J.Tan Artistry

This is what pouring back into myself looks like, doing makeup for fun. It’s therapeutic, calming, and makes me feel confident afterwards. This is my version of the makeup style ❤️

Hope you all love this look as much as I do. Stay warm, stay safe, and do something you love! 🫶🏼

Product breakdown:
color corrector concealer
Foundation is my own custom mix.
brow pencil in taupe gray
artist pencil in black
brow pencil on my lips
lip stain
cool teddy
ambient palette and liquid blush
cream contour london under glow primer
advanced film mascara
Mix of eyeshadows from Mac and Natasha Denona!

2026 & 2027 brides, come to the front of the class 📚

The reason I wanted to post this is to educate clients that makeup that looks like this requires a lot more makeup than you would assume. Even though it’s a look that enhances her natural features, I don’t consider it “natural” makeup. 🙈

Natural is a very subjective word. However, natural makeup to me, means my client’s skin is showing through the foundation. There are maybe 1-2 eyeshadow shades; this look has 4-5 eyeshadows. I would do minimal eyeliner so maybe just tight lining or using dark eyeshadow. Natural makeup would entail a half lash, individual lashes, or no false lashes at all. I also wouldn’t typically contour for natural makeup. The saturation of blush and bronzer is typically requested to be on the lighter side as well. ✨

As you can see in the breakdown of her makeup, she has a lot of makeup elements going on. Way more than your daily makeup routine, which means if you request a look like this and you don’t typically wear makeup, you may be unaccustomed to this amount of product. However, as your makeup artist, I’m here to discuss how to tailor your look to make you feel comfortable and confident during your special day! 🤍

If you’re saving this as inspiration for your wedding day, I would categorize this as soft glam! 🫶🏼

My spring and fall wedding dates for this year are almost all booked up, please see my 2026 highlights for my latest wedding availability. If you’re a summer or late fall bride, definitely reach out now to get your preview on my books! 💌

I feel so grateful to teach so many different people how to do makeup that not only flatters their features but also fits their lifestyle. 🩷

My lessons are never one-size-fits-all, which is why it’s always exciting for me to get to know someone and peek inside their makeup bag. I even love learning about new makeup products or tools that my clients use! 👀😄

If you’re interested in elevating your makeup in 2026, please reach out to me early! I have a limited number of spots since I like to dedicate time to creating detailed lesson summaries. ✍🏼

Let’s break down natural makeup and soft glam makeup. 💄 These are very subjective to each artist, but here is how I interpret these styles:

Natural makeup typically looks like:
- Natural skin peeking through the foundation coverage
- Minimal false lash application
- Light eyebrow or eyeliner application
- Soft touch of blush and bronzer
- “My lips but better” lip color
- 1-2 eyeshadow colors on the eyes

Soft glam typically looks like:
- Medium to full coverage foundation
- False lash application (but I never use anything super heavy)
- Eyebrows filled and gelled
- Smokey liner or some type of eyeliner
- More definition on the eyes, using closer to 3-4 colors - More saturation on blush and bronzer

Underneath each style of makeup in each photo are the tones of the makeup. These refer to the color palette used in the makeup, such as warm, cool, or neutral. Neutral means that it’s the most balanced between warm and cool. It’s not to be confused with natural makeup, though!‼️

I hope this is helpful, and if you’re working with me next year, save this for your inspo! 💡



J. Tan Artistry
Professional makeup artist in the DC, MD, and VA Area
Now booking 2026 weddings 💌

They say that the most honest friend is the one who cares the most about you. I’m afraid that’s true for me 🤭🩷

Beauty is for everyone, no matter the age! Hope you can keep some of my food for thought in mind next time you sit down in the beauty chair💄

J. Tan Artistry
Asian American makeup artist specializing in bespoke, natural and soft glam 💖
📍DC, MD, and VA