Our Favorite Colorful Makeup Looks for This Summer

Last Updated on August 22, 2024 by Kristi Kuhn

If you hide your personality and vibrant self underneath a sweatshirt and beanie all winter long, there’s some good news: it’s almost summer (finally). That said, it’s time to chuck the winter colors and introduce some pigment back into your life. But how?

If you’ve forgotten how to be a multicolored diva during winter humdrum, don’t panic – just keep reading. Below, you will find ten of the absolute hottest ways to rock colorful makeup looks you won’t be able to stop from uploading to your IG account.

Let’s be honest, dolls, and eye makeup in summer can often feel like eating an Oreo and brushing your teeth at the same time. The reason why we are gonna suggest the best drugstore eyeliner is that we don’t want to overspend in summer, makeup. The heat, especially in those humid spaces, really just beats your eyes and forces you to sweat even the best of those setting sprays.

However, summer brings forth some amazing parties, offering fun opportunities to brighten up those eyes! Whether it’s neon colors or an iconic purple look, we’re diving into all the colorful makeup looks. Are you ready for it? 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 has been kind, well, boring lately. It’s the same ole, same old. Fashionistas are downright tired of it. So they’re shaking things up for 2024. The looks are a little outlandish and full of personality, but that seems to be the going theme for Funky 2024.

With that in mind, graphic eyeliner is taking center stage, often as part of a the favorite colorful makeup looks our there! It’s time to completely step out of your comfort zone and try on something incredible. Which makeup artist inspo are you going to copy this weekend? Try one of these on for size:

• 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?) for 2023. You can even double neon shades on top of each other 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! It’s your year to cover your eyes in some of the most incredible look-at-me styles you’ve ever dreamed of.
• 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 – Basically, 2023 tells you that it is a-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 really want to create majesty on your eyelids, try the butterfly-inspired colorful makeup looks out there. It can be as subtle or as astounding as you’d like. Add immense details or go with something more tame for the office party. 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 colorful makeup looks you choose to rock, wear them with pride!

Best Drugstore Eyeliner and Neon Liners

ColourPop

Let’s dive into our first best drugstore eyeliner, this entire COLLECTION from Colour Pop cosmetics! This aglow creme gel eyeliner is a steal for $38 and also has the option for after-pay! This collection 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!

Revolution Beauty

What do we love about this eyeliner set from Revolution Beauty? First, it is one of the best drugstore eyeliners you might not get a ton of shades, but the quality is impeccable, making it an easy contender for the best drugstore eyeliner! Honestly, we love all four vibrant choices, but we especially love how creamy and smooth they are when they go one.

The product looks and feels like something that could cost twice as much, which is why it is considered one of the best drugstore eyeliners. Unlike ColourPop (which despite the spelling of its name is actually an American brand), this is predominantly a British drugstore brand. Nevertheless, it is available for purchase in the States, and we’ve got to hand it to our friends across the ocean: at this quality and price point, bravo! Whether you’re going for a classic line or colorful makeup looks, this eyeliner delivers exceptional performance.

Cosmug

When it comes to the best drugstore eyeliner that is affordable and quality eyeliners, don’t discount what you can find at Walmart! Another strong contender for “best drugstore eyeliner”, this set comes with 10 different liners at a true bargain price! In this case, the colors are not really “neon”, but this is an all-around value set we like so much that we had to mention it! We could really use that rich and somber red or green for a Christmas party, but we’d really call this set the perfect year-round purchase for colorful makeup looks.

For Arts Sake Cosmetics

Next up, we have a liner that will surely give you the rave look vibe. This neon eyeliner glows under UV lights and is meant to put on a show! The highly pigmented Neon liquid liner formula delivers a bold eye look that is smudge-proof, flake-proof, and smear-proof and with no mess or excess. The formula is cruelty-free and waterproof.

This neon glow is very striking and will get you noticed in the club or festival. Use the liner for intense definition, as the thin brush supplies smooth, even lines for lasting intensity with the brightest color possible for colorful makeup looks. There are multiple colors you can mix and match here as well, but we love starting with this hot pink and going from there.

Wet n Wild

If you’re new to the makeup or eyeliner world and don’t quite want to spend almost $20 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 simple to die for, and it is on the list of best drugstore eyeliner! First off, the whole color line is vegan and cruelty-free, and the color is completely buildable. It really 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! This easy-to-use award winner gives you enough playtime to mix and create custom shades, but once it dries down, the weatherproof, waterproof, and smudge-proof formula doesn’t budge!

