Japanese Makeup Looks:
☀️ Summer Break ⛱️ vs ✏️ Back-to-School 📚

Temperatures are rising, summer is here, and it’s time to find new go-to cosmetics to switch up your makeup style for the season! As summer rushes past, we know that some days call for the vibrant, juicy vibes of a summer vacation getaway, while others will have you aiming for a neat and natural face (with just a little extra flair) perfect for the new semester. To help you get ready for both of these moods, and for a whole summer of great looks, we’ll be taking a look at a few versatile must-haves for the summer from the beloved Japanese beauty brand CANMAKE.

Juicy & Radiant: Japanese Summer Vacation Makeup

Base Makeup

Want skin that glows from within, even in summer? You’ll definitely be reaching for CANMAKE’s Moist Prism Primer in [03] Pale Blue. This primer is packed with luminous pearl particles and 17 moisturizing ingredients, keeping your skin fresh and glowy even on sweaty summer days, and offering the hydration you need to keep your summer skincare routine quick and simple. The pale blue tint subtly neutralizes redness for a clear, bright complexion even on hot afternoons!

Pair the primer with the Illuminating Finish Powder ~Abloom~ in the shade [02] Emerald Herbarium to lock in that dewy glow. This silky powder blurs shine while enhancing radiance with ultra-fine pearl particles, and the five-color blend evens out your skin tone. The ultra-fine transparent texture keeps things from getting cakey, and the water-resistant formula makes it ideal for mid-day touch-ups. Together, this primer and powder pairing will give you the ultimate summer skin – hydrated inside, matte outside.

When you’re looking for a little extra summer radiance to outshine even the hot summer sun, look for the Moon Glow Highlighter – we recommend shade [02] Moon Glow Pink. The luster of the delicate pink pearl particles is brought out through a special baking process, allowing the powder to blend naturally and add a soft luminosity. Use the rosy shimmer to enhance your natural complexion and add definition, perfect when you need a vacation look that will really blow everyone out of the water!

Eye Makeup

To bring a fresh touch of color to your summer look, try Petit Palette Eyes in the fruity shade [05] Strawberry Peche. This convenient travel-sized palette features soft pink shades in matte, pearl, and glitter finishes, all compact enough to fit easily in your smallest makeup pouch and give you bright, sparkling eyes, even on the go.

For the perfect hint of under-eye shimmer in the summer sun, keep a Plumpuku Coordinate Eyes palette on hand too! We used the new [05] Soap Bubble Plumpuku to add dimension under the eyes for a trendy aegyo-sal effect, utilizing a trio of lilac pink shades with delicate shimmer and easy-to-use contour tones. Between the Petit Palette Eyes and the Plumpuku Coordinate Eyes, this eye look will have you looking fresh and vivacious all vacation long!

Of course, the look isn’t complete without mascara – we went with the Metalook Mascara ~Volume Look~ in [V01] Black, using the unique metal spoolie to coat every lash for full, defined volume. Waterproof, sweat-proof, and sebum-resistant, even on the hottest days this is your ultimate summer lash solution, giving you luscious lashes and saving you from raccoon eyes with just one coat.

Cheek Makeup

^{Cream Cheek (Pearl Type) [P06] Sweet Coral}

With the uniquely soft and bouncy texture of a “jelly-cream” blush, CANMAKE’s Cream Cheek series blends evenly across your cheekbones, and the Pearl Type version in shade [P06] Sweet Coral adds a luminous pink glow. It feels dewy when applied but dries down matte, keeping your cheeks fresh and smudge-free even on hot days, with extra durability to help it stick around all day long. This peachy pink shade flatters a wide range of skin tones, making it perfect for all your summertime adventures!

Lip Makeup

This summer getaway look isn’t complete without the vital addition of a luscious lip color! The Glass Tint Syrup in the shade [40th] Memorable Pink Red gives a glossy finish with a glassy shine in just one swipe, filling in any uneven texture to leave your lips with a vivid color and a juicy glow. Infused with five different moisturizing agents, it keeps lips hydrated and vibrant all day. Plus, as you might guess from the color code (“40th”), this is also a special edition pearlescent shade celebrating CANMAKE’s 40th anniversary shade – perfect for fans looking to work on their cosmetics collection.

For those who really love shiny lips, we recommend checking out a 40th-anniversary product that was brought back into production specially for the occasion, the Your Lip Only Gloss in [01] Clear. This clear gloss reacts with your lip moisture to perform a magic trick – not only will it add a shiny gloss, but with each layer you’ll see the gloss turn a deeper shade of pink, right before your eyes. Use it alone or over the Glass Tint Syrup for an extra glossy top coat!

Natural & Pretty: Japanese No-Makeup Makeup for the New Semester

Base Makeup

^{Mermaid Skin Gel UV [C01] Cica Mint}

Sun protection and base makeup in one! The Mermaid Skin Gel UV glides on like a light hydrating essence and absorbs quickly, great for getting your daily skincare routine done even on early mornings. The formula cuts down on pesky UV rays, and the [C01] Cica Mint shade uses centella asiatica leaf extract (sometimes called “cica”) to calm breakout-prone teenage skin while color-correcting any excess redness with a minty green tint. For back-to-school makeup, or any summer day when you’re looking for a lightweight base, this product works as both a sunscreen and an easy base layer.

Eye Makeup

The Fit Styler Eyebrow in [01] Natural Brown is a subtle brow powder palette, and it’s ideal for beginners looking to clean up their brows and add a natural touch of color without going overboard. Swipe the brush across the three warm brown shades to effortlessly achieve natural, blended brows – this smooth powder formula goes on without any clumps!

Back-to-school makeup calls for barely-there products that just add a cute touch, and the versatile palette of Perfect Multi Eyes in [09] Rosé Panna Cotta includes five matte beige to brown tones that work as shadow, brow powder, and eyeliner. No shimmer here, just five shades that add clean and simple depth to enhance your natural features, great for daily wear or ID photos.

To complete the look use, CANMAKE’s Quick Lash Curler (Transparent Type), a clear mascara that sets your lashes for a natural curled effect, opening up the eyes. The clump-free formula makes it easy to use, even for beginners, and the formula works as a brow gel too. Whether you’re a student or just a fan of clean, minimalist makeup, this versatile product is great to keep on hand.

Cheek Makeup

^{Cream Cheek [23] Cupid Pink}

Getting the right blend (and the right shade) for a natural blush look can be tricky, but we’re big fans of the Cream Cheek in the shade [23] Cupid Pink for that purpose. Its creamy hydrating formula blends smoothly and dries down quickly for a seamless look – no patchy spots – and the milky pink tone adds a natural flush that can even be paired with a school uniform.

Lip Makeup

^{Glass Tint Syrup [05] Lively Peach}

Get ahold of the Glass Tint Syrup in [05] Lively Peach to finish off your back-to-school look with a sheer peachy lip. This juicy peach shade adds a subtle vibrancy to your lips without standing out too much, and the applicator makes it easy to apply exactly as much as you want, which is great for when you’re hesitant about wearing a tinted lip product. Plus, the formula provides moisture without being sticky, lending your lips a soft tiny that stays comfortable all day.

Versatile & Budget-Friendly Japanese Cosmetics: Perfect For All Your Summer Looks

From fresh vacation glam to effortless back-to-school charm, CANMAKE’s versatile lineup offers plenty of products to help you match your makeup to your mood or your summer plans. Try them out during your next trip to Japan, and we think you’ll be bringing a few of CANMAKE’s most popular products home with you – as souvenirs, and as part of your daily makeup routine!

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