Sun-drenched skin, smudged liner, flushed cheeks, and lipstick kisses at golden hour. TikTok and A-listers are calling it Italian Girl Summer, in officially la dolce vita makeup form. Here’s how to get the look…

Why everyone’s obsessed

If there’s one beauty trend dominating social feeds, red carpets, and celebrity holiday snaps, it’s Italian Girl Summer. Think Sofia Loren-level glamour meets effortless Mediterranean goddess. This sun-kissed aesthetic is all about bronzed skin, creamy blushes, cherry-tinted lips, fluttery lashes, and that barely-there, slept-in liner.

Celebs like Hailey Bieber, Dua Lipa, and J-Lo have all leaned into this sultry look, while TikTok’s beauty set has crowned it the makeup mood of the season, hash-tagging it into virality. And the best part? It flatters everyone. Whether you’re a golden hour devotee or just faking the Amalfi coast from your city flat, this trend brings warmth, polish, and soft-focus drama to any face shape or skin tone.

This trend brings warmth, polish, and soft-focus drama to any face shape or skin tone.

@dualipa

Why it works

The Italian Girl Summer look isn’t about perfection; it’s about sensuality and softness. It’s warm, glowy, romantic, and low-effort in the most high-impact way. It suits sweaty summer skin, thrives in sunlight, and transitions seamlessly from day to night and vice versa. “It’s flushed, fresh, and a little undone, in the chicest way possible,” says celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge.

How to get the look

Here’s what you need to recreate the look, from glowing skin to bold brows, brushed-up lashes, and that signature just-bitten lip. Grab your basket bag, slip into something linen, and get ready to glow like you’re on the Riviera.

1. Skin prep

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Lightweight but powerful, this moisturiser hydrates and preps skin while delivering nourishing benefits and a filter-like glow.
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2. Bronzed base

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Your sunshine-in-a-tube fix—sheer, glowy, and endlessly flattering.
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Instant summer radiance. Pat on the high corners of your face and pair with a bronzer for makeup that complements a tan.
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Like golden hour in a compact! You’ll glow from every angle.

3. Flushed cheeks

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This peachy-coral shade gives cheeks that believable flush like you’ve just sipped a spritz in the sun.
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This adapts to your skin tone and always looks like you’ve been on holiday. Genius.
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A dewy colour pop that fakes eight hours of sleep in one dab and swipe.

4. Eyes, soft & smudged

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The Italian eye is hazy. Smudge this brown liner at the lash line for that bedroom-eyed finish.
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Perfect for heat and humidity, it sculpts lashes without clumps for a lifted, fluttery finish.
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A warm deep bronze eyeliner with a hint of shimmer that’s sexy, flattering, and lasts all night.

5. Face-framing brows

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Fluff them up and lock them in. Brushed-up brows balance out the softness of the rest of the look.
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Realistic micro-fine precision that creates natural hair-like strokes. Our beauty editor’s latest obsession

6. Kissable lips

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Combines all the iconic Skin Food’s classic (and fave) botanicals that keeps lips moisturised and soft and makes the perfect base.
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Think tinted lip balm, but haute couture. Hydrating with a subtle pop of colour.
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Juicy, glossy, and never sticky. It’s the perfect nude kiss-me shade with that just-ate-a-gelato shine.

7. Final touch

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Mist this spa-in-a-bottle over your makeup to set it, refresh it, or simply transport you to a vineyard.
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This multi-purpose spray perfects your skin while giving it a heavy dose of moisture. Viral for good reason.
Enhanced by vanilla and roasted oak, this smooth scent leaves a rich, sensual trail. Powerful and evocative, like the archetypal Italian lady.
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While not explicitly Italian, this bestseller features bergamot and mate tea, ingredients often linked to continental European scents with a hint of Mediterranean flair. Delish!
Beauty, Makeup, Trending Beauty

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