How to Get Glowing Skin Like a Victoria’s Secret Model
Whenever the term “glowing skin” is mentioned, the first thing we think of is each and every flawless face of the Victoria’s Secret Angels—they basically have that glow trademarked at this point. And, with the brand new set of Angels’ faces filling our Instagram feeds as they kick off campaigns for new product launches, we’ve never wanted to steal that fabled glow more. So, we went straight to makeup artist Hung Vanngo, who regularly works with Jasmine Tookes and Taylor Hill, for a breakdown on mastering that signature look.
MORE: Beach Beauty—The Models Who Do It Right
“To me, the bombshell look is all about looking healthy and beautiful,” says Vanngo. “There is always a gorgeous glow on the skin that looks like it is radiating from within.” Below, he details exactly how you can replicate it.
You do need to do some prep, but think of it as pampering. Before you add any makeup to your face, Vanngo suggests exfoliating. “It helps take off all the dead skin, blackheads, etc., so that the bronzer and foundation go on smoother,” says Vanngo. Some of his personal favorites include Lancer Face Polish and Tatcha Exfoliating Powder, which is made with Japanese rice bran filled with enzymes to smooth over skin. Following that, Vanngo says you should treat your skin to a hydrating mask, moisturizer, eye cream, and lip balm.
Apply a sheer cream or liquid bronzer all over your face, neck, and chest. That’s the next step in getting the bombshell look, and Vanngo suggests using St. Tropez Face and Body Bronzing Gel to get the job done. Following that, you should wait a couple minutes before applying foundation, but it should be the same exact shade as what your skin is after you use the liquid bronzer.
But if you don’t need foundation, skip that step and use a lighter product instead. Vanngo says that it all depends on your complexion, and on some of the Angels, he may only use concealer or a tinted moisturizer. Try something like bareMinerals Complexion Rescue, a gel cream that has an SPF 30.
If foundation doesn’t cover up all the flaws, Vanngo suggests dabbing on concealer afterwards. Some of his top picks are NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and Cle de Peau’s formula, but on a drugstore budget, we vouch for e.l.f HD Lifting Concealer, which only costs $3.
After all that, apply bronzer. The product we first associate with the look is the last to go on, explains Vanngo. And even then, you should apply only on an as-needed basis. Try Tom Ford Bronzing Powder and Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow, two of his favorites. You can apply bronzer similar to blush, placing it only on the apples of your check and blending outwards. You can also use the makeup artist-approved “3-shape method” by lightly sweeping it over your forehead, on the cheekbones, and below your jaw.
Stick to neutral colors like bronze and chocolate browns. Vanngo says he uses these hues in creamy textures to create his looks. It makes sense, considering he notes that the bombshell look is about enhancing your features without adding too many other colors into the mix.
Don’t forget to highlight your brows and lips—but subtly. When going for that natural look, Vanngo only fills in the brows where needed. “Some brands that have great brow pencils are CK One Brow+Gel duo, Hourglass Cosmetics Brow Sculpting Pencil and Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz,” he says. For sexy nude lips, he dabs on CK One Color All Day Perfection Lip Color in Smitten with one finger.
MORE: Master the “Model Off-Duty” Look
As far as beauty routines go, this isn’t exactly your 5-minute face, but no one ever said being an Angel was easy. Still, it’s one look you should master if you want to be able to turn heads like a VS model, naturally.
