Soft Girl Makeup Tutorial: Achieving the Pastel Aesthetic

If your TikTok feed has been filled with dreamy pastel makeup, flushed cheeks that look like you just came in from the cold, and glossy lips that belong in a Y2K fever dream, then you’ve already met the soft girl aesthetic. This hyper-feminine, impossibly sweet makeup trend is the antidote to the heavy contour and dramatic looks of years past—and honestly, it’s one of the most wearable and fun trends to emerge in 2025.

The soft girl look is all about embracing gentle femininity, pastel colors, and that dewy, “I woke up like this” glow (even though achieving it actually takes some work). Think less Instagram baddie, more Disney princess meets modern romance. It’s sweet without being childish, feminine without being fussy, and surprisingly versatile for everything from your everyday routine to special occasions.

Whether you’re a self-proclaimed soft girl or just want to try something new and playful, this tutorial will walk you through every step of creating the perfect pastel aesthetic. Let’s dive into the world of baby pink blush, shimmery highlighter, and glossy lips that would make Hailey Bieber proud.

What Exactly is the Soft Girl Aesthetic?

Before we get into the makeup tutorial, let’s talk about what soft girl actually means. This isn’t just a makeup look—it’s a whole vibe that blends 90s/early 2000s nostalgia with modern influences.

The soft girl aesthetic celebrates warmth, light colors, and an almost childlike sweetness. Unlike edgy e-girl or grungy aesthetics, soft girl is all about pastel cardigans, plaid skirts, butterfly clips, and makeup that makes you look like you’re living in a permanent pastel daydream. Colors like baby pink, lavender, mint green, and buttery yellow dominate the palette.

In terms of makeup specifically, celebrity makeup artist Mary Irwin defines the soft girl look as “glowing skin, peachy-pink blush, super-bright eyes, fluffy lashes, groomed brows, and lots of gloss.” Most importantly, it’s about enhancing your natural features rather than transforming them. The goal is fresh, dewy, and youthful—think Ariana Grande, Sydney Sweeney, and Margot Robbie energy.

The trend fits perfectly into 2025’s move away from the ultra-minimalist “clean girl” aesthetic toward something with more personality and color. It’s soft but not boring, sweet but not saccharine, and feminine but empowered. Plus, it’s genuinely fun to create and wear, which is what makeup should be about anyway.

The Soft Girl Makeup Must-Haves

Before we start the tutorial, let’s talk about the products you’ll need. The good news? You can absolutely achieve this look with drugstore products. The key is choosing lightweight, buildable formulas in soft, feminine shades.

Base Products

Dewy primer or illuminating primer – This is crucial for that lit-from-within glow
Light coverage foundation or tinted moisturizer – We want skin that looks like skin, not a mask
Concealer – For brightening under eyes and covering any blemishes
Setting spray – To lock in that dewy finish

Color Products

Pink or peach liquid/cream blush – The star of the show
Highlighter – Powder or liquid in champagne or pink tones
Pastel eyeshadow palette – Think pinks, peaches, lavenders, and soft shimmers
Brow gel – Clear or tinted to create fluffy, natural brows
Mascara – Brown or black for soft, fluttery lashes
Lip gloss – The glossier, the better

Optional Extras

Faux freckle pen – For that playful, youthful touch
Shimmer eyeliner – Rose gold or pink for a soft pop
Face stickers or gems – Because why not?

You definitely don’t need expensive products for this. Brands like e.l.f., Maybelline, and NYX have amazing options for soft girl makeup. Our Best Drugstore Makeup Products That Rival Luxury Brands post has even more recommendations.

Step-by-Step Soft Girl Makeup Tutorial

Okay, let’s actually create the look. This tutorial assumes you’re starting with a clean, freshly moisturized face.

Step 1: Prep Your Canvas

The soft girl aesthetic is ALL about that dewy, glowing skin. Your makeup is only as good as your base, so don’t skip your skincare routine.

Start by cleansing your face, then apply a hydrating serum. I love using a hyaluronic acid serum or a face mist to really plump up my skin. Follow with your regular moisturizer and let everything absorb for a few minutes while you do something else. Your skin should feel bouncy and hydrated, not tight or dry.

Once your skincare is fully absorbed, apply your primer. This is where you set the tone for the whole look. Choose a dewy or illuminating primer that will give you that coveted glow. Apply it all over your face, concentrating on areas that tend to get dry.

