Honestly, walking into 2026, we all thought we were stuck with "glass skin" forever. You know the look—skin so shiny it reflects the person standing next to you. But then Selena Gomez walked onto the Golden Globes red carpet a few days ago, and everything shifted.
She wasn’t wearing a drop of high-shine gloss. Instead, she was sporting this deep, ink-red "Soft Matte" lip and a vintage side-parted bob. It looked expensive. It looked intentional. Most importantly, it looked like something a real person could wear without their hair getting stuck to their lips in a light breeze.
The Secret to the Soft Matte Evolution
The selena gomez makeup looks we’re seeing right now aren't the flat, dry mattes of 2016. Remember those? The ones that made your lips look like a cracked desert floor? Yeah, we’re over that.
The 2026 version is all about light diffusion. Makeup artist Hung Vanngo, who has been Selena’s go-to glam guru for years, basically pioneered this "Hung Vann-glow" aesthetic that focuses on hydrated richness. Even when he goes matte, the skin underneath looks like it’s had a full nine hours of sleep and three liters of water.
What’s the actual trick? It’s the "one dot" rule.
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Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush is arguably the most famous product of the decade. But if you use more than one dot, you've gone too far. Selena herself has shown in countless TikToks that she applies one tiny dot to the cheek, maybe one across the bridge of the nose, and then buffs it upward. It gives that "I just took a brisk walk in the Alps" flush rather than "I’m wearing a mask of pigment."
Recreating the Iconic Red Carpet Glam
If you want to pull off the look she wore for her big SAG Award win or the recent Globes appearance, you have to layer. You can't just slap on a heavy foundation and hope for the best.
- Prep is everything. Selena is vocal about her lupus and how it affects her skin’s texture. She often starts with under-eye patches (her Find Comfort ones are a staple) and a massive amount of hydration.
- The Base. She uses the Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer for everyday, but for big events, it’s about the Positive Light Under-eye Brightener. It’s thinner than a concealer. It doesn't crease.
- The Layered Highlight. This is a Vanngo signature. He doesn’t just use one highlighter. He’ll use the Liquid Luminizer in a shade like Mesmerize, then top it with the Silky Touch Highlighter. It creates a 3D effect that looks like skin, not glitter.
- The "Ink" Lip. To get that 2026 Golden Globes look, you need a blurred edge. Use a matte lip liner—specifically the Kind Words liner in a shade like Devoted—but smudge the edges with your finger. No harsh lines allowed.
Why Her Style Actually Matters
There’s a lot of noise in the celebrity beauty world. Every week, it feels like a new person is launching a brand. But selena gomez makeup looks stand out because they’re actually accessible.
She designed her packaging specifically for people with limited mobility or joint pain, inspired by her own struggles with lupus. Those rounded tops on the blush and concealer aren't just for "the aesthetic." They’re functional.
Also, can we talk about the "Quiet Glamour" trend?
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The industry is calling it a recalibration. We’re moving away from the "clean girl" look, which was always a bit exclusionary and required perfect skin to start with. Selena’s current vibe is more about balance. If the eye is simple—just some brown gel eyeliner and a few coats of volumizing mascara—the lip can be bold.
What People Get Wrong About Rare Beauty
People think they need to buy the whole catalog to look like her. You don't.
In fact, one of the best ways to get that Selena-style glow is to use your products for things they weren't intended for. She often takes her bronzer stick (Warm Wishes) and swipes it across her eyelids as an eyeshadow. It’s fast. It’s monochromatic. It looks like you spent forty minutes on your face when it actually took four.
She also mixes her products. Honestly, if you haven't tried mixing a drop of the liquid highlighter into your foundation yet, you're missing out on the easiest way to fake a "lit-from-within" glow.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Look
If you're trying to pivot your routine toward the 2026 Soft Matte trend, start here:
- Switch to Brown Liner: Black can look harsh in daylight. Selena often opts for a brown gel kohl because it defines the eyes without making them look "closed off."
- The "Double Blush" Method: Use a liquid blush first, blend it out, then lightly dust a powder blush in a slightly different shade on the very tops of your cheekbones. This creates a gradient that looks much more natural.
- Ditch the Heavy Powder: Only powder the T-zone. Leave the cheeks and the bridge of the nose alone so the natural oils of your skin can interact with the makeup.
- Blur the Lip: Whatever lipstick you're wearing, tap it on with your ring finger. It gives that stained, "just bitten" look that has become her trademark.
The beauty of these looks is that they aren't about hiding. They’re about looking like the best version of yourself, even if you’re just going to Target.
To get the most out of this style, focus on the "Something Rosy" philosophy—lean into pinks and peaches that mimic your natural flush. Grab a hydrating mist to set everything, avoid the heavy mattifying sprays, and remember that with high-pigment products, less is always more. Start with half the amount of product you think you need. You can always add, but it's a nightmare to take away.