How to Master a Glam Makeup Look

A natural makeup look is a perfectly fine choice for the daytime, but on special occasions and night’s out, you may feel the pull to go glam with your makeup. Whether you opt for a soft glam vibe and sport pastel lids and glossy lips or prefer to go full glam with a sparkly cut crease and a vivid red lipstick, glam makeup adds just the elevated touch you’re looking for. 

There’s no shortage of options when it comes to glam makeup, whether you decide on sharp winged eyeliner, rhinestone embellished lids or pouty pink lips. If you need some help getting started, follow our step-by-step tutorial to achieve a timeless glam makeup look for your next special occasion. 

What Is a Glam Makeup Look?

A glam makeup look goes above and beyond your everyday makeup routine. It’s the perfect way to sport a shimmery cut crease or classic smokey eye because the goal is to elevate your look. When you’re creating glam makeup, the last thing you should think about is being subtle, so reach for the full-coverage formulas, false lashes, bold lipstick shades and glittery eyeshadows that you save for special occasions.

What Does Full Glam Makeup Include?

Full glam makeup typically includes a flawless base, soft contouring, a dramatic eye and a bold lip. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial to help you create a flawless, glam makeup look at home. 

1. Prep Your Face

First, you’ll want to prep your face for your makeup look to ensure that it lasts. This means grabbing a makeup primer to smooth and blur any imperfections, as well as increase the lifespan of your makeup. Reach for the L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24H Pore Minimizer and apply it all over your face to blur large pores and texture. If pores aren’t a skin concern of yours, try the redness-reducing, brightening or matte options from the Prime Lab product line. 

2. Perfect Your Complexion

Once you’ve prepped your skin, it’s time to reach for foundation and concealer to start creating a flawless complexion. The L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation makes the perfect base for this look thanks to its lightweight formula, buildable coverage, and natural finish. Smooth it on with a damp makeup sponge for a seamless look.

If you prefer powder foundation, the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder has a long-wearing formula and provides the skin with flawless, buildable coverage. 

If you notice there are still a few imperfections and blemishes you’d like to cover, grab your concealer — we recommend the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Waterproof, Full Coverage. Take your complexion perfecting a step further by using a concealer that’s one to two shades lighter than your skin tone under your eyes. Dot the concealer at the outer corner of each eye and blend it in with a makeup sponge. This little trick with your concealer placement will leave you with eyes that look lifted and bright.

3. Contour Away

For the ultimate glam makeup look, you’ll want to sculpt your face to define your features. With a dense blending brush, apply the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer to the hollows of your cheeks, sides of your nose, jawline and temples. Use your damp makeup sponge to blend out any harsh lines.

Editor’s tip: If contour intimidates you, try underpainting. Grab a shade of concealer that is two shades darker than your skin tone and use it to contour before you apply foundation. Apply your foundation on top of the contour and you’ll have softly sculpted cheeks and a perfectly blended base.

4. Add Some Glow

You’ll need really radiant skin for a truly glamorous look. With your index finger, lightly dab the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer onto your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose and your cupid’s bow for a glowing visage.

5. Sculpt Your Brows

A glam makeup look goes beautifully with bold, defined eyebrows. Reach for an eyebrow gel, like the L’Oréal Paris Unbelieva-Brow Longwear Waterproof Brow Gel to fill in your arches.

To perfect the shape even further, use your concealer and a concealer brush to perfect the shape of your brows.

6. Grab Your Eyeshadow

Glam eye makeup requires expert application, so be sure to take your time with this step. First, apply a shimmery nude eyeshadow, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Iced Latte, all over your lid. Then, brush the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Mix and Matte into your crease as a transition shade. Next, layer the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Matte It Up on top to define your crease. Put the finishing touches on your eyeshadow look by applying the same shimmery nude shade that you used on your lid on your brow bone.

If you want glittery lids, layer the L’Oréal Paris Brilliant Eyes Shimmer Liquid Eye Shadow Makeup on top of your blended shadow. 

7. Wing It Out

After you’ve completed your eyeshadow, grab your favorite liquid eyeliner to create your wings. We love the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner because it has an ultra-precise felt tip and a long-wearing, waterproof formula. For the most flattering finish, create a wing that flatters your eye shape. 

8. Line the Waterline

After perfecting your cat eye, bring your focus to the lower lash line. Grab a gel eyeliner pencil, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner and drag it across your waterline. If you’re rocking a smoky eye, turn over the pencil and use the built-in smudger to smoke out the line. 

9. Define Your Lashes

No makeup look is complete without a few coats of mascara, especially when you’re doing a glam makeup look. Amp up the drama and give your fringe a lash lift effect with the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Instant Lift Washable Mascara. For an extra dose of glam, you can also add a pair of false lashes to your look.

10. Paint Your Pout

When you’re going glam, your choice of lipstick is very important. For a velvety lip, reach for matte lipstick, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick. The ultra-pigmented formula is infused with hyaluronic acid so it doesn’t feel dry on the lips and it comes in a variety of gorgeous shades, including deep reds, berry pinks and soft peaches.

If you’re hoping for something more luminous, try a satin lipstick, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Les Nus by Colour Riche Intense Nude Lipstick. This creamy lippie has a smudge-proof finish and comes in a variety of neutral shades to suit all skin tones. 

11. Set Your Makeup

After your makeup is done, set everything in place with a setting mist, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray and Set Make-Up Oil-Free Setting Spray. Hold the bottle six to eight inches from your face and spritz four to six times to saturate your complexion.

Next: 20 Gorgeous Prom Makeup Ideas to Try This Year

Photo Credit: IG/@mubyalexia, Photo Design: Sarah Duvivier