Pink pilates princess beauty guide: makeup, hair and self-care tips

You’ve seen the look all over social media: women dressed in soft pink athleisure, glowy minimal makeup, and sleek ponytails, sipping matcha or green smoothies from chic tumblers. As the name suggests, the “pink pilates princess” does pilates but there’s more to her than just aesthetic appeal.

This modern archetype blends wellness, self-care, and beauty seamlessly. She’s as mindful about how she feels as she is about how she looks.

“It’s an interesting example of how health and movement can become part of visual culture, and it’s a powerful tool for branding and marketing,” says Atsuko Hussain, senior instructor at The Moving Body.

 “As a full-time Pilates instructor and Pilates educator, I see this as a positive gateway. If someone is drawn in by how it looks but stays because of how it makes them feel – more present, more connected, more resilient – then the trend is definitely serving a deeper purpose. That said, I can say from my experience that Pilates is so much more than just aesthetic!”

The Arc 

Get the look: Choose lightweight, breathable formulas that enhance your features without feeling heavy. Keep your eyes bare and add colour to your complexion by tinting your pout in a deep, glossy berry hue. For your cheeks, reach for a raspberry-toned stain to mimic that natural, post-workout glow — think flushed, lit-from-within radiance that moves with you.

Dr Shauna Tan-Chiam, founder of Bareness Skin, a skincare brand inspired by her background in medical aesthetics, agrees the pink pilates princess aesthetic is more than a fleeting trend. This is because it’s more about just an item, a product or an outfit. What we’re looking at is an entire lifestyle. 

“Leaning into hyper feminine, girlhood-focused lifestyle choices, the pink pilates aesthetic focuses on a softer, slower approach,” says Dr Tan-Chiam. “Think low impact exercises like pilates and yoga, taking the time to have a matcha routine in the morning, having a good understanding of gut health and being mindful of what you put in your body. It is intentional, thoughtful and kind to oneself.”

She attributes its popularity to the fact that, in a fast-paced world where everyone is hustling, the slow life is seen as the ultimate luxury.

“The idea of taking the time to take care of your mind, body and soul is something not everybody can afford in this day and age,” Dr Tan-Chiam explains. “As such, it has become a new status symbol of not just wealth but privilege. An ideal that many women work towards and hope to achieve.”

Atsuko says it’s “extremely visual”, which naturally appeals to Gen Z, “especially today’s image-driven, social media culture”.

“For some, it might be a way to connect with a more self-compassionate version of themselves.” she adds. “It aligns with recent wellness trends about self-care, self-love and being health conscious along with the rising popularity of Pilates itself.”

Atsuko says that Pilates is popular because it delivers clear, tangible results no matter what someone is looking for. “Clients come to our Pilates studio for various reasons: to feel stronger, to move without pain, to support injury recovery or simply because it looks graceful. The beauty of Pilates is that it can meet all these needs, for ‘every body’, in a sustainable way,” she elaborates.

Also, people who practice it realise that it’s not just exercise, “it educates us in how our body works efficiently and confidently”.

Atsuko has noticed a growth in the Pilates community, particularly post-COVID, and she says it’s  because more people have begun to prioritise health, longevity and sustainable lifestyle practices.

“I’ve observed this shift not only in the day-to-day studio setting but also within the Pilates education space,” says Atsuko, who is also the education director and a Balanced Body® Educator at The Movement Academy. “I’d say that more young women are exploring pilates not just as a form of movement but as a potential career path.”

Dr Tan-Chiam is also an aesthetic doctor at David Loh Surgery and her background in aesthetics and love of Pilates played a big part in Bareness Skin’s recent collection, The SPF Studio, reflected in product names like Arc and Pulse, subtle nods to movement, breath, and rhythm.  A self-described “Pilates girlie”, she reveals that she does her classes before work, grabs an iced soy matcha and does her daily journaling. 

She sees clear benefits in posture, muscle tone, and energy levels but also notes Pilates doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. “Some people, even in the fitness or aesthetics world, overlook its value because it’s low-impact,” she says. 

“It reminds me of skincare. People spend thousands on anti-aging treatments, but skip the most effective basic: daily sunscreen. It’s the small habits, done consistently, that matter.”

Reformer Ready

Contact lenses from Hue Official and bodysuit set from Ferragamo

Get the look: For the ultimate dewy pilates glow, start with a lightweight, hydrating skin tint or tinted moisturiser to even out your complexion without masking your skin. Dab a cream highlighter on the high points of your face for a natural sheen that catches the light as you move. A gel-based blush in a soft pink or berry adds that flushed, post-class warmth. Skip heavy powders — let your skin breathe and sweat naturally for that effortless, just-finished-a-session radiance.

When it comes to the pink Pilates princess aesthetic, Dr Tan-Chiam says that your skin doesn’t need to be flawless or perfect but what’s important is that it looks healthy and glowing. To achieve this, she advises to have a consistent routine and avoid trying new products too frequently. 

“For an easy minimalist morning routine, use a good Vitamin C product, apply a moisturiser or barrier restore cream and finish off with a sunscreen you love,” says Dr Tan-Chiam. “Makeup wise, add a little pink blush to give that healthy, post-exercise flush. I love the idea of a monotone look, so I like to use the same blush as a base colour for my lips and top off with a good lip gloss.”

For a night time routine, Dr Tan-Chiam practices skin cycling – the idea of rotating through the stronger active ingredients in your routine for the best results with minimal irritation and giving your skin time to heal.

“I find it works excellently for long-term skin health,” she says. “Just like how you aren’t going for three or four different pilates classes a day, you can’t be overloading your skin with so many ingredients in a single setting.”

Good skincare is more than just what you put on your skin. How much you move and what you eat matters too. Dr Tan-Chiam recommends to have adequate hydration throughout the day, avoid pro-inflammatory foods like dairy or processed foods, avoid excessive sugar which can damage the structural proteins in your skin causing premature aging, consume adequate amounts of protein which are crucial to maintain collagen and elastin production, and incorporate gut-friendly foods like kombucha and kimchi to minimise inflammation. 

“Also, stay active and find an activity that you love! Trends come and go but if you love the process, you will stick with it,” she adds. 

Final Stretch

Get the look: Opt for a sleek, secure braid that keeps your hair out of your face during every move. Adding extensions amps up the drama with extra length and volume, perfect for that “pink pilates princess” vibe without sacrificing function.

Self-care is a crucial element in the pink Pilates princess aesthetic. Atsuko sees self-care as a form of internal listening such as the ability to pause, reflect and check in with yourself, both physically and emotionally.

“As a Pilates professional, my self-care often looks like simple but powerful habits: slowing down my breath, noticing how I’m holding tension or taking just ten minutes to move mindfully without needing to ‘perform’ or achieve. It’s less about how it looks and more about how it feels,” she says.

So what’s the first step to take to become a pink Pilates princess? Atsuko suggests to simply begin moving. Try a class, focus on your breath and take time to notice how your body feels. 

“Pilates offers more than a visual result; it builds deep strength, awareness and confidence over time,” she explains. “And I believe that when you feel aligned and well from within, it naturally reflects on the outside.”

Credits:

Hair: Aung Apichai/Artistry Studios using Kevin.Murphy

Makeup: Lasalle Lee using Haus Labs

Photography: Angela Guo

Art direction: Adeline Eng