A Never-Endin’ Masterpiece: Delving into Zara Larsson’s “Midnight Sun” Makeup
Image Courtesy: Sophia Sinot
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, there’s a very good chance you know who Zara Larsson is. The Swedish pop powerhouse has been making hits since 2012, with songs “Lush Life", " Never Forget You” featuring MNEK, and "Symphony" featuring Clean Bandit charting on radios everywhere. Nine years later and she’s still creating auditory masterpieces, with her fifth studio album Midnight Sun being released just a few months ago. But this latest album didn’t just solidify her status as a mainstay in the pop music atmosphere, it’s also shown that she has the ability to showcase fun, colorful makeup looks in a culture of “clean girl,” minimalist makeup.
Reminiscent of Y2K makeup, with a dash of Lisa Frank and looks throughout season one of Euphoria, Larsson wants to remind everyone that (as the titular song from the album says), “summer isn’t over yet.” She takes the stage with rhinestones, sparkles, sorbet-colored eyelids, and blush-draping; neon clothes, chunky accessories and her blonde hair wavy like the ocean. She truly is a pop icon, through and through.
Image Courtesy: Lisa Frank
The mastermind behind all of Larsson’s tour makeup is Sophia Sinot, her friend and frequent collaborator. In an interview with Teen Vogue, Sinot says she met Larsson in 2025 through a mutual friend’s party. Since then, the two have been good friends and love working together, as they often combine ideas for Larsson’s makeup. "We’ve been in the clean girl era for so long…it’s time to bring back fun makeup," says Sinot for Vogue Scandinavia.
“The aesthetic lands squarely within the siren, celestial and softly whimsical beauty wave sweeping Pinterest and TikTok. Call it cosmic fairy. Call it iridescent siren energy. Whatever the label, the fantasy is intentional — beauty embraced as artifice, as adornment, as a form of escapism.” says Marie Claire Australia writer Caitlin Napier. And what an escapism it is! The rhinestone stars and bright pink cheeks are giving some very fun Halloween inspo, even if it is 8 months away…!
Image Courtesy: Sophia Sinot
I seriously can’t get enough of every single one of these looks. The ways the colors blend together so naturally on her face make it seem as though they’ve always been there, like she [Larsson] is a painting or mosaic. The looks not only define her facial features and structure, but they’re true exhibits of the fun I think makeup has been missing over the last few years. The world's become so daunting and bleak, why shouldn’t we get to experience and take part in looks like this? They’re reminders of a different time, before social media was at the forefront of our decision making and color faded away. The looks are supposed to inspire you, leave you wanting to try them out yourself and see what you can come up with. The brighter the eyeshadow, the better!
I’ve got nothing but love, respect, adoration AND admiration for both Zara Larsson and Sophia Sinot and the beautiful, jaw-dropping, and inspiring work they’re doing together. Although the Midnight Sun tour ends later this year, we’ve still got some time to see what they come up with before summer is “over.” And I can’t wait.
Strike Out,
Kaya O’Rourke
Editor: Amia King
Saint Augustine
Kaya O’Rourke is a writer for Strike Magazine, Saint Augustine. She’s a big fan of film and art houses, curating the perfect Spotify playlist for every occasion, and spending time with her BFFS (her mom, younger brother Cole, and their two cats). When she’s not updating her Letterboxd or working on her screenplay, you can reach her on Instagram at @kayaorourke.