Pro tip: If you have oily skin, you can still do soft girl makeup! Just use a mattifying primer in your T-zone and a dewy primer on the rest of your face. You want glow, not grease.

Step 2: Create That Soft, Dewy Base

Soft girl makeup is NOT about full coverage. You want your skin to look like skin—just a slightly more perfect version.

Apply a light coverage foundation or tinted moisturizer all over your face using a damp beauty sponge. The damp sponge helps create that seamless, airbrushed finish without caking. Press and bounce the product into your skin rather than rubbing it around. You want to see your natural skin texture, freckles, and all.

For concealer, use it strategically. Brighten under your eyes with a shade slightly lighter than your skin tone, blending it out in a triangular shape. You can also use concealer to spot-treat any blemishes or redness, but keep it minimal. The goal is radiance, not coverage.

Skip heavy contouring and bronzing. Soft girl makeup is about that fresh, youthful flush, not sculpted cheekbones. If you absolutely must add some dimension, use a very soft, cool-toned contour and apply it with the lightest hand possible.

Set your base with a hydrating setting spray rather than powder (powder will kill that dewy look). If you have oily skin and need powder, use it only in your T-zone and choose a finely milled translucent powder.

Step 3: Blush Overload (And We Mean It)

Here’s where soft girl makeup really comes alive. Blush is THE defining feature of this aesthetic, and you’re going to use way more than you think.

The placement is key: apply blush high on the cheekbones, sweeping it up toward your temples and across the bridge of your nose. Yes, your nose! This creates that sun-kissed, just-came-in-from-the-cold flush that defines the soft girl look.

For product choice, liquid or cream blushes work best for this aesthetic because they melt into your skin and create that natural-looking flush. Choose shades in the baby pink, peachy-pink, or soft coral family depending on your skin tone.

Application technique: If you’re using liquid blush, dot it onto the apples of your cheeks and blend upward and outward using your fingertips or a damp beauty sponge. For cream blush, warm it up on the back of your hand first, then apply with a stippling brush or your fingers.

Don’t be shy—this look calls for visible blush. You can even layer a powder blush over your cream blush for extra staying power and intensity. The goal is to look like you’ve been running around in the cold or blushing from a compliment.

Step 4: Highlight Everything

If soft girl makeup had a motto, it would be “glow or go home.” Highlighter is your best friend for achieving that luminous, almost ethereal quality.

Apply highlighter to all the high points of your face: the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, your cupid’s bow, the inner corners of your eyes, and even the tip of your nose. You can also add a touch to your brow bone for extra dimension.

For the softest, most natural-looking glow, choose a liquid or cream highlighter and apply it with your fingertips, gently pressing it into the skin. If you prefer powder highlighter, use a fluffy brush and apply with a light hand—you want a glow, not chunky glitter.

Color-wise, stick to champagne, pale pink, or soft gold tones. Nothing too dark or intensely shimmery. The goal is to look lit from within, like you’re naturally luminous.

Pro tip: Mix a drop of liquid highlighter into your foundation for an all-over glow before you even start with targeted highlighting. This creates that base radiance that makes the soft girl aesthetic so dreamy.

Step 5: Soft, Sweet Eyes

Eye makeup in the soft girl aesthetic is all about brightness and subtlety. You’re not going for dramatic smoky eyes here—think more “wide-eyed Disney princess.”

Start with your eyeshadow. Choose soft, pastel shades from your palette—baby pink, peach, lavender, or soft shimmery neutrals all work beautifully. Apply a light wash of color all over your lid, concentrating the pigment in the center for dimension.

Add a soft, shimmery shade to your inner corners to make your eyes look brighter and more awake. This is key for the soft girl aesthetic—you want your eyes to look fresh and open.

If you want to add eyeliner, keep it soft and subtle. A thin line of brown or soft black eyeliner smudged along your upper lash line works well. You can also try rose gold or pink shimmer liner along your waterline for a dreamy, romantic effect. Avoid harsh black wings—if you want a wing, make it soft and slightly smudged for that lived-in look.

For lashes, curl them first (this step is non-negotiable for soft girl makeup), then apply one or two coats of mascara. Brown mascara is having a major moment in 2025 and works perfectly for this aesthetic, but black is fine too. The key is creating soft, fluttery lashes, not spidery clumps.

