Hey pretty butterfly, finally some wings.
What Is A Glam Look?
Over the last year or so (and let’s just say that it’s not going anywhere in 2025) there’s been one thing that’s been 100% dominating the beauty scene: and believe me, it’s not, ahem, contouring. You can picture walking into a room and every head turning all of a sudden. That’s what happens when you master the art of glam look. It’s more than just makeup, it’s an entire vibe, it’s a self transformation that lets you picture yourself conquering the world while being insanely gorgeous.
Honestly who doesn’t want to feel like a goddess on any given Tuesday and I’ve been obsessing over this trend. The glam look has evolved so much from what it used to be, and 2025 is bringing some seriously exciting twists to this classic aesthetic.
The DNA of Glam: What Makes It Actually Glam?
So what exactly is a glam look? This is what you get: flawless base that looks like it’s been airbrushed by angels, eyes that could shut down traffic 3 blocks away and confidence that is oozing from the pores. That dramatic, sophisticated, bold and refined balance to it.
Glam makeup is versatile beauty. Want to do Old Hollywood with winged liner and lots of red lips or get your inner Euphoria character on with glitter and big bold colours. And while on the red carpet, artists like Zendaya give us purely glam perfection and influencers like James Charles have taught us that glam can be experimental and boundary pushing.
The Foundation of Fabulous
Your base is literally the foundation of any great glam look, and let me tell you, this is where the magic really starts. It is skin so perfect that people will assume you found the fountain of youth.
To start, use a primer suitable to your skin type (hydrating for dry, mattifying for oily). What that really amounts to is having that smooth canvas for everything to just glide on top of. Foundation is then and this is when you don’t want to skimp. Here your friend is full coverage but blend it like it’ll be the last thing you’ll ever do.
Your secret booty to get that flawless finish is concealer. Don’t just use it under your eyes though – you can also try highlighting T zone, chin etc. Just get powder and set everything but not too much powder. You don’t like the chalky disaster, you want that subtle glow.
Eyes That Hypnotize: The Drama Factor
Here’s where things get really fun. The eyes in a glam look are meant to be the star of the show, and trust me, they should be doing all the talking before you even open your mouth.
This is your playground for eyeshadow. The colors themselves are think rich colored pigments that merge beautifully with one another. From classic smokey eye using charcoal and black to being adventurous with jewel tones like emerald and sapphire, the general rule of thumb is to build the intensity up gradually.
Lashes That Touch the Sky
Let’s be real – your lashes need to be absolutely extra for a proper glam look. These are lashes that would make their own weather patterns. But here false lashes are pretty much non negotiable, but choose wisely.
At the moment, for 2025, it seems like the trend of false lashes are shifting towards more natural looking false lashes that still give you that punch. Imagined wispy, fluttery styles are the ones which give volume and length without feeling that you have tarantulas on your eyelids. But Huda Kattan, along with other artists, have been pioneering what we are calling the “naturally dramatic” lash trend, that’s perfect for modern glam.
Don’t forget to also do your bottom lashes as well. Sometimes a few individual lashes placed in the right places, on the outer corners in particular, can create the illusion of bigger, more defined eyes.
The Butterfly Effect: Why Glam Transforms Everything
You know what’s fascinating about a glam look? The way it affects your presence as a whole. Looking good isn’t just about it – it’s about feeling unstoppable. It’s the feeling that comes when you get that contour spot on, those perfect eyeshadows blended and that highlight is glowing just right.
And I’ve also noticed how when I’m wearing a full glam face I walk completely different. Moi je parle différement. For heck, I even breathe different. It’s like the armor of your highlighter and your confidence just magnifying you, you’re able to have courage and take on the world.
Contouring: The Art of Facial Architecture
Contouring is an absolute necessity in order to get the sculpted, camera ready look that is our modern glam today. Now, what I mean by that is that it’s 2025 and we’re very over the Instagram baddie heavy handed contouring era. Today, it’s not about creating a whole new face, it’s about enhancement.
Stick with something one or two tones darker then your natural skin tone. Use it on the hollows of your cheek, around your jaw line, the sides of your nose and your temples. It is about creating subtle shadows that work to define without ‘looking’ as shadows.
And the flip side to this is highlighting and probably even more important. A good highlighter gives you a lit from within glow. Sweep across the high points of your face (cheekbones, bridge of the nose, cupid’s bow) and don’t forget about that inner corner highlight that will bring attention to your eyes.
Lips That Leave an Impression
Your lip choice can completely change the vibe of your glam look. Classic red lips will never go outta style, but when it comes to 2025 those red (or pink) lips need to pop to give that finished and polished look.
Nudes on the lips with a shiny finish are huge right now and especially so when used with extreme eyes. Think like Kim Kardashian’s signature look, understated lips letting the eyes do all the talking. On the contrary, a cool pencil or jewel toned effect on lips (in deep berries, rich plums, dark reds, maroon, etc. or forest green, for example) can provide that fun, unexpected flavorto your glam.
The trick is to select a lip color which augments your general look rather than being in opposition to it. Maybe if you’re going for bold colourful eyeshadow, go for a more neutral lip. If you have more of a statement lip colour to your eyes then that’s when you have the opportunity to be a bit wilder with your makeup.
Future-Forward Glam: What’s Coming in 2025 and Beyond
The glam look is constantly evolving, and 2025 is bringing some seriously exciting innovations to the table. The technology is also being integrated with makeup – color changing lipsticks which change on your pH, foundations which have skincare benefits and actually improve your skin over time and eyeshadows with light reflective particles which create dimension we’ve never seen before.
Glam beauty is now also becoming a huge factor of sustainability. Clean ingredients, sustainable packaging, high performance products still exist, they’re built by brands. You can now achieve that flawless glam look while knowing you’re making environmentally conscious choices.
The Digital Age Influence
Glam makeup has totally changed with the social media. TikTok and Instagram democratized beauty education letting advanced techniques be accessible to all. These days, patrick Ta and Mario Dedivanovic, makeup artists, explain their pro secrets online, so you can discover the red carpet worthy techniques from your bedroom.
Augmented reality however is changing the game. Apps now let you try different glam looks virtually before committing to the actual makeup, helping you perfect your technique and experiment with colors you might never have considered.
Making Glam Work for Your Lifestyle
The beauty of modern glam look approaches is that they’re adaptable to real life. Even if you are not attending the Met Gala you can still wear a glamorous face. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between dramatic and wearable which works for you.
During the day, do the minimal amount of make up possible and stick to the theme of keeping it flawless and one thing dramatic, this can include lashes or a pop of colour on the lips. That’s evening glam and that’s when you get to bring all the smokey eyes, perfect contour, the statement lips in.
The biggest thing to remember is that the main goal is making you feel the best version of yourself. Whatever that means, if that’s channeling Beyoncé’s fierce confidence or Ariana Grande’s playful sophistication, the perfect glam look is the look that makes you feel absolutely unstoppable.
Remember the old saying practice makes perfect and with practice, the road to perfecting your signature glam style, too, is half the fun! Don’t be afraid to experiment, make mistakes, and most importantly, have fun with it. After all, makeup is just another form of self-expression, and your glam look should tell your unique story.
