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My Go-To Affordable Soft Glam Makeup Routine

Writer: AJ
AJ
6 days ago
6 min read

I think I’ve finally perfected my go-to soft glam routine. After years of trial and error, these are the products and little tricks I keep coming back to.

Most are affordable finds, with a few splurges I genuinely think are worth it. And because I’m all about making things easy, I linked everything I could find on Amazon so you can add your favorites to your cart and follow along. ♡

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission from purchases made through my links, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. ♡


Before We Start: What I’m Working With

My skin: Acne-prone + combination

My eyes: Hooded

My lips: Double lip line

My goal: Soft, lifted glam that lasts without feeling too heavy


Okay, let’s get ready. ♡



1. Prep the Skin

Good makeup starts with clean, hydrated skin. I skip the complicated skincare routine and keep my prep super simple.

Start with a clean face. This is my go-to cleanser before makeup because I want my skin clean and refreshed without feeling stripped.


Moisturize and give it a minute to settle into your skin before moving on.


MY TIP: I swipe a little over my lips and a tiny bit underneath my eyes while I get ready for a little extra hydration. By the time I get to my lip combo, my lips are already moisturized and ready to go.


2. Prime

MY TIP: I apply this directly with my hands and give it a minute to sit before foundation.


3. Foundation

MY TIP: For my fellow acne-prone girls: use a clean foundation brush. The last thing I want to do is put old makeup, oil and buildup back onto freshly cleaned skin and potentially aggravate a breakout. Keeping my foundation brush clean is one of those little things I’m extra conscious of with my skin.

MY TIP: Right after foundation, I lightly powder only my eyelids before moving on to eyeshadow. With hooded eyes, I find this helps keep everything from creasing as much. I save the under-eye powder for later in the routine.


4. Soft Neutral Eyes

I originally created this look using my Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Eyeshadow Palette, which has sadly been discontinued. That’s Taupe has the same kind of cool-toned neutrals I love for this look and is an easy affordable alternative with just as a good of a formula.

MY TIP: I swipe a neutral shade across my lids, moon a medium tone in the crease, and pat a darker shade to the outer corners. Don’t worry too much about getting the edge perfect, because we’re cleaning it up next.


5. Conceal + Clean Up

MY TIP: This is the trick. Using the smaller side of my dual-ended brush, I dab and blend the concealer underneath my eyes and follow the bottom of my eyeshadow outward in a straight line. It cleans up any messy shadow and gives the outer corner a much more lifted shape.


6. Contour

I flip to the denser side of my dual-ended brush and keep it simple: cheek hollows and a small swipe underneath my jawline.

MY TIP: I also add a little contour over the center of my top lip. I have a double lip line, so lightly blurring that area gives me a blank canvas to create the lip shape I want later instead of trying to trace two different lines.


7. First Set

MY TIP: I actually use setting spray twice. Round one happens after my foundation, concealer and contour, but before blush and face powder. Spray and let everything dry before moving on. And trust me, this one will have your makeup S E T!


8. Set + Blush

e.l.f. Halo Glow Powder Filter | Already in the cart ;)

MY TIP: After my first round of setting spray dries, I go back in with a fluffy powder brush and lightly sweep powder underneath my eyes, across my forehead, and over my chin and neck. I keep it light, just enough to set everything and help prevent creasing without making my makeup feel cakey.


NYX Buttermelt Blush | Approx. $11

MY TIP: A very light hand is key because this blush is SUPER pigmented. Start with the tiniest amount and build from there. Trust me lol. And if you do go a little overboard, just take the fluffy powder brush and lightly brush away until I get the opacity you want.


9. Eyeliner

MY TIP: With my hooded eyes, I only add liner to the absolute outer corner following the lower waterline up. Bringing it across my entire lid makes my eye look crowded, so I keep it small and focused on the outside to help lift my eye shape.


10. Mascara

I always do a coat of mascara before applying my false lashes. It gives my natural lashes some definition first and helps everything blend together.


11. Lash Glue + Lashes

MY TIP: I always use the DUO glue with the brush applicator. I paint a thin layer on the lash strip and a thin layer directly where I’m placing the lash on my lid for a little extra hold.


KISS The New Natural Nude Blazer Lashes | Approx. $13 for 4 pairs 

MY TIP: Always, always, always size and trim your lashes, especially if you have hooded eyes. I attach the outer end so it follows my wing slightly upward instead of following my natural lash line all the way down. For my eye shape, that tiny change makes everything look more lifted instead of droopy. Then once set I lightly pinch my lash and eyelid together for a seamless blend.


12. Brows

I keep my brows pretty natural for this look. I lightly line underneath my brow and around the outer arch, then brush everything through for a defined but natural look.


13. Highlight

MY TIP: You don’t need another product! I take the lightest, brightest shade from my eyeshadow palette and add a little to the tip of my nose, underneath my brows and the inner corners of my eyes. Just enough to brighten everything up.


14. THE Lip Combo

MY TIP: Remember when we blurred that double lip line earlier? This is why. Now I can create one clean, defined lip shape instead of trying to follow both of my natural lip lines.


My go-to nude to finish everything off. Velvet Teddy gives me that finished soft-glam lip without overpowering the rest of the makeup.


15. Final Set

Skindinavia Setting Spray  | Already in the cart ;)

MY TIP: Round two! Once everything is finished, I spray my face one more time to set the final look.

And that’s it. ♡


The Tools I Use

You definitely don’t need 20 different brushes to recreate this look. These are the few I actually reach for:

  • Foundation Brush: A dense foundation brush for blending out my base. Keep her clean, especially my acne-prone girls.

  • Dual-Ended Concealer + Contour Brush: Probably the most useful brush in my routine. I use the smaller end to blend and clean up my concealer and the denser end for contour.

  • Blush Brush: Something fluffy enough to apply a very small amount of that super-pigmented NYX blush and build it gradually.

  • Fluffy Powder Brush: For setting underneath the eyes and anywhere else I want a little extra staying power.

  • Dual Eyeshadow Brush: Keep one fluffy side for lighter shades and the more dense side for darker shades.


And because I’m all about making things easy, you can get all of these (and more) in one 10 pc travel brush set that even comes with a bonus makeup bag to keep everything together. ;)


Prices listed are approximate and may change depending on retailer, availability and sales.

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