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Watercolor Makeup Is the Next Huge Beauty Trend -- Here's How to Get The Look

Toss your contouring stick, and pull out your paint makeup brushes. This dreamy, sheer makeup is the look to wear now
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We've got some pretty big beauty news. Remember the days when you spent hours contouring and sculpting, and layering on foundation? Well, that heavy look is finally over, and watercolor makeup is officially a thing.

What is the watercolor makeup trend, you ask? According to celebrity makeup artist Spencer Barnes it's a makeup look inspired by the light, feathery feel of watercolor paintings. While the look does allow for a rainbow assortment of eye shadow colors, the style should retain a sheer feeling at all times. Plus, it lets you play with color and explore your creativity -- and who doesn't love that?

"It's a very early, but beautiful trend," Barnes says. "The watercolor makeup look is all about sheer tints of color with a painterly quality, where the makeup is layered and watery to create sheer transparent colors." In other words, this makeup look is all about becoming a walking piece of art, and we are all about it.

The beautiful thing about this up-and-coming trend is you can rock the look pretty much anywhere. The fun style can be a great daytime look, nightclub face or even your Sunday brunch makeup. "The watercolor makeup look has a sweetness and femininity to it," Barnes says. "So it works for a lot of occasions."

Ready to try your (painterly) hand at watercolor makeup? To get makeup worthy of Monet, here is all you need to do.

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Watercolor Makeup: Step 1
Start with a fresh face. Having a watercolor finish is all about a light and airy feel -- so starting with a "clean canvas" if you will, is an important step for the makeup magic that's about to happen. So opt for a sheer foundation. We suggest Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15, $39, Touch in Sol Pure Dew Water Drop BB Cream, $24, or Make Up For Ever Water Blend Face & Body Foundation, $43

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Watercolor Makeup: Step 2
Once you've applied your foundation (and concealer if you need it), start with your lips. To give your pucker a painterly feel, add a touch of color to them with a glossy lip stain or gloss. Here, Barnes used the E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Radiant Gel Lip Stain, $4, in Dewy Berry. Then, using your fingers, dab a touch of color to the cheeks using a cream blush (he also used the Aqua Beauty Radiant Gel Lip Stain on the cheeks). You can also use a creamy blush right in the center of the lip to create a beautiful (and natural-looking) pouty effect.

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Watercolor Makeup: Step 3
Next, you want to highlight the key features of the face. Apply highlighter on the bridge of the nose, the Cupid's bow and the inner corners of the eyes. Fun fact: You don't have to use a traditional highlighter. Actually, a rose gold eye shadow works even better for this look. (Barnes used the E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Molten Liquid Eyeshadow, $4, in Rose Gold, but if you want something even more reflective, try Milk Makeup Holographic Stick, $28, in Supernova.)

Barnes says watercolor makeup is all about the mood (much like an Impressionist painting). So, the goal is to make the cheeks look a little more theatrical and "magical." In order to increase the dimensional quality of the cheekbone structure, he used E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Blush & Bronzer, $6, applying the blush higher on the cheekbone near the hairline, and brushing a bit of bronzer across the jawline, cheeks and hairline.

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Watercolor Makeup: Step 4
"When it comes to the eye makeup part of this look, get creative," Barnes says. And he doesn't just mean with colors. As a base to your eye look, sweep a violet-pink blush across the lid and crease of your eyes (he used E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Blush & Bronzer, $6, in Bronzed Violet), being sure to blend your crease up and out. The vibrant pigment of the blush will actually look very sheer, due to the lack of a neutral eye shadow base -- which is exactly the look you're going for. Then, take an even lighter shade of blush (he used E.L.F. Aqua Beauty Blush & Bronzer, $6, in Bronzed Peach) and apply it to the crease, blending up and out.

BY JESSICA AMARIS | AUG 24, 2016 | SHARES
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