How To Master Matte Skin

A matte complexion doesn’t just come down to make-up – your skin plays a major role, too! The key to keeping your skin matte from dusk until dawn is all in the prep. After that, you can get to work on the base.

Follow our step-by-step guide to mastering a matte complexion, and you’ll be flaunting a flawless face in no time.

SKIN PREP

Cleanse
To keep your skin as clear as possible, use a calming, balancing and hydrating cleanser. This will help to reduce any redness and give your skin a burst of hydration, all while clearing excess dirt and oil.
bh loves: Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Gentle Hydrating Cleanser, Skin Matrix Balancing Cleanser

Exfoliate
A sure-fire way to accentuate your flaky patches is to apply make-up over them, so it’s essential to get rid of all that build-up first. Exfoliate your skin to slough away pore-clogging gunk and dead skin cells, and you’ll be left with a fresh and clean canvas for your foundation.
bh loves: Goodness Every Week Face Scrub, Sukin Revitalising Facial Scrub

Moisturise
Matte skin doesn’t have to mean dry skin, so give your skin a dose of hydration by applying moisturiser before make-up. This will balance your skin’s natural oils to prevent it from over-producing oil and looking greasy and shiny during the day.
bh loves: Models Prefer Matte Me, Dermalogica Clear Start Oil Clearing Matte Moisturiser

TIME TO PRIME

Now that your skin’s in tip-top condition, smooth it out with a perfecting primer. Not only will a primer stop your make-up from budging, but it’ll help to even out your skin tone, refine your pores and ward off that mid-afternoon oil slick.
bh loves: Rimmel London Stay Matte Primer, Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer

How to master matte skin

MATTIFYING MAKE-UP

Foundation
An oil-free, lightweight foundation is the secret to a magnificently mattified base. The formula will sink in and dry with a matte finish, leaving your skin looking and feeling smooth and clear, rather than dewy.
bh loves: Clarins Ever Matte Foundation SPF 15, Australis Cosmetics Matte Up Foundation

Powder
Set your foundation by dusting your face with loose powder. Use a large powder brush and make sure you focus on areas that tend to become oily or shiny, like your forehead, nose and chin. Apply as much or as little as you like, depending on whether you want sheer or full coverage.
bh loves: MOMMA Ministry of Mineral Makeup Australia Matte Mineral Base, Mineralogy Matte Finishing Powder

Bronzer
Many people think matte skin automatically has to be dull and flat. False! Create some contours by sweeping bronzing powder in the hollows of your cheeks, around your hairline, down the bridge of your nose, and along your jawline.
bh loves: Nude by Nature Pressed Matte Mineral Bronzer, Max Factor Bronzing Powder

Blotting papers
To combat shine during the day, keep some blotting papers stashed in your handbag. Then, lightly press the paper over shiny areas to lift away grease and oil and mattify your face once again. And don’t worry, the papers won’t remove the make-up you so painstakingly applied!
bh loves: NYX Cosmetics Blotting Paper, Bobbi Brown Blotting Paper

Do you like having a matte complexion? What are your go-to products for achieving matte skin?

80 Member Comments

Yohanna 20 Nov 2019 3:25 PM

I like satin smooth glowy look. Matte looks are ageing

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S-P 1 Sep 2019 4:38 PM

Blotting paper is something I've never thought of. Thanks for the tip.

careglio 8 Oct 2018 10:45 PM

Thank you, Excellent article

hthorpe 20 Jun 2018 6:02 PM

I love a matte finish foundation.

Neel8888 20 Apr 2018 1:17 PM

I am THE definition of an oil slick so I ALWAYS go for a matte look including a mattifying moisturiser, a mattifying primer, powder foundation plus setting powder on top and using blotting paper throughout the day. I still somehow end up greasy before the end of the day but I have learnt to come to terms with that now at 29.

The glowy look has never looked good on me for some reason, perhaps because my skin isn't that smooth and I just need everything matte to keep things in the shadows.

Shop A Everyday 1 Jan 2018 1:33 PM

I like matte looks, but sometimes it can not work on me if I am tired and not feeling so good, then I just look pasty and my skin looks pale, and unhealthy

Heidi366 9 Aug 2017 11:17 PM

Great tip about bronze contouring adding dimension to the skin. I have always opted for a glow type look, but as I age I'm gravitating towards a semi matte look.

joannachiem 3 Aug 2017 12:08 PM

I used to love the matte look but now I love dewy

Shop A Everyday 5 Apr 2017 12:53 AM

A mattifying primer and foundation is great

Shop A Everyday 21 Nov 2016 1:16 AM

It's so good you can create so many different looks

lcampi10 9 Mar 2016 10:18 AM

I love a matte finished face much more over a dewy look (probably because I have combo/oily skin so I hate the thought of my skin looking oily). I can't not put finishing powder on - my makeup just doesn't feel right if I don't.

duality 7 Mar 2016 5:34 PM

just recently discovered Dr Lewinns foundation and primer, my goodness the most mattifying set ever! lasted all day for me too, the best matte look and good for your skin too :)

Shop A Everyday 4 Jan 2016 8:56 PM

This is great fir a nice matte oil free base

OnFire 4 Jan 2016 10:57 AM

I have oily skin so by the end of the day my partner tells me "you can fry a schnitzel on your forehead". To combat this a friend of mine suggested (just yesterday) using a loose powder to create the matte finish as it will absorb the oil. She also recommended I use more powder as she saw me apply my pressed powder for 2 seconds before walking out the door. I'd prefer a mineral powder so one of the 2 listed above would be great (or even Nude by Nature). I would consider blotting paper however don't find it works as well (I need more than 1)

Linda_Vesinger 4 Jan 2016 1:15 AM

I do enjoy going for a matte look over dewy, as long as I feel my skin is in great condition. Generally if I go matte it's with mineral foundation rather than my liquid ones.

I received the MOMMA powder in a discovery bag, loved it & recommend it!

katie975 3 Jan 2016 6:22 PM

Such a good article!

Amanda738 3 Jan 2016 5:19 PM

Helpful advice! I love a matte look, I always use a finishing powder to ensure my face remains matte.

dream-angels 3 Jan 2016 2:42 AM

Great tips I try a lot to keep my oily face matte but doesn't last long :(

Beautybabe140194 2 Jan 2016 1:35 PM

Great tips. I love having matte skin, I use primer and blotting paper to keep it matte.

clearcrystalwater 1 Jan 2016 8:42 PM

I love matte everything! I am loving Avon's matte lippy in the nude colour. So cool.

ray_jay 30 Dec 2015 1:40 PM

Thanks for this amazing article

jessjess1324 30 Dec 2015 7:33 AM

Blotting paper is so helpful, especially when I'm a bit oily in the morning while I'm putting my make up on.

MelissaFay89 29 Dec 2015 9:14 PM

I use mattifying primer and love it

Hayley644 29 Dec 2015 8:49 PM

Great advice.

Trish_D 8 Sep 2015 4:16 PM

Just "discovered" semi-matte mineral powder from MOMMA and I love it.

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