12 of Our Favorite Colorful Makeup Looks for This Summer

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If you’ve spent winter hiding under a sweatshirt and beanie, there’s good news: summer is the perfect time to bring color back into your makeup bag. But how?

Key Takeaways

• Graphic, butterfly, double-winged and triangle liner are easy ways to bring bold color to your eyes.
• Use only products labeled for the eye area near your eyes; the FDA does not allow fluorescent (neon) color additives there.
• Budget-friendly drugstore liners from brands like NYX, Wet n Wild and ColourPop make it easy to experiment.
• Bright blush, coral lips, lined lips and face gems are lower-commitment ways to wear color.
• Don’t share eye makeup, and skip it entirely if your eyes are irritated or infected.

If you’ve forgotten how to be a multicolored diva after the winter humdrum, don’t panic. Below, you’ll find our favorite ways to wear colorful makeup, from graphic liner and bright lids to bold blush and lined lips.

Let’s be honest, dolls: eye makeup in summer can feel like eating an Oreo right after brushing your teeth. Heat and humidity make even the best setting spray work overtime, which is why we’ve also rounded up budget-friendly drugstore eyeliners, so you don’t overspend on summer makeup.

But here’s the thing: colorful makeup thrives in the chaos. It’s bold, unapologetic, and made for moments when subtle just won’t cut it. Summer parties are the perfect excuse to brighten up those eyes, whether that means neon liner or an iconic purple look.

There’s no better season to unleash your inner artist. Get inspired, get bold, and let’s do this!

Inspo Eyeliner Looks

Graphic Eyeliner

@glistencosmetics I’ve been so excited to show you these looks by @rain using our new duochrome shades, more videos to come… The precision is unmatched 🤯 🛍️ Waves Duochrome Liner & Brush 2 ✨RAIN20 for 20% off✨ #c#chromed#duochromed#duochromemakeupm#makeupn#newyearsevec#chromemakeupe#eyelinerg#graphiclinerg#graphiceyelinereyelinertutorial #sparkle #sparkly ♬ original sound – Glisten Cosmetics

Eyeliner can get, well, boring. It’s the same ole, same old. Graphic liner shakes things up with looks that are a little outlandish and full of personality.

It’s the perfect excuse to step out of your comfort zone and try something incredible. Try one of these on for size:

Before you start, check the label: the FDA does not allow fluorescent (neon) color additives in products used near the eyes, so choose liners that are made and labeled for the eye area.

• Neon – Still stuck in the black, blue, or brown eyeliner phase? Time to release your inner exhibitionist and try out some deep colors. Neon eyeliners are all the rage (do people say that anymore?). Stick to liners labeled safe for the eyes, and you can even layer neon shades for a wild style.
• Embellishments– Honey, we don’t care. If it’s an embellishment, it works. Don’t limit yourself to subtle items, either. Get crazy! Go for the most incredible look-at-me styles you’ve ever dreamed of; just keep gems and glitter away from your lash line.
• Metallic– Prefer metallic over neon? We’re with you. We will flaunt some silver and gold, and you should, too. Metallic eyeliner is making a statement. Don’t miss it.
• Layers – It’s okay to layer your eyeliner. Go simple with black stacked with neon green, or mix and match neons and metallics for a look that genuinely turns heads.
• Pastels– Pastel? Okay, fine. Be the subtle princess that you are. Pastels are the dainty way to explore graphic eyeliner, and honestly, we’re here for it.

Butterfly Eyeliner

@alicekingmakeup butterfly baby🦋✨ #makeup #makeuptutorial #eyeliner #eyelinertutorial #learnontiktok #SimlishSessions #WorkThisWay #cleanbeauty #beyourownboss ♬ Je te laisserai des mots – Patrick Watson

Butter-what? Yeah, you read that correctly. Butterfly eyeliner. What’s the deal?

Okay, think of something you find completely and utterly beautiful, and tell me why you thought of a butterfly. There’s a reason why butterflies are deemed some of the most beautiful creatures on Earth. Now, why wouldn’t we want to transform our eyelids into this type of stunningness (is that a word)?

Ladies, if you want to create majesty on your eyelids, try butterfly-inspired liner. It can be as subtle or as astounding as you’d like: add intricate details, or go with something tamer for the office party. Want to take it further? Pair it with a bright shadow. It’s up to you!

Double-Winged Eyeliner

@frankiedarling3 Obsessed with double winged liner 😙 #doublewingedeyeliner #makeuptutorial #makeupartist #crueltyfreebeauty #maddieperez #euphoriamakeup #nudelip ♬ As It Was – Harry Styles

To be honest, we’ve seen a good chunk of girls doing this look here and there, and we have always loved it. We’re glad that double-winged eyeliner is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

Yup, that’s right. You can double up on your “wings.” After all, the more, the merrier, right? Who said they weren’t talking about eyeliner?

