Move over clean girl make-up: This summer is all about sparkly beauty
Clean girl make-up has been the dominant beauty trend for a while now, spotlighting minimal make-up and a fresh look – but that’s about to change.
This summer, sparkles are set to make a comeback, as people are keen to have a bit more fun with their beauty looks.
“People want to have a little bit more playfulness, especially coming into summer – having a little pop of their personality,” says Laura Miller, make-up tester and trainer at Oriflame.
But that doesn’t mean loading up on maximalist glitter – instead, Miller sees it as a progression from the clean-girl aesthetic, adding: “We still can embrace this fresh, clean look while adding that element of playfulness, which I think glitter does really well.”
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Beauty content creator William Grande (@snatchedbywill on TikTok), wholeheartedly agrees – taking it one step over.
“Clean girl is done, clean girl is over,” he laughs. “I think this is the year that everyone’s finally starting to express themselves through make-up… People are playing around with colour more.”
Grande suggests the glitter renaissance is partly influenced by pop culture – particularly the sparkling make-up looks worn by Swedish popstar Zara Larsson during her ongoing Midnight Sun Tour, and the fact that HBO TV show Euphoria (known for its experimental, glittering make-up looks) is back on our screens for season three.
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For Miller, make-up is “artistry”, and is key to finishing off any outfit. “Make-up for me is something that can pull a look together, so if you’ve spent so much time invested in your outfit, you really want it to be complementary,” she notes.
“I think glitter can do that in such a subtle and beautiful way.”
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One of the clearest shifts in colour cosmetics this year is the rise of shimmer-led eye looks, as brands push glitter and reflective finishes beyond partywear and into everyday make-up routines.
Miller also points to growing demand for “glowy sheen” eyelid products that offer a subtle light-reflecting finish rather than heavy sparkle. The look has gained traction on TikTok and Instagram, where creators are favouring “wet-look” textures and mirror-like shine effects that catch the light on camera.
The trend is also driving innovation across product categories, with brands expanding beyond traditional powder eyeshadows into glitter-infused liquid eyeliners, gloss-like eye tints and multi-use shimmer pigments designed for quick application.
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Meanwhile, Grande is championing a new wave of glow-first beauty, swapping traditional highlighter for glitter-infused radiance that taps directly into the “glass skin” obsession dominating beauty feeds right now.
Rather than relying on powder shimmer, she’s leaning into creamy, light-reflective formulas like the NYX Cosmetics Buttermelt Highlighting Stick to create a glossy, almost wet-look finish across the skin. The effect? A luminous, glazed complexion that catches the light without looking heavy or overdone.
“It gives you that really nice natural glow… It elevates my skin, now I look like I’ve got glass skin because I’ve got that highlighter.”
The look plays into the season’s broader shift towards skin that looks fresh, reflective and intentionally dewy, with glitter being used less as festival make-up and more as an everyday complexion enhancer.
For those embracing a more maximalist interpretation of the shimmer movement, face gems are fast becoming beauty’s latest statement accessory - moving beyond festival season into full red carpet territory.
Thai popstar Lisa experimented with face gems for her recent Met Gala look (Alamy/PA)
The look has already dominated this year’s celebrity beauty landscape, spotted everywhere from Rihanna’s Met Gala glam to Thai superstar Lisa’s futuristic sparkle-heavy make-up moments.
Grande is fully behind the trend. “I love using gems,” she says, championing the playful, customisable nature of the look.
Rather than perfectly placed rhinestones feeling intimidating or overly theatrical, the new approach is intentionally effortless - designed to look spontaneous, glossy and cool rather than meticulously applied. It’s part of a broader shift towards experimental beauty, where embellishment, texture and light-reflecting finishes are replacing minimalist make-up as the season’s defining mood.
