Even if you haven't been a teenager in years, there's something about "The Summer I Turned Pretty" [1] that makes you long for young summer love; the kind that usually begins and ends near a skee-ball machine or ferris wheel. Even if we'll never get the kind of love triangle [2] plaguing main character Isabel "Belly" Conklin (played by Lola Tung), we'll settle for her low-key summer beauty look.
We know we're not alone. In fact, we'd say "TSITP" is continuing to rival "Stranger Things [3]" on TikTok; videos replicating the breezy aesthetic [4] of Belly's hair and makeup at her summer house in the made-up town of Cousins [5] has taken over FYPs. The thing is that there's nothing particularly unique about it: a swipe of tinted lip balm, a dollop of sunscreen, and maybe a little mascara, and the look is complete. And yet, we don't care — we're in it for the vibe, and Belly's is one that might make you feel like you're having the most memorable summer of your life, even if you aren't at all.
Still, you can't channel this story's main character without knowing all of the facts, so we uncovered them for you. Ahead, the show's makeup department head Tara Sall [6] reveals the stories and products that will help you officially enter your "Belly Era" this summer.
Behind Belly’s Everyday Makeup Look
If we learned one thing from "The Summer I Turned Pretty" it's that book adaptations [7] are always better when the author is at the helm. Jenny Han, the original mastermind behind the book trilogy the show is based on, had a clear vision for how her characters would translate on screen, especially Belly. Makeup artist Lindsay Desarno, who originally led the department at the start of filming, worked with Han to create Belly's realistic soft makeup look.
Sall says that Tung's BTS prep always included eye patches, like the Live Tinted Rays Copper Eye Masks [8], Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen [9] for her face, and Sun Bum Sunscreen Lotion [10] for her body. As for her makeup, the team relied on the Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette [11], especially the darker colours that work well as a soft liner. When they wanted a stronger eye look, they used the Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner [12] in Damsel. If you really want to capture that #BellyCore aesthetic, you'll need the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm [13] in Rose and the Laneige Lip Glowy Balm [14] in Berry.
Fans of the book will also know that Belly is a sucker for a good snack, so it's no surprise this character detail was brought to life [15] in the show, too. Belly's treat of choice: Cheetos. So, what's the pro secret behind this movie magic? "We had actual ground-up Cheeto standing by to add more onto her fingers," Sall says. "Digging around in a bag of Cheetos is still the best way to get cheesy fingertips."
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How BFFs Belly and Taylor Influenced Each Other’s Makeup
Like real-life best friends, Taylor (played by Rain Spencer) and Belly influenced each other's makeup looks in the show. "When I was designing Taylor's look I kept it natural, but used subtle elements to contrast with Belly," Sall says. "Taylor almost always had some kind of shimmer when Belly was more matte." For example, when Belly would be wearing a product, like Burt's Bees Lip Balm in Rose, Taylor would be in something similar, but more glossy, like Rosebud Salve [32]. Taylor always encouraged Belly to step out of her comfort zone at Cousins; it's this influence we see permeate Belly's choices throughout the series as we watch her look evolve.
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The Romantic Inspiration For Belly’s Deb Ball Look
Speaking of evolution, Belly has her swan moment in the final episode at the debutante ball. Designed by makeup artist Jennifer Chavez, this look came directly from Han's inspiration: the 1968 film adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet." According to Sall, Chavez opted for products that differed from Belly's natural everyday look to give her that lit-from-within glow, courtesy of the Kosas Cream Colour & Light: Crème Cream Blush & Highlighter Duo [35] in 8th Muse and Tropic Equinox. Chavez also used the Tartelette Juicy Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette [36] to bring a satin shimmer to Tung's eyes, MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Fluidline Eye Liner [37] in Blacktrack to accentuate her lash line, Dior Diorshow Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Pencil
[38] to polish and define her brows, and Dr. PawPaw Tinted Multipurpose Soothing Balm [39] in Peachpink for her lips.
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The Products Behind Belly’s Winning Volleyball Tournament
The volleyball scene was a win for Team Conrad (you have to dive, Jeremiah — that's why there's sand!), but the one thing we're more interested in than Belly and Connie's secret handshake is the sunscreen they used to film this scene. It took days to wrap and at least four different formulas to cover the cast. Makeup artist Shannon Kernahan even had a timer set to make sure all of the actors reapplied their SPF every hour. The team's favourites: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen, Supergoop! Play Antioxidant Body Sunscreen Mist [50], Sun Bum Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 [51], Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 [52], and Supergoop! (Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder Sunscreen [53], specifically for their scalps. Some makeup was involved, too. To battle sweat, Sall says the team opted for Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation [54] and Tarte Shape Tape Concealer [55].
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