Makeup is never just about colour and product — it’s about mood, season, and the story you want to tell with your face on any given day. As the seasons change, so do the trends, and at The Zara, we love helping our clients move with the times whilst still keeping their own personal style intact. Whether you’re popping into our studio for a touch-up or enrolling in one of our makeup courses to learn the craft yourself, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s seasonal makeup trends.
Spring: Fresh, Dewy, and Effortless
Spring is all about that “no-makeup makeup” look — fresh, glowing skin that looks like it’s had eight hours of sleep and a green juice, even if it hasn’t. This season, dewy bases are dominating over matte ones. Lightweight, skin-tint foundations and tinted moisturisers are replacing heavy full-coverage bases, letting your natural skin texture shine through.
Pastel eyeshadows in soft lilac, baby pink, and mint green are having a real moment, often applied with a soft wash of colour rather than a sharply defined crease. Blush placement has also shifted higher up the cheekbones, almost towards the temples, giving a lifted, youthful glow. Lips are kept simple with sheer balms or glossy tints in coral and rosy nudes.
Top Spring Tip: Skip the heavy powder and opt for a hydrating setting spray instead — it locks everything in place without sacrificing that fresh, lit-from-within glow.
Summer: Bold, Bronzed and Sun-Kissed
Summer makeup this year is leaning into warmth. Think bronzed skin, golden eyeshadows, and a “beach holiday” glow that lasts well beyond your actual holiday. Cream bronzers and liquid highlighters are essential kit staples, especially when applied to the high points of the face for that sun-kissed sheen.
Graphic eyeliner is also trending hard this summer — bold, colourful liner flicks in cobalt blue, emerald green or even neon orange are popping up on runways and social feeds alike. For those who prefer something more low-key, a simple bronze smoky eye paired with waterproof mascara is a safe yet stylish bet, particularly given the British summer’s unpredictable weather!
Lips are bold this season too, with juicy, high-shine glosses in red, coral, and berry tones making a strong comeback.
Top Summer Tip: Always go for waterproof and humidity-resistant formulas — nobody wants their winged liner melting halfway through a garden party or festival.
Autumn: Moody, Rich, and Romantic
As the leaves turn, so does our colour palette. Autumn this year is all about rich, moody tones — deep berry lips, burnt orange and copper eyeshadows, and warm terracotta blushes. This is the season for experimenting with smoky eyes in shades of plum, chocolate brown, and bronze.
Matte finishes return in full force during autumn, giving the skin a soft, velvety look rather than the dewy glow of spring and summer. Contouring also becomes more defined, with warmer bronzer tones used to sculpt and add dimension as the natural light softens.
One of the biggest trends we’re loving this autumn is the “vampy lip” — deep wine, oxblood, and aubergine shades that pair beautifully with minimal eye makeup, letting the lips do all the talking.
Top Autumn Tip: Exfoliate your lips before applying a dark lipstick. Matte, vampy shades can cling to dry patches, so smooth prep is essential for a flawless finish.
Winter: Glamorous, Festive, and Dramatic
Winter is the season to go all out, and this year’s trends certainly don’t hold back. Metallic eyeshadows in gold, silver and copper are everywhere, perfect for Christmas parties, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and festive get-togethers. Glitter eyeliner and shimmering inner-corner highlights are also having a real resurgence.
Classic red lips remain a winter staple, but this year we’re seeing a shift towards deeper, blue-based reds and berry shades that suit the season’s cosier, more dramatic mood. Skin remains luminous, but with a slightly more polished, “snatched” finish thanks to strategic highlighting and sculpted contour.
False lashes are also back in a big way this winter — fuller, fluffier lash styles are being paired with simple eye makeup to let the lashes themselves become the statement.
Top Winter Tip: Always prime your eyelids before applying glitter or metallic shadows. It helps the pigment stay vibrant and stops any fallout from ruining your look halfway through the evening.
Trends Come and Go, But Skill Stays Forever
Here’s the thing about trends — they’re brilliant fun to experiment with, but they change every season. What never goes out of style is genuinely understanding makeup application, colour theory, and how to adapt looks to different skin tones, face shapes, and occasions.
That’s exactly why The Zara doesn’t just offer makeup services — we also run Professional makeup courses for anyone who wants to turn their passion into a proper skill, or even a full-blown career. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to refine your technique, our courses cover everything from seasonal trend application to bridal makeup, HD and airbrush techniques, and building your own makeup kit from scratch.
Final Thoughts
This year’s seasonal makeup trends prove that there really is something for everyone — from the soft, dewy looks of spring to the bold drama of winter. At The Zara, we believe makeup should be fun, expressive, and tailored to you, not just whatever’s trending on social media that week.
Fancy trying one of these looks for your next event? Book a session with our talented artists at The Zara, or better yet, join one of our courses and learn how to create these looks yourself, season after season.
