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Your guide to pulling off subtle and stunning soft glam makeup
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If you’re new to makeup, achieving a soft glam makeup look can be intimidating. It’s more subtle than a full glam look but offers more drama than no-makeup makeup, making soft glam the perfect style to enhance your natural beauty. Follow the tutorial below for a flawless soft glam makeup look for a wedding, prom, or another special occasion. We even spoke with professional makeup artists to get expert tips on product selection and application.
What is soft glam makeup?
Soft glam makeup enhances your natural beauty using less product and lighter colors than a full glam look. Most soft glam makeup includes light-coverage concealer and/or foundation, penciled brows, a subtle smokey or gold eye look, light pink blush, and a matte nude or pink lipstick. Contouring is optional.
Steps
Section 1 of 3:
Easy Soft Glam Makeup Tutorial
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Prepare your skin with primer. Start by squirting a dime-sized amount of primer onto the back of your hand. Apply it to your face using your fingers to gently massage it into your skin. Use more primer as needed. [1] X Research source- ”Primer gets the skin smooth and ready. It fills in any fine lines and pores and helps to lock on the foundation that you're about to apply,” makeup artist Cassandra McClure explains.
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2Dab concealer on blemishes and under the eyes. Use the wand attached to the concealer’s cap to cover blemishes. [2] X Research source One or two dabs should do. Next, swipe concealer under the eyes (starting from the inner corner) to help conceal dark circles. [3] X Research source Use a small makeup sponge or your fingers to blend. [4] X Research source
- “For scars or dark circles, find a concealer that will cancel out the purple/bluish tones by [choosing] a salmon or orange color corrector,” advises professional makeup artist Stephanie Navarro.
- To find the right concealer, start by identifying your skin tone and undertones. If you’re unsure, go to a makeup store or counter and ask an associate to help you find your shade. Sample shades in-store to find the concealer that matches your complexion best. [5] X Research source
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3Apply light-coverage foundation. Place a small amount on the back of your hand. Use a flat brush or your fingers to apply. For soft glam, less is more—focus on your T-zone (the forehead, nose, and chin) and your cheeks. [6] X Research source If you’re using a brush, try to dab instead of swiping to prevent creasing. [7] X Research source
- When testing several foundation shades to find the best match, instead of swatching them on your hand, swipe them along your jawline. That way, you’ll find a shade that works for both your face and neck. [8] X Research source
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4Brush and pencil in your brows. Use a two-sided brow pencil with the pigment on one end and the spoolie or brush on the other end. Pick a pigment that’s close to your natural brow color. [9] X Research source Start by brushing your brows to groom and straighten them, using small, upward strokes. Then, gently swipe on the pigment in short strokes that arc in the same direction as your brow hairs to help fill your brows. [10] X Research source
- Makeup artist JoAnn Solomon emphasizes to “brush your eyebrow in the direction in which you choose for it to flow.” If you like high, arched brows, brush them upward. For a more tamed look, brush them up and then down toward the edges.
- Apply a clear brow gel with your finger to polish the look.
- Alternate between brushing and penciling until you’re satisfied.
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5Optionally, apply contour and highlight and blend for a lifted look. While some soft glam makeup looks skip the contour, it can help define the cheekbones, nose, and jawline. See suggested steps below for a subtle contour that will make your soft glam look even more snatched.
- Use a foundation brush to begin contouring along your cheekbones. Start by dabbing a cream bronzer or the darkest powder in your contouring palette along your cheekbone. [11] X Research source
- Layer on lighter shades just above the cheekbone. Swipe across the high center of the forehead, down the center of the nose, and along the underside of the jawline.
- Use a makeup sponge to blend your contour into your foundation. Use gentle rolling motions to help stipple the product into your skin.
- Finally, use a thin brush to apply highlighter to the tip of your nose and the inner corners of your eyelids. [12] X Research source
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6Apply liquid or powder blush with a brush. Use a fluffy, tapered blush brush or your fingers to apply it, dabbing it upward and outward along the cheekbones. Start near the nose and dab up toward the temple. Apply more blush for a bolder flushed look. [13] X Research source
- Go over your blush with a makeup sponge to blend it further into your skin and foundation for a more natural appearance.
