‘Blurred Makeup’ Is Replacing Dewy Skin This Year—Here’s How to Get the Perfectly Airbrushed Look

Dewy dumplings, glazed donuts, dolphins, and glass—all coveted, highly luminous “skin finish” effects that have risen to the top of the beauty zeitgeist over the years. All these are great in their own way, but “blurred makeup” is the new girl in town and she’s all about creating a diffused, soft-focus filter effect. And the kicker? This makeup trend is super flattering for almost all skin types. So what is blurred makeup and how do you get the look? We reached out to pro makeup artists for the complete how-to.

What Is the Blurred Makeup Trend? 

The blurred makeup trend is a very soft and natural diffused finish that blurs pores, imperfections, and harsh lines all with makeup—no social media filters required, explains Kim Paige, professional makeup artist. She says that everything from your foundation to blush to finishing powder must be perfectly chosen and then blended seamlessly to nail the blurred effect. 

“The appeal of the blurred makeup trend—as opposed to other trends like dewy and glass skin—is that it is much more forgiving to those who aren’t blessed with perfect skin (most of us can relate),” says Bryan Cantor, celebrity makeup artist. “Blurred skin is more matte, which by its nature is more forgiving of imperfections, and also includes the use of blurring products that further minimize imperfections.” 

He explains that these wet and dewy approaches can often exaggerate areas that are raised (like bumps or scars) or indented (like wrinkles and pores) because these textures catch the light differently. Blurred makeup fills indents and diffuses the light so skin has a more unified texture. 

How to Do Blurred Makeup: Step by Step Guide 

If you’re as excited as we are about the blurred makeup trend, you’re probably wondering how to nail the look yourself. Lucky for you, we’ver got a step by step guide on blurred makeup from Cantor and Paige. 

1. Use Lightweight, Water-Based Skincare Products 

The best blurred makeup begins with a flawless skincare base. You can (and should) use a serum and moisturizer in your skin prep, but avoid anything that’s heavy or oil-based. Think hyaluronic acid serums and lightweight gel moisturizers. These help plump fine lines and smooth your skin, but won’t leave behind a shiny or slick finish. 

2. Prep With a Blurring Primer

With your skincare complete, you can move onto your primer. In dewy skincare this is sometimes skipped, but it’s a crucial step for blurred makeup. “To prep your skin for blurred makeup, use blurring primers or blurring balms to minimize pores and create a flawless canvas for your makeup,” Cantor says. These are usually labeled as such. 

3. Apply a Natural Matte Foundation

To get the blurred makeup look, Cantor says to look for medium-coverage foundations that have a soft focus effect and a matte or natural matte finish. These “will help to minimize imperfections with both coverage and finish.” Blend well with a brush or sponge. 

4. Use Powdered Blush, Contour, and Eyeshadow  

Stick with the theme by using soft focus finish blush, contour, and eye shadow—ideally in powder form and without any shimmer or glitter. (Some liquids dry down to a powder finish, and those are OK, too). Cantor says, “These soft focus finishes can now be found not only in setting powders, but also in bronzers, blushes, and other colored cosmetic products.” 

5. Finish with a Makeup Powder 

Finish your blurred makeup with a natural matte powder to help set everything in place and further add to the blurred effect. You don’t need a ton; consider applying a very light amount across your face and then add a little extra in high-shine spots, like your T-Zone and chin.