Spring/Summer 2021 beauty trends reflect our current mood

Underwhelmed by so many of the fall beauty releases, I found myself scouring the internet and reflecting back on the looks that dominated resort and spring 2021 runways just a month ago. And thanks to Elle India’s Harshavi Jain I didn’t have to look far. Whether in the US, Europe, or the place I consider the makeup standard for excellence, India, here are the trends you can adopt and carry through to next year without missing a beat. Cheers to sunnier skies on the fashion horizon, grounded in simple looks that allow every women’s individual beauty to shine.

Harshavi Jain | July 24, 2020

Effortless beauty gets a whole new meaning

After months of social distancing, fashion designers are giving everyone front row seats to their latest spring/summer 2021 shows. From Gucci’s 12 hour-long live stream to Jacquemus’ romantic mid-field runway, we had our eyes trained for next season’s most inspiring make-up and hair trends—and we weren’t disappointed.

Reflecting our current mood for skincare and DIY beauty, the shows shed new light on pared down, laid back beauty. Think of it as an update to your WFH look. Below are the coolest beauty trends to take inspiration from for next season or to wear right now.

Muted Skin

As seen at: Jacquemus, Balmain, Valentino, Louis Vuitton and Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafani

Not too matte or too dewy, just well hydrated skin was a staple through all the shows. We’re going to be going the Valentino way, where models faces had fresh hydrated skin, with just a hint of foundation.

Soft waves

As seen at: Prada, Etro, Balmain and Jacquemus

Imperfect, tousled waves are a whole mood for next summer. To get these textured beach-y waves flowing with the breeze like the models at Jacquemus, apply a volumising mousse on damp hair and gently scrunch at the roots.

Smudged lips

As seen at: Gucci, Tarun Tahiliani, Lanvin, La DoubleJ and Salvatore Ferragamo

A bright lip shade with bare, mascara-free eyes can feel transformational yet low-key. Models at Tarun Tahiliani’s showcased the classic red lip while Alessandro Michele’s Gucci show celebrated different forms of beauty with lips shades ranging from retro tangerine to show-stopping berry lips.

Gelled back hair

As seen at: Balenciaga, Burberry, Lanvin and Nanushka

Simplicity ruled this season’s runway trends, but it’s not a spring/summer show unless models step out with slick just-came-back-from-the-pool hair. While Burberry and Nanushka presented lean combed back hair, Balenciaga presented a slightly tousled look.

The almost smokey eye

As seen at: Tarun Tahiliani and La DoubleJ

Sheer layer of mid-tone browns creates a subtle drama. Models at Tarun Tahiliani, seemed to favour warm bronze eyeshadow and a thin line of kohl along the waterline. At La DoubleJ we saw a hint of shimmer in the inner corner of the eyes and smudged brown eyeshadow at the waterline.

WFH, messy knots

As seen at: Jacquemus

Low maintenance, fuss-free buns have been our hairstyle for most of this year. Master the art of the WFH knot: Blow dry your hair upside down and knot it up in the centre of your head. In our experience, this hairstyle is super efficient while chasing deadlines at 5pm.

Originally published by Elle India on July 24, 2020