GLOW IN MOTION: AFTON WILLIAMS ON REAL-SKIN BEAUTY, INTENTION, AND HER SIGNATURE HOLLYWOOD GLOW
Behind the shimmer of Hollywood’s brightest lights and the luminous faces of women like Julianne Hough is an artist who sees beauty as energy. Afton Williams doesn’t just create a look; she creates a feeling. With RCMA Makeup at her fingertips, every sweep of color becomes a quiet ritual of intention, technique, and soul.
“IT’S MOST IMPORTANT THAT SHE FEELS CONFIDENT AND ALIGNED WITH WHO SHE IS WHEN SHE STEPS IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.”
AFTON WILLIAMS, CELEBRITY MAKEUP ARTIST
Some women shine; Afton Williams glows with purpose. In an industry that celebrates perfection, she brings something softer and infinitely more human. Her version of beauty isn’t about covering up; it’s about coming home to yourself. It’s the quiet confidence that begins within, the light that moves through you, and the grace that lingers long after you’ve left the room.
For more than sixteen years, the Los Angeles–born artist has helped women everywhere step into that kind of radiance. On the glittering stage of Dancing with the Stars, her brush becomes an instrument of emotion, translating movement, energy, and story into light that lives on skin. Her work doesn’t just photograph well; it feels alive.
Known for her luminous collaborations with Julianne Hough, Lainey Wilson, Melissa McCarthy, and Sophia Bush, Afton approaches each face with quiet, intentional reverence.
That philosophy carries through her partnership with RCMA Makeup, a brand as intentional as she is, crafted for performance yet rooted in authenticity. Together, they’ve turned the idea of glamour into something timeless and true. Because for Afton, luxury isn’t about more, it’s about meaning.
Every brushstroke becomes a meditation. Every finished look is a reminder: when you honor your own light, the whole world begins to glow with you.
“LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC, EAT YOUR FAVORITE FOODS, AND LAUGH WITH YOUR FAVORITE PEOPLE. IF THOSE THINGS ARE YOUR PRIORITY, YOU’LL BE ABLE TO RECONNECT WITH YOUR OWN BEAUTY BECAUSE YOU’LL FEEL THE MOST ALIVE.”
You’ve spent years creating looks that move from early-morning rehearsals to live television. When you think about effortless glamour, what does that phrase mean to you on a deeper level?
Effortless glamour means something different for everyone, especially the varying talents in my chair. But I think universally, what’s effortless is letting your individuality shine through. Skin that looks like skin—not too perfect, not too much. Leaning in to what makes the person feel unique and the most themselves. I always want my clients to feel the most alive when they leave me: confident, radiant, and beautiful.
Your work with Julianne Hough has such a recognizable energy—radiant, grounded, and full of joy. When you’re creating for someone who lives in front of the camera, how do you balance what looks beautiful on screen with what still feels true to who she is?
Julianne has such an incredible eye for beauty; she makes it easy to find that balance. We aren’t afraid to stray outside the normal box of what people expect “on camera” glam to be. It’s most important that she feels confident and aligned with who she is when she steps in front of the camera. So if that means letting her be a little more “shiny” than the typical TV glam, so be it. Everyone knows that real skin has dimensions and real people aren’t matte, flat, and airbrushed in real life. Julianne is anything but boring, so her TV looks will never be that.
You often speak about intention as the heart of your work. How do you ground yourself before a session—and stay centered once you’re in it, especially when the pressure is high or the cameras are rolling?
My favorite way to ground myself before a session is to zone out and then lock in. I do all my planning and prep for a look before heading into the glam room, so when I get there, I can just stay the course and know everything will turn out great. I listen to my pump-up jams (mostly screamo music) on my way to work. As soon as my talent is in the chair, I lock in and go with the flow. There’s this unique ability to be able to trust the process—let all the energy and fun happen around me while just going through the motions to get to the end result. With Julianne specifically, there is solace in the collaborative nature of the process. We’re always confident we’ll both be happy with what we’ve created by the time she leaves the chair, whether the stakes are low or the pressure is high.
RCMA has clearly become a staple in your world. What first drew you to the brand, and what is it about their formulas that really supports the kind of glow and longevity you’re known for—especially on those marathon shoot days?
I was first drawn to RCMA by the pure lasting power of the brand, and I mean that in both the sense of time and physical lasting power. RCMA is the OG brand of Hollywood Glamour, and it’s stood the test of time. The Vincent Kehoe 18-Part Foundation/Concealer palette was the very first palette I bought for my professional kit more than 16 years ago. It was the item I had always heard was the most trusted and versatile by pros in the industry (not to mention affordable for a budding artist). The formula itself is long-lasting and high-performing for all skin tones and types.
You’ve collaborated with such a wide range of women, each carrying her own story and energy. What draws you to a face when you first meet someone, and how do you make sure who they are—not just how they look—is what shines through?
I have to be honest here that the PERSON is always what draws me to the face. I have been so lucky in my career to collect a client list of wonderful women with incredible personalities. I get the most excited to work with someone I know I’m going to vibe with, and that’s a feeling I can get right off the bat. I love to foster relationships because that is what inspires me to keep impressing someone and not let them down. I always want to do my best to help someone feel their most themselves and confident—and that means listening to their unique preferences and not letting ego or what I want to achieve with a look get in the way.
“IF I CAN HELP OTHERS FEEL INCREDIBLE IN MY WORK AND STILL HAVE AN AMAZING QUALITY OF LIFE, THAT’S THE ULTIMATE LUXURY.”
The beauty world never seems to slow down—there’s always a new product, a new trend, a new “must-have.” Yet your work never feels reactionary; it feels timeless. How do you stay open to what’s new without losing your own creative voice?
Beauty trends are always evolving, so it’s important to find a through-line to your aesthetic that will never change. For me, it’s always been to let the skin and natural beauty shine through. While I consider myself a more light-handed, natural artist, I still have clients that love a “full glam.” So it’s important to be able to balance a glam look with a natural finish. I always tell my clients that a “full glam” doesn’t have to feel like too much. There can still be an ease to every look.
You’ve talked about the emotional side of beauty before. When you’re constantly giving your energy to others, how do you refill your creative well and stay inspired?
My relationships outside of work and my day-to-day hobbies keep my cup full. The support of my friends, family, and boyfriend truly keeps me inspired, so surrounding myself with them is the most important. I love going on a long skate or a good snowboarding trip to clear my head and keep myself balanced.
Luxury can mean so many things depending on the season of your life. How has that definition changed for you—especially after sixteen years of helping others feel like their most radiant selves?
In this season of my life, the word “luxury” has completely changed from what I originally thought it to be. Luxury is not outward beauty or material things. It’s quality time and quality of life. If I can help others feel incredible in my work and still have an amazing quality of life, that’s the ultimate luxury.
For women who want to feel a little more luminous in everyday life, what’s one ritual, product, or mindset shift you’d recommend to help them reconnect with their own beauty?
Do what makes you feel good, which means something different for everyone. There’s no one product that will magically make you feel beautiful (though it can help). Listen to your favorite music, eat your favorite foods, and laugh with your favorite people. If those things are your priority, you’ll be able to reconnect with your own beauty because you’ll feel the most alive.
For Afton Williams, RCMA Makeup delivers the luminous, camera-ready finish she’s known for. Shop RCMA Makeup here.
