7 Pretty Pastel Make-Up Looks To Try Now

There isn’t a better time than springtime to unearth all your soft eggshell-hued products and put together dreamy pastel make-up looks. Switch up your winter darks to favour more delicate shades: light peaches, pale mints, lilacs and delicate blues.

We scanned the internet for modern takes on pastel make-up and here are our favourite ways to wear the trend. You could try…

1. A pastel inner corner accent

If you’re new to the land of candy-coloured make-up, try adding just a single accent to your look. We love to focus on the inner corners of the eyes.

Choose a shimmery eyeshadow in a pale shade (light pinks and lilacs are perfect for this) and press it into the inner corners. This will add an element of pastel without overwhelming your look. Plus, it helps brighten the eyes and makes them look bigger.

Use a small blending brush to diffuse the colour into the inner third of the upper and lower lids. You could leave it here or add a flick of liner to finish the look.

2. A light wash of colour

You don’t have to complicate the look if you don’t want to – even a single shade spread across the eyelids can look beautiful. To make the colour really pop, prep your eyelids with an eyeshadow primer or a creamy concealer. Then, choose your favourite muted bright shade and apply it across the lids, diffusing the colour into the crease.

Cream eyeshadows are the perfect formula to reach for. For instance, the Satin Shadow in 08 Glossy Coral is stunning on various skin tones. And you can apply it using just your fingertip.

Pro tip: A non-neutral shade can sometimes look unnatural against your skin. To help blend it in, use a nude eyeshadow or a light bronzer on a blending brush and skim along the edges of the eyeshadow. This will create a seamless transition.

3. Two-toned pastel eyes

Ready to level up? Try two contrasting pastel tones simultaneously: lilac and butterscotch, peach and a frosty blue or soft pink with a cool mint. Place one shade along the inner third of the eyes and the other in the outer third. Sweep a clean brush along the centre to fade the edges.

Let the spotlight remain on the eyes and keep the rest of your make-up minimal – defined brows, highlighter cheeks and clear gloss will finish the look.

4. Shimmer and sparkle

If you find that your eyeshadow looks flat and one dimensional, liven it up with a layer of sparkle. After applying your eyeshadow as you usually would, use your finger to press a thin coat of glitter over the top. Or, just use a glittery pigment all over.

Try: The Sparkle Shadows are perfect for this – they offer iridescence without looking too over-the-top. One reviewer aptly called them ‘jewellery for your eyes’.

5. A winged shape

In terms of eyeshadow trends, everyone’s loving a foxy, winged shape right now. So if you’re a fan, this soft winged look could be the one for you.

After applying your pastel eyeshadow across the eyelids, use a powder shadow to create the wings – choose a shade that complements the pastel. Browns and plums are fail-safe options. Using a powder eyeshadow instead of a liquid or pencil liner will make the winds look more dainty and less harsh.

6. Pastel cat-eye flicks

If eyeliner looks are your comfort zone, reach for a pastel-hued version instead of the samey blacks, browns or greys. Then, draw your cat-eye as you normally would, but with a brighter shade instead. You could also try this two-toned version. Create your pastel flick and follow up with your black liquid liner to create a thinner flick close to the roots of your lashes.

Tip: If you like some definition around your eyes and a light-coloured eyeliner doesn’t do the job, tightline your eyes with a pencil liner and fill the gaps between your lashes. This will add some invisible definition.

7. Tone on tone

Who says that you can only play with this colour palette on the eyes? Complement peachy lids with a matching light coral or petal pink lip. You could also sweep a blush from the same colour family on the cheeks for a beautiful tonal pastel make-up look. The Joli Blush range offers some pretty pastel options – from baby pinks to soft peaches.

Next read: 7 Make-Up Trends: What’s New For 2022