Ah, the age-old debate: To go for glowy, lit-from-within glass skin, or a glamorous look with a velvety-smooth finish? Deciding whether to choose dewy vs. matte makeup doesn’t have to be a challenge—when it comes to gorgeous makeup looks, each one has its merits. Not to mention, playing with makeup is supposed to be fun, after all. If you’ve been watching TikTok after TikTok and aren’t sure whether to choose a dewy makeup look or a matte makeup look, good news—we’ve got you. Ahead, we’re highlighting the differences between dewy makeup and matte makeup, breaking down which one is right for your skin type, and sharing tips on how to apply each makeup look. Keep reading for all the details, plus get a look at some of our favorite products to try. What Is Dewy Makeup? Glowy, glossy, super lit—dewy makeup is all that and more. Makeup with a dewier finish makes skin look youthful, supple, and plump. It’s the perfect starting ground for more natural makeup looks like no-makeup makeup and glassy blush, too. Dewy makeup is often used in conjunction with base makeup products like foundation, blush, concealer, and highlighter, which tend to be in cream or liquid formulas to emphasize that dewy glow. With dewy makeup looks, you’ll notice that your skin is glossy and reflects the light—but the emphasis here is on glow, not shine. A dewy vs. matte makeup look has lighter coverage, too, and the skin looks and feels super fresh and hydrated. What Is Matte Makeup? Conversely, matte makeup refers to products that aren’t radiant or luminous. Don’t be fooled, the products aren’t dull—instead, they have a low-gloss finish with a more velvety texture. Going for a matte vs. dewy makeup look can be a bit more all-encompassing, too, since matte-finish products not only include base makeup, but products like eyeshadow and lipstick, too. While dewy makeup products are typically cream or liquid, matte makeup products can also come in powder form, and their oil-absorbing properties can make them great for oily skin. Dewy vs. Matte Makeup: Key Differences While dewy makeup is glassy, glossy, and luminous, matte makeup is smoother, shine-free, and velvety. Here are a few more ways to tell the difference between dewy vs. matte makeup looks. Finish: When you’re thinking about finish, it really comes down to how much you want your skin to shine. In a nutshell, dewy makeup has shine, while matte makeup doesn’t. A dewier finish makes the skin look more hydrated and plump, and a matte finish evens out the skin and reduces oil. Texture: In thinking about the texture for matte vs. dewy makeup, matte makeup has a drier texture with more oil-absorbing properties, making it ideal for oily skin. Dewy makeup gives skin a healthy-looking glow, thanks to texture that’s a bit thinner and more hydrating. Dewy makeup products may also contain light-reflecting particles to create a more luminous look. Formula base: While dewy makeup products are typically cream or liquid, matte makeup products can be liquid, cream, or powder. Coverage: A dewy makeup look is usually light and sheer, creating the illusion of glass skin. A matte makeup look, on the other hand, gives you a more full-coverage finish, and can be the ideal base for more dramatic makeup looks. How To Choose the Right Makeup Finish for Your Skin Type In the dewy vs. matte makeup debate, there isn’t necessarily one clear winner—because, the good news is, the world’s really your oyster when it comes to which makeup look you try. That being said, we do have a few guidelines on what may work better overall for your skin type. Oily or acne-prone skin: When it comes to makeup looks for oily skin, we have a feeling the last thing you want to hear is that you look shiny. And while dewy makeup is certainly an option for you, it can tend to enhance said shine. It may be best to veer into matte makeup territory, since those products tend to include oil-absorbing properties and can help give your skin a more velvety look. Dry skin: Since dry skin can always benefit from a little more moisture, a dewy makeup look can do wonders for your skincare routine and your makeup routine simultaneously. Makeup products with a dewier finish are typically formulated with more hydrating ingredients like glycerin or light-reflecting particles, so skin appears more fresh and nourished. Combination skin: When it comes to combination skin, choosing dewy vs. matte makeup can be a bit trickier. Experiment with different looks, or dry a dual look by using matte makeup products on your oilier areas and dewy makeup products where your skin looks dry. Mature skin: Those with more mature skin should opt for dewy makeup, since more matte formulas can settle into fine lines, wrinkles, and folds. Cream or liquid formulas will typically be your best bet. How To Achieve a Dewy Makeup Look Prep your skin with a hydrating primer Begin your dewy makeup routine with a hydrating makeup primer to help nourish your skin and help provide a smooth, even canvas for your base makeup. We love the NYX Professional Makeup Plump Right Back Primer + Serum, which is packed with five electrolytes and vitamins— including hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, pro-vitamin B5, magnesium, and potassium—to grip makeup for all-day wear, keep your look fresh and glowy, and help your skin look smooth and plump. Apply a dewy foundation or skin tint After priming your skin, you can apply your foundation. But instead of heavier, full-coverage formulas, we suggest opting for a lightweight skin tint or foundation to enhance your natural glow without looking greasy. For