BeautyTok: The Pearl Skin Makeup Trend Is a Glowy Beauty Lover’s Dream
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
Pearls have always held a polarising allure in the world of fashion and beauty.
For some, they serve as a symbol of status and timeless elegance, adorning the necks and wrists of high society.
For others, they conjure images of a bygone era, deemed too traditional or, dare I say, outdated.
I’ve typically fallen into the latter category (don’t hate me).
Despite attempts by my mum and grandmother to persuade me otherwise, I’ve always felt they’re better suited to the aforementioned elite than this modest, thrift shop-loving writer.
(Unless they’re Vivienne Westwood, in which case I’ll happily make an exception.)
Yet, lately, TikTok has inspired a change of heart.
Pearl Skin is the latest trend to take over our For You Pages, bridging the gap between classic sophistication and contemporary creativity.
It's a homage to shimmer, gleam, and all things sparkling. Aka, very quintessential Jas.
After all, can one ever have too much luminosity? I think not.
Below, I’ve assembled a lineup of some of my favourite glow-enhancing essentials to help you recreate the Pearl Skin Makeup trend–here’s my take.
P.S. Want to follow along at home? Scroll down for a video tutorial I prepared earlier.
What Is Pearl Skin Makeup?
Not to be confused with 'Glass Skin', which features a smooth, almost wet-look finish, Pearl Skin Makeup focuses on achieving a radiant, luminous glow reminiscent of pearls’ natural lustre.
It involves the strategic application of dewy, light-reflecting products to create a soft, ethereal sheen on the skin.
Editorial makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes shares how she achieves pearl skin in a tutorial below.
The key to achieving perfect Pearl Skin lies in layering hydrating skincare products, radiant-finish foundations and iridescent touches for a luminous visage that glistens in the light.
The result? A complexion that truly embodies the eye-catching elegance of pearls themselves. *Chef's kiss.*
1. Skin Prep.
Since our makeup is only as good as our skin prep, this look begins with a hydrating, dewy skincare routine.
With freshly cleansed skin, I spritzed on the Ella Bache Rose Hydration Mist 100ml, a recent favourite of mine for its hydrating yet seriously radiant finish.
Next up, one of my ride-or-dies, the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Anti-Ageing Serum.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: nothing gives my silky-smooth, plumped-up skin quite like this serum.
Following that, I reached for two of my Ole Henriksen must-haves:
The Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Eye Crème 15ml for its brightening effect on the under-eye area, followed by the Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturiser 50ml, perfect for priming the skin.
You don't necessarily need an extensive array of products for your skin prep.
As long as you have a nourishing serum and moisturiser (and SPF, of course), you're ready to glow, darling.
2. Skin Canvas.
With our base in place, it’s time to start laying down makeup.
A pearlescent, light-reflecting foundation is ideal for achieving this trend.
I had been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to test out the M.A.C Cosmetics Strobe Dewy Skin Tint, and this look proved the perfect occasion.
It combines the beautifully lit-from-within finish of the cult favourite Strobe Cream with sheer yet buildable coverage and a skincare-infused formula.
Staying on theme with glow-getting formulas, I followed with the Huda Beauty Cheeky Tint Blush Stick in Coral Cutie, a gorgeous orange-pink flush.
Hot tip: Warm up cream products on the back of your hand before application, using either a brush or your fingers to apply just the right amount, no more.
To maintain a skin-like finish, I opted for the MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Skin Concealer in shade 1.5R, a lightweight concealer with buildable coverage.
Finally, I rounded out my cream products with a hit of the Designer Brands Hi-Light Illuminating Beauty Wand in Champagne Fizz to the high points of my face where the light naturally falls.
3. Skin Setting.
While those with particularly dry skin may opt to skip the setting step, those with oily or combination skin may appreciate a touch of setting powder to control excess shine.
For this, I prefer the MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Setting Powder.
Its super-fine powder ensures a crease-free finish, ideal for gently setting the under-eye and T-zone areas while maintaining radiance.
To set my Huda Beauty cream blush, I followed up with a light application of Benefit Peachin' -Peach; a winning blush duo, if I do say so myself.
Finally, I locked everything in place with a setting spray.
My top picks are the MAKE UP FOR EVER Mist & Fix 100ml Spray or, for a more affordable option, the NYX Professional Makeup Dewy Setting Spray.
Both are excellent at softening powdered makeup while hydrating the skin for a seamless finish.
Final Touches.
Our skin truly is quite literally the star of the show for this look.
By this stage, it should be giving disco ball extravaganza–if not, don’t worry, we’ll be applying more highlighter in a sec.
As for the rest of our face, let's keep it simple and understated.
A sweep of brow gel, such as the new Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Wax adds natural depth and sets brows in place.
Paired with a hint of MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Face Powder Highlight to enhance radiance, particularly if you've been a bit heavy-handed with the powder.
For the eyes, the Pink Mercury end of the Pink Mercury/Nude Beach Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick Dual Ended provided the wet-look finish I was aiming for.
I love its complementary shades and how effortless it is to blend its buttery texture into my lids.
Lastly, for full, fluttery lashes, I couldn't resist using the Clinique High Impact High-Fi Full Volume Mascara.
I owe it to our senior beauty editor for introducing me to this mascara marvel.
Featuring intense pigments and nourishing coconut, argan, and moringa oils, it delivers saturated colour while caring for my lashes - talk about an overachiever!
Final Thoughts.
And there you have it, Pearl Skin–the perfect makeup look for those special occasions or those days when you're feeling flat and craving a radiance boost.
What will the TikTok algorithm deliver us next? Your guess is as good as mine.
P.S. Here's a little tutorial I prepared earlier, if you prefer to follow along with a visual reference.
Loved this glowy makeup trend? Here are some other beauty goodies we're loving sick right now:
