What’s Been Up
Move over, glass skin. Bloom skin is summer’s new glow goal
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Dopamine beauty is exactly what it sounds like: makeup chosen for the way it makes you feel. A fuchsia lip you reach for because it puts you in a better mood. A glossy green lid that turns getting ready into something worth looking forward to. The idea borrows from dopamine dressing—the theory that wearing vibrant colour triggers a measurable feel-good response—and applies the same logic to your face.
It’s the direct counterpoint to the clean girl, quiet luxury era. It’s not a rejection of it, but a correction: colour is back on the table and maximalism is welcome. This summer, it’s the approach showing up on runways and across social media.
Here’s what it looks like in practice, why it’s landed so hard right now and how to wear it.
A classic red is always a good idea and this Royal Red shade from Anastasia Beverly Hills is perfect when you want to go full glam. The formula is ultra-matte but still feels surprisingly lightweight, with a smooth, velvety finish that doesn’t feel stiff on the lips. It also has great staying power once it sets, so you’re not constantly checking for touch-ups between dinner and dessert.
A blush that will have you flushing as though you’re talking to your first crush, Too Faced invites you to channel your inner romantic with its velvety soft formula that makes for a powerful addition to your summer makeup kit. Forget all the cakey streaks you have ever known—this powder blush is here to envelop your cheeks in a diffused wash of candy pink pigment that is so light, you’ll forget it’s even there.
One crayon, three ways to use it. Sweep it across the lid and blend for a smudgy shadow effect; run it along the lashline for something more defined; press it into the waterline for a kohl look that makes eyes appear more open. It’s a multi-tasking product that makes doing a statement look so much easier.
There’s a broader cultural pendulum at play here, and it’s swinging hard towards joy. After years of minimalism dominating both beauty and culture more broadly, the appetite for colour has built up. People aren’t abandoning restraint permanently—they’re just done with it for now. The contrast is the whole appeal.
Social media has also changed what’s possible. Looks that used to exist only in editorial contexts—extreme colour, unexpected placement, technically demanding execution—are now broken down into tutorials that anyone can follow. The barrier between inspiration and replication is lower than it’s ever been, and it shows.
But the most straightforward explanation is also the most accurate: colour makes people feel good. A red lip is a small but deliberate act. A glitter eye is a statement. In a world with plenty of grey noise, choosing to be vivid is its own form of self-expression—and it happens to photograph well.
Not all dopamine beauty looks the same, and that’s entirely the point. Here are the expressions of the trend that are dominating summer.
There’s a broader cultural pendulum at play here, and it’s swinging hard towards joy. After years of minimalism dominating both beauty and culture more broadly, the appetite for colour has built up. People aren’t abandoning restraint permanently—they’re just done with it for now. The contrast is the whole appeal.
Social media has also changed what’s possible. Looks that used to exist only in editorial contexts—extreme colour, unexpected placement, technically demanding execution—are now broken down into tutorials that anyone can follow. The barrier between inspiration and replication is lower than it’s ever been, and it shows.
But the most straightforward explanation is also the most accurate: colour makes people feel good. A red lip is a small but deliberate act. A glitter eye is a statement. In a world with plenty of grey noise, choosing to be vivid is its own form of self-expression—and it happens to photograph well.
Not all dopamine beauty looks the same, and that’s entirely the point. Here are the expressions of the trend that are dominating summer.
There’s a broader cultural pendulum at play here, and it’s swinging hard towards joy. After years of minimalism dominating both beauty and culture more broadly, the appetite for colour has built up. People aren’t abandoning restraint permanently—they’re just done with it for now. The contrast is the whole appeal.
Social media has also changed what’s possible. Looks that used to exist only in editorial contexts—extreme colour, unexpected placement, technically demanding execution—are now broken down into tutorials that anyone can follow. The barrier between inspiration and replication is lower than it’s ever been, and it shows.
But the most straightforward explanation is also the most accurate: colour makes people feel good. A red lip is a small but deliberate act. A glitter eye is a statement. In a world with plenty of grey noise, choosing to be vivid is its own form of self-expression—and it happens to photograph well.
Not all dopamine beauty looks the same, and that’s entirely the point. Here are the expressions of the trend that are dominating summer.
There’s a broader cultural pendulum at play here, and it’s swinging hard towards joy. After years of minimalism dominating both beauty and culture more broadly, the appetite for colour has built up. People aren’t abandoning restraint permanently—they’re just done with it for now. The contrast is the whole appeal.
Social media has also changed what’s possible. Looks that used to exist only in editorial contexts—extreme colour, unexpected placement, technically demanding execution—are now broken down into tutorials that anyone can follow. The barrier between inspiration and replication is lower than it’s ever been, and it shows.
But the most straightforward explanation is also the most accurate: colour makes people feel good. A red lip is a small but deliberate act. A glitter eye is a statement. In a world with plenty of grey noise, choosing to be vivid is its own form of self-expression—and it happens to photograph well.
Not all dopamine beauty looks the same, and that’s entirely the point. Here are the expressions of the trend that are dominating summer.
