When it comes to festivals, fashion usually steals the spotlight, but this year, it was all about the beauty. At Lollapalooza—the four-day Chicago music marathon that's coming for Coachella's festival reign —it was all about glitter and shimmer. Performers like Katseye, Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter opted for ight-reflecting eyeshadows, stick-on gems, and iridescent eyeliners onstage, and it was clear that this season’s festival beauty looks weren’t just there to complement the outfits—they were the star of the show.
Below, we break down the three makeup trends that are taking over this season and how to recreate them at home, with a little help from makeup artist and Ulta beauty specialist Reva Haga.
1. Glitter Eyes
Getty Images
Getty Images
Since "Euphoria" arrived on our screens in late 2019, glitter eyeshadow has become a staple in the festival beauty scene. This season was no different, but what we did see was the placement slightly shifting. Artists and attendees didn't just limit the glitter to their lids, but also their brow bones and high cheeks.
Perhaps the best example of this at Lolla was Doechii’s holographic eye look. On Saturday, the musician hit the stage with silver shimmer swept all the way up to her brow bone for a futuristic festival vibe. And she wasn’t the only one—Mariah The Scientist also matched her all-denim fit with a metallic shadow that had hints of blue and green. At the same time, Amaarae sported a silver, shimmery crease to accompany her edgy festival look.
“There’s a major focus this year on the eye areas,” shares Ulta beauty specialist Reva Haga. “What we’ve been seeing in terms of festival trends this year is holographic shadows and not in your traditional wing shape, but really highlighting the arches and brows or the over lash line.”
2. Cherry Lips
Few beauty statements are as timeless (and powerful) as a bold red lip. Last weekend, we saw this classic make a major comeback. On the main stage, Olivia Rodrigo paired her silver two-piece Mirror Palais set with a cherry red pout. And a few days after, Naomi Scott also donned a similar shade for her set. “Primadona” singer MARINA also took part in the comeback, complementing her vintage Vivienne Westwood with a rich, ruby shade.
The key to rocking a red lip? Pairing it with fresh, sun-kissed skin, Reva shares. The contrast keeps the look modern and effortless, never overdone. She also recommends skipping a bold eye look to let the lip color take center stage. A touch of bronzer and a brushed-up brow are all you need to balance the shade.
3. Eye-Catching Face Crystals
On the last day of the festival, Aliyah’s Interlude took over the BMI stage in a plaid, Y2K-core set. She matched her outfit with bubblegum pink pigtails and heart- and star-shaped face crystals. Young Miko also took part in the face crystals trend, but in a more subtle way. The Puerto Rican rapper paired her subtle smoky eye with two crystals towards her bottom lash line. And on the other end of the festival grounds, Caroline Kingsbury debuted a blue smokey eye with yellow accents and a couple of red crystals in the inner corner.
Ulta Beauty held a pop-up (fittingly titled "The Beat Suite") on the Lollapalooza grounds, where festival goers could stop in for everything from complimentary hair tinsel to face gems. If you weren't able to make it to Lolla this year, not to worry—Reva shared her pro secret for nailing the face gem look at home. “The most important thing is your foundation," she says. "You need to make sure your skin is prepped. A good setting spray is important to this, as it can help lock in any moisture and sweat so it can last all day."
