The Secret Behind Julianne Hough’s Glamour on “Dancing With the Stars” It’s a well-known equation: sparkling costumes + celebrity talent + a foxtrot or paso doble = “Dancing With the Stars” success.

November 22, 2025 WSW 10 Views

Image credit: RCMA, Photography by Emma Beiles Howie

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It’s often said that the equation: sparkly outfits + celebrities + a foxtrot or paso doble yields “Dancing With the Stars” success. This show has dazzled audiences for 20 years (yes, two full decades!), and the allure comes not only from the performances but also from the talented stylists, tailors, lighting experts, and the unsung heroes in the makeup chairs. To dig deeper, we spoke with Afton Williams, the celebrity makeup artist who elevates dancer and host Julianne Hough’s looks.

Williams shares her insights on maintaining Hough’s flawless appearance for live broadcasts. Read on for exclusive tips and the products you can use to recreate her signature style.

Experts Featured in This Article

Afton Williams, a Los Angeles–based celebrity artist, is known for her exceptional work with prominent figures across television, fashion, and editorial platforms.

Achieving Julianne Hough’s “DWTS” Radiance

From the outset, Williams and her team cultivate every look by designing it around the wardrobe. “Celebrating the 20th anniversary, the attire itself is quite a statement, so we ensured the hair and makeup would enhance the outfit rather than overpower it. The makeup remains clean, classic, and closely aligned to Julianne’s everyday aesthetic,” she explains.

Precision layering, durability, and a touch of backstage finesse play pivotal roles in their approach. “Makeup must endure but should allow for touch-ups without becoming cakey. You aim for 90 percent perfection that still feels flexible, completing it just before she takes the stage,” Williams describes. With sweat-resistant foundations and sculpting body illuminators, every detail is expertly curated to withstand stage lighting while ensuring Hough feels authentically herself.

Williams begins Hough’s makeup with thin, deliberate layers. “The goal is for the makeup to seamlessly integrate with the skin. Overly thick applications lead to creasing and cracking.” For foundation, she opts for the RCMA 5-Part Series Favorite Foundation Palette ($30), which offers a skin-like, bendable base capable of lasting through long hours of choreography. To sculpt without excess, she uses RCMA’s Highlight & Contour Palette ($30), and for Hough’s signature rosy glow, she mixes shades from RCMA Cream Blush Palette #1 in Special and Gena Pink ($30). She describes the final result as “clean, classically beautiful, and true to Julianne’s everyday vibe.”

RCMA 5-Part Series Favorite Foundation Palette

From

$30

RCMA Cream Blush Palette #1 in Special and Gena Pink

From

$30

You’ll never see Hough’s highlight fading during a paso doble. Williams achieves this with the RCMA Summer Lights Illuminating Balm in Sun-Kissed ($24), which provides a non-tacky glow. This choice comes from experience, as Williams recalls a red-carpet incident that taught her a lesson: “Once, I used a balm on the body, and a hair got stuck on her chest in the photos. I vowed to never make that mistake again.”

RCMA Summer Lights Illuminating Balm in Sun-Kissed

From

$24

To ensure everything stays flawless, she uses RCMA Premiere Pressed Powder in Amethyst and No-Color ($28), applying only in specific areas. And, for those glossy lips? RCMA Diamond Shine Lip Gloss ($22).

RCMA Diamond Shine Lip Gloss

From

$22

Essential Items in Her Makeup Collection

Williams’s makeup kit is compact yet intentional, filled with artist-led brands that excel.

She swears by the Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette ($70) and Makeup By Mario Master Mattes Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow ($25), both providing matte neutral tones that are reliable. She also relies on Hung Vanngo Lip Liner ($24) for its staying power and names One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Setting Spray ($34) as her go-to.

Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette

From

$70

Makeup By Mario Master Mattes Long-Wearing Cream Eyeshadow

From

$25

Hung Vanngo Lip Liner

From

$24

One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Setting Spray

From

$34

“If I had to highlight one must-have that can keep a dancer’s makeup looking impeccable, it would be the One/Size On ‘Til Dawn setting spray. It forms a protective layer against environmental factors.” Though dancers might perspire, their beauty remains intact.

And if you think her essential backstage product is an expensive mattifying primer, think again. Williams’ go-to is Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets ($20). They’re indispensable for her—used pre-makeup, after rehearsals, and just before applying powder to avoid a cakey finish. She’s confessed, “If I arrive on set and realize I forgot my oil blotters, I panic and rush to the store.”

Image courtesy: RCMA. Photography by Emma Beiles Howie

Balim Tezel (she/her) is a shopping updates editor at PS and the founder of Maison des Nus, a New York-based affordable luxury brand. She graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.