Let’s face it, we’re all looking to make things a little bit more beautiful right now. Even though the pandemic had temporarily halted most beauty treatments when the Spring/Summer 2021 shows were held last year, the fashion and beauty industries didn’t stop bringing us some much-needed inspo.
In celebration of lockdown restrictions starting to lift in the UK, here are some of the biggest SS21 beauty trends that we can’t wait to show off soon.
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1. The Bold Type
For some of us this trend never left, but for the rest of us… Bold lips are back! Think classic red gloss or a hot pink matte look for maximum impact. Even if it’s covered with a mask, knowing you’ve got your lippie on can be a massive boost.
For mask-proof bold lips, use a liquid lipstick to ensure it stays in place. If you’re feeling brave, you can even add a pop of gloss as seen at Max Mara and Molly Goddard.
2. Nail It With Tie-Dye
Tie-dye nails are a cute way to incorporate the trend into your beauty routine. Instead of using bright in-your-face colours, try pastels for a fresh spring finish. Okay, so pastels plus spring is nothing new, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
It’s really easy to do too. Just add a base coat and paint thick stripes on the nails with three or more colours. Before it dries, grab a toothpick and rag a line through the colours to create a tie-dye effect.
Experiment with different colours to get the look you want. Even better, doing your nails at home is an easy way to take time for yourself and practice self-care.
3. Faux Freckles
Faux freckles were all over the runways as part of the SS21 beauty trends. Faking it with freckles was everywhere during the summer festival season in 2019 – now they’re coming back, and hopefully just in time for us to hit some festivals and events again!
You can buy special freckle pens that give the effect (apply sparingly, you can always add more) or try out the look with eyeliner or liquid lipstick. Alternatively, you can get henna freckles applied in-salon for a longer-lasting look.
Either way, this super-cute look is perfect paired with bronzed skin and brown lips.
4. Hair Accessories
Theatrical hair accessories were big at Dolce & Gabbana, Rodarte, Maison Margiela, Giambattista Valli, Chanel, Acne and Simone Rocha for SS21. There was everything from flowers to pearls, turbans to bows, and crystals!
These hair accessories are perfect for adding a touch of glam, and a great antidote to tying your hair up in a bun and throwing on some sweatpants.
Unless being maximalist is your style, pair this look with a scaled-back outfit and let your accessories do the talking. Go as OTT, or as subtle (with a theatrical nod, of course) as you want.
5. Wispy Lashes
Lashes have been big news in beauty over the last few years, with different trends coming and going. The latest – seen at Rodarte for Spring/Summer – features wispy lashes, with delicate faux lashes added to the centre of the lash line for a sixties-inspired vibe.
This romanticism is straight from NARS’ Global Director of Artistry UZO, who has created the whimsical, romantic appearance that the brand is known for.
With so much choice in false lashes now, or even lash extensions when salons reopen, this is a trend that’s easy to take part in. Just grab your fave wispy falsies, or speak to your lash artist, and get the wispy look.
6. Mask Match
With masks looking like they’re here to stay for a while, take inspiration from Rebecca Minkoff and KISS Nails by matching your nails to your mask. This is a tongue-in-cheek nod to making your mask a feature rather than something that you just have to put up with.
Experiment with decals, patterns and colours to match the two together and act as accessories for your outfit. Might as well make the most of that mask, after all!
7. Fantasy Hair
The trend for dying our hair crazy colours as a form of expression hasn’t gone away (yay!). Whether it’s temporary, permanent or even a wig, we’re all living our best, and most colourful, lives with this rainbow trend.
Bright hair was seen at Collina Strada and Valentino in their Spring and Summer ‘21 collection. Celebrities – even those who normally stick with more neutral colours – are trying out the bold, bright hair look too.
Try out temporary colours at home, or book yourself in when salons reopen and go wild. Life’s far too short to not have crazy hair at least once.
8. Spring Florals
The runways were rocking with florals for Spring/Summer at pretty much every fashion week last year. Models at Anna Sui’s New York Fashion Week shows displayed their whimsical side with watercolour daisies on their face. Chanel Couture showed off flower crowns and Rodarte topped off hair with florals too.
We think florals work perfectly for spring, especially when they’re paired with a romantic, whimsical aesthetic
9. Graphic Eyes
Classic cat eyes with a colourful twist, bold painted lids, graphic eyeliner and colour-blocked eyeshadow are all set to have a moment in 2021. Graphic liner has been a big trend for a few seasons and doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon.
It’s perfect for wearing with a mask to make the most of the parts of the face you can see. A little bonus tip: orange is set to be big in 2021 if the catwalks are anything to go by.
Try your graphic eye look in orange or go all out and pair with tangerine lips à la Versace. Faded peach was seen at Louis Vuitton, as well as the shade of sunset at Burberry.
10. Alternate Nails
Fill your fingertips with colour with this bold, bright spring trend. It’s pretty much what it sounds like – alternate different shades in the same colour family across your nails. You can even throw in a few other spring colours to make a custom combination, such as pink and orange.
Best thing about this trend? It’s super-easy to do and no special products or tools are required. Just take your existing nail polishes and get creative. You can match it up (or contrast it) with your outfit, or you can even try it out on toes if you’re not ready for the aesthetic on your fingers.
Finding Your Groove With SS21 Beauty Trends
SS21 is looking like a bold one when it comes to beauty. It’s all about self-expression and individualism combined with whimsical touches (perfect for experimenting post-lockdown). Even better, most of the upcoming trends are super-easy to try out or recreate for this season, so there should be no stopping you!
Which of these SS21 beauty trends are you on board with? Which are you most looking forward to trying out this season?
Lucy Thorpe is a freelance writer and marketer from the UK. She specialises in writing about beauty, fashion and lifestyle (with a bit of marketing thrown in for good measure). In her spare time you can find her reading, cooking or heading off to explore nature from her home at the edge of the Peak District.
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