Step 6: Fluffy, Natural Brows

Gone are the days of super-defined, Instagram brows. Soft girl aesthetic is all about natural, fluffy brows that look like you woke up with them.

If you have naturally full brows, you’re golden—just brush them up with a clear or lightly tinted brow gel. Use a spoolie to brush your brow hairs upward and slightly outward for that feathered, ’80s-inspired look.

If your brows are sparse, use a brow pencil in a shade that matches your natural hair color to fill in any gaps with light, hair-like strokes. Then go over with a brow gel to set everything in place while keeping that fluffy, natural texture.

The goal is brows that frame your face without looking overdone. Think Brooke Shields or Cara Delevingne vibes—full, natural, and soft.

Step 7: Glossy, Pillowy Lips

Lips are where you really seal the deal on the soft girl aesthetic. This look is all about glossy, pillowy pouts that look soft and kissable.

Start with a lip balm or lip oil to hydrate your lips. Let it absorb for a minute while you finish up the rest of your makeup.

For color, choose a pinky-peach shade that’s close to your natural lip color but slightly brighter and more pigmented. You can use a sheer lipstick, a tinted lip oil, or even just skip straight to gloss if your natural lip color is already in the right family.

Now for the most important part: gloss. This is absolutely non-negotiable for soft girl makeup. Apply a generous amount of clear or lightly tinted lip gloss all over your lips, concentrating it in the center for a plumping effect.

For extra dimension, you can add a touch of highlighter to your cupid’s bow before applying gloss. This creates that Instagram-worthy, pillowy lip effect that’s signature to the aesthetic.

Step 8: The Finishing Touches

This is where you can get playful and add those signature soft girl “accessories” that make the look unique.

Faux Freckles: If you want to add faux freckles (and honestly, they’re adorable with this look), use a freckle pen or brown eyeliner to dot them across your nose and cheeks. Make them look natural by varying the size and placement, then gently tap them with your finger to blend slightly.

Face Stickers or Gems: Want to go full soft girl? Add some cute stickers under your eyes—hearts, stars, clouds, butterflies. You can find these at any beauty supply store or on Amazon. They’re playful and fun without being over-the-top.

Setting Spray: Finish everything with a dewy setting spray. This locks in your makeup while adding an extra layer of glow. Spray it in an X motion across your face, then fan yourself to help it dry.

Customizing Soft Girl Makeup for Your Skin Tone

One of the best things about soft girl makeup is that it’s incredibly adaptable to different skin tones. You just need to adjust your color choices.

For Fair Skin: Stick with light pink or peach tones for blush and highlighter. Pale pink highlighters work beautifully. For lips, go with nude-pink or soft peachy glosses. Lavender and soft pink eyeshadows will show up gorgeously on your lids.

For Medium Skin: Warm shades of coral, peach, or apricot look incredibly natural. Choose highlighters with golden undertones. For lips, peachy-pink or soft mauve shades are stunning. You can go slightly bolder with your blush and still maintain the soft girl aesthetic.

For Deep/Dark Skin: Deeper reds, purples, and warm berry tones work beautifully for blush. Choose highlighters in deeper champagne, rose gold, or bronze tones. For lips, berry-toned glosses or deeper pink shades create that soft, romantic effect. Don’t be afraid to use more product—the colors need to show up against your beautiful skin tone.

The key for everyone is choosing shades that enhance your natural coloring rather than fighting against it. The soft girl aesthetic is about looking like a better version of yourself, not completely transforming.

Product Recommendations for Soft Girl Makeup

You don’t need to spend a fortune to achieve this look. Here are some affordable options that work perfectly for the soft girl aesthetic.

Blush

The blush you choose can make or break the soft girl look. For a budget-friendly option, any drugstore cream or liquid blush in pink or peach tones will work. The key is finding something buildable and blendable.

Many all-in-one makeup kits on Amazon include cream blushes, highlighters, and lip glosses—perfect for trying out the soft girl aesthetic without committing to full-size products. Look for kits that emphasize pastel colors and dewy finishes.

Highlighter

For that signature soft girl glow, you want a highlighter that’s luminous without being chunky or glittery. Liquid highlighters tend to work best for this aesthetic because they melt into the skin.

Lip Gloss

Honestly, any clear or lightly tinted lip gloss will work for this look. The glossier and more dimensional, the better. Look for formulas with moisturizing ingredients so your lips feel as good as they look.

