June doesn’t just mark the official start of summer—it’s also Pride month. The first-ever Pride march was held in June 1970, and in the decades since, the parade has grown from a single-day event to a month-long extravaganza celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community (often, with rainbow-colored clothing and festive Pride makeup). Whether you’re a part of the community or simply want to stand in solidarity with your LGBTQIA+ friends, rocking a pride makeup look can be a great way to tell the world exactly where you stand in the fight for equality. Plus, the more-is-more approach to color (and glitter) is downright fun.
If you’re looking for pride makeup ideas to show your support this June, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’re sharing some of our favorite bold, bright, and confident rainbow-colored looks to wear with pride all month long.
Why Is Pride Important to NYX Professional Makeup?
At NYX Professional Makeup, we believe that everybody, regardless of their gender identity or sexuality, should feel free and safe to be who they are without fear of discrimination. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, which is why it’s so important to stand as an ally and advocate for equal rights, representation, and opportunities for all. Since launching our Proud Allies for All initiative in partnership with the Los Angeles LGBT Center, we’ve donated more than $650,000 to global initiatives providing support and resources for LGBTQIA+ youth. We’ve also provided allyship training to more than 10,000 individuals and plan to continue building upon that progress in the years to come.
If you want to get involved, there are plenty of ways to do so. Attending events, donating (when feasible), supporting LGBTQIA+ creators and businesses, and, yes, even donning colorful Pride makeup are among some of the ways you can show your support for this worthwhile cause. You can also take our allyship training quiz to brush up on your knowledge. Plus, after completing the quiz, you’ll earn an exclusive discount to use on your next NYX Professional Makeup purchase.
How To Build The Perfect Base For Your Pride Makeup Look
Skin prep always matters, but it becomes essential when you’re working with bold, bright makeup. A smooth, even base helps colors apply more evenly, stay in place, and maintain their vibrancy throughout the day. Ahead, we’re sharing a few can’t-skip steps to follow before getting started on your Pride makeup masterpiece.
Step 1: Start with skincare
First, wash your face with a gentle cleanser to remove any excess oil or debris that could interfere with your makeup application. Follow up with a lightweight moisturizer and broad-spectrum sunscreen to hydrate and protect your skin.
Once your moisturizer and sunscreen absorb, you can go ahead and smooth on a makeup primer to create a grippy base for your makeup. We recommend The Face Glue Gripping Primer, which provides up to 24 hours of hydration and grip with a flattering, soft-focus finish.
Step 2: Apply a long-lasting foundation
Next, even out your complexion with a long-lasting foundation that can hold up throughout whatever festivities you have planned. Any transfer-resistant formula you like works, but right now, we’re partial to the Make ‘Em Wonder Soft Matte Buildable Foundation. The ultra-lightweight formula infused with guarana seed extract and hyaluronic acid wears for up to 24 hours without smudging, fading, or transferring. Plus, it’s available in 45 expertly crafted shades to match a wide range of skin tones and undertones.
Step 3: Add dimension with blush
Blush is optional, but we’d argue that a pop of color on the cheeks makes any look better. Warm up your complexion by sweeping blush onto your cheekbones, opting for a higher placement to sculpt your face or a slightly lower placement for a more natural-looking flush (if you need help, our blush placement guide breaks down exactly where to put your color). As for which blush to use, we recommend the Buttermelt Blush, which comes in 15 vibrant, buttery colors in soft matte, satin, and glowy finishes.
Step 4: Seal your base with setting spray
When you’ve finished your base makeup, go ahead and seal everything in place with a generous misting of The Face Glue Setting Spray. The lightweight formula contains powerful film-formers that help lock your makeup into place, enabling it to stay waterproof, sweatproof, and transfer-resistant for up to 24 hours.
11 Festive Pride Makeup Looks To Try This June
Whether you’re looking for colorful Pride makeup or favor a more subtle (but still playful) approach, we’ve got the inspiration you need to shine all month long. Find 11 of our favorite Pride makeup ideas—and learn how to create them at home—below.
1. Gilded golden eyes
Gold makeup just works for Pride—it catches the light, reads as celebratory, and brings that extra, sparkly dimension that makes a look feel instantly festive. Shimmery gold eyeshadow also makes for an easy Pride makeup look that pairs well with any outfit or vibe.
