How to apply your complexion products for your preferred skin finish
If you look throughout the decades, the reigning skin finishes are constantly evolving. What was once a satin world in the 50s and 60s turned into the dew-loving 70s, and whereas matte skin was the thing to do in the 2000s, skin luminosity was everything in the 10s. You can use all the dew-enhancing moisturizers you want or dip into mattifying toners for your preferred skin finish — but the real teller of whether you’ll rock that texture or not? It’s your complexion products.
Complexion products like primer, foundation, concealer, setting powder, and setting spray all come into play when determining how your skin will look throughout the day. For example, if you’re after a super glowy texture, it would be counterintuitive to top ounces of a glaze-forward essence with the same mattifying primer you’ve used since high school. On the other side, if you’re all about a shine-free complexion but are determined to wear the latest viral radiant foundation, you may stumble into texture that isn’t as matte as you had hoped. Basically, all the hard work you do with your skincare products can end up going down the drain if you top it off with makeup that doesn’t fit your preferred skin finish.
So, in the name of escaping the routines that bog us down, we’re extending this sentiment to our makeup habits. Here’s how to actually use complexion products for your preferred skin finish.
NEW YORK MATTE
Don’t let this name fool you — New York matte falls under the matte category but is far from powdery. Makeup artist Marcelo Gutierrez first coined the term while leading the makeup team at Sandy Liang’s FW24 show, creating a soft, pillowy, and blurred texture with a hint of radiance peering through. If you need something to compare it to, TikTok’s “cloud skin” is similar, and stars like Kylie Jenner and Laura Harrier have been all over the trend.
Think of this finish as casting a mattifying veil on luminous skin. After applying your trusted skincare routine, prime your skin with a pore-blurring primer in your T-zone, and then a radiance-boosting primer on your outer perimeter. Next, apply a thin layer of radiant foundation along with a heavy-duty concealer wherever you feel you need a bit more coverage. Finally, use a fluffy powder brush to apply a thin layer of translucent setting powder, and then apply a mattifying setting spray until you reach your desired matte-yet-glowing effect.
QUIET LUXURY GLAZE
For plush skin that makes it look like you use the Medicube Age-R Booster-H, Shani Darden LED Mask, and LYMA Laser every single day. The QL craze naturally made its way into the makeup realm, and people are now striving for a texture that makes them look as though they visit their estie on a weekly basis. Think taut skin, an even complexion, and if you’re really serious about the trend, a mirror-like shine that resembles the flawless glow that Botox can create.
If you have a hydration-flooding skincare routine that you dip into occasionally, you’ll want to apply it for this look. After your skincare settles into your skin, apply a pearlescent primer as a base (you can look to products like Saie’s Glowy Super Gel, Supergoop!’s Glowscreen, or L’oreal Paris’s True Match Lumi Glotion). Then, apply concealer only where necessary and top your skin with a veil of radiant foundation. To set the look, apply a setting powder only to the areas you want to reduce shine and prevent creasing — the under eyes, corners of the nose, and jawline should do the trick for most.
GABRIETTE SKIN
Model-turned-TikTok chef Gabriette has taken the internet by storm with her captivating beauty, fashion, and kitchen routines. One of her most prominent features is ultra matte skin which, TBH, looks like an old-school airbrushed magazine ad. While no one has naturally poreless and completely matte skin, you can create a similar effect using makeup.
Of course, no one actually has skin that’s poreless and completely matte, but you can create the effect with makeup. After completing your skincare routine, apply a layer of pore-filling primer wherever you need to decrease shine. Then, use a high-coverage concealer to blur any imperfections, and then top off your skin with a high-coverage powder foundation. To ensure that you don’t look too matte, finish your routine off with a spritz of your favorite hydrosol. For an extra boost of radiance, consider applying a subtle cream highlighter to the high points of your face. Remember, the goal is to create a natural-looking, soft-matte finish that enhances your own unique beauty, just like Gabriette!