lighter coverage, try the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glow Skin Tint, a lightweight, water-based skin tint that gives skin a healthy, soft-lit glow thanks to reflective pearls, blurring pigments, and an 82 percent hydrating serum. If you can’t give up the foundation, we love Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Natural Glow Foundation, whose glycerin-infused formula helps blur imperfections and hydrates. It comes in 24 shades and is buildable, so you can tailor your coverage to your liking. Lightly conceal imperfections When it comes to covering spots or blemishes, a light touch is essential. Opt for a cream concealer, like the Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating & Brightening Concealer, and blend well. The creamy formula smooths, brightens, and conceals with medium-to-buildable coverage, and it comes in 23 shades to complement a wide range of skin tones. Add blush and highlighter Next, add dimension and color with blush and highlighter. For a natural dewy makeup look, try a liquid blush like the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush. Using the doe-foot applicator, place one to three dots on each cheek, and then pat gently into the skin with your fingertips. Then, add extra glow with a creamy highlighter, like the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick. Apply to areas that you want to naturally catch the light, like your cheeks, browbones, collarbone, and forehead. A little goes a long way here—the key is a dewy, glowy look, not one that’s overly shiny or shimmery. Swipe on lip oil or gloss While a dewy makeup look goes well with a variety of different eyeshadows and lip products, we recommend it with a softer, subtler finish. We love the sheerer finish of a lip oil or lip gloss, which helps complement and enhance the fresh-faced look. Try the YSL Beauty LoveShine Lip Oil Stick, a lipstick-to-oil hybrid made with six nourishing oils that keep the lips feeling hydrated for up to 24 hours. The tinted formula comes in 23 flattering shades, including multiple lighter pinks and nudes perfect for pared-back makeup looks. Finish with dewy setting spray There’s (almost) nothing worse than a dewy makeup look that slides off before the day is done. Set your fresh-faced glow with a setting spray instead of a setting powder, since the latter can instantly mattify that dewiness you just spent time creating. We love the Urban Decay All Nighter Hyaluronic Acid Dewy Setting Spray, a waterproof mist formulated with hyaluronic acid and watermelon extract to help hydrate and plump the skin while keeping your dewy makeup in place for up to 16 hours. How To Achieve a Matte Makeup Look Prep your skin with a mattifying primer Get your matte makeup look started with a blurring primer to help create a smooth, even base while banishing unwanted shine. If you need a recommendation, we love the L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24H Pore Minimizer. It’s formulated with a 1% AHA+ LHA + BHA complex and instantly blurs pores while helping to extend makeup wear for up to 24 hours. Apply a matte-finish foundation If you’re after a matte makeup look, you’ll generally want to opt for a fuller-coverage (and, unsurprisingly, matte) foundation to achieve that velvet skin effect. Fortunately, matte doesn’t have to mean cakey or heavy. The YSL Beauty All Hours Foundation is proof—the blurring formula delivers up to 24 hours of smooth coverage but feels completely weightless on the skin. For bonus points, it’s waterproof, non-comedogenic, and comes packed with hyaluronic acid for a hydrating feel. Conceal imperfections A flawless finish is imperative when you’re going for a matte makeup look. Target any imperfections with the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Waterproof Concealer, a color-correcting concealer that helps brighten, conceal, and smooth dark circles, redness, age spots, wrinkles, and more in just one dot. Be sure to blend your concealer well for a seamless, naturally-filtered effect. Add blush and bronzer Next, add some color back into your face with blush and bronzer. For the former, we recommend the NYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Blush. The pressed powder blush is infused with almond butter, mango butter, and shea butter and glides smoothly onto the skin, delivering a pigmented pop of bold color that lasts for up to 12 hours. Apply your chosen shade to the apples of your cheeks for a flush of color, then bronze your temples, forehead, and cheekbones with the coordinating NYX Professional Makeup Buttermelt Bronzer for a sculpted, sun-kissed look. Swipe on a matte lipstick Dial up the drama with your matte makeup look by finishing with a bold matte lip. Skip the drying formulas and instead reach for a matte lipstick that features nourishing ingredients for a comfortable feel. Try the Valentino Beauty Spike Valentino Buttery Matte Lip Color—it’s formulated with cotton oil extract and leaves the lips feeling hydrated and nourished for up to 10 hours. If you prefer liquid lipsticks, give the ultra-saturated Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick a try. Finish with a matte setting spray Before heading out the door for the day (or night), there’s still one final step—setting your matte makeup in place. For a long-lasting shine-free finish, we love the Urban Decay All Nighter Ultra Matte Setting Spray, which locks makeup in place for up to 16 hours while helping to prevent it from creasing or settling into fine lines. Next Up: How to Do Makeup for Oily Skin: 13 Shine-Reducing Tips
