Natural makeup is definitely in these days. But every now and then, people like putting on a nice glam look. Bright makeup, unnatural colors, and a generous application of eye shadow not only can look great but can also just be a fun way to experiment with makeup styles and applications.

Here are a couple of quick and useful tips on how to get that perfect glam makeup look.

1. Set Up Your Base

Glam looks involve a lot of makeup and won’t stay on properly if you don’t take the right steps. You can’t just slather on a ton of glam and expect it to hold. The first thing to do is give your face a base covering with some primer. The best kind of primer to use is one that matches your natural skin tone as closely as possible. Makeup will look tacky and unnatural without a primer. Eyeshadow and blush can also crack and crease without a suitable base.

2. Cover and Contour

Once you have that base you can start applying your foundation. Foundation is the name of the game with glam and you need the right kind of sculpting. Getting your foundation right is a key step or else everything else will look slightly off.

While applying foundation, you should be contouring to the shape of your face. Use brushes to blend any harsh lines around the jaw, nose, and cheekbones. This part is where it starts to get fun as you can make some really dramatic and deep contours and ridges to highlight your features.

3. Eyes are Key

You probably already know but eyes are a key part of the soft glam look. The best part is there are lots of ways you can do so. You can go for a more demure and blended smoky look or you can put it on thick and bright for some stark contrast.

If you go the more smoky route, keep in mind that blending is important. Blending shadow and foundation correctly is the key to getting that wispy look. After applying shadow to your entire lids, blend with a soft brush, giving extra attention to the edges. The ideal blended look should not have any harsh lines separating colors. You can stick to more traditional smoky colors like blacks or greys, or you can switch things up with brighter colors like purple, greens, and blues.

Don’t forget the eyeliner either. Liquid eyeliner is the best for that thick, dark, and defined look. Add in a few layers of mascara and your eyes will be ready to go with the rest of your ensemble.

False Lashes

If you are lucky, you won’t need any false lashes. But if you are mortal like the rest of us, false lashes can be a great way to get the glam look. Strip lashes are generally the best kind of false lashes to get for glam looks because they are large and can be taken off pretty easily at the end of the night.

When applying lashes, make sure to go put them on your actual lash line. Put them right above the lash line and be sure not to get any glue in there.

Lips

Glam looks use deep lip colors like reds, rouge, and purples, but you can also get away with more non-traditional fare like blues and greens. The trick isn’t so much the actual hue but the kind of matte and finish that you use. A clean gloss will give whatever color you have a very deep shade that captures that luxurious overindulgence that glam looks are known for.