Now, you can go as simple or as wild as you desire with your double-winged liner. Some women opt for stacked lines on the sides of their eyes, while others prefer a more traditional line above the lash combined with a bold line extending across the entire crease of their eyelid, meeting at the corners.

Whatever look you choose, wear it with pride! Neon or pastel, colorful liner is all about expressing your personality.

Best Drugstore Eyeliner and Neon Liners

ColourPop

First up, this entire collection from ColourPop! This aglow creme gel eyeliner set comes with 12 liners that will make your eyes look tasty enough to eat!

Forget a snack; you’ll be a whole meal! One of our fave colors in this collection is peach fuzz, and we like to combine that with a catsuit! This color combo is especially stunning, as we love making our water lines pop with these various colors. Don’t be afraid to mix and match; also, don’t be afraid to let your inner fairy come out!

Cosmug

Don’t discount what you can find at Walmart for affordable eyeliner! This set comes with 10 different liners at a budget-friendly price. The colors aren’t really “neon”, but it’s an all-around value set we like so much that we had to mention it!

Bold or subtle, this eyeliner set gives you room to play. The rich red and green would suit a Christmas party, so it’s a year-round buy and a great starter kit if you’re experimenting with color.

Wet n Wild

If you’re new to the makeup or eyeliner world and don’t want to spend much on an eyeliner, you should try out Wet N’ Wild’s Megaliner Liquid Liner in the shade Electric Purple. Their brush tip is super tiny, so you won’t be struggling, and the color payoff is amazing. Spending less doesn’t mean you’re risking the product’s ability!

About Face

Moving right along, we have an amazing artist-friendly makeup line by Halsey. If you don’t know, Halsey is the singer/songwriter behind many hits on the radio. Her makeup line has this Fractal Glitter eyeliner paint that is simply to die for! First off, the whole color line is vegan and cruelty-free, and the color is completely buildable. It is like painting your eyes.

This matte Fluid Eye Paint comes in high-impact, high-payoff shades. Be it a wash of color, a wing, or more graphic and expressive shapes, these trios are begging for pigment play. They give you enough playtime to mix custom shades, and once dry, the brand says the waterproof, smudge-proof formula doesn’t budge.

Use your fingers or your favorite brush to apply and blend. These eyeliners are heavy-duty and thick, but that’s what makes them stick! We love to wash these over our eyes and then use the baby blue color in our crease, making a fun wave against the base color. For an extra pop, add an eye-safe shimmer to the inner corner of your eye to open up those darling peepers!

Lime Crime

Have you wondered if some makeup looks are a crime? They aren’t, but welcome to Lime Crime! Meet this Venus-pigmented eyeliner in white. Yes, white. White liner is a classic way to add highlight to your look. Venus-pigmented liquid eyeliners have an ultra-matte formula that quickly dries and is smudge-proof with a unique water-based formula. A bonus is that they have a precision brush that can create ultra-thin, winged, or thick lines and beautiful accents. When it comes to white, we love to create a fairy or Viking aesthetic.

This means symbols or some subtle lines down our noses, or even drawing some wings in the corners of the eyes. Once the white liner is drawn on, it acts as a boundary for whatever else you use. We usually take the opportunity to put some eyeshadow within those lines, and that turns our makeup into a work of art.

Now, this all takes practice! Practice makes progress, but these types of eyeliners do try to help with brushes that allow you to change how thick of a line you can create, giving you more freedom to experiment.

Here are a few more bright liners with great staying power.

Also, why not add some purple onto that! Lime Crime’s Venus Liquid Liners have a tiny brush that will make your wings and lines precise. They have it in two purples, a light purple in the shade Lavender and a deeper, vivid purple in the shade Wisteria. Whether you use these liners alone or together for a purple masterpiece, the creative possibilities are endless.

Beauty Bay

These Aquavated Liner Palettes Brights by Beauty Bay are meant to be used with a brush. These pots contain intense pigments and come in a set of three colors, which are bright pink, bright yellow, and bright green. This trio of water-activated cake makeup is loaded with vivid, opaque colors for face and body painting. Before using any bright paint as liner, check that the label says it’s safe for the eye area.

These high-definition, glycerin-based paints deliver long-wearing, intense color that packs a punch. Simply moisten a brush or sponge, dip into the color, and apply for anything from fine, detailed lines to full-body art. There is also another set in three other colors that allows you to get creative and paint to your heart’s content.