Use your fingers or your favorite brush to apply and blend. Plus, this bundle comes with a limited-edition holographic mini square cosmetic bag. 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 in your colorful makeup looks, add glitter or some type of shimmer in the corner of your eye to really 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. best drugstore eyeliner is usually white since it’s such a classic color to add some 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 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 really turns our makeup into a work of art for colorful makeup looks.

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

We’ve met some rather beautiful neon liners that are sure to hype your eye makeup up top to its full potential. Let’s take a look at a few others that also have some great staying power and have been used with great success

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 PALETTE BRIGHTS by Beauty Bay are meant to be used with a brush. These pots contain some intense pigments that can be used anywhere on the body 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 pro-quality face and body painting and because of that, it is the best drugstore eyeliner option for this specific type.

This 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 a versatile range of colorful makeup looks, from fine detailed lines to full-body art. There is also another set in three other colors that really allow you to get creative and paint to your heart’s content.

Pixie

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 Fuschia 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. It’s also supposed to last for 36 hours and not crack, bleed, or fade which is why it’s considered the best drugstore eyeliner! 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.

Now that you have a working understanding of where to find the best drugstore eyeliner, please note that all the products listed are vegan and cruelty-free! Yes, we want to support companies that don’t hurt defenseless animals. It’s 2024, and in the world of colorful makeup looks, we don’t have time for animal cruelty.

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 personally 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!

On To Some Eyeshadow Makeup Looks

Quirky Orange Makeup Looks

Ever since Cara Delevigne 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 looks are the “it” look for 2024. So, if you’re someone who can’t get enough of neon blues, yellows, greens, and pinks, now’s the time to resurrect your neon palette and create colorful makeup looks that steal the show.

Oh, and by the way – two-toned eyes are a major hit this year, 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 tends to be the go-to for this year, though? The brighter, the better. So, if you’re currently okay with wearing any kind of pink makeup, consider going with a lighter shade this year.

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 Colourpop California Love” Eyeshadow Palette.

For example, Beyonce brought queen “bee” 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 complementing 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 makeup looks are all the rage for 2024. Use a sheer coral red lipstick to rev up that classic matte makeup look, or cover your lids with a subtle coral red shade to create colorful makeup looks that are 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’re looking to create colorful makeup looks 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. 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 really 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, which means you can make colorful makeup looks that really turn heads, especially if you use the Morphe “2 Always” Gel Liner.

Consider using complementing 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 on the outside with triangles designed with deep plum, light green, or golden hue. 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 this year. You can really wear as much blush as your heart desires while still being on-trend and looking lush. Embrace the boldness and incorporate your blush into your colorful makeup looks for a vibrant, fashionable statement.

The best part is 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.

Purple Motion

Purple makeup sounds a bit scary, but it’s way easier to wear than you may think. There are so many palettes that provide a beautiful purple color story. One of our favorites is the Haze Obsessions Palette from Huda Beauty. The shades featured in this palette are extremely wearable if you’re looking for something different but don’t want to go too far out of your comfort zone. The purples in this palette will also look amazing on those with deeper skin tones.

If you’re looking for something a bit more affordable, Juvia’s place always has your back! The Violets Eyeshadow Palette features six stunning purple shades.

There are so many ways to incorporate purple into your makeup look. Whether you use or the other palette, or perhaps a combination, of both… your purple makeup will make a statement!

Starting Slow

If you are new to incorporating colors in your eye looks, here is a palette for you! Neutral shades and purples go hand in hand! Your one-stop palette for all these shades and more is Morphe’s 35C Everyday Chic Artistry Palette. You can find light colors, dark ones, and glittery shades of course… Creating a look with this palette is effortless with all the neutral transition shades that it has as well.

Not Lyin About Lined Lips

For some, ultra-colorful makeup looks can be overwhelming. If you want to dip your toes into colorful makeup looks world 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 a-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

Lipstick Need 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 alone has at least eleven 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 brow 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 and currently on sale so it’s the perfect time to give it a try!

Another one that we have been dying to try but has been sold out since its launch is R.E.M Beauty’s Highlighter Topper in the shade, Miss Neptune. The formula of this product is amazing and we have no doubt that the color would look just as good!

Final Words…

So how did we do with our list of the best drugstore eyeliner, dolls? Share your thoughts below or on our Instagram @offonfriday. To share which one you think is the best drugstore eyeliner, use #SuccessibleBeauty for a chance to be reposted!