WAG Makeup Is the Soft-Glam Beauty Look That Lasts All Game Day
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If you’re anything like the Glamour beauty team, you’ve probably gone down an Instagram rabbit hole to find out who’s who among pro athletes’ wives and girlfriends—a.k.a. WAGs—and noticed their impeccable game-day glam.
As demonstrated by Taylor Swift, an essential part of being a WAG is cheering on your man from the sidelines, and that means attending game days fitted in team colors and with photo-ready makeup. Makeup artist Allison Kaye, who has worked with WAGs from teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns, describes WAG makeup as something that will go with any outfit.
“The signature WAG makeup look is a neutral, soft-glam look,” she tells Glamour. “The girls love to be glammed, but not overly glammed, and it’s something that goes with their team colors and game-day outfits.”
Brittany Mahomes, wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, is one of the many high-profile WAGS that love soft-glam makeup. According to Mahomes’s makeup artist Alexis Oakley, who has worked with fellow WAGs Simone Biles and Alix Earle, the look has become increasingly popular among clients.
“The signature WAG makeup is usually a neutral matte eye shadow, winged liner, fresh, glowing skin, and a nude lip,” says Oakley. “This has been one of my most requested looks for a while because it’s perfect for any and all occasions.”
If it seems to you that all the WAGs are trading beauty secrets, you’re not wrong. Joshua Minger, makeup artist and close friend to Chariah Gordon, started working with Kansas City Chiefs WAGs in 2019. Minger says working with Gordon (another Swift friend and fiancée of Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman) has helped his business blossom—so much so that he was recently contacted by the Dallas Cowboys to glam their team WAGs in the coming weeks.
“Chariah actually introduced me to Taylor Swift, and we ended up taking a picture. And that has brought me a great amount of followers and exposure,” he says. “I am so grateful for the WAGs, past and present, but especially the present, as they truly support and believe in me.”
Camille Thompson shares the same feeling of gratitude toward her client Ayan Broomfield, a Canadian tennis player whose boyfriend, American tennis player Frances Tiafoe, reached the semifinals at the 2024 US Open. Thompson has also found new opportunities through her work with Broomfield.
“She’s absolutely stunning, and the looks I create for her often become fan favorites, gaining significant traction on my social media,” Thompson says. “Additionally, the visibility of my work has caught the attention of other high-profile athletes, who have reached out to inquire about my services. It’s clear that word of mouth plays a big role in spreading the word.”
For makeup that survives game day, you’ll need a strong base and quality products for long-lasting coverage. Kaye says that most of her WAG clients get monthly facials and dermaplaning, and invest in quality skin care. When it comes to skin prep, she recommends using a primer before applying foundation.
“Use a good primer, because the makeup needs to last through any pregame festivities and a near four-hour football game,” she says. “I love the Milk Hydrogrip Primer, then I use a long-lasting foundation. I use a mix of the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation with some Temptu Airbrush via my airbrush machine on top.”
Another trick for lipstick that doesn’t budge? “My secret is that I use lip liner as lipstick because it lasts way better,” Kaye says. “My go-to colors are Iconic Nude and Pillow Talk by Charlotte Tilbury.”
Makeup artist Ashley Myriee, who has also worked with Gordon, loves using Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base and Danessa Myricks Love & Light Beauty Oil to prep clients. “When it comes to flawless skin, have a little patience while pressing the products into your skin,” she says. “Take your time when you’re blending your foundation or concealer. It’ll come out flawless each time, so never rush a good blend.”
Oakley stresses the importance of moisturizing skin before applying any makeup. “I love to start with a hydrating eye cream such as the Fenty Thicc N Smooth Rich Peptide Eye Cream, Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream, Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer, and Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment,” she says. “For the complexion I keep the skin super glowy and bronzed, topped with a cool baby-pink blush. Nars is typically my go-to.” To create the perfect nude eye, she uses a neutral matte palette such as Painted Basic Canvas Palette or Makeup by Mario Master Mattes, paired with winged liner and individual lashes.
For the final step, all makeup artists recommend using a strong-hold setting spray to lock in makeup. Oakley, Kaye, and Thompson love One/Size’s On ’Til Dawn Setting Spray (which is both Beyoncé- and Glamour-approved), while Minger recommends pressed powder for any touch-ups. If you really want makeup to last all day, try layering setting sprays. “Typically for game days, I use few setting sprays just to really ensure the makeup will look flawless all day and night, no matter what the weather conditions are,” Oakley says. “Usually I spray the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless and then the One/Size On ’Til Dawn.”
Ariana Yaptangco is the senior beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her @arianayap.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
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