For the better part of a decade, beauty has been obsessed with shine.
The goal was luminosity at all costs; glass skin so reflective it looked wet, glazed donut complexions that caught every light, and dewy finishes layered until faces gleamed from every angle.
Primers promised radiance, serums delivered sheen, and highlighters were swept across cheekbones, eyelids, and even collarbones. Skin was intentionally glossy, almost lacquered. The message was clear: more glow meant more modern.
Now, in 2026, that high-shine era is gently fading. The pendulum is swinging toward something more controlled, more polished, and undeniably more refined. Matte makeup is making a confident return, but not in the dry, chalky form that defined the mid-2010s. This is not the heavy powder and flat foundation of the past.
Instead, it’s a sophisticated evolution often described as “butter skin” or “soft matte.” The finish is creamy, diffused, and touchably smooth.
It blurs pores without masking texture; evens tone without erasing dimension. Think breathable coverage with a velvety glow beneath the surface. It’s matte reimagined; hydrated enough to feel fresh, balanced enough to last from morning to night.
This transformation did not happen overnight. As the ultra-dewy wave peaked between 2024 and 2025, subtle signals began emerging from fashion weeks and beauty forecasts.
Makeup artists echoed the shift. Nikki DeRoest described it as a complete reset, calling it a softer, more skin-conscious interpretation of matte. Celebrity artist Kelli Anne Sewell forecasted diffused finishes paired with flushed cheeks and muted lips, creating harmony instead of high contrast.
Photo Courtesy Even Cosmopolitan highlighted 2026 as the year beauty lovers would stop choosing sides between matte and dewy, instead embracing balanced, hybrid textures that feel deliberate but never overworked.
Beyond trends, the return of matte reflects a broader cultural mood. After years of “clean girl” minimalism and hyper-saturated glow, there is a growing appetite for authenticity. People want skin that looks real; skin that moves, creases slightly, and feels human rather than filtered.
The new matte aligns perfectly with that desire. It softens shine without stripping vitality. It allows freckles, contours, and natural texture to remain visible while gently smoothing the surface.
Runway reports for Spring/Summer 2026 reinforced this aesthetic shift. Bronzer finishes turned buttery and baked rather than shimmery.
Complexions looked velvety, not glossy. The overall effect was what many editors described as “expensive skin”, controlled, understated, and effortlessly polished. The glow hasn’t disappeared; it has simply become more restrained, woven subtly into the base rather than sitting on top of it.
What Exactly is Butter Skin and Why is it Called Matte 2.0?
Butter skin emerged as the bridge between extreme dewiness and traditional matte. Popularized on TikTok, the soft matte makeup gives off a complexion that’s ultra-smooth, creamy, and satin-like; think the effortless glide of spreading butter on warm toast, with a soft, natural sheen rather than full gloss.
Matte skin tends to show imperfections and fine lines. For butter skin, prioritize skincare for a flawless base, then choose foundations with a skin-like finish — matte but with that soft, buttery glow.
Unlike glass skin’s wet-look shine or glazed donut’s high-gloss donut glaze, butter skin offers medium coverage that blurs pores and texture while retaining subtle luminosity. It’s ideal for dry to normal skin types craving moisture without greasiness, though oily skin may find it too radiant.
Photo Courtesy The trend’s rise coincides with a backlash against over-dewy looks. In 2026 forecasts, experts predict “fresh (not dewy) skin” and “soft matte” dominating, with butter skin as the transitional hero.
Google searches for “butter skin” spiked dramatically in 2025, and by early 2026, it was influencing everyday routines as a more wearable evolution of glow trends.
Matte vs. Dewy: The Eternal Debate and Why Matte is Winning Again
The matte vs. dewy battle has raged for decades. Dewy advocates argue that post-30s, radiance is everything; it reflects light, minimizes wrinkles, and screams health.
Dewy formulas plump and illuminate, making skin look youthful. But pitfalls include short wear time, accentuating texture or breakouts, and that midday greasy shift.
Matte fans counter with reliability: long-lasting, oil-controlling, and polished. Modern matte avoids cakiness thanks to micro-pearls, velvet primers, and lightweight formulas. It warms up over time, looking better as the day progresses.
Photo Courtesy Vogue calls it the “era of blurred makeup”: diffused pigment, soft matte finishes, and lived-in skin. Cosmo notes we no longer pick lanes — hybrid looks (soft matte base + targeted glow) prevail.
For mature skin (women over 40+), dewy can highlight lines, while soft matte lifts and blurs. Oily types thrive with matte control; dry skin benefits from butter-skin hydration.
How to Achieve the Modern Matte / Butter Skin Look in 2026
Unlike the dry, flat matte finishes of the past, butter skin is all about balance. It delivers a velvety, blurred complexion that still feels alive. Think creamy texture instead of chalky powder, diffused light instead of harsh shine. The result is skin that looks polished yet breathable; smooth without appearing heavy, perfected without looking filtered.
This new matte movement focuses on hydration, strategic shine control, and subtle dimension. It enhances texture rather than masking it, allowing your natural skin to show through while gently refining pores and evening tone. The finish is controlled but never dull, soft but never lifeless.
If you’re ready to move beyond high-gloss glow and embrace a more sophisticated complexion, here’s how to achieve the modern matte or butter skin look in 2026.
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Step 1: Prep like it’s skincare-first
Hydration is non-negotiable. Use hyaluronic acid serums, moisturizers, and tools like the Nira+ Pro laser for smoothness. Blurring primers (e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer) minimize pores and create a flawless canvas.
- Step 2: Choose the right base
Opt for soft-matte foundations: NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation (blurs while staying skin-like), Tarte Face Tape (full coverage, long-wear, fresh canvas). Apply thinly with a damp sponge for seamless melt-in.
- Step 3: Set and Refine
Use talc-free powders like Rare Beauty True to Myself Tinted Pressed Finishing Powder to control shine while preserving glow. Add a targeted highlighter (cream or liquid) on cheekbones for dimension without full dew.
Photo Courtesy -
Step 4: Add depth and colour
Bronzer and blush in creamy formulas add warmth. Blurred lips and diffused eyes complete the undone vibe.
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Step 5: Maintenance
The finish is long-wearing and stays balanced throughout the day, so there’s no need for frequent touch-ups. For oily skin, a mattifying primer helps control excess shine, while dry skin benefits from layering a hydrating mist underneath to maintain comfort and smoothness.
After glow overload, consumers want authenticity: skin that looks good in real life, not just selfies. 2026 trends (blush blocking, cloud skin, feathered finishes) favor soft, diffused beauty over extremes.
Whether you lean matte, dewy, or hybrid, the message is clear: embrace what flatters your skin and lifestyle. Butter skin and soft matte offer the perfect middle ground; radiant yet refined, glowing yet grounded. In a world of filters and trends, looking like beautifully hydrated, confident skin is the ultimate win.
As beauty evolves in 2026, one thing’s certain: matte makeup is evolving, and it’s more flattering than ever.
Photo Courtesy
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Esther Ejoh is a Fashion Editor at Fashion Police Nigeria, where she writes all things fashion, beauty, and celebrity style, with a sharp eye and an even sharper pen. She’s the girl who’ll break down a Met Gala look one minute, rave about a Nigerian beauty brand the next, and still find time to binge a movie or get lost in a novel. Style, storytelling, and self-care? That’s her holy trinity.
