Butter Yellow: The Must-Have Beauty Shade for Spring/Summer – Here’s How to Nail the Look

Spring and pastel hues go hand in hand but this season, one shade stands above the rest, Butter Yellow.

With ‘butter yellow’ experiencing a staggering 376% increase in Google searches and a +69% spike in the last three months alone, with ‘butter yellow nails’ increasing by 240%, and ‘golden makeup’ by 195% in the past month alone. This hero hue is officially the standout colour for spring. Flattering, soft, and effortlessly sophisticated, butter yellow is the new neutral that compliments every skin tone, making it the perfect addition to any beauty routine.

Whether worn as a bold statement or subtly incorporated as a hint of pigment, this signature shade is forecasted to brighten up beauty trends across the board. Cult Beauty is here to share how to incorporate butter yellow into your makeup routine like a pro:

Butter Yellow Beauty Trends: How to Get the Look

Butter Yellow Nails
A chic and easy way to embrace the butter yellow trend is through your manicure. Short and sophisticated, this shade offers a fresh, understated elegance, while a classic French tip with a butter yellow twist exudes timeless style. For a seasonal touch, daisy-accented designs bring the ultimate springtime aesthetic.

For a more playful approach, opt for a full butter yellow manicure with a glossy finish, giving your nails a bright, sunlit glow. If you love intricate nail art, consider incorporating floral accents, delicate gold foils, or subtle ombré effects that transition from a soft cream to a rich butter hue. For those who prefer longer nails, an almond or coffin shape painted in a rich butter yellow can offer a striking yet refined look that pairs beautifully with gold jewellery and pastel outfits.

Butter Yellow Eye Looks

A quick and simple way to step into the butter yellow trend is to swap out your usual brown or black eyeliner and replace it with yellow. Keep your base matte and neutral and simply draw on your usual feline flick. A few coats of your favourite black mascara will also help to open the eye and ensure the yellow eyeliner is the star of the show.

For something softer, use a muted, matte eyeshadow to create graphic lines on your eyes. This can be achieved by spritzing a setting spray onto your eyeshadow pan to create a paste, using a delicate, angled brush and applying the butter yellow hue exactly where you want. Make up artist Dana Vaughan uses the colour in the corner of the eye and then creates a small flick on the outer corner.

If you want to go more editorial, utilise a yellow eyeliner on the upper and lower lash line, plus layers of yellow mascara on top, this creative finish relies solely on the vivid yellow shade to make a serious impact. To achieve this, make sure your complexion is matte and natural with no contour, bronzer and even avoid too much blush. Opt a matte lipstick that’s the same shade as your natural lip colour.

More Butter Yellow Makeup
Luxury beauty brands are embracing the butter yellow movement with a range of products to help consumers achieve the look. From buttery-hued powders and brightening concealers to buttery nail enamels and warm-toned primers, beauty lovers can seamlessly integrate this spring-ready shade into their routine.

For complexion-enhancing results, butter yellow-toned setting powders and primers can be used to neutralise redness and add an all-over warmth to the skin. Additionally, soft yellow-tinted highlighters offer a golden glow that complements any makeup look. Lip trends are also embracing butter yellow, with sheer yellow glosses and warm-toned nude lipsticks providing the perfect finishing touch.

Those looking to create a cohesive monochrome moment can blend butter yellow across their lids, lips, and even cheeks for a fresh, sun-drenched aesthetic. Whether it’s through subtle accents or bold beauty statements, butter yellow is the ultimate colour to elevate your makeup this spring.

For more information or to shop the butter yellow trend, visit Cult Beauty.