Dopamine Beauty Looks To Boost Your Mood

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Facing the monotony of the COVID-19 pandemic, some turned to online shopping, buying clothes for future versions of themselves. From patterned pants to clashing blouses, colorful outfits became an escape from boredom. This is what's known as dopamine dressing, or using your wardrobe to lift your spirits. 

"Dopamine dressing is all about wearing what makes you feel good. For some people, that's a certain fit or silhouette, and for others, it's a particular color, print, or texture," Stitch Fix style expert Whitney Keefe explained in a conversation with Byrdie, adding, "For all of us, confidence comes when we feel our best." In the past few years, maximalist creators like the Amiaya twins and Thalia Casto-Vega have taken off on Tik Tok and Instagram, sharing increasingly experimental and colorful street styles.

Although a healthy diet, exercise, and humming along to your favorite song can all boost dopamine, our brain's "feel good" chemical, clothes offer a unique opportunity for artistic expression. Now, dopamine dressing has expanded to include dopamine beauty — or as Beyoncé's makeup artist Sir John calls it, "dopamine glam" (via Hypbae). Here's how you can use dopamine beauty to boost your mood no matter your skill level. Sometimes it just involves a swipe of glitter ...

Aniyah, an NYC-based content creator, uses a small liner brush and palette from Gavissi Beauty to free-hand a cream-colored geometric design. She paints planetary rings, draws stars in her inner corners, and accentuates retro-inspired wings with delicate dots. The beauty in the design lies in its negative space. When it comes to graphic liner, make sure your eyelids are fully prepped and primed. "The key to this look is creating the shape outline with the eyes open, gazing directly into the mirror," makeup artist Nick Lujan told Glamour.

Although the 2020s might not be as roaring as the 1920s, there's no better time to revive flapper-inspired makeup. Especially if you combine it with elements of "Daisy Jones and the Six" '70s nostalgia. Start with a smooth powdered base, adding dark lipstick and a generous helping of pink rouge. Next, draw ultra-thin Greta Garbo brows. These are easiest to replicate if your natural hairs are bleached or shaved, although you can achieve a similar barely-there look with concealer. Finally, add a dusty blue metallic smokey eye to incorporate that classic rock and roll flair.

As psychotherapist Annie Bennett outlines for Glamour, "Everything from positive affirmations to exercise release endorphins but so does surrounding yourself with lemon, pink, blue and orange..." With this in mind, it's time to upgrade your standard black cat eye, opting instead for a brighter color. It's certainly easier than going for a run. Although Katie Jane Hughes is a fan of a bright blue liner, orange or pink wings can also do the trick (as per Bennett's recommendation). Compliment this look with neutral-toned lips and a smooth, slightly-flushed base.

Whether you're experimenting with the four-dot white eyeliner trend or going for that wide-eyed doe-eye look, white eyeliner is having quite the moment across social media. At the same time, retro-inspired double wings have grown in popularity. "Double winged liner is on-trend right now for a multitude of reasons," Keri Blair, Senior National Artist at MAC Cosmetics tells InStyle, adding, "It carries so much duality: It's sexy and glamorous, and it also expresses strength and showcases one's technical prowess in the world of makeup application." Combine both trends with a bright white double-lined eye, completing the look with a matching white balaclava and winter pink lips.

In an Instagram how-to, makeup artist Erin Parsons shows followers how to best create a dramatic bottom lash look. For starters, add spiky lashes to your Amazon cart. Next, divide the lashes into individual pieces with a pair of kitchen scissors. Use clear eyelash glue and rounded tweezers to evenly place three small spikes on your lower lash line. As advised by Parsons, the top lashes should mirror the bottom. Finally, recognizing that this look might not be for everyone, the creator notes, "Makeup is art and art is subjective."

Not only is TikTok and Instagram creator Sara Camposarcone a self-described maximalist when it comes to her wardrobe, but her makeup takes a larger-than-life approach as well. It's dopamine dressing at its finest. To mimic her polka dot look, start with prepped and primed lids, and use a round-tipped eyeshadow brush to draw multi-colored dots. Camposarcone also decorates her lids with much smaller white pencil marks for variety, completing the look with fanning false lashes and hot pink lips. Tie everything together with chunky neon jewelry and a ruffled collar.

To create your own 3D eyeliner, all you need is a hot glue gun and metallic eyeshadow. On a sheet of metal or glass, lay out your design — perhaps something of a futuristic, "Mandalorian"-themed pattern? — and let it dry before covering it with shimmery eyeshadow. It may take a couple of tries before you fully master the art of 3D graphic liners. If you're struggling to get the hang of it, you can always take the easy route and invest in eyeliner stickers from Ulta Beauty. 

Faux freckles took 2021 by storm. They got so popular that some even opted for semi-permanent freckle tattoos. This time around put a colorful spin on the trend. As advised by the YouTube creator Samantha Ravndahl, liquid lipsticks work the best for rainbow freckles — not only do they allow for a range of blended colors, but they'll also stay put throughout a long day of wear. Using your hand as a palette, mix shades according to your preference and apply small dots with a precision liner brush. Headed to your city's pride parade this June? Personalize your freckles to reflect your respective flag.

HBO's "Euphoria" inspired things like cut-out fashion, lots of metallic manicures, and glue-on eye gems. For this "Euphoria"-Esque look, let your lids steal the show. Keep the rest of your makeup minimal, opting for a simple highlight and allowing your natural skin to shine underneath regardless of texture. "Skin is not good or bad, it's not interesting or a point of conversation, it just is what it is," rosacea influencer Lex Gillies explains in a conversation with Vogue. Unlike some aspects of the filtered "clean girl" aesthetic, dopamine beauty isn't limiting. It's simply colorful.

Once you've experimented with a mascara trio, move on to a blush trio. Celebrities like Tessa Thompson and Dove Cameron have experimented with viral "aura blush." Although Aoife first tried the look with Glossier's viral cloud paint trio, it's easy to replicate with virtually any cream or liquid blush. Start by applying a light base color high on your cheekbones — this makeup artist chooses yellow — and layer darker shades in smaller circles on top, bringing the color all the way to your eyelids. It's a shadow and blush look all in one.