Start by pressing a shimmery gold eyeshadow, like the Lid Lingerie Cream Eye Pigment in Gold String, onto your lid, extending it slightly upward toward the brow bone for a more dramatic finish. Then, use a matte brown shade to define your crease, blending thoroughly to soften the edges and add depth.
Next, line your upper and lower lash lines with a rich black pencil (we recommend the Epic Inky Stix Creamy Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Black Screen). At the outer corner, extend the liner outward toward the tail of your brow to create an elongated, exaggerated wing. Use a cotton swab with makeup remover to sharpen the edge and clean up any fallout, then apply your favorite false lashes to complete the eye look.
Since the eyes are doing the most (in the best way), keep the rest of your makeup more understated. A bit of blush, some contour, and lip gloss (we suggest Fat Oil Lip Drip in Follow Back) make for the perfect finishing touches.
2. Rainbow Pride eyeshadow
The rainbow flag is the ultimate symbol of Pride—and while wearing it is always a statement, translating it into your makeup takes things a step further. This rainbow eyeshadow look may look intricate, but the technique is surprisingly straightforward once you break it down.
To create this vivid look, you’ll need the Ultimate Shadow Palette in I Know That’s Bright, a couple of eyeshadow brushes, and your favorite black liquid liner (we’re partial to the Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, which offers up to 24 hours of wear).
Using a fluffy brush, apply the palette’s yellow eyeshadow to the inner corner of your lid. Without switching brushes, lightly dip into an orange shade and place it at the center of your lid, letting the colors overlap slightly. Next, apply a vibrant red to the outer corner. Blend where the shades meet to create a smooth gradient across your lid.
For the lower lash line, switch to a smaller brush. Apply green near the inner corner, then blue along the center, and finish with purple on the outer corner. Blend the colors together until they transition seamlessly from one to the next.
Once your shadow is blended, line your upper lash line with black liquid liner, extending it into a bold wing for added definition. Finish with mascara if you’d like, and get ready to show off your colorful Pride eye makeup look.
3. Smoky rainbow eyeshadow
If neon brights seem a little too bold for your liking, you can put a twist on the Pride eyeshadow tutorial outlined above by swapping out the brighter shades for softer, more subdued hues. Our Ultimate Shadow Palette in Paradise Shock is ideal for this, as it features several rainbow-adjacent hues (including peach, teal, and chartreuse) to customize your look. We suggest placing the matte gold shade in your inner corner, the peachy-orange on the center of your lid, and the salmon shade at the outer corner, then smoking it all out with a clean blending brush. You can then apply the palette’s chartreuse and teal shades to your lower lash line to complete the smoky, muted rainbow effect.
4. Bi Pride eye makeup
The bi Pride flag’s bright pink, purple, and royal blue palette lends itself perfectly to a colorful, head-turning eye look. You can combine these three complementary hues any way you’d like, but we’re especially fond of a statement-making color-blocked look. Bonus: It’s super easy to nail (so if you’re looking for a beginner, easy Pride makeup look, this is a great one to consider).
To start, tap the Lid Lingerie Cream Eye Pigment in Push-Up Pink onto one lid, extending the color toward your brow bone for a soft, blended effect. Then, with a clean finger, tap Lid Lingerie Cream Eye Pigment in Lacy Lilac onto the other lid.
Next comes the eyeliner—and that rich, royal blue shade. Using the Epic Inky Stix Creamy Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Cobalt Click, tightline your upper and lower lash lines to add definition and tie your look together. If you want, you can use the same eyeliner to create a subtle cat eye, but it’s totally optional—this look will stand out either way.
As an optional finishing touch, swipe a magenta lip gloss, such as the Jelly Job Full-Bodied High-Shine Lip Gloss in Juicy Jelly, onto your pout. Don’t forget to set your look with setting spray to ensure it lasts throughout the day (or night).
Editor’s tip: Not sure how to tightline your eyes? Get a full breakdown of the process in our article How To Do Tightline Eyeliner Like a Total Pro.
