How to Master TikTok’s Cloud Skin, the Trend That’s Bringing Matte Makeup Back

Photography courtesy of Imaxtree

Beauty is back in its soft matte era, again.

Let’s get a little nostalgic, shall we? Imagine it’s the year 2016. Your brows are blocky and meticulously drawn on. Everything from your foundation to your liquid lipstick (Kylie Lip Kit, of course—your most prized possession at the time) is matte. You had no idea that a few years later, beauty would go through its “glazed donut” era. How were you to know that your makeup drawer full of ultra-matte products would soon be replaced with a much more minimal regimen?

Fast forward to present day and the skin finish trend du jour is a halfway point between matte glam from yesteryear and a modern, glowy complexion. Enter: “cloud skin,” the viral trend bringing soft matte makeup back. Sort of.

@victorialyn Cloud Skin Makeup!☁️ Loving these soft matte looks @hungvanngo 😍 Would you try this spring trend? #makeup #beauty #foundation #cloudskin ♬ Lo-fi hip hop – NAO-K

The term “cloud skin” was coined by MAC Cosmetics UK’s Director Of Makeup Artistry Dominic Skinner. Its name speaks to the soft-focus finish that this look seeks to achieve. “It’s velvety, blurred — it’s like dewy skin and matte skin had a baby and it’s gonna be trending so hard for Spring,” explains TikToker @victorialyn in a makeup tutorial.

From OG beauty gurus to the next generation of BeautyTok creators, cloud skin has been co-signed by makeup artists and lovers alike. In fact, the hashtag #cloudskin currently has 35 million views on TikTok. As the look circulates through the beauty community with tons of tutorials and interpretations to sift through, there are a couple of fundamental tips to keep in mind.