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Viral beauty trends have been lingering for quite a while, whether it’s in terms of the technique or makeup style. When it comes to the ideal skin, glass skin, many experts and enthusiasts are starting to position cloud skin as the next best thing. It even has the potential to dethrone glass skin, which has been at the top for quite a while.

What Is Cloud Skin?

Cloud skin is characterized as skin that’s been smoothed out without going too blurred. Many compare it to having a soft-matte finish with an extremely subtle glow. Peeks of textures and blemishes can still come through the cloud skin, but it’s pretty much balanced out through the power of makeup. 

Its rise to popularity remains in how more and more people are embracing all the unique features of their skin. And while it’s been especially empowering for older women, it’s also been great for the one in five Gen Z who occasionally or rarely wear makeup. Cloud skin is all about just softening what you already have. 

The Difference Between Cloud Skin and Glass Skin

Cloud skin and glass skin share a similar emphasis on achieving healthy-looking skin. However, glass skin leans more toward skin clarity and luminosity than the more natural aspects of cloud skin. For some people who deal with many skin problems, glass skin can simply feel too unrealistic.

A survey of social media users aged 15 to 34 found that 76% were exposed to the glass skin ideal. Those same people dealt with a moderate to high psychological impact, like negative self-image and anxiety.

Other Trends Compared to Cloud Skin

Glass skin isn’t the only makeup trend getting pulled into the conversation about cloud skin. Here are other comparisons that people are making. 

Mochi Skin

Mochi skin, similar to cloud skin and baby skin, originated in the Asian beauty industry. It was inspired by a Japanese snack with the same name, which is often filled with either ice cream or red bean paste. Some dermatologists compare mochi skin to baby skin in the sense that it’s free of lines or dryness. 

While cloud skin replicates the same softness and matte finish, mochi skin still prioritizes clear skin at the end of the day. You can still achieve cloud skin even if your skin isn’t entirely clear. 

Ethereal Makeup

Ethereal makeup is another makeup trend that’s been brought up, mainly because it also has the goal of having a soft-focus finish on the foundation. However, it still involves more radiant skin and glow compared to cloud skin.  

Think of ethereal makeup as a hybrid between cloud skin and glass skin combined, because there are still pearlescent elements that suggest an ultimately glowy finish. Cloud skin is more matte. 

Minimalist Makeup

Minimalist makeup comes closest to cloud skin. It focuses on having a slight glam while having your natural texture peak through. However, there are too many iterations of the minimalist look, which can cause it to deviate from cloud skin.

There are many sheer foundations that still look luminous or dewy rather than matte. Plus, the main goal of minimalism is to use as few products as possible. With cloud skin, you don’t necessarily have to adhere to that rule—you can simply use as much as you want. 

How to Achieve Cloud Skin

Going down a more natural route with makeup can be empowering for almost all skincare and makeup users. Here’s a simple guide to achieving the cloud skin look. 

1. Prep and Prime the Skin Well

Every good makeup application starts with good skin prep and priming. For cloud skin, here are the main steps you want to focus on:

• Cleanse: Make sure to remove any dirt with a gentle cleanser. You can follow this up with a toner and serum to help add back some moisture into the face. 
• Moisturize: Whether you skip the toner and serum or not, moisturizer is a must. Aside from ensuring hydration, it can lock in the benefits of your previous skin care. 
• Mattify: Start mattifying with a pore-blurring primer. There are also mattifying primers that can provide that cloud skin effect from the get-go. 

2. Seek a Soft Matte Liquid Foundation

With cloud skin, you want to skip on any foundation that’s too luminous or matte. The goal is to have the soft matte foundation applied evenly all over your face. Products branded as lumi-matte or natural matte also work well.

Some people go with a full-coverage foundation, but others may opt for medium-to-light coverage. Just remember to get the right shade for a seamless blend.   

3. Create Dimension with Cream Products

The next step is to add back some of the dimension with cream products. Contour, bronzer and blush should be placed with a light hand to maintain the soft matte look of your cloud skin. Use liquid concealer for some highlights as well. 

A little goes a long way, especially if you’re using mousse-like makeup that’s already marketed for the cloud skin trend. It’s better to add a little at a time rather than add too much and hide it with powder. 

4. Add Powder in Moderation

Once you’re satisfied with your cream products, remember to add powder in moderation with a good powder puff. A finishing powder is ideal, rather than a foundation powder, since it’s much lighter and has a medium mattifying effect.

Pro tip—you can set the counter, bronzer and blush with their own respective powder counterparts. Just remember to use a light hand and a fluffy brush to disperse the product evenly. 

5. Keep the Rest of the Makeup Simple

Finally, remember to keep the rest of the makeup simple. Even just lashes and a my-lips-but-better shade is more than enough to complete the look.

That said, it’s not necessarily a must to stop there, as some people use cloud skin as their makeup base while executing creative makeup on the eyes and lips. However, simple is the way to go if you want to highlight the skin as the main star of the show. You can also find a nice, healthy medium by adding some natural eyeshadow, a cat eyeliner and bold lips. 

Looking Past the Skin Trend Craze

Cloud skin can be a great way to move past the need for flawless and poreless skin. However, at the end of the day, it’s best to pursue the features you desire rather than following trends that change every so often. If you feel like you’re at your best in soft-matte foundation and natural-looking makeup, embrace that instead.