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BEAUTY

COOL-TONED MAKEUP IS THE BEAUTY TREND YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS SEASON

By Ayis Stephen-Diver, 8 June 2026

If we were to describe 2020s makeup in one word, it would be warm. So far, the decade's beauty has been defined by glowy blush, bronzers and caramel lip combos that give skin a sunkissed glow. But as is the nature of trend cycles, it's time for a change. This summer – fuelled (in part) by our love for Euphoria's Alexa Demie and the social media generation's penchant for nostalgia – cool-tone makeup is back on our feeds.

Destiny's Child

Picture: Getty

Destiny's Child were all about cool brown glam. 

 

Cool tones were every star’s go-to in the 90s, and the 2020s It-girls are bringing them back – everything from the grunge glam of Gabriette and Charli xcx to LISA's softer take on the trend. More and more, beauty standards are leaning towards embracing and enhancing your natural features. Cool-toned makeup plays into this as, done correctly, it can help create natural-looking contours that bring definition to the face without heaviness.

SO, WHAT IS COOL-TONED MAKEUP?

Quick colour theory refresher. Most makeup shades can be split into two base camps: warm and cool. Warm tones are mixed with orange, yellow and red pigments, while cool tones lean towards blue, purple or grey. Take pink, for example. Peach and coral pink sit firmly on the warm side of the spectrum. On the other hand, fuchsia and bubblegum shades are cooler. A common misconception about cool-toned makeup is that it makes your skin look ashier, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Depending on your skin tone, these shades might better mimic your natural complexion.
Anok Yai

Picture: Getty

Anok Yai + silver makeup? Chef's kiss.
LISA

Picture: Getty

LISA shows off a cool-toned pink look.

IS COOL-TONED MAKEUP ONLY FOR LIGHTER SKIN?

Absolutely not. Cool-toned makeup on dark skin looks great because of the contrast. Bluish-red lipsticks draw out the natural warmth in darker skin tones, while silver eyeshadows and other frosted finishes will make your complexion pop. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that model Anok Yai is one of the biggest A-list lovers of cool-toned glam.

 

Ready to dip your feet into cool waters? Keep scrolling for the cool-toned makeup your summer beauty rotation deserves.

#1: THE BASE

Collage of ASOS makeup products

Your base is where the cool-toned magic starts. With summer makeup popularising orange undertones, it may feel like muscle memory to reach for your warm bronzers, concealers and blushes. But if you’re after a softer, more lifelike finish, switch things up with cool taupe shades. NARS’ sculpting stick in Ischia is the perfect bronzer shade for lighter skin, and if you have a darker complexion, reach for Cayman instead. Already have a baby-pink blush to hand? You’re one step ahead. Baby pink has quietly become one of the most popular cool-toned makeup shades, adding a natural freshness to the skin that works for every season.

 

GET THE LOOK:
01: Nars The Multiple Sculpting Stick - Ischia, £33
02: Revolution Highlight Icon Palette - White Wishes, £8
03: Morphe Cheek Thrills Bronze & Tone Bronzer Duo - Capri Cabana, £19
04: Bobbi Brown Blush Matte- Pale Pink, £28

#2: THE EYES

Collage of ASOS makeup products

When it comes to cool-toned eyeshadows, your mind might jump straight to the glistening silvers that defined last year’s frosted glam trend. But that isn’t the only option. ASOS Makeup Artist, Isabelle Wilson, has the tea on a trend that borrows from the 60s: ‘A sweep of blue eyeshadow across the lid instantly elevates any look while still feeling effortless,’ she says. ‘Just add black mascara to stop the eyes from getting lost.’ And if you don’t quite fancy blue eyeshadow, a 90s-inspired smokey eye is just as good. Charcoal, grey and taupe have always served as the backbone of the look, and it just happens to be one of the easiest ways to embrace the cool-toned trend.
GET THE LOOK:
01: Revolution The Celestial Icon Ethereal Nudes Palette, £9
02: Huda Beauty Icy Nude 18 Well Palette, £62
03: MAC Connect In Colour 6-Pan Eyeshadow Palette - Encrypted Krytonite, £32
04: Urban Decay Basics 2 Mini Eyeshadow Palette, £28.50

#3: THE LIPS

Collage of ASOS makeup products

Pictures: ASOS

‘If [cool-toned] eyeshadow isn’t for you, embrace the trend through your lips. Sparked by Euphoria’s beauty revival, cool-toned lip combinations are everywhere,’ says Isabelle. Alongside Alexa Demie, Charli xcx and Jenna Ortega have also vouched for that cool-toned brown lip combo. Start with the perfect taupe or cocoa-coloured lipliner. Isabelle’s current favourite is Rimmel’s Cappuccino Lip Liner. 'It's the perfect cool-toned brown,' she says. 'Finish with a summer lip gloss for that effortless cool-girl look.’ And for dark-skinned girls, complete your look with e.l.f.’s Major Mauve.

 

GET THE LOOK:
01: Rimmel Lasting Finish 8HR Lip Liner - Cappuccino, £3.99
02: MAC Macximal Silky Matte Lipstick- Red Rock, £25
03: e.l.f. Glow Reviver Glimmer Lip Oil - Opal-Ogy Tour, £9
04: e.l.f. Glow Reviver Plumping Lip Oil Major Mauve, £9

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