Blame it on Sabrina Carpenter’s rise to fame or the beauty industry’s obsession with a flawless complexion—but angel makeup or angel beauty is the latest aesthetic to sweep social media.
Carpenter’s appearance at the Governor’s Ball in New York City, flaunting her bouncy curtain bangs and glossy glow, only propelled this style forward. “Angel beauty is a delicate, feminine aesthetic that blends ethereal innocence with a touch of damsel-needing-rescuing vibes,” says Sarah Biggers-Stewart, professional makeup artist and the founder and CEO of Clover by CLOVE + HALLOW. “Think glowing skin, a cherubic flush, large sparkling eyes, and a full glossy lip.”
If you are interested in giving this look a try, read on to find out more about the angel beauty aesthetic, along with expert tips on how to best achieve the signature glossy pout or rosy cheeks.
Featured Experts
- Sarah Biggers-Stewart is a professional makeup artist and the founder and CEO of Clover
- Jenny Patinkin is a professional makeup artist and founder of Jenny Patinkin Beauty Tools.
- Dominique Della Maggiore is a celebrity makeup artist and Morphe cosmetics ambassador.
What Is Angel Beauty?
Simply put, Jenny Patinkin, a professional makeup artist and founder of Jenny Patinkin Beauty Tools, describes this aesthetic as “a sexy girl next door look.” It manages to be sexy without overdoing it. According to Patinkin, the “simple and sweet element” is essential to the overall execution.
“Angel beauty is a combination of soft yet ethereal glam,” adds Dominique Della Maggiore, a celebrity makeup artist and Morphe ambassador, “It involves using light, neutral colors for the eyes, soft pastel shades on cheeks and lips, as well as emphasizing a dewy, glowing complexion.”
The aesthetic highlights everything besides the lashes. It rejects autumnal shades like burgundy or navy and embraces baby pinks, silvers, and any range of pastels. Look to Kacey Musgraves’s robin’s egg blue eyeshadow or Phoebe Dynevor’s glassy cheeks as inspiration.
What are Some Tips for Achieving the Angel Beauty Look?
The best way to try this aesthetic for yourself is to nail the signature elements to the look. Our experts weighed in with their tips on how to achieve these like a pro.
Cherub Cheeks
The key to this look? It’s all in the face. According to Patinkin, it’s best to use products and techniques that will give a lit-from-within effect for this look rather than it looking like makeup. “Cream products meld well with the skin and don’t sit heavily on the surface like powders can, and using the underpainting technique with a radiant primer, sheer pink blush and subtle highlighter make it look much more natural,” she says.
Silver Smoke
Smokey eyes do not have to be limited to thick black-rimmed eyes and gray shadows. Silver can offer the same amount of drama without the darker hues. Maggiore suggests starting by applying a silver eyeshadow all over your eyelid. “Be sure to blend the shadow out towards the crease,” she says. “Next, use a darker gray or neutral brown eyeshadow in the outer corner and along the crease for added depth. You can also add a touch of the same dark gray eyeshadow along the upper and lower lash lines for extra dimension. For an extra pop, try mixing the shadow with setting spray.”
Pink Pout
Say goodbye to your deep mattes and long wear lip color. The angel beauty aesthetic is all about the gloss. Will it last as long as your shine-free lippies? No, but the extra sheen contributes to the overall ethereal glow. Baby pinks are the go-to choice for this aesthetic, but sheer and glittery glosses can offer the same effect.
How to Make Your Angel Beauty Makeup Last All Day Long
Many hallmarks of the aesthetic hinge on a radiant complexion, which also happens to be one of the hardest looks to make last. “Most dewy products are rich in emollients for that wet-looking finish, but that also makes them prone to wearing down throughout the day,” explains Biggers-Stewart. She recommends working in layers and targeting specific areas of your face to extend the wear of your makeup.
“For example, leave most of your skin really dewy, set only the parts of your face that tend to wear down first, like around your nose or under your eyes, with a powder,” she says. “Then, apply a balmy highlighter to the high points of the face, and then liberally set the whole face with a fixing spray—not just a face mist.”
