‘Dopamine makeup’ may sound complicated as a term, but in essence, it is just what the name suggests — makeup that inspires feelings of joy, aka, triggers a dopamine release in your brain. It’s the maximalist opposite of the simple, radiant clean girl look, which relies on a subtle, more natural-looking aesthetic. Dopamine makeup, on the other hand, isn’t afraid of playing with colour. Think neon brights, vivid pastels, glitters, shimmers, and multi-chromes — basically anything and everything that holds the potential to brighten up a dull day. Dopamine makeup is all about colourful self-expression, so getting the technique right is not a top priority here (as long as you’re having fun with your look!), making it a perfect trend for beginners to embrace. Creating a fun, uniquely individualistic look can feel extremely therapeutic, which is why this trend has rapidly taken over our IG feeds.
Truth be told, all of us could do with a little extra dose of dopamine, given the fact that the last few years have been extra tumultuous. But if you’re confused about how to approach dopamine makeup, or can’t seem to put down your everyday palette of neutrals, here’s an easy guide on how to wear this fun trend for maximum impact (get ready to smile every time you peek into the mirror!) Remember, dopamine makeup is all about having fun and isn’t one-size-fits-all, which means there are endless iterations you can experiment with! Also, there are no rules here, so pick all the trends you like, and mix and match them to create unique looks every day.
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1. Bright-eyed beauty
The easiest and most fool-proof way to approach dopamine makeup is to try it on your lids. Pick a matte or shimmery shade of your choice (the brighter, the better!) and apply it all over your lids uniformly for a pop of colour, like Dua in the Barbie movie! Keep the rest of your face minimal or neutral to truly let your lids shine. If a bright wash of colour is still too adventurous for you to try, you can start by using the shadow on the inner corners of your eyes for a quick and subtle version of the look.
Get the look: SUVA Beauty Pressed Pigment Face Palette - Magic + Ecstasy
2. The more, the merrier
Once you’ve mastered the basics of vivid eyeshadows, here comes the fun part — Why limit yourself to just one shade? For instance, create a quick sunset-inspired look with yellow inner corners combined with orange and red shadows across the rest of your lids. Or take the unicorn route with a mix of pastel pinks, lilacs and greens.
Get the look: SUVA Beauty Hydra FX Eyeliner Palette - UV Festival
3. Get graphic with it
Now admittedly, this one needs a certain level of skill and technique to get right, but nothing you can’t master with some regular practice. Coloured (or even electric, neon-hued) eyeliners are a simple yet impactful way to inject some fun into your makeup look. Beginners can start by drawing a line on their upper or lower (or both!) lashline and extend it into a wing to create a simple cat-eye. For a more advanced iteration of this trend, try a floating graphic liner (draw a line across your brow bones), or create shapes at the outer corner of your eye. You can easily combine your graphic liner with a coloured eyeshadow for more impact or keep it minimal and sharp on its own.
Get the look: SUVA Beauty Hydra FX Eyeliner - Fanny Pack
4. Shimmer and sparkle
Who doesn’t love some shimmer? Possibly the most versatile of the lot, this trend blends seamlessly with any and all of the trends mentioned above. Plus, you have endless formulations to choose from when you need to add that dose of shine to your look. Pick from pearlescent shimmer eyeshadows and blushes, chunky glitters, shimmery glosses, or even rhinestones for an added oomph. And remember, the shimmer is not just for the lids; your whole face is your canvas! Try an iridescent blush (holographic makeup is all the rage right now, after all!) or a sparkly, high-shine lip for a fun take on this trend.
Get the look: SUVA Beauty Pressed Pigment Face Palette - Toppers
5. Blush it up!
Blush is great for adding a healthy flush of colour to your face or even lending a subtle sculpting effect. However, a high-pigment, high-intensity blush, especially in an unusual shade like berry or purple, can be a great way to ace dopamine makeup. To really make an impact, keep the rest of your face pared back and go all in with a heavy hand, applying the blush onto the apples of your cheek and dusting some off across the bridge of your nose. For a statement ‘draping’ effect, apply the blush in a C-shape along the cheekbones and temples of your eyes.
Get the look: SUVA Beauty Hydra FX Eyeliner Palette - UV Taffies
Cover Image: Instagram/@ishanimitraa
