Makeup has the incredible ability to transform a person’s appearance, whether you’re aiming for a natural glow or a bold statement. Two popular makeup looks that many beauty enthusiasts gravitate toward are the soft glam and full glam looks. Both are striking but different in their own right. Soft glam offers a more subtle, polished appearance, while full glam is all about drama and intensity. In this article, we’ll explore how to master both looks, and the steps involved in achieving them, without any references to alcohol in the process.
Soft Glam Makeup Look
Soft glam is all about enhancing your natural features while still maintaining an elegant, understated finish. It’s a versatile look that’s perfect for day-to-day wear or for special events when you want to look polished but not overdone. The soft glam makeup style focuses on glowing skin, neutral tones, and subtle definition. Here’s how to achieve this look step-by-step:
Step 1: Skin Prep is Key
The foundation of any makeup look is healthy, hydrated skin. To create the perfect base for your soft glam, start with proper skin prep.
- Cleanse your skin to remove any dirt or oil. This helps the makeup go on smoothly.
- Moisturize with a lightweight moisturizer to ensure your skin stays hydrated throughout the day.
- Apply a primer that suits your skin type (hydrating, pore-filling, or mattifying). This will ensure your makeup stays intact.
Step 2: Create a Flawless Base
Soft glam is all about a fresh, flawless complexion. Here’s how to create that flawless base:
- Foundation: Use a medium-coverage foundation that matches your skin tone. Look for a formula that gives a natural finish, so your skin still appears like skin. Blend the foundation evenly using a beauty sponge or foundation brush.
- Concealer: Apply a creamy concealer under the eyes, on the bridge of the nose, and on any blemishes or redness. Blend well into the skin.
- Powder: Set your base with a light dusting of translucent powder, focusing on areas prone to oil (such as the T-zone). This will lock in the makeup without making it look heavy.
Step 3: Define Your Brows
Brows are an important part of soft glam, as they frame the face and add definition. Aim for a natural but defined brow shape:
- Use a brow pencil or powder in a shade close to your natural brow color.
- Lightly fill in sparse areas, following the natural shape of your brows.
- Finish with a clear brow gel to keep your brows in place throughout the day.
Step 4: Subtle Eye Makeup
For a soft glam look, you want your eyes to be defined but not overly dramatic. Follow these steps for a soft, smoky eye that enhances your natural eye shape:
- Eyeshadow: Start with a neutral eyeshadow palette that includes warm browns, soft taupes, and maybe a hint of shimmer. Apply a matte neutral shade across the eyelid as your base, followed by a slightly deeper shade in the crease for subtle definition. Blend well.
- Liner: Instead of a harsh black eyeliner, opt for a soft brown pencil liner. Line the upper lash line and blend it out to create a soft, smudged effect that enhances your lashes without being too intense.
- Mascara: Apply a coat of mascara to your top lashes. A lengthening or volumizing mascara will add dimension without clumping or overwhelming the eyes.
Step 5: Subtle Contour and Highlight
Soft glam is all about a delicate, healthy-looking glow. To achieve this, contour and highlight softly:
- Contour: Use a cream or powder contour product that is only a few shades darker than your natural skin tone. Apply it to the hollows of your cheeks, along the jawline, and around your temples. Blend well for a subtle shadow effect.
- Blush: A natural pink or peach blush will add warmth to the face. Apply it to the apples of your cheeks and blend toward your temples for a soft, lifted look.
- Highlighter: Choose a light, champagne-colored highlighter and apply it to the high points of your face, such as the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and cupid’s bow. A light dusting is all you need to achieve a healthy, radiant glow.
Step 6: Natural Lips
For the soft glam look, you want your lips to look defined but not too bold. Here’s how to achieve the perfect soft lip:
- Use a lip liner that is close to your natural lip color to outline your lips. This will enhance their shape without looking too harsh.
- Apply a nude or pink lipstick that complements your natural lip tone. A satin or creamy finish will look more natural.
- Top it off with a light gloss or lip balm to add some shine and hydration to your lips.
Full Glam Makeup Look
Full glam makeup is all about making a statement. Think bold, dramatic, and show-stopping. The full glam look is perfect for evenings, photoshoots, or special occasions like weddings, parties, or events where you want to be the center of attention. Here’s how to achieve the perfect full glam makeup look:
Step 1: Skin Prep for Full Glam
The key to full glam is starting with a flawless base that’s smooth and long-lasting. Here’s how to prep your skin:
- Cleanse your skin thoroughly.
- Apply a hydrating primer to give your skin a smooth canvas and help the makeup last all day and night.
- If you have oily skin, consider using a mattifying primer to control shine, especially in areas like the T-zone.
Step 2: Full Coverage Base
For full glam, you’ll want a full-coverage foundation that gives you that airbrushed finish. Here’s how to get it right:
- Foundation: Choose a long-wear, full-coverage foundation that gives a flawless, matte or dewy finish, depending on your preference. Use a brush or sponge to apply the foundation evenly over your face.
- Concealer: To brighten the under-eye area and cover any blemishes, apply a thick, creamy concealer. Blend it in using a beauty sponge or makeup brush.
- Setting Powder: Set your base with a generous amount of translucent powder to lock everything in place. Use a powder puff for a matte, airbrushed effect.
Step 3: Bold Brows
Full glam brows are bold and defined, often creating a stronger, more sculpted look. Follow these steps:
- Use a brow pencil to fill in and define your brows. Make sure they are well-groomed and shaped.
- Use a clear or tinted brow gel to set them in place and add volume to the brow hairs.
Step 4: Dramatic Eyes
The eyes are where the full glam look truly shines. Here’s how to go for maximum impact:
- Eyeshadow: Opt for a rich, vibrant eyeshadow palette. Start with a base color all over the lid and build up with darker shades in the crease. Use glitter or shimmer on the center of your eyelids to make them pop.
- Cut Crease or Smoky Eye: For extra drama, go for a cut crease or smoky eye look. A cut crease defines the crease of the eyelid with a contrasting color, while a smoky eye blends dark eyeshadows for a sultry effect.
- Eyeliner: A bold winged eyeliner or graphic liner will elevate your full glam look. Use gel or liquid eyeliner for a precise, defined wing.
- False Lashes: Full glam isn’t complete without a pair of dramatic false lashes. Choose lashes that are long, voluminous, and fluttery to add extra drama to your eyes.
Step 5: Sculpted Contour and Highlighter
For full glam, go all out with contouring and highlighting to sculpt and add dimension to your face:
- Contour: Use a deeper contour shade to carve out the cheekbones, jawline, and temples. Apply it more intensely than you would for soft glam, as full glam calls for a more chiseled look.
- Blush: Apply a bold blush that complements your eyes and lips. A pop of color on the cheeks can brighten up your face and add dimension.
- Highlight: Choose a blinding highlighter and apply it to the high points of your face. Don’t be afraid to go heavy on the highlighter for that radiant, dewy finish.
Step 6: Bold Lips
To finish off the full glam look, your lips should be bold and striking. Here’s how to achieve that perfect pout:
- Use a lip liner to over-line your lips for a fuller look.
- Apply a rich, matte lipstick in a bold shade such as red, berry, or deep nude.
- Finish with a gloss for a shiny, voluminous effect.
Conclusion
Whether you’re aiming for a soft glam or full glam makeup look, both styles offer incredible versatility to suit any occasion. The soft glam look enhances your natural beauty with subtle tones and glowing skin, perfect for those who prefer a more understated appearance. On the other hand, full glam is all about making a bold statement with intense definition, dramatic eyes, and flawless skin. No matter which look you choose, the key is confidence and embracing your unique beauty. Happy glam!