Now we have studied the SS25 fashion trends, we’re now turning our eyes to the beauty trends that are set to dominate our beauty routines for Spring/Summer 2025. While AW24’s beauty trends saw some moodier moments, interestingly, we’re seeing a lot of similar trends as we head into the start of 2025.
First things first, the runways this season were abundant with blue eyeshadow. Hardly a bolt from the blue, these statement looks are a continuation from Autumn/Winter where we saw pastels take centre stage. This time around, however, they’re bolder, bigger and bluer. The same goes for the grungy looks of last season. For Spring/Summer, we’re seeing the dark kohl-rimmed eyes being replaced with cheerful pastel tones, however, they still feel edgy in their placement. Think a smudge of spring green smudged all over the lid, or layers upon layers of peachy mascara shrouding the eyes.
There is also a sense of optimism for the season ahead, with sun-kissed blush and glossy cherry lips peppered throughout this season’s shows. Plus, there are some seriously wearable trends in the mix that will appease even the most low-maintenance beauty lover (no mascara and just-kissed lips? Sign us up).
On the hair front, we’re seeing a major retro revival. Think big beehives, elegant finger waves and chic chignons. On the other end of the hair spectrum, sleek buns and deep side partings dominated one again, going hand-in-hand with the oversized blazers and tailoring that we saw on the SS25 runways. This season, the hair means business.
Ahead, you’ll find the coolest hair and makeup trends that took to the runways across New York, London, Paris and Milan, with expert tips on how to translate the trends from the runway to your routine.
SS25 Beauty Trends
1. Blurred Lips
A key defining makeup trend we saw all over the SS25 runways was blurred lips. Rather than a razor-precise application that you see with typical lipstick looks, this trend features a blurred, feathered edge to achieve a just-kissed smudge. It’s effortless, low-maintenance and gives serious a Parisian energy. We saw every iteration of the trend backstage, from punchy fuchsia at Marco Rambali and Ulla Johnson to deep Bordeaux tones at Versace, Peter Do and Doublet and muted neutrals at Grace Ling.
Backstage, we’ve spotted makeup artists using a fluffy eyeshadow brush to diffuse a matte lipstick onto the lips. But thankfully, there are plenty of lipstick balms and liners that give you a blurred finish in a single swipe too. Refy’s blur liner gives a soft-diffused finish around the outside of the lips, while both Violette Fr and Glossier’s offering come in lip balm textures with a hint of sheer, matte colour that replicate the look.
“In France, after red lipstick, our favourite lip look is called ‘bouche mordue’ (just bitten lips),” says makeup artist and founder of Violette Fr, Violette Serrat. “To achieve it, we apply lip balm, a touch of lipstick, then kiss a tissue to remove excess shine so it looks more like our naked lips. Bisou Balm leaves behind just the right amount of pigment,” she says.
Shop The Trend
2. Blue Zone
The runways were awash with shades of blue, from frosted pearl eyeshadow to flashes of electric blue painted on brows and hazy navy smouldering on lids. Marques Almeida, Tove, Private Policy, Chet Lo and Luisa Beccaria were just some of the shows that were feeling blue for SS25, and with searches for ‘blue eyeshadow makeup’ up 700% in Google searches over the past 12 months, it’s a throwback ’70s and Y2K trend we’re adopting both on and off the runways.
At Marques Almeida, MAC global creative director of artistry, Terry Barber, painted lids with frosted blue on the models. It’s a “very pearly, ’70s eyeshadow that almost looks like Lurex,” he says. “We’re doing what I call this very dodgy ’70s blue, that people’s mum’s might have worn back then. It’s in this shape that’s up to the eyebrow, as if you’ve put your thumb in the [eyeshadow] pan and streaked it across the eyelids,” he says. “All the shapes are a little bit wrong, a little bit clumsy and awkward.”
