The weather isn’t the only thing heating up this spring. Neon makeup shades are a hot trend for the season. From bubblegum lips to aqua eyes, there’s a rainbow of hues to play with. “Brights are fun!” says Dick Page, Artistic Director of Shiseido Makeup, who’s worked with celebs like Julianne Moore and Catherine Zeta-Jones. “They complement lighter, brighter summer clothes particularly well.” But bold hues can be intimidating. Here, Page spills his tips on how to ease into the trend.
Don’t do brights all over. Pick only one feature like eyes, lips or nails to play up with a splashy color. Keep your cheek color sheer and natural so you don’t look like Raggedy Ann. Page is a fan of slightly shimmery shades of cobalt blue, leaf green and violet for eyes and orange and fuchsia for lips.
Build up your color. If you’re new to neon, start out by adding subtle pops of color into your normal makeup routine. Page suggests amping up a neutral eye with a bright yellow highlight on your browbone or pumping up a lip with a touch of electric pink gloss.
Layer neons over neutrals. For a look that’s more modern chic than space-age surreal, Page encourages blending a bright hue over a more neutral tone from the same color family. For example, layer a shimmery orange shadow over a matte brown one or smudge out a grey liner with a bright blue cream eyeshadow. This will give you that bright pop of color without being too overwhelming or harsh.
