Zendaya Replaces ‘Glass Skin’ Trend With ‘Satin Skin’ Look at Event
Zendaya shut everything down the moment she stepped on the carpet at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.
All eyes were on the actress, who debuted a new pixie cut and donned a semi-sheer, crystal-embellished custom Prada gown, with some sparkling accessories. Fans were also loving her complexion as Zendaya was leading the charge with a shift away from the “glass skin” trend toward a look that allows natural skin to remain visible rather than relying on an intensely glossy finish.
Her makeup artist, Ernesto Casillas, described playing with “frosty and satin textures” for her red-carpet look, which paired a natural-looking complexion with sculpted brows and subtle color.
Sarah Snook and Claire Danes were among the other stars opting for softer, luminous complexions. Snook similarly wore a luminous complexion designed to allow her skin’s natural radiance to show through, while Claire Danes paired illuminated skin with rosy cheeks and understated eye makeup.
The ladies’ looks helped push up Google searches for “skin tint,” reaching approximately 838,000, up 5% from previous months.
According to Danielle Louise, a beauty expert on the Fresha app, “Glass skin has been everywhere, but what stood out from the Emmys was that the glow felt much softer. Zendaya is a really good example. Her makeup artist specifically talked about using satin textures, and you can see that in the complexion. The skin catches the light and looks healthy, but it doesn’t have that really wet, almost mirror-like finish we associate with glass skin.
“I’d call this satin skin. It sits somewhere between matte and glass skin. You still want luminosity, but you also want to see natural skin texture underneath. The fact that skin tint is attracting around 838,000 searches fits really nicely with this shift because you don’t need a heavy foundation to achieve it. It’s much more about evening out the complexion without completely covering the skin.”
For anyone wanting to create this “satin skin” look at home, Louise says, “The biggest mistake would be thinking satin skin simply means using less highlighter. It actually starts with the skincare underneath. You want hydrated skin, but you don’t need to layer lots of rich or oily products. Give your skincare time to absorb before applying makeup so everything sits properly rather than sliding around.
“I’d then use a skin tint or very lightweight base across the face and apply concealer only where you actually need extra coverage. For the glow, be strategic. Use a small amount of cream or liquid highlighter on areas such as the cheekbones rather than covering the entire face in something reflective.”
She added that you can use “cream or liquid blush can also help because it gives you color without taking away that natural skin finish. The aim is for somebody to notice your skin before they notice your foundation.”
