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(Image credit: IG @sabrinacarpenter | IG @haileybieber | Getty)
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Where Did the Watercolor Makeup Trend Come From?
The Best Watercolor Makeup Products
Lip Blushers
Healthy Flush
Burning Bronze
Glistening Eyes
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For the past few months,
makeup trends
have largely leaned toward
high glam
.
Lip combos
have become increasingly overlined and hyper-defined. Meanwhile,
blush
placement keeps drifting higher and brighter with every new trend cycle. But lately, a softer approach has started to take over my social feeds—and honestly, my own makeup routine, too. Enter: watercolor makeup.
Instead of relying on
sharp definition
or super intense color payoff, watercolor makeup is all about diffused pigment that melts into the skin, almost like, as the name suggests, diluted paint on paper. Makeup artist
Corey White
tells me the look feels “softer and more romantic” than traditional natural makeup. While the “clean girl” aesthetic tends to focus on perfected skin and muted tones, watercolor makeup embraces sheer washes of color that melt into the complexion. “Nothing looks too sharp or sculpted,” he explains. “The blush, lips, and eyes have this diffused, flushed effect that feels dreamier, effortless, and a little more expressive.” That translates to blush placement that looks
naturally flushed
rather than sculpted; lips that have a
blurred stain effect
instead of a crisp outline;
eye makeup
feels hazy in a way that's intentionally imperfect, and the overall effect leaves room for
skin to actually look like skin
.
Joey King attends the 2026 Met Gala with the most beautiful and romantic watercolor cheeks.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
And the best part? Watercolor makeup translates beautifully in real life. Celebrities like
Nicole Kidman
,
Gigi Hadid
,
Karlie Kloss
, and Joey King came to the 2026
Met Gala
fresh-faced and glowing, with gorgeous washes of blush running across their cheeks—the latter arguably the best example, and most underrated makeup look of the night.
After years of ultra-sculpted glam and lip combos that demand five different products, there’s something refreshing about makeup that looks a little blurred around the edges. Keep reading for trend insight, inspiration photos, and the best products to try watercolor makeup at home.
Where Did the Watercolor Makeup Trend Come From?
The trend feels like it arrived right on time for warmer weather.
Blurred lips
have already become one of the biggest makeup shifts of the year, with soft stains and hazy edges replacing the ultra-defined
liners
. Celebrity makeup artist
Sir John
previously described the look to
MC
as "sensual, a little undone, and very modern," explaining that the diffusion "removes harsh lines," in favor of a softer, lived-in flush.
A throwback of Gisele Bundchen backstage at the Marc Jacobs S/S 2004 show with a wash of red on her cheeks.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
In many ways, watercolor makeup also feels like the natural next step after years of ultra-curated "clean girl" beauty, explains White. Part of the appeal is that watercolor makeup doesn’t feel overly “done,” even though there’s still technique behind it. The trend leans into lightweight layers and skin-like textures to create dimension without harsh contrast.
Cream blushes
, watery tints, and balmy formulas tend to work best because they blend into the complexion rather than sit on top of it.
Sabrina Carpenter poses with blurred, pink cheeks.
(Image credit: IG @sabrinacarpenter)
Brands have started leaning into thinner, watercolor-like textures across categories, too.
Victoria Beckham Beauty
's recent
Water Tint Bronzer
launch feels like a perfect example: instead of delivering heavy
contour
, it leaves behind a sheer veil of color that looks almost melted into the skin. And the masses agree—every shade of blush and bronzer is completely sold out on the brand's site.
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Hailey Bieber is synonymous with the fresh, airy makeup look that emulates the watercolor effect.
(Image credit: Hailey Bieber)
Keep scrolling for the four main categories of products you'll want to pick up in order to recreate a stunning watercolor makeup look for yourself.
The Best Watercolor Makeup Products
Lip Blushers
These tinted lips created by Clinique look like she just bit into a ripe plum.
(Image credit: Clinique)
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Source: https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/makeup/watercolor-makeup-trend/