5. Negative space rainbow wing
If eyeshadow isn’t your forte, but you still want to wear a rainbow Pride makeup look, graphic liner is the way to go. For this one, reach for Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Sticks in Pink Spirit, Cosmic Yellow, Emerald Cut, Turquoise Storm, and Graphic Purple.
Start by drawing a short green line along your upper lash line, from the inner corner to about one-third of the way across your lid. Switch to the blue liner and continue the line, stopping just before the outer corner. Then, use the purple liner to finish the lash line and extend it outward toward the tail of your brow to create a bold wing.
Next, place your pink liner at the tip of that wing and draw a second line that mirrors the shape, sitting just above your natural crease. About a third of the way in, switch from pink to orange and continue the line toward the center of your lid. Finally, use the yellow liner to connect this upper line back to your inner corner.
The finished look is an exaggerated, rainbow wing with clean negative space across the lid.
6. Glitter eyes and lips
Pride is, at its core, a celebration—and as far as we’re concerned, there’s nothing that says “party” quite like glitter.
Start by snagging your favorite shade from our Ultimate Glow Shots Liquid Eyeshadow lineup and apply it to your lid. You’ll get plenty of pigment and shimmer, plus up to 12 hours of fallout-free wear. Then, draw an exaggerated wing along your upper lash line using a coordinating shade from Epic Inky Stix Creamy Mechanical Gel Eyeliner collection. If you want even more sparkle, you can use lash glue to adhere individual rhinestones to your brow bone or around your outer corners.
Once you’re satisfied with your eyes, go ahead and move on to your lips. Start by tracing your lip line with the Lip Lingerie Lip Liner Stain for budge-proof definition (you can also trace just outside of your lip line to create the illusion of bigger lips). Then, swipe on one of the eight blinged-out shades from our fan-favorite Butter Gloss Non-Sticky Lip Gloss lineup. Any shimmery shade will work here, but we’re partial to the bright and cheerful She Got Money for Pride.
7. Pastel Pride cut crease
The cut crease is a statement makeup look that involves applying one eyeshadow above your crease, then “carving out” your crease with concealer and applying a different, contrasting shade to your lid. Done properly, the graphic look should create a sharp contrast between your lid color and crease color.
To give it a Pride twist, start by applying a pastel pink eyeshadow just above your natural crease. Use a fluffy brush to blend the color upward and outward, diffusing it softly toward the tail of your brow. Then, deepen the area right above your crease with a slightly more pigmented pink shadow, extending it outward to create a subtle, winged shape.
Next, reach for the Wonder Snatch Concealer. Using a small, flat brush, carefully carve out your lid, keeping the concealer below your natural crease to maintain that clean separation. Once it sets, pat a vibrant shimmery eyeshadow—such as the Ultimate Glow Shots Liquid Eyeshadow in Plum Player—onto your lid to finish the look.
8. Ombré lips
If you’d like your lips to be the focal point of your Pride makeup, this bold, two-toned lip look is for you.
Start by lining your lips with a creamy fuchsia lip liner, such as the Line Loud Vegan Longwear Lip Liner in Hottie Hijacker. Use a clean fingertip to blend the color inward (toward the center of your lip) to create a soft gradient effect and eliminate any harsh lines.
Next, swipe the Fat Matte Smooth Color Lipstick in Hibiscus Hug onto the center of your pout. Press your lips together slightly to help blend the lipstick with the liner—done properly, you should be left with a pink-and-purple ombré lip look. You can leave it here, or top your two-toned lip look with clear gloss, such as the Jelly Job Full-Bodied High-Shine Lip Gloss in Just Jelly, for a high-shine finish.
9. Monochrome makeup
For an easy Pride makeup look sure to turn heads, color your lids, lips, and cheeks in various shades of the same hue. For this tutorial, we’re opting for pink, but you can easily adapt the look to work with any color you like.
Start by applying a bright pink eyeshadow, like the Lid Lingerie Cream Eye Pigment in Cheeky Coral, to your lid, blending the pigment upward and outward for a soft, diffused effect. Highlight your inner corner and brow bone, if desired, then darken your lashes with a coat or two of mascara.
Next, highlight the high points of your face with the Buttermelt Glow Boosting Highlighter Stix in My Melt Era. You can use a single swipe if you’d prefer a more subtle glow, but in our opinion, Pride makeup really shines when it’s a little over the top. In short: Don’t be afraid to layer on your highlighter for an ultra-glowy, shimmery finish.
