Television series

Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star

  • Light-hearted

Glow Up is a makeup competition series that captures the energy of extreme beauty transformations and online makeup culture. Contestants live together, facing timed challenges that demand technical precision and bold creativity. It's propulsive, visually satisfying, and genuinely enthusiastic about its subject—perfect for anyone who loves watching skilled people work under pressure, whether or not they've ever owned eyeshadow.

TVMaze rating3.4

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The Great British Bake Off2010

The template for all competition shows done right: real pressure, genuine stakes, warm mentorship, and the deep satisfaction of watching people nail difficult tasks. The format is proven because it works.

But If you've already watched multiple seasons, the formula can feel repetitive. It's also slower-paced than Glow Up—less about drama, more about kindness.

The Great British Bake Off poster

Project Runway2004

Fashion design under time constraints, creative judges, and the same live-challenge structure that makes Glow Up work. It's the American cousin—faster, sharper, with higher stakes and bigger personalities clashing.

But Early seasons are the best; later revivals dilute the formula. Some judges can be needlessly cruel rather than constructively critical.

Project Runway poster

Making It2018

Same DNA as Glow Up but for craft and engineering—contestants make wild, beautiful objects under deadline. It has the same energy of 'watch someone do something brilliantly difficult in real time.'

But It's gentler and less dramatic than you might want. There's less interpersonal tension and fewer genuine shocks.

Making It poster

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Skin Wars2014

Both are built on the premise that makeup/body art is a legitimate artistic skill that deserves serious competition and respect. Same judges' table energy, same 'what can you create in an hour?' pressure.

Body painting competition that shares Glow Up's obsession with extreme makeup transformation and the rush of watching artists work on living canvases. Visually stunning and deeply weird—artists paint each other like moving art installations.

But It can feel uncomfortable watching people's bodies treated as canvas. The show is also more niche—body painting culture doesn't have Glow Up's mainstream visibility.

Skin Wars poster
More like this (8)

RuPaul's Drag Race2009

Competition, makeup artistry, lightning-fast challenges, and charisma colliding under pressure. The makeup element is integral and the judges' critiques are sharp and funny. Every season finds new ways to test competitors.

But The show is long and some seasons meander. If you're not into drag culture, the references and in-jokes can feel impenetrable.

RuPaul's Drag Race poster

The Apprentice2005

Stripped-back competition format with the same addictive rhythm: challenge, execution, judgment, elimination. No fancy production tricks—just watch people succeed or fail in real time. It's hypnotic.

But The host can overshadow the contestants. Depends enormously on the version—UK or US—and whether you enjoy that kind of office politics tension.

The Apprentice poster

Next in Fashion2020

Fast-paced design competition with real industry mentors and jaw-dropping transformations. Episodes move quickly and the challenges are surprisingly varied and inventive.

But Shorter season means less time to know the contestants. Some challenges feel gimmicky compared to Glow Up's focus on pure skill.

Next in Fashion poster

The Great Pottery Throw Down2015

Same warm, high-pressure format but for ceramics. Beautiful to watch, genuinely difficult tasks, and contestants who are passionate rather than fame-hungry. Very soothing and very tense simultaneously.

But Pottery is quieter and slower than makeup artistry. If you want constant visual spectacle and quick decisions, this will feel meditative instead.

The Great Pottery Throw Down poster

Face Off2011

Makeup competition focused specifically on prosthetics and character design. Wild, theatrical challenges that let artists go experimental. You'll see transformations that make Glow Up look minimal by comparison.

But Some challenges are repetitive across seasons. The show prioritizes shock value over technique sometimes, which can feel hollow.

Face Off poster

Love Island2015

If what you love about Glow Up is watching people live together under pressure and form genuine alliances and rivalries, Love Island supercharges that element. It's pure human drama.

But It's not about skill at all—just personality and attraction. If you care about people actually *accomplishing* things, this will frustrate you.

Love Island poster

Abstract: The Art of Design2017

Where Glow Up shows competition, this shows craft at its highest level. Both celebrate people for being brilliant at making other people beautiful or transformed.

Netflix documentary series following different designers and artists in their creative process. Individual episodes on makeup artists are hypnotic—you watch professionals think through a brief and execute it with precision and vision. No competition, just mastery on display.

But It's contemplative rather than competitive. If you want elimination drama and personal storylines, you'll miss that here. Some episodes aren't about makeup at all.

Abstract: The Art of Design poster

Natsume's Book of Friends2008

Weird connection, but both have a meditative quality about watching someone develop a unique skill—here it's spiritual sensitivity, in Glow Up it's artistic vision. Both reward paying attention and noticing small details. Both are genuinely kind shows about people getting better at what they do.

Anime series where the protagonist discovers he can see supernatural creatures and help them. Gentle, gorgeous art, episodic challenges where he has to solve emotional problems. Completely different register from Glow Up but hypnotically watchable.

But It's animated, slow-paced, and has nothing to do with makeup or competition. If you need modern reality drama or high stakes, this is the opposite.

Natsume's Book of Friends poster

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