In the
final scene
of the classic
1942 film
Casablanca
Ingrid Bergman’s character, Ilsa, looks at Humphrey Bogart’s Rick—who are saying goodbye under swirling airplane propellers and hazy mist. The camera captures Bergman in stunning close-ups; her eyes shimmer with unshed tears, framed by tender, luxuriously soft lighting. Despite tackling subjects like violence, political corruption, and heartache, Bergman maintains an ethereal beauty—a softly blurred perfection reminiscent of dreams. According to legend, filmmakers back then employed various techniques such as gauzes, stockings, even petroleum jelly, to achieve this delicate, silky effect, heightening the movie’s romantic atmosphere and spotlighting their leading ladies’ allure. It seems almost impossible for that famous moment to evoke the same emotion were it captured today using clear, detailed, hyper-realistic HD video.
Today, a range of new makeup items designed to achieve a similar blurred, filtered look are gaining attention.
Wende Zomnir
, who established the cosmetics company
Caliray
and co-founder of
Urban Decay
, has stated that “blurring is currently trending.” The new additions include those from Caliray’s.
Blurry Blush
, The Easy Blur Natural Airbrush Foundation from Huda Beauty paired with Glow Recipe’s Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops. Created under the guidance of celebrity makeup artist Mario.
Mario Dedivanovic
—recently launched its
SoftSculpt Bronze and Contouring Serum
And the talc-free SurrealSkin Soft Blur Setting Powder, both designed to recreate that classic Old Hollywood look achieved with petroleum jelly on the lens. Rasa Gardiner, who serves as the senior director of global education for Makeup by Mario, reflects: “Back in Old Hollywood times, actresses wore quite thick foundation. Since their products weren’t as advanced as they are now, filmmakers had to use various techniques. Consider Mario’s latest range as modern versions of these old filmmaking tactics.”
Dedivanovic, best known as
Kim Kardashian
For years, Kardashian’s longtime makeup artist has earned acclaim for his sharply chiseled, intricately highlighted style—think meticulously outlined lips, structured cheekbones, and lifted jawlines—which exude bold glamour meant to endure intense flashes from cameras. (She isn’t exactly recognized for embracing an effortless appearance or accepting flaws). “The precise and amplified styles were crafted specifically for photography sessions, fashion shows, award ceremonies, and spotlights,” explains Gardiner. In stark contrast, Makeup by Mario’s recent releases prioritize practicality just as much as aesthetics; they’re equally suited for casual errands like grabbing coffee as they are for social media content creation.
“These items adopt a gentler, more authentic technique aimed at enhancing your beauty naturally,” states Gardiner. To achieve this effect, Mario’s SurrealSkin includes lightweight diffusing particles that offer a soft-focus outcome alongside amino acids ensuring seamless blending and application. This innovative formula merges seamlessly with the skin without appearing too polished, delivering a smooth complexion free of lines and minimized pores. According to Gardiner: “It becomes hard to distinguish where one color ends and another begins.” As Mario often emphasizes, ‘makeup ought to appear worn.’ Consequently, these goods deliver that characteristic, slightly-worn-out look instantly upon use.
Beauty and Makeup Trends
As in fashion, lipliner serves to convey the prevailing morals and desires of today. It can mirror societal trends or stand as an opposition to them, reflecting the intense polarization we see politically, economically, and emotionally. In summary, these times are marked by stark divisions in opinions and political discussions. This surge in blurred-effect cosmetics might indicate a shared desire for softer elements that blend together, emphasizing subtlety over precision, seeking harmony amidst fragmented boundaries.
Just as Generation Z turns from digital devices back toward vintage analog film cameras, the blurring trend in makeup acts as beauty’s counterpart to this resurgence of analogue aesthetics. Makeup brands respond to our craving for gentleness amid excessive digitization and rigid structures filled with harsh lines. “Given how overwhelming things feel at present,” notes a renowned celebrity makeup artist, “people could gravitate towards embracing their more delicate aspects.”
Katie Jane Hughes
, with a client list that encompasses
Dua Lipa
and
Hailey Bieber
Her personal label, KJH, focuses on gentle washes of color. Its packaging, featuring lickable tones of mint and light peony, embraces sherbet-inspired fresh hues.
KJH’s latest Soft Smudge Lip & Cheek sticks provide a smooth, hazy layer of color and come in various hues such as Soft Tomato, Soft Coral, Soft Raisin, among others—the word “soft” serving as a recurring theme. According to Hughes, who spoke with me via telephone, “Recently, numerous blushes have hit the market, each boasting creaminess, moisture, glossiness, juiciness, and radiance.” However, she continues, her product is characterized by its powder finish, extreme velvet texture, blurred effect, soft-focus appearance, and lasting power; it remains stable without smudging during wear. She adds, “We’re shifting away from those overly moist, excessively shiny items.”
I test out a stroke of KJH’s latest lipstick in Soft Tomato, a vibrant red shade that surprisingly feels both matte and sheer, deeply colored yet lightweight. I then blend it using
KJH’s pointed No. 1 brush
, and it imparts a vibrant, wind-kissed freshness. When applied to the lips, Soft Smudge fulfills its namesake role, giving your lips a softly blurred appeal—a quality the French refer to as ”
bouche mordue
“(Bitten mouth).” This style has a somewhat messy, pulp-like appearance with stains that evoke feelings of liberty, relaxation, and enjoyment. A precisely outlined lip appears too meticulous, regimented, and labor-intensive for conveying “enjoyment.” Instead, this softer approach gives the impression that someone might have recently savored a picnic filled with juicy summer cherries, leaving their lips tinged with fruit coloration, or relished an evening of leisurely sipping Malbec wine in Paris’ Le Marais district. Should the overall effect be relaxed yet sensual—think of the effortless chic of a Jane Birkin-style loose-fitting blouse applied to lipstick—it remains very forgiving. As Hughes notes, people are coming around to how gentle makeup can be exceptionally flattering.
I often think back to my teenage years when I really needed glasses but stubbornly declined to wear them. Back then, spectacles weren’t considered fashionable like they are nowadays. So instead, being nearsighted, I would navigate through the hallways at my high school without recognizing anyone around me. Everyone appeared slightly blurred, vague, ethereal, and almost dreamlike—any imperfections hidden behind my less-than-perfect eyesight. Now, it strikes me that this blurry view might have been one of the first filters for altering reality. Of course, that could simply be how I recall those moments with nostalgia. After all, memories can play tricks on us, much like remembering scenes from “Funny Girl” starring Barbra Streisand.
The Way We Were
They often appear “misty” and “water-colored”—not sharp and clear. However, if longing for gentler eras, complemented by an arsenal of softening tools like blur-setting powders and blushes, is making a comeback, then perhaps nostalgia as a whole is experiencing resurgence too. Given our enduring romance with the past isn’t fading or wearing thin quickly, a particular trend emerges: The outlook towards the future seems hazy.
Read more:
8 Beauty Fashions to Explore in 2025
Top Tinted Moisturizers and Skincare Tints to Consider in 2025
Canadian Beauty Labels to Include in Your Cosmetic Collection
The post
Smudged Makeup Is Currently Trending
appeared first on
Elle Canada
.
