Dive Into the Dolphin Skin TikTok Trend With This Dewy Makeup Routine
Chloe is the Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. She spends most of her time crafting scroll-stopping content, but outside of work, you'll find her building on her Glasshouse collection, hanging out with her fur babies and probably cleaning. Her all-time favourite products include the Alpha-H Liquid Gold and Kérastase Elixir Ultime Original Hair Oil.
Dolphins, those majestic sea creatures that glide through glistening waters. Their skin is iridescent, dewy and reflects the sun’s light.
When our Senior Beauty Editor, Sadaf, asked me if I’d heard about the ‘Dolphin Skin’ trend I was absolutely confused, because I hadn’t.
After conducting some important beauty research, I realised that I’ve unintentionally been rocking this makeup look for a year.
As a former makeup artist, I’m always intrigued by new trends and love that the beauty world is steering towards looks that enhance our features rather than completely altering them.
Remember ‘Clown Contouring’? Truly an interesting time for makeup.
If you too are riding the wave of the natural makeup vibes, keep reading.
I’m going to show you how I achieve this Dolphin Skin look, step by step.
Let's dive right in.
What Is Dolphin Skin?
Is this a brand-new makeup trend? No, it isn’t.
It’s essentially a recycled interpretation of the Glass Skin trend and a more skin-focused version of Clean Girl makeup.
All great makeup starts with a good skincare routine and the same holds true for this look - ask any makeup artist. A good skincare routine is the foundation for long-wearing, radiant makeup.
Like any style of makeup, you can ramp it up by using fuller coverage, dewy, foundation and darker eye makeup or tone it down with a tinted serum and a simple colour wash, the possibilities are endless.
I think we all need to remember that there are no real rules to makeup.
Have fun with it and do what works for you.
My Dolphin Skin Makeup Routine.
Step 1. Skin Prep.
This kind of goes without saying - wash your face.
This will melt off the skincare from the night before and, not to be gross, but all of the gunk your face has created during your slumber.
Use your favourite cleanser- at the moment mine is the SkinCeuticals Simply Clean because of its ability to deeply, and I mean deeply, cleanse my skin without the feeling of dryness.
Step 2. Immediately Hydrate.
Think hydrating toners, liquids, serums; anything along those lines.
My favourite products are the Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Toner & Moisturiser 170ml and COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 100ml.
The Laneige Cream Skin provides instant hydration while the COSRX Snail Mucin makes me look like a dewy dumpling.
Step 3. Creamy Products.
Again with the hydration, to reiterate, you need moisturised skin to prevent your makeup from looking cakey.
Oily to Combo skin - the AB LAB by Adore Beauty B3 Balance Water Gel Moisturiser 50mL with Niacinamide and Hyaluronic acid is light on the skin but provides the nourishment needed.
Dry and dehydrated friends - try the IT Cosmetics Confidence In a Cream 60ml. It’s formulated with nourishing ingredients like squalene, niacinamide, peptides, ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
Y’know, all of the good stuff.
After this, don’t forget to layer on your sunscreen, it’s a non-negotiable.
Step 4. Dewy Base Makeup.
Skin tints are all the rage these days, thank goodness we live in a world with skincare-infused makeup.
I’m in love with the L'Oreal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum.
Not only does this have 1% hyaluronic acid, but it also genuinely provides great coverage.
This is one of those products that you recommend to everyone in your life. Big call - it’s great for every skin type.
In saying that, cater your skincare to your skin type. Use light, thin layers and build up the coverage if you need to.
Step 5. Concealer.
Again, light, thin consistencies with a dewy finish.
It’s no secret my favourite is the Clinique Even Better All-Over Concealer + Eraser.
It's a glorious medium coverage and so skin-like.
Be intentional with where you apply your concealer. Pop it where you want to brighten - under the eyes, chin, nose, and forehead.
Step 6. Blush & Bronzer.
I’m constantly repeating this because it’s so important to use light layers and build up the coverage if you need it. It’s way easier to apply more product than it is to take it off.
Cream blushes and bronzer work best for this look, it makes the skin look luminous.
Huda Beauty is my go-to for this part, their products are known for pigment and longevity.
The Huda Beauty Tantour Contour & Bronzer Cream and Huda Beauty Cheeky Tint Blush Stick do not disappoint.
I like to use cream bronzers the way I would use a powdered bronzer, with a fluffy contour brush - this gives the most natural, sunkissed look and makes it so easy to build up the pigment.
I generously apply the blush to where you would generally apply highlighter.
Step 7. Final Touches.
To my oily friends, apply powder to the areas where you usually get oily, those with dry skin can try this too if you want to mattify any areas.
Finish your eyes and lips the way you want to.
Light eye makeup and mascara with a tinted lip balm works so well for an everyday daytime look. Darker shadows or heavy eyeliner could be added for a nighttime look.
For a visual reference of how to recreate Dolphin Skin, here's a little tutorial I prepared earlier...(and you can watch me talk through all the products in more detail here.)
Final Thoughts.
Personally, I love this look and think it works on everyone.
I love the fact that skincare is such a big focus when creating looks like these, it makes the person wearing the makeup look so radiant and it enhances our natural features instead of altering it.
As a former Clown Contouring girl, I can safely say that this Dolphin Skin trend is MUCH easier.
Now that you have the steps, try it out yourself.
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