Pixi

Purple is the perfect color to add on top of a neutral look to spice it up a bit. Applying an eyeliner pencil to your lower lash line is the hands-down easiest way to throw some color on. We recommend the Endless Silky Eye Pen from Pixi. This pencil is super creamy, easy to apply, and has great pigmentation. Brown and purple are a match made in heaven, so if you have brown eyes, we highly recommend doing this to help your eye color pop!

NYX

Moving right along, let’s get to this Fuchsia metallic eyeliner by NYX. This liner has the appearance of traditional liners in that it sits in a tube, and you unscrew it to find the soft liner brush. NYX says it lasts up to 36 hours without cracking, bleeding, or fading. Also, it features a fine, flexible brush-tip applicator for killer precision and easy application of countless artistic looks, from epic body paint designs to dramatic graphic eyes!

This liner comes in a range of basic to bright hyper-metallic reflective pigments, including hot pink and electric teal. It has a super precise brush tip applicator for creating intricate designs. Also, their PRO-TIP is: to use the liner on the face & body to create flash tattoo looks! Free-hand or stencil for hyper-metallic designs.

Many of the brands above market their products as vegan and cruelty-free, but formulas and certifications change, so check each brand’s current labeling if that matters to you. We want to support companies that don’t hurt defenseless animals!

Once you get your eyeliner, here are some tips:

1. Cleanse and prime your eyelid so there’s a clean canvas for your makeup.
2. The neon liner doesn’t have to remind you of a rave. Sometimes, just replacing your black and brown liner with something like purple will give that fun neon glow. We love traditional cat eyeliner with green or peach.
3. Having some angled Q-Tips will help you as you navigate creating straight lines. Geometric shapes are super fun with neon colors!
4. Imperfections are encouraged! Have fun with your looks! Whatever you create will be epic!
5. Keep it safe: don’t share eye makeup, never apply liner in a moving car, and skip eye makeup if your eyes are irritated or infected.

On To Some Eyeshadow Makeup Looks

Quirky Orange Makeup Looks

Ever since Cara Delevingne and Megan Fox wore a splash of orange on their eyelids, the fashion scene has never been the same. If you’re itching to apply a dash of burnt orange or orange creamsicle hues on your eyelids, the Too Faced “Light My Fire Mini Eyeshadow Palette” is going to be your best friend.

After all, nothing says “summertime” quite like the color orange. Feel free to give your lids a single line of tangerine, or go all-out by mixing and matching orange shades across your eyelid. You can also try on orange lipstick to see if it’s a citrusy match made in heaven for your colorful makeup looks.

Neon Bright Eyeshadow Looks

Rave culture may have taken a backseat in some people’s lives. But if you’re still ready to “bring the party” with electro flare, don’t hesitate to throw some neon bright eyeshadow colors on your eyelids.

Bright eyeshadow is always a summer favorite. If you can’t get enough of neon blues, yellows, greens, and pinks, now’s the time to resurrect your neon palette. Just check that each shade is labeled safe for the eye area, since some neon pigments are sold for face or body use only.

Oh, and by the way, two-toned eyes are a major hit, which is perfect for neon eyeshadow-loving guys and gals out there. Just don’t forget to pair this look with some neon apparel or get edgy with a leather outfit.

Pinky-Pie, Hi!

If you want to keep things a bit tamer than neon, you can always opt for pink. Pink is lovely, feminine, and a gorgeous shade for summertime. You can wear this dainty, colorful makeup on your eyes, cheeks, lips, or all three at once, especially with the Tarte “Tartelette™ Juicy Amazonian Clay” Eyeshadow Palette.

Which pink shade should you go for? Bright pink makes the biggest statement, but a lighter pink is an easy way in if you’re new to colorful makeup.

Hello, Yellow Makeup Looks

Looking for a look that contends with the sun this summer? If you’re looking to be brighter and more exciting than the sun’s rays, consider rocking yellow makeup looks. There are many ways to wear it, but going with a single slash of yellow eyeliner or being bold with yellow eyeshadow that extends far beyond the lid is a knockout pick, using the Morphe Rich & Foiled Gold Seeker Eyeshadow Palette.

For example, Beyoncé brought the “queen” to life with her stunning yet classic yellow eyelid paired with deep black eyeliner. Rihanna opted for contrast, creating colorful makeup looks that combined rich yellow hues with a complementary green border.

Coral Red Makeup Looks That Wow

Red makeup and looks are year-round. It doesn’t matter whether you’re preparing for a fabulous date night with that special someone or just trying to make a statement in the office. If you have red lipstick, wear it and rock it, babe.