Once you’ve perfected your glow, you can go ahead and move on to your lips. Fill them in completely with the Fat Matte Smooth Color Lipstick in Flamingo Feather for bold color with a soft matte finish. If you favor a glossier look, you can layer a lip gloss (we love the Jelly Job Full-Bodied High-Shine Lip Gloss in Jelly Kiss'd) over your lipstick for added shine.
10. Shimmery floating eyeliner
Embrace your artistic side with a graphic eyeliner look worthy of any Pride gathering. To start, apply your favorite primer and brighten your under-eye area with a hydrating concealer, such as our Wonder Snatch Concealer. Next, use the Epic Inky Stix Creamy Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Turbo Teal to draw a thin, curved line just above your natural crease. If you find that the line is too thin after your first pass, you can trace over it again to create a bolder, thicker line.
Once you’re satisfied with your floating liner, brush up your brows with The Brow Glue Crazy Lift Brow Lamination Gel to help open up your eyes even more. Complete the subtle yet statement-making look with a lightweight lip gloss, such as the Lip I.V. Hydrating Lip Gloss Stain. Once the gloss’s shiny finish fades, you’ll be left with a soft, long-lasting stain that stays put.
11. Sculpted and bronzed
Pride makeup doesn’t have to mean bold color—sometimes, a sculpted, high-glam look says just as much. Bronzy skin, strategic highlights, and glossy accents can feel polished enough for the office, but still have that elevated, expressive edge that carries seamlessly into after-hours plans. It’s a more understated way to tap into the spirit of Pride while keeping your look versatile and refined.
After laying down your base, warm up your complexion with a soft powder bronzer, such as the Buttermelt Bronzer (if you’re unsure how to use bronzer, this article can help). Then, accentuate the high points of your face with a luminous powder highlighter, like the Buttermelt Highlighter.
Next, define your upper lash line with a subtle shimmery eyeliner—we like the way the warm brown tones of Epic Inky Stix Creamy Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Kinetic Copper play against the rest of your bronzy makeup. Tie it all together with a swipe of the shimmer-packed Fat Oil Lip Drip in Caramelt Miami for a glam but effortless finish.
Editor’s tip: Want to amp up your beachy Pride makeup look? Once you’re ready to hit the parade, smooth the Fat Oil Body Oil in Coconut Cutie over your shoulders, arms, and decolletage for a shimmery, bronzed glow.
Pride Makeup FAQs
How do you make your Pride makeup last all day?
As with any makeup look, the longevity of your Pride makeup look hinges on how well you prep your skin and the products you use. Whichever Pride look you decide to create, we suggest starting by applying a makeup primer, such as The Face Glue Gripping Primer. You’ll also want to choose long-lasting, waterproof makeup formulas when possible, and remember to always set your look with a setting powder or setting spray (or both). Keep in mind that, even with proper prep and a perfect application, you may still need to do some touch-ups to keep your makeup looking flawless in the summer heat—that’s normal. Fill up a bag with the essentials and keep it on you as you celebrate for easy on-the-go touch-ups.
What should you use as a base for colorful Pride makeup?
What you use as your base makeup for Pride depends on what look you’re going after. Full-coverage foundation may be ideal for more glam looks, while a subtler skin tint or tinted moisturizer is great for those seeking lighter coverage. Regardless of what base products you use (or don’t use), it’s always important to prep your skin with makeup primer. This will help ensure your makeup stays put as you dance, march, and party the day away. Finally, don’t forget to wear plenty of sunscreen if you’re going to be outdoors—nothing ruins a great time more quickly than a painful sunburn. If you’re unsure how to properly layer your SPF with makeup, check out our article How To Wear Sunscreen and Makeup for tips.
Next Up: What’s The Best Way To Remove Waterproof Makeup?.
We can’t wait to see the Pride makeup looks you create with your favorite NYX Professional Makeup products! This June, be sure to share pics of your best Pride looks and tag us @nyxcosmetics.
