What Is Soft Girl Makeup? The Trend That’s All About Dewy Skin, Peachy Tones and Glossy Lips

Glossy eyelids, coloured mascara, pops of neon and the fox eye are all makeup trends that have proved popular over the last few years — with some having better staying power than others. The latest makeup trend to gain popularity online is ‘soft girl makeup’.

What started as a challenge on TikTok and Instagram has now become a fully-fledged trend in its own right and it’s easy to see why. Soft girl makeup is defined by the use of peachy and pink makeup tones, while the finished look should ooze glow and dewiness.

Think flushed pink cheeks, glossy lips, fresh skin and maybe even a few faux freckles thrown in for good measure. While the name itself might not resonate for everyone, there’s no doubt that the aesthetic is pretty damn dreamy — whether or not you would consider yourself a ‘soft girl’.

“It’s sweet, easy to do and wear, and really just about enhancing what you have using a specific colour family,” celebrity makeup artist Mary Irwin told Ipsy. “Think of it as using makeup as an additional accessory, or trying on a personality for a day.”

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To achieve the look for yourself, Irwin recommends following this vibe: “Glowing skin, peachy-pink blush, super-bright eyes, fluffy lashes, groomed brows, and lots of gloss.” If you want to take your soft girl makeup look to the next level, dot on a few fake freckles with an eyebrow pencil.

To achieve the soft girl makeup look, it all starts with skin prep. You want your skin to glow from underneath your makeup, so hydration is key. After applying your skincare and SPF, go in with a super hydrating primer like the Ciaté London Watermelon Burst Primer ($42). This serum-based primer injects a burst of hydration, while also working to plump skin and refine pores.

Next, apply your favourite base product and concealer. Those with oily skin are fine to stick with their usual matte foundations, but for those with dry skin, go all out with your most hydrating base product. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation ($71) is buildable and brightens your complexion, making for the perfect soft girl vibe.

Add a pop of pink to your cheekbones with a cream or liquid blush to provide a healthy flush. Fenty Beauty’s Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush ($33) instantly melts into your skin and provides a natural wash of colour. Use a little across your eyelids as well, to up the ante on the pink vibe.

Round out the look with fluffy, brushed up brows, a lick of mascara on your eyes and a little highlighter. Again, using a cream-based highlighter will add to the dewy factor which is highly valued in soft girl makeup. Trinny London’s The Right Light ($45) provides a subtle illuminating look with a satiny finish. Apply to the top of your cheekbones, on your cupid’s bow and brow bone.

Finally, it’s time to finish it off with a clear glossy lip. Revolution’s Shimmer Bomb Lip Gloss in Light Beam ($10) is a sparkly gloss that leaves lips looking shimmery while the addition of vitamin E provides an injection of nourishment.

While the soft girl makeup trend might not be revolutionary, it does bring together a number of easy-to-replicate components that would work on any skin tone and suit anyone who tries it.