Summer Makeup Essentials: 22 New Launches Worth Your Attention

Your Top Pick: Merit Clean Volume Mascara & How to Build a Heat-Proof Base

Summer makeup launches are seasonal beauty products—like waterproof mascara, skin tint products, festival glitter makeup and dewy blushers—specifically formulated to resist heat and humidity while delivering a fresh, low-maintenance glow that suits outdoor days, long wear-times and lighter coverage preferences. The most reliable starting point for most people this summer is Merit Clean Volume Mascara, because it delivers buildable definition that stays put in heat while still looking soft and natural on both top and bottom lashes. Its small comb brushes through each lash so they are individually coated for clean, clump-free volume; one coat is daytime-ready while two or three coats give standout impact. The downside is that layering takes more time than it does with jumbo wands, so it best suits anyone who cares more about precise separation and smudge resistance than speed. To keep it in place, follow the golden layering rule for summer: start with a fully absorbed lightweight serum or gel moisturizer, then apply tinted moisturizer in thin layers with fingertips so the base grips rather than slides.

Skin Tint Products & Dewy Blushers for Low-Maintenance Glow

If your priority is a low-maintenance glow that looks like skin, build your routine around modern skin tint products and dewy blushers. Guerlain Terracotta Joli Teint Tinted Moisturizer, priced at Dhs263, is formulated to sit closer to skin than traditional foundation, so it works best when you tap on thin layers with fingers instead of buffing with a brush. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Natural Dewy SPF30 at £39 gives instant hydration with light coverage that unifies tone without feeling cakey or looking heavy, making it a dependable everyday summer base. For colour, Summer Fridays Blush Butter Balm in ‘Pink Sunset’ at £27 offers creamy pigment with a soft sheen that lasts for hours and feels hydrating rather than powdery or patchy on the cheeks. According to this editorial review, pairing the balm with a bit of concealer is enough to bring your complexion to life for daytime wear. The only drawback is that cream formulas require careful layering: always apply them before any powders, or both textures may break down and shift in the heat.

Waterproof Mascara & Setting Sprays That Survive Heat and Humidity

For pool days, sweaty commutes and late-night dancing, a reliable waterproof mascara is non‑negotiable. Diorshow Overvolume Waterproof Mascara at £38 is built for full‑fat lashes with drama, holding curl and staying in place throughout the day. It does need a little technique: taking some product off the brush before application helps avoid large clumps, but once you get the hang of it, it delivers volume that does not budge. The trade‑off is that the formula can feel intense for minimal makeup fans and may require a thorough oil‑based remover at night. To lock in the rest of your look, Makeup By Mario Surrealskin Soft Setting Spray at £38 adds healthy radiance while keeping makeup in place without drying out skin. Its compact size is ideal for bags, and the refreshing mist suits normal to dry types who dislike tight, alcohol-heavy sprays. For maximum longevity, mist over cream products once they have set, then add any powder on top to avoid pilling in the heat.

Festival Glitter Makeup: NYX, e.l.f. and High-Shine Summer Sparkle

Festival glitter makeup is all about colourful, creative sparkle that holds from the first act to the final song. Start with NYX Professional Makeup Glitter Primer to help loose glitter and pigments grip to the skin, reduce fallout and boost colour payoff so your look stays where you want it rather than sliding down your cheeks. Over this, MAC Glitter Eyeshadow pans from LookFantastic bring multidimensional shine that can be worn as a subtle twinkle or layered into a bold foil; the pressed formula works well over primer and suits anyone who wants the option to dial their intensity up or down. For quick application, MAC Dazzleshadow Liquid Eyeshadow delivers high-impact shimmer in a few swipes, with a lightweight texture that can be worn alone or layered over powder for extra dimension. For those who prefer shimmer over chunky glitter, e.l.f. Liquid Metallic Eyeshadow offers a reflective metallic finish that is fast to apply and comfortable to wear on the lids. Finish with NYX Professional Makeup Butter Gloss Bling, which adds shimmering, glossy lips as an easy last step for any festival look.

Glow Extras: Illuminating Drops, Dewy Lip Tints & Summer Hair Protection

Beyond classic summer makeup launches, a few extras will raise your glow and protect your hair from seasonal damage. Jones Road Bright Skin Illuminating Drops give a glazed skin effect with a glow that looks juicy across shoulders, chest or the entire face, making them ideal for dry skin types chasing radiance. Amuse Dew Tint in ‘Mauve Grape’ at £18 is a lightweight, sheer lip tint that offers a healthy flush and layers well under glosses or over lipsticks without feeling heavy, though anyone wanting full opacity may find the wash of colour too soft. On hair, Olaplex No.7 Shine Serum Oil Mist combines the hydration of a serum, sheen of an oil and the airiness of a mist so it does not weigh strands down and can be used on dry hair to refresh or rehydrate. It protects up to 232ºC, helps reduce breakage with bond‑builders and leaves hair looking healthier and shinier after sun exposure, with the only drawback being that very fine hair may prefer lighter application.

Buy if / Skip if

• Buy the Merit Clean Volume Mascara if you want defined, buildable lashes that stay neat through heat and humidity and you do not mind taking a little extra time to layer your mascara.
• Skip the Merit Clean Volume Mascara if you prefer instant, high-drama volume from a large bristle brush and have no patience for gradual building.
• Buy the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Natural Dewy SPF30 if you want a light-coverage, non‑cakey summer base that unifies skin while feeling hydrating.
• Skip the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Natural Dewy SPF30 if you need full coverage or a matte finish that completely hides texture and shine.
• Buy the Summer Fridays Blush Butter Balm in ‘Pink Sunset’ if you like creamy, dewy blushers that look fresh with minimal makeup and stay glowy for hours.
• Skip the Summer Fridays Blush Butter Balm in ‘Pink Sunset’ if you dislike cream textures or prefer powder blush that sets fully matte.
• Buy the Diorshow Overvolume Waterproof Mascara if you want bold, curled lashes that resist sweat, tears and pool days once you master the application.
• Skip the Diorshow Overvolume Waterproof Mascara if you dislike removing waterproof formulas at night or prefer very soft, natural lashes.
• Buy the NYX Professional Makeup Glitter Primer and MAC glitter or liquid eyeshadows if you are planning colourful, high-sparkle festival looks that must last all day without fallout.
• Skip the NYX Professional Makeup Glitter Primer and MAC glitter or liquid eyeshadows if you favour understated everyday makeup and find glitter or strong shimmer uncomfortable.
• Buy the Jones Road Bright Skin Illuminating Drops if you want all-over glazed radiance on dry skin for evenings, parties or beach days.
• Skip the Jones Road Bright Skin Illuminating Drops if you already struggle with excess shine and prefer satin or matte finishes.
• Buy the Olaplex No.7 Shine Serum Oil Mist if your hair feels frazzled from sun and heat tools and you need shine, hydration and bond-building protection up to 232ºC without heaviness.
• Skip the Olaplex No.7 Shine Serum Oil Mist if your hair is extremely oily at the roots and you avoid any product that adds surface sheen.
• Buy the Amuse Dew Tint in ‘Mauve Grape’ if you like sheer, dewy lip colour that feels light and layers easily with glosses.
• Skip the Amuse Dew Tint in ‘Mauve Grape’ if you want intense, opaque pigment from a single swipe and dislike a subtle wash of colour.