PRODUCTS USED
THE FACE GLUE GRIPPING PRIMER
Up to 24h hydrating and gripping makeup prepping glue
Make ‘Em Wonder™ Soft Matte Buildable Foundation
Meet Make ’Em Wonder™ Soft Matte Foundation, a skincare-infused weightless foundation that delivers pro-level, buildable coverage with a real-skin finish for all-day comfort.
THE FACE GLUE SETTING SPRAY
Up to 24h makeup lock and shield, waterproof setting spray
Buttermelt Blush
High pigment buttery soft powder blush. Fade & transfer resistant with up to 12HR wear.
Lid Lingerie Cream Eye Pigment
Long-wear cream eyeshadow for sultry eyes in one swipe
Epic Inky Stix Creamy Mechanical Gel Eyeliner
A 24-hour cream gel eyeliner pencil featuring a precise slanted tip for effortless application with rich, 1-swipe pigment.
Fat Oil Lip Drip
Hydrating tinted lip oil + lip gloss in 22 shades
ULTIMATE SHADOW PALETTE
Pro-Level 16 pan Palette
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Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
Waterproof felt-tip liquid eyeliner pen
Lid Lingerie Cream Eye Pigment
Long-wear cream eyeshadow for sultry eyes in one swipe
Epic Inky Stix Creamy Mechanical Gel Eyeliner
A 24-hour cream gel eyeliner pencil featuring a precise slanted tip for effortless application with rich, 1-swipe pigment.
Jelly Job Full-Bodied High Shine Gloss
Hyper-glossy, cherry-scented lip gloss offering smooth, juicy shine in 16 shades
Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Stick
High-impact, waterproof eyeliner pencil
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Ultimate Glow Shots Liquid Eyeshadow
Liquid Shimmery Eyeshadow
Epic Inky Stix Creamy Mechanical Gel Eyeliner
A 24-hour cream gel eyeliner pencil featuring a precise slanted tip for effortless application with rich, 1-swipe pigment.
Lip Lingerie Lip Liner Stain
Ballpoint felt tip lip liner for precise, no-bleed nude perfection in twelve shades
Butter Gloss Non-Sticky Lip Gloss
Fan Fave Buttery Gloss
WONDER SNATCH™ CONCEALER
Up to 24HR Hydration, Waterproof, Fade-Resistant
Ultimate Glow Shots Liquid Eyeshadow
Liquid Shimmery Eyeshadow
Line Loud Vegan Longwear Lip Liner
Infused With Jojoba Oil + Vitamin E
FAT MATTE SMOOTH COLOR LIPSTICK
Soft, non-drying matte lipstick in 17 shades
Jelly Job Full-Bodied High Shine Gloss
Hyper-glossy, cherry-scented lip gloss offering smooth, juicy shine in 16 shades
Lid Lingerie Cream Eye Pigment
Long-wear cream eyeshadow for sultry eyes in one swipe
Buttermelt Glow Boosting Highlighter Stix
Meet the Buttermelt Glow Boosting Highlighter Stix, your shortcut to instant, dewy glow. This creamy highlighter stick melts into skin for buttery-smooth luminosity and a melty, glazed finish.
FAT MATTE SMOOTH COLOR LIPSTICK
Soft, non-drying matte lipstick in 17 shades
Jelly Job Full-Bodied High Shine Gloss
Hyper-glossy, cherry-scented lip gloss offering smooth, juicy shine in 16 shades
The Brow Glue Crazy Lift Brow Lamination Gel
A 24-hour strong-hold brow lamination gel that delivers a non-crunchy, flake-proof, and sweat-resistant hold.
Lip I.V. Hydrating Lip Gloss Stain
Lip gloss + long-lasting lip stain in 20 shades.
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Buttermelt Bronzer
High pigment, true-to-skin buttery powder bronzer. Fade & transfer resistant with up to 12HR wear.
BUTTERMELT HIGHLIGHTER
Butter smooth glowy highlighter in eight shades.
Epic Inky Stix Creamy Mechanical Gel Eyeliner
A 24-hour cream gel eyeliner pencil featuring a precise slanted tip for effortless application with rich, 1-swipe pigment.
Fat Oil Lip Drip
Hydrating tinted lip oil scented with Caramelt Mami
FAT OIL BODY OIL COCONUT CUTIE
Coconut & Peach Scent Body Oil with a golden shimmer finish
