Testing and reviewing beauty products is quite literally listed in my job description, which means I’m privy to upcoming launches before they’re announced to the public—and let me tell you summer 2025 has been absolutely killing it in the makeup department. Watercolor blushes! French tanning drops! A chili-infused lip balm! Crafting a dreamy, sun-kissed beat has never been more fun, which is exactly how makeup should make you feel: inspired, creative, and ready to play. I’ve even had multiple friends ooh and aah over my cosmetic bag within the last few weeks, begging to know which buzzy formulas are truly worth their salt. My response? All of them—but I’ll keep this list to a tidy 12.
Below, discover the new(ish) products that absolutely deserve a spot in your daily makeup routine, plus a few time-honored stalwarts I couldn’t resist calling out.
My Favorite Makeup Staples for Summer 2025
Okay, fine, this technically isn’t a makeup product, but I just can’t ignore how plump and hydrated these patches make my under-eyes appear pre-concealer. Many eye masks claim to have impressive de-puffing power, but I have yet to come across any that do it quite like Dior. Brimming with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and pure caffeine, the comma-shaped swishes dial down inflammation and fluid retention in as little as 10 minutes.
Yes, $84 for five pairs is a bit steep, but trust me, your noticeably brighter under-eyes will wind up needing less concealer later on—and that alone is worth the splurge. Plus, with their Dior Logomania pattern, they’ll be the chicest eye patches you own. Period.
Sothys
Self-Tanning Additive
Here’s the secret to summer makeup: Do everything you can to minimize the number of products (and thus sweaty layers) on your face. Enter these tanning drops, inspired by an effortless Saint-Tropez tan. (Swoon.) They’re adjustable, easy to use, fragrance-free, and French—so essentially, it’s a Côte d’Azur glow in a bottle. Just two drops into my daytime moisturizer give me a gradual, even bronze that looks like I came back from two weeks OOO.
Westman Atelier
Sun Tone Bronzing Drops
When I crave even more bronze—um, always—I reach for these liquid bronzing drops from Westman Atelier. Please, PLEASE give these a try, people. They really are that good. They technically launched back in February, but it somehow took me until this summer to finally give them a go. Celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty initially influenced me by praising their effortless, buildable blend, and now I honestly don’t know how I lived so long without them in my routine. They have a gorgeous matte finish that perfectly mimics how the sun might warm the perimeter of your face (whereas shimmer tends to sacrifice believability), and they instantly fuse to the skin with absolutely zero streaking.
Word to the wise: Apply a few drops onto the back of your hand, mixing well with a brush before stippling it onto your cheekbones and hairline. It results in the most realistic-looking kiss of sun.
Chantecaille
Future Skin Oil-Free Foundation
Introducing the most hydrating foundation you’ll ever meet. The water-based gel confection is so nourishing that if I closed my eyes, I’d swear it was a moisturizer. That’s how fresh and bouncy my skin feels while wearing it. It also comes infused with a plant-based retinol alternative, so it does actually improve your skin over time. (I know a ton of makeup products make this claim, but I can attest it’s not just marketing.) It’s one of those foundations that you genuinely can’t tell where your natural skin ends and makeup begins, which is always my end goal when it comes to complexion products.
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Colour Wash
Watercolor makeup is it this summer. I don’t want to work up a sweat and furiously blend; I want pigments to bloom across my skin like a soft landscape painting. Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Color Wash is the workhorse with its water-based tint and diffused, dewy finish. Don’t make me pick a favorite shade! Each sheer, skin-loving formula is such a winner—though, Vintage Rose earns bonus points for imbuing romance into my routine.
Summer Fridays
Blush Butter Balm
Top your Colour Wash with a Summer Fridays Blush Butter Balm (my go-to is Soft Strawberry), and thank me later. The buildable cream pigment adds just enough punch for a juicy flush, and the ceramide-, peptide-, and fatty acid–rich formula was practically made for summer. I swear it looks even better after I sweat. Summer Fridays knows a thing or two about glorious textures (the Lip Butter Balm nails a non-sticky finish), and the brand’s inaugural blush balms totally tick that box. They’re an absolute joy to apply.
Armani Beauty
Luminous Silk Acqua Highlighter
Whenever I want to create “angel makeup” (i.e., shimmering, glossy lids and ethereal, luminous skin), I reach for this liquid highlighter. The shade Halo (a translucent pearl) has the perfect glazed effect that doesn’t read too glittery; it just makes you look radiating from within. I like to layer it over my eye shadow for an instant wet-lid effect, pop it on my cheekbones to help them catch the light, and trace it underneath my bottom lash line to mimic the glistening of unshed tears—very angelic.
TOM FORD
Shade and Illuminate Cream Contour Duo
No, I will not shut up about this creamy contour-highlight duo. I realize I’ve recommended three bronzing products at this point, but, hey, it’s summer—bring on the glow. After creating a sun-kissed base with the Sothy’s self-tanner and allover warmth with the Westman Atelier liquid bronzer, I like to apply this award-winning Tom Ford number underneath my cheekbones to further carve my bone structure. Just a tap is all you need for a noticeable lift. A bonus: On days I forgo the eye shadow, I like to blend the contour on my lids, too, for some subtle definition.
Versed
Day Lash Lifting and Defining Mascara
I will forever be a brown-mascara girl. The softer hue gives my lashes just enough oomph without making me look too “done.” Versed’s conditioning, vitamin E–infused formula helps me secure a natural lash look every time, as it features a slim, tapered wand that ensures optimal coverage from root to tip while preventing clumps. It’s the definition of a “no-mascara” mascara.
I’ve used Work of Art (a piny taupe) down to the nub, and I’m currently working through my second favorite shade, Check Me Out (a warm rose). I’ve tested hundreds of lip liners at this point, and truly nothing enhances my pout like this Tower 28 number. The matte, non-drying finish makes it top notch for lip contouring; when I overline my Cupid’s bow, friends have wondered if I just got lip filler (true story!). Billie Eilish may have made it go viral when she used it for her pre-show glam, but I’ve been championing this lippie for years.
AORA MAKEUP
AcarÃciame Más Volumizing Solid Lip Serum
I’ve tried my fair share of spicy lip plumpers, so trust me when I say that this volumizer is the real deal. Infused with five (yes, five) Mexican chiles—ancho, habanero, guajillo, serrano, and de árbol—the formula certainly delivers some heat, resulting in a glossy bee-stung pout with a subtle cherry tint.
Beware: This one stings, but I’m someone who likes (even craves) that sensation in a lip plumper. For those who might be hesitant to try a chili-steeped formula, don’t worry; it also features peppermint oil and hyaluronic acid for a hydrating, cooling sensation. Both of those players also lead to plumper lips over time—the former from increasing blood circulation and the latter from drawing moisture into the top layer of skin—so consider this a lip balm that increases fullness from every angle.
ISAMAYA
Lips Metal – Sheer Metallic Balm
I’ve been lucky enough to watch iconic makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench craft a full face beat in less than five minutes (during a heat wave, no less!), and her secret is as follows: a fresh, even base; a tiny bit of sculpt; glossy high points; and a touch of color on the lips. For that last bit, her Sheer Metallic Balms are just divine, providing lips with a subtle burst of color and flecks of iridescence. My all-time favorite of the bunch is Acid Cherry, a metallic plum that’s easily buildable yet sheer enough to wear year-round. Just a swipe makes me look instantly put together, even on days when I rock a completely bare face.
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