Everyone Will Be Wearing Mermaid Eyeshadow and Faded Neons This Summer (2025)

• Experts fill us in on the biggest summer makeup trends for summer 2025.
• From mermaid eyes to pastel neons, here's how to get the coolest makeup looks for the summer.

Mermaid Eyes

The shimmery, sparkly, wet-look shadow trend isn’t going anywhere, says Steve Kassajikian, head of global artistry at Urban Decay. Channel mythical, magical mermaids with iridescent eyes that catch the light all day. Kassajikian recommends smudging Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in shades Zero or Demolition along the lash line to define, then applying Glaze-on Liquid Eyeshadow all over the lid; he likes shades Frost Boss and Sunshine Tax for summer glam.

Davy is also a big fan of the glazed, glimmery eye look. “Glazed lids give that wet, dreamy sheen that catches the light in the most mesmerizing way,” she says. “They make you look like you’re always at golden hour.” Her go-to product is Half Magic’s Glitterpuck Pressed Fairy Dust, a water-infused powder glitter with a gel-like glide and long-lasting staying power. “Just tap and swirl your finger on the product and then pat your eyelids.”

Shimmering Eyes & Lips

Can’t get enough sparkle? Great! Williamson calls this sparkle-on-sparkle look an “an ode to golden hour and the sun reflecting across water.” Pair a glittery shadow like your “mermaid” shade across the lid and pair it with a matching shimmering lip oil for all the glimmer, all the time. Williamson loves Yves Saint Laurent’s Loveshine Plumping Lip Oil Gloss in shades 01 and 06 and Revlon’s Super Lustrous Glimmer Lip Oil.

Pastel Neons

“There’s something so magical about letting your makeup mimic how summer feels: dreamy, electric, and full of spontaneity,” says Davy. “Pastel neons strike that perfect balance between bold and wearable, think electric lavender worn as a floating liner or inner-corner pop, or go for it and put bold color all over your eye.” She recommends layering Half Magic’s Chromaddiction Matte in shades like We Are Aliens, Serving Siren, Mochi Tutu, and Laviwinkle, then addingChromeaddiction Shimmer in ASMR, Baby Bunny, or Fairies are Real. For something you can swipe on and go, Davy recommends the Sparklestik Eye Crayon, which lasts 12 hours without creasing. Her summer picks are Cloud Kid, The Dreamies, Twirlita, and Frostiwinkle. (She says it’s her number-one summer product.)

Cool-Toned Shadow

For many of us, summer isn’t just time to lay by the pool and read a pile of bestsellers; it’s also a busy season of weddings and parties. Give your gold, rust, and warm brown eyeshadows a break for those events and cool off with blues, violets, and grays instead, says Tayaba Jafri, global beauty director at Laura Mercier. “A soft cloud of matte color on the lid feels fresh and chic for summer,” she says. “The key is to commit to the shade, and blend with intention so it enhances your eye shape, not overwhelms it.” Jabri likes Laura Mercier’s iconic Caviar Stick for easy blending; start with a natural shade that matches your skin tone, then apply your cool tone of choice as a soft gradation, with the intensity at the lash line and diffused upwards. “Harsh edges are where it all goes wrong. The key is to ease into color; let it whisper before it speaks,” Jabri says. Her shade picks include Dusk, Cobblestone, and Midnight Blue.

Blush, Blush, and More Blush

The blush train is not slowing down for summer. Williamson says we’ll be seeing “tons of rosy, coral, and pink cheeks” for the season. Choose your favorite formula—powder, liquid, or cream—and have fun with it! Williamson likes the classic flushed apple application, as well as the “lifted” technique with color concentrated at the top of the cheekbone and blended toward the temples.“Ombré color combinations are perfect for those who love to play up their self expression,” she says. For long-lasting flush, she recommends layering cream blush with a powder; she likes the Patrick Ta Major Headlines Creme & Powder Blush Duo, as well as Tower28’s new GetSet Blur + Set Matte Powder Blush and NARS’ classic Powder Blush.

Sun-Kissed Glow

Even though we all practice safe sun (right?), we want to look like we’ve been basking in the rays and getting bronzed. For a glowy, bronzy look that gleams without feeling greasy, Jabri recommends applying Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer Blurred Matte to skin; it evens imperfections and has SPF too! Set with a loose setting powder, then use the matte side of the Bronze Color Infusion to sculpt and the glow side for illumination.

Softer, Smarter Contour

"Contour is becoming softer, smarter, and more refined,” says Jabri. “In summer, it’s all about natural-looking dimension that works in any light.” Her hack is to use two shades of tinted moisturizer: one that matches your skin exactly and one that is one or two shades deeper with a cooler undertone. First, apply your “true” shade across the face, then sweep the deeper shade along “the outer thirds of the face—from forehead to jawline—for soft, seamless dimension that looks real and wears beautifully in the sun.” Then blend, blend, blend!

Flirty Lashes

For an easy summer lift, Williamson recommends buying a few packs of cluster lashes to add a little pop to your lashes. “I think we’ll see more cluster lashes and lash inserts used with your favorite mascara for an undetectable, but more glamorous feel,” she explains. Spend some time playing around with application techniques and placement, then get your flutter on.