Balletcore beauty is the romantic update to ‘no makeup makeup’, and it’s universally flattering

Last year Balletcore blew up on TikTok, so we knew it was only a matter of time before Balletcore Beauty broke out and created a mini glam aesthetic all of its own.

But before you start sweating, or imagining pilates and core exercises, balletcore is not the intense workout it sounds like. Instead, it pays homage to the pretty, signature look ballerinas have cultivated around their rehearsals. Think: wrap tops, bodysuits, tie skirts and dainty ballet flats. It’s a natural, elegant evolution for athleisure, especially if you’re looking to embrace a style that’s hyper-feminine. 

But of course, one of the most striking signatures of a ballerina, is the ballet bun and tonal blush colour palette. Hence, balletcore beauty is the delicate breakaway term that’s set to gain traction this year. As for how to tap into the aesthetic, here’s five ways to get on board…

Ballerina bun

Classic for a reason, the ballerina bun is one of the most iconic ways to reference the balletcore look. Extra points if it’s embellished with a silk ribbon,pretty hair slide or tulle scrunchie.

Silky eyeshadow

We love that the balletcore beauty looks we’ve been seeing have incorporated the silky pink texture of ballet shoes into the beauty aesthetic via sheeny eyeshadow in frosted pinks, pearls and lilacs.

Blush tones

Monochrome makeup is trending in its own right but it works beautifully with balletcore beauty. Think: pretty blush and pink shades repeated on eyes, lips and cheeks.

Sheeny skin

As with silky eyeshadow, sheeny skin references the sensorial glamour of lustrous ballet slippers, but applies it in a soft, wearable way to skin, creating illumination with fresh foundations and tactical highlighting.

Nude-pink lips

We’ve seen glossy lips and soft-matte lips when it comes to this trend, but one thread that weaves the look together is a nude-pink lip shade, whether it’s amped up with a frosted shimmer, or a more natural rose-bud finish.