Beauty

6 Soft Makeup Looks For When You Don’t Want To Go All Out

These subtle, eye-catching looks work no matter the occasion.

by Margaret Blatz
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
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Beauty looks these days can run the gamut from full-faced glam to rainbow cacophonies of color, but those looks require a decent amount of makeup and time to get them just right, so they don’t exactly serve as everyday styles. If you’re looking for something on the simpler side, you can turn out one of these soft makeup looks in 30 minutes or less. The beauty of a soft look is that it highlights your natural features, sticks to nudes, and generally doesn’t require a ton of blending. All that is to say that while they’re breathtaking, soft makeup looks don’t take a ton of effort to pull together. Not to mention, they’re a favorite of nearly every celebrity.

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When I think of soft makeup, my mind immediately jumps to Taylor Swift, especially during the singer’s Folklore era. While she does wear mascara and has the hint of a smokey eye, the rest of her makeup is kept to a subdued flush on her cheeks, some highlighter, and a peachy lip.

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You can still bring glam into your soft makeup without it being overwhelming. At the 2018 Oscars, SZA added shimmering eyeshadow to the corner of her eyes to warm up her look and a glossy lip to dress it up even more. It’s simple, fast, and changes your look with just one dash of glitter.

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Selena Gomez went super blushy with her soft makeup look in 2018. By applying the pink shade on the top of her cheeks in what looks like small circles, her face looks bright and open but not sharp for a relaxed, effortless look.

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For those who like to have a bold lip, you can still rock your deepest of pigments without needing to layer on lashes and eyeshadow. You’ll want to wear mascara and add some definition to your eyelids with brown shadow so your face isn’t entirely lost beyond the pop of your lips.

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Rihanna kept things very subtle while attending the Fashion Awards in 2019 by doing a very smoked-out wing, light contouring, and a nude lip. Her well-placed concealer under her eyes and in the middle of her forehead creates a beautiful place for the light to land.

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Vibrant colors don’t have to be an absolute no in your soft makeup routine. A pastel or lighter color like orange can be dusted over your eyes to make your look more playful without turning harsh.

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