- Opt for a matte blush that will build with your foundation, typically in a light pink shade. Soft glam is all about light colors and a neutral base. [14] X Research source
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7Apply a base eyeshadow over the eyelid. Also referred to as a transition shade, this is the color that will be the backdrop of your soft glam eye look—usually a nude, light brown, or dusty rose. Swipe it over the lid, packing more on the outer corners of your eyelids and the crease. [15] X Research source
- You can also use your bronzer or highlighter on your eyes for extra shimmer in place of a base eyeshadow. [16] X Research source
- Use a small smudge brush to apply the base shade along the lower lash line for a more defined eye look. [17] X Research source
- For a smokier and bolder soft glam eye look, apply a medium or dark brown shadow on the outer corners of both eyelids in small, circular motions that extend upward and outward like a wing. Use a blending brush to help diffuse it into your base shade. [18] X Research source
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8Use dark eyeshadow and an angled brush for a subtle wing. Pick up a small amount of dark brown or black eyeshadow on an angled brush . Place the brush at an angle beside the upper lash line and flick outward like you were applying an eyeliner wing. Repeat on the other side. Smudge gently with your finger for a softer look. [19] X Research source
- Optionally, apply white or nude eyeliner to your waterline using a dull eye pencil. This step helps to make your eyes look wider.
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9Swipe mascara on your upper lashes. Start at the base of the lashes and move the mascara wand up, being careful not to transfer mascara onto your eyelids. Gently wiggle the brush side-to-side as you apply to help evenly coat the lashes. [20] X Research source
- Apply mascara on your lower lashes if you’d like, or skip to keep the look lighter.
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10Line your lips and apply a matte nude or pink lipstick. Use a brown or soft pink liner that will compliment your lipstick, taking into account your skin tone and natural lip color. Once you’ve lined around the edges of both lips, use your finger or a lipstick brush to apply a matte lipstick to your lips. [21] X Research source
- Solomon says a darker lip liner can help accentuate the lips and make them appear larger, while a lighter lip liner will help them look a bit smaller.
- When using matte lipsticks, it’s important to find a hydrating formula so you can nourish your lips and ensure they won’t dry out or flake. [22] X Research source Solomon also recommends applying lip balm right before you put on your matte lipstick.
- After applying your lipstick, swipe on a clear lip gloss for an optional shiny finish.
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11Spritz setting spray to seal in the look. Hold your setting spray at least six inches from your face so it can diffuse and not puddle or drip. Close your eyes while you spritz it all over to help set your makeup in place. Your soft glam look is finished! [23] X Research source
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Section 2 of 3:
5 Soft Glam Makeup Examples
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Rose Gold Soft Glam Swipe a soft orange shade as your base shadow over the whole eyelid. Swipe a light brown shadow above the crease and along the outer corner of each eyelid. Dab a shimmery nude shade in the inner corners. Finally, apply a rose-gold eyeshadow at the center of both eyelids and along the crease, blending it toward the outer corners. [24] X Research source- For a more intense color, Navarro says to wet your brush with a little water. “This is great to get more range out of the colors you already own. It especially makes sparkly eyeshadows pop.”
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2Latte Soft Glam Match the look of your favorite beverage with a palette that emulates the earthy light-brown hues of a latte. If you’re contouring, look for subtle brown bronzers over orange shades. For your eyes, stick with just your base eyeshadow in a beige or soft brown shade. [25] X Research source
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3Foundation-Free Soft Glam (No-Makeup Makeup) For a more subtle soft glam makeup look, skip the foundation. Use concealer to hide blemishes and lighten the under-eye area. Go for a nude lip and a neutral blush. Finally, pick neutral shades for your eye look and avoid the wing—let your features shine. [26] X Research source
- If you’re a beginner to doing no-makeup looks, makeup artist Charina Redugerio says to avoid the common mistake of using a heavy foundation.
- Instead, focus on your skincare routine, continues Redugerio. “In order to [get] that glowy glass skin that everybody is trying to achieve, I feel like skincare gives you the best prep for that.”
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4Peachy Soft Glam While a shimmery gold or white eyeshadow is common in soft glam makeup, you can make your look warmer with bright peach hues. Use a wide, rounded eyeshadow brush to apply a soft orange eyeshadow. Go over the outer corners of your eyelids with a darker orange-brown hue. Finish off the look with a peachy nude lipstick . [27] X Research source
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5Instagram Soft Glam For a more Instagram-inspired soft glam makeup look, contour your cheekbones and jawline and do a thin black winged liner. Add false lashes (clusters or individual lashes, not strip lashes) to the outer corners. Curl your natural lashes and apply mascara before gluing your false lashes on the outer corners of your lash lines. Take a selfie for the ‘gram when you’re done. [28] X Research source
- Navarro shares this simple hack for curling your lashes: “Heat up your lash curler with a blow dryer for 10 seconds before curling and watch how your curly lashes last all day.”
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