‘Soft Baddie’ Makeup Is Already Everywhere—Here’s How to Get the Look

Hold on tight, we’re entering soft baddie season. Everyone from Megan Thee Stallion to Jennifer Lopez have already sported this distinctive style for fall. In fact, according to Pinterest’s Fall 2024 Trend Report, the search for ‘soft baddie makeup’ is up 700 percent, and I’ve personally seen an uptick in my TikTok feed as creators showcase their own rendition of the bold, sexy, everyday look. So, in preparation for my own soft baddie renaissance, I chatted with three celebrity makeup artists for tips and tricks on nailing the look. Read on, baddie. 

• Manuel Espinoza is a professional makeup artist and a brand ambassador for Black Radiance. He has 16 years of experience in the industry, specializing in bridal looks, soft glam and more. His work has been featured in music videos, award shows and editorial. Plus, his most notable clients include Lizzo and Jennifer Lopez. 
• Tamara Boyd is a professional makeup artist and a brand ambassador for Black Radiance. She has over 10 years of experience in the Los Angeles area. She specializes in bridal and special events makeup with a heavy emphasis on flawless finishes. 
• J. Brandon Correa is a celebrity makeup artist, educator and national makeup artist for Yves Saint Laurent Beauty. He specializes in soft glam looks, where his work has been featured in magazines, billboards, national campaigns and red carpets. His most notable clients include Lil Nas X, Cree Summer and Nikki Glaser. 

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If you’re ready to have your baddie moment, here are ten easy steps to achieving the trend—straight from the MUAs. 

1. Prep your skin. Espinoza recommends a primer that will ensure the makeup stays put and lasts throughout the day. He adds, “A well-moisturized, prepped skin sets the foundation for a flawless look.” I recommend the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer, E.L.F Power Grip Primer and Black Radiance Hydrate and Blur Face Primer to get you started.
2. Apply a medium to full foundation. Use a blending brush (or beauty sponge) and gently cover your entire face. Boyd adds, “Use a lightweight foundation that evens out your skin without looking cakey.” 
3. Use concealer to brighten and highlight distinct features such as the under-eye, bridge (and sides) of nose, in-between your brows, cupid’s bow and chin. Boyd recommends, “Choose a shade that is your exact skin tone to conceal and then go in with a concealer two shades lighter to brighten the area.” 
4. Put on some neutral eyeshadow. Grab a fluffy blending brush and place nude, pink or brown tones on the entire lid and crease. As Espinoza shares, “I recommend more natural colors as we don’t want the eyes to look too harsh. When [applying eyeshadow] focus on blending it out as this will help emphasize a softer look.” 
5. Work on the rest of the eyes. After eyeshadow, take an eyeliner and create a striking cat eye. Espinoza suggests using a brush to blend the liner out to avoid a thick, heavy finish. Once you’re done, apply a volumizing mascara or pop on some fluffy lashes.  
6. Do some contouring. Espinoza says you should have three products handy for contouring: a rosy blush, bronzer and contour stick. These key items will help accentuate your facial features. First, use the contour stick across the cheekbones, forehead, jawline and nose. Then, Correra recommends using 1 to 2 dots of blush on the apple of the cheeks and blend with your fingers up and out towards the temples for a natural lift. Finish off with some bronzer for warmth and blend it all together with a large fluffy brush.   
7. Consider the baking method and place setting powder along the under-eye and T-zone to set the look in place and avoid creases. A few brand faves include Laura Mercier, Saie and Huda Beauty. For those with oily skin, Boyd recommends going over the oiler areas with a pressed powder for a blurry, smooth finish. 
8. Define your brows. Whether you prefer a brow pencil, gel or powder, take some time to define your arches and fill in any sparse areas.
9. Line your lips with a brown, nude or light pink lip pencil to provide definition to your pout. Expert tip: Use a lip brush to soften the outline and avoid any harshness. Correra suggests filling in the center with a nude or pink matte lipstick that matches closely with your complexion before topping it off with a lip gloss for an extra pop of shine. 
10. Set the look. Complete the look by spritzing on some setting spray to lock everything in.