How to Master Soft Glam Makeup, According to the Pros 

If you have an Instagram or TikTok account, it's a safe bet that you've scrolled past videos of celebs getting “glam” ahead of special events. The makeup look that probably comes to mind is one that's a bit over-the-top, à la the glam sessions shared by the Kardashians. But lately there's been a movement away from strong contoured cheekbones and striking cut-crease shadows. Enter soft glam makeup. She's the middle sister bridging the gap between no-makeup makeup and full glam.

Makeup-challenged girlies, this one's for you: The “soft” part of soft glam makeup refers to the blurred, blended look that this trend is all about. Think about it like swiping the Paris filter onto your Insta Stories—any harsh lines or contrast blurs away and you're left with a smooth, beautiful canvas. 

We went to pro makeup artists to get their take on what soft glam means to them and learn how to re-create the look that has garnered nearly 400 million views on TikTok. 

“Take everything you’d do for a full glam look, and take it down by 50%,” says Monika Blunder, a celeb makeup artist and founder of her namesake makeup line. “Use half the amount of coverage for your foundation and concealer, half the amount of eye makeup, blush, bronzer, etc.” Now, for a low-maintenance person who doesn't usually wear full glam, copying this look may actually require wearing a little bit more makeup than usual, but the most important takeaway is to blend, blend, blend so that you're left with a seamless vibe. 

Nick Lujan, global director of artistry and education for Kevyn Aucoin, seconds the idea of soft glam not being “overdone,” saying the trend is about having “every element of the features addressed, but with softer colors and natural-looking textures.”

Another interpretation of soft glam is creating a monochromatic makeup look, meaning the products used on the eyes, lips, and cheeks are all in the same color family. Jackie Aina created a YouTube video in 2019 in which she refers to soft glam as all “taupes, beiges, and browns, whatever's natural to your skin tone.” Blunder agrees with sticking to a neutral color palette for soft glam as it “keeps everything looking casual and cohesive.”

Get glowing.

“The key is prepped and nourished skin,” says Lujan, who recommends applying Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream first because soft glam calls for “radiant skin with hints of light reflection.” A moisturizer like this one doubles as a hydrating primer and leaves a dewy sheen before you even start applying makeup, allowing you to use less or skip highlighter altogether at the end.

Blunder says that choosing buildable base products is the way to go. If you need more coverage, go for layers, but don't start with a full-coverage foundation if you don't plan to sheer it out. From her line, there's Blunder Cover, available in 20 shades and laced with good-for-your-skin ingredients like arnica, edelweiss, and hydrating oils. “If you need additional coverage around the eye area, you can introduce a lightweight concealer like the Kevyn Aucoin Etherealist Super Natural Concealer,” says Lujan. 

To finish complexion, Lujan instructs to “set the skin with a veil of loose powder to help create a smooth/even canvas.” Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder comes in three shades, and there's a glow option too, if you want to dial up the luminosity.

It’s all about the eyes.

For Donni Davy, a celeb makeup artist and the creative genius behind the fire eye makeup looks seen on Euphoria, “soft glam is all about blended, diffused eye shadows and a strong lash.” (So basically, it is the opposite of the striking, graphic looks that you see on the outrageous teen drama.) “The best thing about it [soft glam] is that you don’t have to have strong precision skills because…no liner!” she says.

Davy says to start by buffing an eye primer onto your lids with a shadow brush. Ilia Natural Brightening Primer is great, even for oily eyelids. Next, you're going to want to create a halo effect around your eyes. Davy recommends choosing an eye shadow shade that's about as deep as your skin tone, either matte or shimmery and “blend this color up beyond your crease, and underneath your lower lash line.” Then pick a shade that's going to pop a little bit more like Glamorust from Davy's line Half Magic to swirl all over your eyelids. Finish with a darker shadow shade and buff it into your lash line. “This isn’t about skinny precise lines,” she reminds us. “Think soft, smudged, and smoky.” Take a clean shadow brush to go over your handiwork and ensure that everything is really blended and diffused.

For brows, a clear gel formula with a spoolie like Refy Brow Sculpt Shape and Hold Gel is going to be your best friend—all you have to do is brush hairs up and set them in place. A harsh block brow that looks drawn on is the opposite of what this look calls for. Finish off eyes with lots of mascara.

Go natural on lips and cheeks.

Remember, the goal is to not have any harsh lines or too intense color pops. For blush, swirl a big fluffy brush into a subtle coral or nude pink shade like Nars Blush in Luster and dab it down your cheekbones, starting at the hairline and ending at the apples. This technique will still have a lifting and sculpting effect but without the need for traditional contouring. Pro tip: Use what's leftover on your blush brush and sweep gently over lids to lean into the blended theme and really tie the look together. Apply a lip liner that's a your-lip-shade-but-better color, then “run your fingertip along it to sort of soften the edge,” instructs Davy. On top, opt for a creamy crayon like Honest Beauty's, which comes in eight demi-matte shades that will keep lips feeling hydrated but looking chic.