Over at Tove, we saw lead make-up artist Lynsey Alexander painting lids with deep, sooty navy. “The look for Tove this season was focused on luxuriously polished, chic beauty,” she says. “We created beautiful soft, diffused eye looks using the Merit Solo Shadow—a cream-to-powder shadow with a soft-matte wash of colour.” If you’re going bold with your eyeshadow, be sure to frame your brows to anchor the look. “When wearing eyeshadow, it’s important to frame the brows—for this look, we used the Merit Brow 1990 Pencil,” she says. “It’s a super thin pencil that creates natural brow hair strokes.”
For high colour payoff, look for creamy formulas that deliver a punch of pigment, which can be layered and diffused to the intensity you desire, while pearly pressed shadows are great if you’re wanting a little shimmer.
Shop The Trend
3. Sunblush
While we may not always be guaranteed warm weather in the spring and summer months, we can fake it with our makeup. And that was certainly the case at the SS25 shows, where Di Petsa, 16Arlington, Zimmerman, Ann Demeulemeester, Nensi Dojaka and Vivienne Tam all sent their models down the runways with post-holiday blush.
“Sunshine is a state of mind for Marco Capaldo’s 16Arlington woman this season and there’s a make up to match,” says lead makeup artist Lauren Parsons. “Glowing, gorgeous, sun-kissed skin; a subtle sexiness and an intrinsic sense of fun!” The same sentiment was seen at Di Petsa, which saw bright blusher swept over the cheeks the bridge of the nose, emulating a day spent under the sun. At Ann Demeulemeester and Nensi Dojaka the look was more minimal, and Vivienne Tam’s models saw a smattering of faux freckles.
With the popularity of cream blusher at an all time high on TikTok and celebrities such as Sabrina Carpenter and Hailey Bieber all wearing bold blusher, it seems certain that the trend is here to stay well into 2025. Except this time we’re leaning more towards red tones and burnished hues that lend a healthy flush of colour to the cheeks and nose. Sweep over cheeks and the nose in a ‘W’ formation to get the look—just don’t forget your SPF underneath.
Slicked-Back to Office
With business attire back on the agenda on the SS25 runways, it was only natural that the hair followed suit with a back to business vibe, which was seen on Bella Hadid at Saint Laurent, as well as several models at Erdem, Hermès, Tove and Christopher Esber in the form of slicked-back styles and buns. It’s often a staple fashion show style each season, but this season is has a polished and confident edge that wouldn’t look out of place in a boardroom or Zoom call. Except this is one hair trend you will want to circle back on, whether you’re WFH, heading to the gym or going out-out.
The hairstyles ranged from slicked-back crops, such as the ‘la dolce vita’ crop (which is inspired by the swept-back styles worn by Italian businessmen in the ’60s) through to slicked-back buns secured at the crown of the head and deep side partings with a sleek and glossy finish—with not a hair out of place.
“The slick backed looks are popular for their versatility, they can be made to look chic for a night out or low maintenance for greasy hair days,” says Laura Elliot, head of education at Neäl & Wølf. “There are no rules when it comes to sleek styles but if you want the look to flatter your face shape, I recommend positioning your brush at the top of the ear, following the line from the cheekbones and secure at the crown of the head for a sleek look,” she says.
There are three key products you need to execute a sleek style. One, a sectioning comb to create a precise parting; two, a hair wax stick to smooth back flyaways and add shine, and lastly a boar bristle brush to smooth hair into place before securing with an elastic.
Shop The Trend
Pastel Grunge
While AW24 saw plenty of sooty eyes and smudged eyeliner, this season grunge is getting a glow-up, with optimistic pastel tones in place of black and charcoal for spring and summer. And with makeup influencers such as makeup artist Emily Wood going viral for their bright and bold eye makeup in pastel tones, it seems we’re welcoming back colourful makeup with open arms again as we head into 2025.
