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How To Create Playful and Cute Makeup Looks

There’s no doubt that your makeup look can totally change your vibe. For a sultry, mysterious look, you might go for a dark smokey eye, and when you want to lean into your bombshell chic side, you may try out a classic red lip… but sometimes, you might want your look to feel light, playful, and cute.

That’s where this guide comes into play. At SHEGLAM, we believe that makeup can help you express your style, regardless of what side of yourself you want to show off on a given day.

In this guide, we’re going to introduce you to seven different makeup styles for when you want to have a little bit of fun with your look.

Where Can You Wear Playful and Cute Makeup Looks?

There’s a time and a place for every makeup look, and you’re the only person who can say what feels right at any given moment. That said, we have a few ideas about when the styles included in this guide might come in handy.

Given that spring and summer fashion is generally more colorful and whimsical, these styles may be your go-to as the weather starts to warm up. They’re also great for music festivals, concerts, and other events where you want to make a statement with your makeup but you don’t necessarily want to do full glam.

These looks would also be ideal on vacation when you’ve broken out of your normal routine and want your makeup to reflect your footloose and fancy-free attitude.

What Are Seven Playful and Cute Makeup Styles?

Now that you know more about when you can debut these makeup styles, it’s time to dive into the specifics. In this section, you’ll learn about seven different playful, cute makeup styles and tips for pulling them off.

These are only ideas — don’t be afraid to experiment and make each look your own.

1. Popsicle Lips

Do you remember those summer days as a kid when you would eat a cherry popsicle and your lips would be stained for a few hours after? If so, then keep that image in mind as you try out one of the flirtiest lip trends: popsicle lips (also known as the lollipop pout). This look involves creating a smudge of color on your lips that seems a little bit messy and imperfect, which gives it an effortlessly cool feel.

Before you think about color, make sure your lips are well moisturized and exfoliated. Once your lips are prepped, take your favorite lip stain (or creamy lipstick) and dab the color with your finger or a brush onto the center of your lips.

Smudge and rub the color in, then gently drag it toward the corners of your mouth. Your goal is to create a look where the color is concentrated in the center of your lips, and there’s just a subtle tint as you move toward the outside.

If you want, you can top this look off with a shiny gloss to give it an extra wow factor.

2. Daring Winged Liner

We all know and love the classic black winged liner look. However, consider reaching for a colorful eyeliner to shake things up and give this iconic eye makeup staple a perkier feel. You can go for a bold red or a rich emerald to enhance the natural color of your eyes and refresh your look with an unexpected twist.

If you want to do a bright winged liner but aren’t sure you can nail it, we’ve got you covered. Start by lining your upper lash line. Then, keeping your eyes open, draw a straight line from the outer corners of your eyes where you want the wing to go.

Slow and steady is the name of the game as you do this. Connect the tip back to the lash line and fill in the space to finish your look. To simplify things, you can apply the liner in small strokes and connect the dots as you go.

3. Glittery Glam

As far as we’re concerned, there’s no age limit for glitter. Adding a little sparkle and shine to your makeup look can take it from daytime to the dance floor with just one swipe of a brush.

One easy way to add glitter to your glam is to use a glittery eyeshadow. If you want to try out this look, use a good gripping primer so that the glitter stays on your lids all night. We recommend applying glitter to your entire lid and blending it towards the crease because, really, can you ever have too much glitter?

Another way to incorporate glitter into your makeup is to use a sparkling, glossy lip product like our Jelly Wow Hydrating Lip Oil. Available in three different glitter shades, this oil gives your lips a lustrous tint while keeping them hydrated. Now that’s what we call a win-win.

4. Pretty Pink Blush

When you’re aiming for a cute makeup look, you want your skin to look as fresh as possible. That’s why a pretty pink blush can often take a playful look to the next level and give you a bright glow.

We recommend using a pink, shimmery blush like our Color Bloom Dayglow Liquid Blush in the shade Love Cake. Make sure you apply just a few dabs of this blush to the apples of your cheeks.

To keep your makeup feeling light and youthful, you don’t want to over apply your blush. Consider adding a swipe onto the bridge of your nose as well to get that summer-time, sunkissed look.

5. Dewy Skin

Another must-have for a playful makeup look is dewy skin. When your skin has that hydrated, fresh-faced glow, it will compliment the more adventurous styles you try out with your lips and eyes without overshadowing them.

The best way to achieve dewy skin is to have a great skincare routine. Make sure you’re gently cleansing and moisturizing your skin every day and drinking plenty of water. This will give you a healthy, hydrated base to start with.

From there, you’ll want to generously apply a moisturizing primer before you apply any makeup. This will give you a smooth surface to apply your makeup to and will help your makeup last longer. In terms of foundation, go for something that offers light coverage and still allows freckles and birthmarks to shine through.

Applying a lightweight foundation with a slightly damp beauty sponge will ensure even application. Once you’re satisfied with your foundation, rely more on highlighter, rather than a heavy bronzer, to contour your face.

Putting highlighter on your cheekbones, underneath your eyebrows, and on your Cupid’s bow will give you a natural, gorgeous glow.

6. Statement Lids

Brown and earth-toned eyeshadow can be a great staple, but when you want to mix things up and make your look more playful, reach for your pastel eyeshadow palette. Bright eyeshadow shades like purple, blue, orange, and pink can be a great way to make your look whimsical and a bit less serious.

As always, start by priming your eyelids. From there, take a neutral, matte transition shade and, starting in your crease, blend it upwards. Then grab your daring eyeshadow shade and apply it to your eyelids using your pinky finger or a flat brush. Blend the bold color upwards until it reaches the crease.

If you want to pack the color on and make sure it shows up in a really vibrant way, you can get your brush slightly damp before you press it into the eyeshadow.

On the other hand, if you want to try a more colorful look but don’t want to commit to a full lid, you can just apply the colorful eyeshadow to the center of your eyelid and use a more neutral shade to buff it out toward the outside of your lid.

7. Neon Lips

Last but certainly not least, we have neon lips, our final playful makeup look. To pull off this look, find a neon shade that you love and then decide what vibe you’re going for. If you want crisp, precise lines, you’ll need to apply the lipstick or stain with a brush. For a more smudgy look, you can use your fingers.

To get the strongest neon color, apply a layer of lipstick and blot as much as you can. Once the product has set, apply another layer and blot again. If that still isn’t bold enough, you can even mix your lipstick with a little bit of neon face pain in the same shade to get the desired effect.

Wrapping Up

Makeup doesn’t have to be serious all the time. In fact, we think it can absolutely be a tool to help you express your sillier side.

When you want to do just that with your makeup look, you can try one of the seven different cute ideas on this list. If you do, make sure to post the finished results to social media and tag us so we can be part of the playful fun


Sources:

'Lollipop Pouts' Are The Latest Lipstick Trend Emerging From NYFW SS25 | Elle

The Blush Pink Beauty Trend To Fall For This Valentine’s Day | British Vogue

Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics | NIH

At Christopher John Rogers, “Toxic Bright” Neon Lips and Wet-Look Hair Rule the Runway | Vogue