Soft glam is my signature look, and the one I love doing most. It sits between natural and full glam: polished enough for the photographs, soft enough that you still look like you when you catch yourself in a mirror at the reception.
The trouble is that "soft glam" means something slightly different to everyone. So here is what it means in my chair, and how to describe the version you want.
What soft glam means to me
It always starts with skin. Every face I do begins with a mini facial and Charlotte Tilbury skincare, because calm, hydrated skin is what lets makeup look like skin. The secret is in the prep.
- Base: thin layers, built up only where you need them, so the skin still moves and glows.
- Eyes: soft definition in warm or neutral tones, blended until there are no edges, and lashes chosen to open the eye rather than cover it.
- Cheeks: blush and a little warmth, because the camera flattens a face and takes colour out of it.
- Lips: a shade that looks like your lips on a very good day, so topping it up through the day is easy.
Soft glam, natural or full glam?
None of them is better than the others. They suit different brides, dresses and days.
- Natural is skin, brows, mascara and a hint of colour. It is never no makeup, though; there is just as much work in it. I wrote more about it in natural bridal makeup.
- Soft glam adds definition to the eyes and more shape to the face, still blended and soft.
- Full glam is a stronger eye, a sharper liner and a bolder lip.
If you are torn between two, soft glam is usually the answer, because we can push it a little either way at your trial.
Why it photographs so well
Photographs are taken from a few feet away and often with flash. A face with no definition can look washed out in them, and a heavy face can look heavier. Soft glam gives your features enough shape to hold up on camera while still looking like skin to the people standing next to you.
How to ask for it at your trial
- Bring three or four photos of makeup you love, and one you do not. The one you do not like often tells me the most.
- Tell me what you wear day to day. If you never wear liner, we might soften it.
- Show me the dress, the flowers and the venue. A lace dress in a barn and satin in a city hotel want slightly different things.
- Come with a clean face, in a white or ivory top, so we can see your skin and how colour sits next to your face.
I write down every product I use at your trial, so the morning holds no surprises. There is a full list of what to bring in my bridal trial checklist.
Making it last
Soft glam lasts because of the prep underneath it and the way it is set, not because it is heavy. As my bride, you also go home with a lipstick to top up through the day.
If soft glam sounds like you, send me your date and we can talk it through. You can see how my wedding mornings work on the bridal page.