On the runway, we saw every hue of pastel dusted onto lids at Shuting Qui, Marques Almeida and Peter Do, from bright pink to spring green. Note that the placement still feels grungy, swept only onto the lower lash line, or even in a sparkling pastel tear-drop trail at Torishéju. We even saw layer upon layer of peachy mascara at Dries Van Noten and bright white eyelashes at Ganni.
If you’re emulating this look, choose one colour and one feature as your focal point to go bold with—then keep everything else paired-back. “With a statement eye, one of my favourite things is to play with the natural pink of the lip,” says Barber. “[At the Marques Almedia show] we used the clear MACximal Sleek Satin Lipstick, the perfect balmed lip that’s not super glossy,” he says, which helps to bring balance and lets your pastel accent shine.
Shop The Trend
Retro Hair
According to SS25, the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s are coming for our hair in the form of sculpted shapes and retro silhouettes, as seen at Richard Quinn, where hairstylist Sam McKnight MBE created sleek French twists and chignons with face-framing finger waves. “[These have] a element Marlene Dietrich but who a modern twist. Sometimes we added a veil for drama, contouring the nape forming a soft architectural shape at the top,” he says.
To get the look, mist Hair by Sam McKnight Superlift into roots at the top and blow-dry with lift for root volume says McKnight. “Mist Modern Hairspray to heat protect and give hold onto each section before curling on a small 16mm curling tong. Clip to hold and leave to cool. ” he says. “Smooth remaining hair into a ponytail at the back of the head and twist into a French pleat, pinning to secure. Remove clips at the top, smooth through Dressed to Kill for shine and to de-fluff. Comb into finger waves and gently pull apart for volume,” he says.
Elsewhere, we saw everything from beehives at Bora Aksu, Kiko Kostadinov and No.21, to towering quiffs at Cassablanca and Antonia Marras.
Shop The Trend
Sans Mascara
TikTok has been threatening the no-mascara look in recent months (which has divided many of us) but, the SS25 shows have confirmed we’re indeed throwing down our wands—at least for now. The bare-faced aesthetic has been dominating both on and off the runways in the form of the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic since the early 2020s, and this trend is an extension of the ‘no-makeup’ makeup look.
Designers at Erdem, Hermès and Stella McCartney sent their models down the runway with fresh faces, but what’s interesting about this trend is that even the bolder eye makeup looks from SS25 are lacking in mascara too.“This season there’s so many references to punk, grunge, goth,” says Barber. “Neutral tones, browns, greys, elongated on the eye and the lip and giving it a modern twist with no liner and no mascara—it gives a bit of romance.” Take a look at KNWLS, where lashes were left bare against a brown smokey eye, creating a softer vibe.
This look is about keeping things paired-back. Think a touch of concealer, groomed brows and a touch of lip balm. Not ready to give up mascara entirely? Try brown formulas, which are much softer and flattering on fair lashes.
Shop The Trend
Cherry Gloss
We’d usually reserve the cherry aesthetic for autumn and winter, but, the SS25 shows say otherwise. This time, we’re seeing lacquered cherry reds on lips and nails, making this a timeless trend with a glossy twist for the season ahead. From black cherry at Ahluwalia and Peter Do to bright maraschino cherry red at Moschino, Helen Anthony and Elisabetta Franchi, there is a hue to suit every skin tone and style.
“A classic cherry red is timeless, bold red that exudes sophistication and confidence,” says Chanel makeup artist, Anna Payne. “While a deep, rich berry that brings warmth and depth is ideal for evening wear,” she says.
Look for lip glosses and balms that deliver a high-shine payoff. Try Summer Friday’s Lip Butter Balm in Cherry if you want to dip a toe into the trend, or Refy’s Lip Gloss in Striking Red will deliver a mirrored lacquer to the lips. For something in the middle, try Chanel’s Rouge Coco Bloom Intense Shine Lip Colour, which applies with a luxurious lustre while feeling like a lip balm on your lips.