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    1. Beauty
    2. Make Up

    Soft girl make-up is trending again—here's how to get the look

    It's easier than you think

    Grace Lindsay's avatar
    By Grace Lindsay
    Published 19 April 2023 In Features

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    a woman posing - soft girl make-up
    (Image credit: Getty Images Jonathan Knowles 1405608071)
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    If you haven't heard of the soft girl make-up trend, then you're going to want to read this. Much like the cold girl make-up trend, we saw this ultra feminine make-up look take off last year, and it's back and better than ever.

    What is soft girl make-up?

    If you're wondering what this trend is, we like to think of it as a girly take on a natural make-up look, defined by glowy skin, pink blusher and glossy pink lips. Winged eyeliner is also a key feature, with a light coating of mascara on the lashes.

    If you're not blessed with natural freckles, you can even add fake freckles for the finishing touch. It's easy to recreate, doesn't require a whole heap of products and is perfect for every day. We're sold.

    @tatendaluna

    ♬ original sound - Liang Lawrence

    We've seen make-up artists and beauty influencers recreating this look on social media, with the hashtag #softgirlmakeup racking up a casual 18.1 million views and counting on TikTok.

    If you don't fancy scrolling through hundreds of videos, not to fear, as we've put together a handy guide on how to recreate the look this summer. Keep on scrolling for everything you need to know.

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    Soft girl skin

    A post shared by SARAH ASHCROFT (@sarahhashcroft)

    A photo posted by on

    First things first, make sure you've got a glowy base. There are lots of ways to achieve this. You can either use one of the best dewy foundations, or my personal favourite, an illuminating primer.

    Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Illuminating - soft girl make-up

    Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Illuminating
    £35.50 AT CULT BEAUTY

    Apply this primer before foundation for a radiant base that will help your make-up last all day.

    Soft girl eyeshadow

    A post shared by Nikki_Makeup (@nikki_makeup)

    A photo posted by on

    Eyeshadow isn't essential for this look, but if you would like to wear it, opt for something with a soft pink hue. To take it up a notch, why not add a bit of shimmer?

    Marie Claire Newsletter

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    Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise in Rose Gold - soft girl make-up

    Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise in Rose Gold
    £26 AT CHARLOTTE TILBURY

    This cream eyeshadow comes in the most stunning rose gold shade with a striking metallic finish. Apply with your fingers for a natural look.

    Soft girl liner

    A post shared by Issy Francis-Baum (@issy.fbb)

    A photo posted by on

    Winged eyeliner is essential. If you want more of a subtle look, I recommend using your favourite brown eyeshadow and blending it out into a wing with an angled brush. However, if you want more of a statement look, you can't go wrong with a black liquid eyeliner pen.

    KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner - soft girl make-up

    KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner
    £20.90 AT SEPHORA

    This is, hands down, the best liquid eyeliner I have ever used. The ultra-precise brush tip makes it easy to apply, and once it's on, it's not going anywhere.

    Soft girl blusher

    A post shared by 𝐌 𓂀 (@michellephan)

    A photo posted by on

    For the finishing touch to the skin, opt for a shimmery pink blush. You can either use a liquid or powder formulation, depending on what you prefer.

    Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact - Rose - soft girl make-up

    Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact - Rose
    £39.50 AT LOOKFANTASTIC

    Ok, so this isn't technically a blush, but in my opinion it's perfect for this kind of make-up look. The shimmery powder adds a subtle hint of pink, and you can skip highlighter all together with this one.

    Soft girl freckles

    A post shared by Mary Phillips (@maryphillips)

    A photo posted by on

    Although this isn't an essential part, if you do want to experiment with freckles, lots of brands have brought out freckle tints to help achieve a natural finish. Simply dot the product along the areas where the sun would naturally hit, such as your cheekbones and nose.

    Lottie London Freckle Tint - soft girl make-up

    Lottie London Freckle Tint
    £6.95 AT LOOKFANTASTIC

    The Lottie London Freckle Tint features a thin brush for easy application. The brand recommends setting the product in place with a translucent powder. 

    Soft girl lips

    A post shared by P A U L I N E B R I S C O E (@paulinebriscoe)

    A photo posted by on

    No soft girl make-up look is complete without a glossy pink lip. You can also add a darker lip liner for more definition, but the great thing about this make-up look is that you can tailor it to suit you.

    Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer - Fu$$y - soft girl make-up

    Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer - Fu$$y
    £18 AT HARVEY NICHOLS

    No one does lip gloss quite like Rihanna. The Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in the shade Fu$$y is the perfect soft, shimmery pink.

    Grace Lindsay
    Grace Lindsay
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    Junior Beauty Editor

    Grace Lindsay is currently Junior Beauty Editor at Who What Wear UK and previously was Marie Claire UK's E-Commerce Writer. With over three years of experience in the fashion and beauty industry, she covers everything from the best make-up and skincare deals to how to shop the stand out trends of the season. When she's not typing away at her laptop, Grace can be found shopping her favourite vintage markets IRL, or catching up on her never-ending list of books to read.

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