Eyeshadow

You’ll want a palette with soft, pastel shades. Pinks, peaches, lavenders, and soft neutrals are essential. Many affordable makeup brands make pastel palettes specifically for this aesthetic.

Common Soft Girl Makeup Mistakes to Avoid

Even though this look is pretty forgiving, there are a few pitfalls to watch out for.

Using Too Much Powder: This will kill the dewy, glowing finish that’s essential to the soft girl aesthetic. If you need to set your makeup, use setting spray instead of powder, or only powder your T-zone.

Making Your Blush Too Dark or Brown-Toned: Soft girl blush should be pink or peachy, never brown or overly bronzed. You want to look flushed, not contoured.

Overdoing the Eyes: This isn’t the look for dramatic eyeshadow or heavy eyeliner. Keep everything soft and subtle. If you find yourself reaching for black liquid liner or dark smoky shadows, step away—you’re going in the wrong direction.

Forgetting to Curl Your Lashes: This seems small, but it makes a huge difference. Curled lashes open up your eyes and create that wide-eyed, innocent look that’s central to the aesthetic.

Skipping the Gloss: Soft girl makeup without glossy lips isn’t soft girl makeup. The gloss is non-negotiable. If you don’t like the sticky feeling, try a lip oil instead—it gives you similar shine with a lighter texture.

Being Too Heavy-Handed with Faux Freckles: Less is more here. If your faux freckles look obviously drawn on, you’ve gone too far. They should look natural and sun-kissed, not like you took a brown marker to your face.

Soft Girl Makeup for Different Occasions

The beauty of this aesthetic is its versatility. Here’s how to adapt it for various situations.

Everyday/School Soft Girl

Keep everything minimal and natural. Light wash of pastel eyeshadow, a touch of blush and highlighter, brown mascara, fluffy brows, and tinted lip gloss. This gives you the aesthetic without looking like you tried too hard.

Date Night Soft Girl

Amp up the blush and highlighter for extra glow. Add a subtle wing with soft eyeliner, maybe some faux freckles for that playful touch, and extra glossy lips. You can also add a small face gem or two for a special romantic touch.

Festival/Event Soft Girl

This is where you can really play. Go bolder with your pastel eyeshadow (maybe even try lavender or mint green), add face stickers or gems, layer your highlighter for maximum glow, and don’t be afraid of shimmer and sparkle. The soft girl aesthetic is meant to be fun!

Professional Soft Girl

Yes, you can do soft girl makeup for work! Just keep it subtle. Skip the faux freckles and face stickers, use a more natural blush shade, keep highlighter minimal, and opt for a nude-pink lip gloss instead of clear. You’ll maintain the dewy, fresh-faced aesthetic while staying office-appropriate.

The Soft Girl Lifestyle Beyond Makeup

While this is a makeup tutorial, it’s worth noting that soft girl is more than just a look—it’s an aesthetic and lifestyle.

The soft girl lifestyle is about embracing self-care, femininity, and creating cozy, comforting spaces for yourself. It’s about making time for skincare sessions, wearing clothes that make you feel pretty and comfortable, decorating your space with pastels and soft textures, and generally prioritizing your own well-being.

This aesthetic encourages you to be gentle with yourself, to find joy in small pleasures like a good skincare routine or a cute outfit, and to express yourself in ways that feel authentic and comfortable. It’s less about perfection and more about creating a vibe that makes you happy.

The makeup is just one part of it—but it’s a really fun, accessible way to experiment with the aesthetic and see if it resonates with you.

The Bottom Line on Soft Girl Makeup

The soft girl aesthetic is one of the most fun, wearable makeup trends out there right now. It’s sweet without being childish, feminine without being limiting, and surprisingly versatile for different occasions and personal styles.

The key elements—dewy skin, pink blush, glossy lips, and soft pastel accents—create a look that’s both nostalgic and modern. It celebrates natural beauty while still giving you room to be creative and playful with your makeup.

What I love most about this trend is that it’s genuinely accessible. You don’t need expensive products or professional makeup skills to achieve it. A few drugstore products, some practice with blush placement, and a good lip gloss are really all you need to get started.

So whether you’re fully embracing the soft girl lifestyle or just want to try something new and playful with your makeup, this aesthetic is worth experimenting with. It’s a reminder that makeup should be fun, expressive, and make you feel good—not stressful or intimidating.

Now go forth and create your own version of the soft girl aesthetic. Don’t forget the lip gloss!