Beauty always finds inspiration in fashion, and the latest makeup trend is inspired by buttery-soft suede. Sitting somewhere between the dewy look of glass skin and the powdery matte finishes of the past, suede skin has a velvety texture that catches light without being too shiny, and softens it without looking dull.

Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images

How to get the suede skin look
Suede skin gets its name from the feel of suede fabric—a soft surface that gently absorbs and reflects light. To create this finish, the makeup world offers versatile products that give a smooth, diffused texture. Yepoda’s The Dewy Day cushion foundation, Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Colour Wash Bronze Water Tint, and Merit’s Flush Balm are just a few examples. They can all be blended with your fingers, which helps create a natural, glowing look.

Unlike past trends that called for carefully placed highlighter or lots of powder, suede skin is all about simplicity. A lightweight foundation (ideally blended by hand), a little concealer, and a quick dab of cream blush—the application is looser and less precise, giving the skin a fresh, modern charm that fits the times.

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Dior
Forever Natural Matte Velvet Compact Foundation
$64 NORDSTROM

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L’Oréal Paris
Infallible Blur-fection Loose Setting Powder
$16 $13 (19% off) AMAZON

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Fara Homidi
Essential Face Compact
$88 VIOLET GREY

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Westman Atelier
Lip Suede Matte Lipstick
$50 NORDSTROM

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Hourglass
Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder
$55 BLUEMERCURY

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Victoria Beckham Beauty
Colour Wash Bronze Water Tint
$46 BLUEMERCURY

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Violette_FR
Feather Matte Veil Plume Eyeshadow
$32 VIOLETTE_FR

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Hermès
Plein Air Luminous Matte Skincare Foundation
$145 NORDSTROM

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Merit Beauty
Flush Balm
$30 MERIT

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Saie
Glowy Super Gel
$29 AMAZON
$28 SEPHORA

Have a beauty or wellness trend you’re curious about? We want to know! Send Vogue’s senior beauty & wellness editor an email at beauty@vogue.com.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about The Suede Skin Technique for a perfectly blurred complexion

Beginner Questions

1 What exactly is the Suede Skin Technique
Its a makeup method that focuses on creating a soft matte and blurred finishlike the texture of suede fabric The goal is to minimize the look of pores and fine lines without looking flat or cakey

2 How is it different from Glass Skin or Dewy Skin
Glass skin is glossy and reflective Suede skin is matte but not dry It has a soft velvety finish that diffuses light making your skin look smooth and airbrushed rather than shiny

3 Do I need a specific skin type for this to work
It works best for normal combination or oily skin If you have very dry skin youll need to focus heavily on hydration and use a very gentle luminous setting powder to avoid flaking

4 What products are essential for Suede Skin
Youll need a blurring primer a softmatte foundation or skin tint a finelymilled translucent powder and a fluffy powder brush A setting spray can help lock it all in

5 Do I need to use a foundation
Not necessarily You can achieve the look with a blurring tinted moisturizer or a powder foundation if you prefer lighter coverage The key is the finish not the coverage level

Advanced Technique Questions

6 Whats the secret to getting that blurred effect
The secret is baking with a light hand and using a stippling or buffing motion with your brush Instead of swiping powder press it into the skin to fill in pores and soften texture

7 How do I prep my skin to avoid the makeup looking dry or patchy
Start with a hydrating waterbased moisturizer and a siliconebased blurring primer Let each layer fully absorb for 23 minutes Avoid heavy oils as they can break down the matte effect

8 Can I use a setting spray with this technique
Yes but choose a matte or bamboo finish setting spray Avoid dewy sprays A light mist helps melt the powder into the skin for a more natural velvety