more than if you had on black mascara,” she says. It also has an eye-opening effect: “Sometimes very dark lashes or fake lashes can close down the edge of the eye. Brown mascara just offers a really beautiful, light-handed approach to eye makeup.”

It may be a big trend, but it’s important to note that brown doesn’t offer the same effect for everyone, as it doesn’t provide enough contrast for deeper skin tones, says Luna. (In fact, it might do the opposite and make lashes look almost invisible.) To create a bolder soft-lash effect, those with deep complexions can try clear mascara to add length and separation, as makeup artists sometimes did in the ’90s. (Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara remains the best option out there.)

Unapproachable Makeup

“Unapproachable makeup,” popular among content creators, is makeup that helps you look sexy, mysterious, and intentionally intimidating—and for spring 2025, it’s trickling from TikTok into real life. “I’m seeing more and more women interested in how they can feel more powerful and strong with their makeup,” says Luna. While everybody’s interpretation of the trend is different, most unapproachable makeup looks include dramatic eyes, sharply contoured features, and a general defiance of the “clean girl” beauty aesthetic that’s been everywhere for the past couple of years.

For Luna’s clients, a direct copy of TikTok’s unapproachable makeup trend may feel a bit too intense for a movie premiere or splashy event, but the idea is to inject a bit of escapism and main-character energy into their everyday experience. But how does that translate to your actual look? “It always has some kind of cat-like liner, as there’s something about a wing that makes women feel stronger,” says Luna, who likes Stila All Day Liquid Liner and the Best of Beauty-winning Violette_FR Yeux Paints at the moment. And, of course, every feature must be sculpted to perfection. Luna likes Westman Atelier Face Trace Cream Contour for sculpting the cheeks, and Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Longwear Lip Liner for shaping the lips.

To Luna, unapproachable makeup’s emphasis on sculpting makes a lot of sense, given the turbulent times we're living in. “It’s about self-realization, self-creation, and self-design,” she says. “It’s about being intentional and defining yourself for yourself, which feels important, especially in a climate where entities are trying to define how you can move.”

Learn more about the latest trends:

• Spring’s Biggest Fragrance Trends Are as Diverse as They Are Delicious
• The Best Makeup Trends of 2025 Reinvent the Classics
• This Spring’s Nail Art Trends Are Anything But Mild

Now, watch Rachel Zegler's 10-minute beauty routine.