But if you’re looking to lighten things up a bit for summertime fun in the sun, consider going with coral red. Coral red is a summer favorite. Use a sheer coral red lipstick to rev up that classic matte makeup look, or cover your lids with a subtle coral red shade for a look that’s daring yet perfectly suited for summer. You can never go wrong with this classic bold color.

Be a Gem with Embellished Face Gems

When it comes to colorful makeup looks, don’t think you’re destined to paint your face with whimsical colors like neon green, bright red, pink, or any other favorite shade. If you want color without the stress and hassle, why not use beautiful embellished face gems?

Embellished face gems can be placed anywhere, but they look extra sexy and striking around the eyes; just use an adhesive made for skin and keep gems away from your lash line. You can keep it as low-key or glamorous as you’d like. The key here is to make a standout look that will “wow” at the upcoming pool party.

Colorful Triangle Cat-Eye

A regular cat-eye using black eyeliner? Yeah, sure, that’s classic, and most women stand for it. But it’s more of a deep, dark, and mysterious application that works well with the foggy nights of winter.

It’s time to give the cat eye a summertime makeover. To do this, you will want to draw triangles on the outer corner of your eye (hello, Camila Cabello). You can use whatever color you want, and it will turn heads, especially if you use the Morphe “2 Always” Gel Liner.

Consider using complementary shades to create a style with plenty of pizazz. For example, creating purple makeup looks across the eyelid using a range of purple shades. Complement the outside with triangles designed with deep plum, light green, or golden hues. Fabulous!

Green Machine

St. Patrick’s Day might be over, but the trendsetters said it was time to let green eyeshadow live beyond this fun holiday.

That’s right – you can now keep your green eyeshadow palette well into the summer months without going out of style. Drape your eyelids in a single hue of green and go over with some shine and sparkle pigmenting for a bedazzled look.

Don’t Blush About All That Blush

Wearing too much blush used to be a fashion faux pas, but not anymore. Don’t hesitate to be heavy-handed with your blush. You can wear as much blush as your heart desires while still being on-trend and looking lush.

The best part is that there are no rules with colors, either. Go daring with some rich red hues, or keep it subtle with peaches and light pinks. Throw some glitter on top to sparkle and shine at every beachside manor.

Not Lyin About Lined Lips

For some, ultra-colorful makeup can be overwhelming. If you want to dip your toes into color without going into the deep end, you can always opt for the final bright summer makeup trend: lined lips.

Lined lips are great because they not only make your natural lips appear fuller and more seductive, but they also have more color “pop.” This is especially true if you step out of the box and go for a quirky color such as orange, yellow, or purple.

With that in mind, you can stick to your regular lip liner – just use more of it. Or, you can try out something completely new. And yes, it’s okay to pair bright lip liner with a more subtle lipstick. Mixing and matching are all part of the fun when it comes to designing colorful looks.

Lipstick Needs Purple, Too!

If you haven’t tried purple lipstick, you are missing out. The color purple comes in so many different shades, making the lipstick possibilities endless. The Dramalips Glassy Lipstick from Rabanne comes in several shades that are so beautiful and would look amazing on so many skin tones. If you’re wanting a straight-to-the-point purple, glassy plum is the shade for you.

Another fun, soft purple lipstick comes from one of our top liquid lipsticks, Anastasia Beverly Hills. The shade Kathryn is described as a brown berry with a matte finish. This color is just stunning, you have to go try it for yourself!

The final brand we recommend for a purple lippie (although there are probably millions more out there) is the SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick from Maybelline. They have a few different purple shades, but if you’re looking for a deep gray purple, Believer is the shade to get.

Highlighter can be fun too.

The final product we have to top off your makeup look is a purple highlighter. The shimmer once melted into your skin gives you a gorgeous glow with subtle color. Our girl Rihanna has a Killawatt highlighter duo with some red tones in the shade Ruby Richez. They are absolutely stunning!

Another one on our wish list is R.E.M. Beauty’s Highlighter Topper in the shade Miss Neptune. Popular shades sell out fast, so check availability before you set your heart on it.

Final Words…

So, how did we do with our list of colorful makeup looks, dolls? Whether you’re into classic wings or love experimenting with colorful makeup looks, we want to hear from you! Share your thoughts below or on our Instagram @successiblelife. And if you try any of these looks, don’t forget to tag us! Use #SuccessibleBeauty to show off your creativity and for a chance to be reposted!

Remember, this all takes practice, and practice makes progress. Have fun with it!

If you’re ready to take your creativity to new heights, these liners and looks are a great place to start.

Sources

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Eye Cosmetic Safety
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Novelty Makeup