The sun’s out, and it’s time to maximize your shine. Thanks to the trending chrome makeup looks dominating our social feeds, we’re seeing more chrome details than ever before. From manicures to eye shadows to to-die-for lip glosses, there’s no end to ways you can add a high-shine finish to your look. And as festival season gets going, we’re expecting the future to be chrome, too!
Featured Experts
- Elimar Depaula is a makeup artist and founder of Queen Cosmetics
- Natalie Dresher is a Miami-based makeup artist
- Elle is a celebrity nail artist
The Summer of Chrome Makeup
It’s festival season and that means our makeup is once again dipping into the colorful, the creative and the carefree. So, it’s no surprise to see that chrome makeup is back on our trends to watch list. A sun-catching stand out, chrome resurging in the summer is a no brainer.
“My favorite way to make an eye look pop is with a multichrome shadow,” says makeup artist and founder of Queen Cosmetics, Elimar Depaula. “Chrome eyeshadow is perfect for summertime due to its reflective shine, which catches the light beautifully, creating a bold, eye-catching look.”
An easy way to take a look to the next level, makeup artists love a touch of chrome to bring a new dimension to a look with a simple step.
“My favorite way of adding a fun, unique pop of color is blending matte shadow all across my lid and then pressing on a fun chrome liquid eyeshadow onto the center of my eyelid,” says Miami makeup artist Natalie Dresher. “My favorite one right now to add to a really dark smokey eye is Stila Glisten & Glow—the chrome teal is such a fun unexpected touch to any look.”
ProTip: A Simple Swipe
Get Creative
Eye shadows are a key player in any chrome makeup look, and the process is simple. “My favorite way to add a chrome detail is by applying it to the lids with your finger and under the eye to create an easy, effortless, multidimensional look,” explains Depaula.
But the eyes aren’t the only way you can make a chrome makeup look work. Just take a look at Alix Earle’s cotton candy chrome nails or Joey King’s minty chrome mani for some incredible nail inspo. For celebrity nail artist Elle, the chrome finish of King’s nails was the perfect companion to a trendy pastel mint.
“Pastel colors being used for texture are trending right now,” Elle explains. “The chrome gave it a mint green shimmer and combined with the French tip, it mimicked her Sport Max dress, which had a different texture on the top and bottom. This gave it a matchy mint vibe between her nails and her outfit.”