If you’re a makeup child of the 2010s and 2020s then it’s likely your collection is filled with glowy, dewy, luminising products. The makeup trends of the last decade have all revolved around looking as luminous and glowy as possible. Thanks to significant pop cultural pillars like the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and the rise of the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic on TikTok, makeup over the last few years has revolved around shimmer, glitter and glow in spades.

However, it seems that the ‘90s ultra-matte makeup look that the likes of Salma Hayek, Christy Turlington and Kate Moss made famous is coming back with a vengeance. People everywhere are putting down their highlighters and picking up their mattifying primers and setting sprays to create a seamless, perfected complexion that somehow walks the line between natural and made-up with a delicate poise. Taking inspiration from the Haute Couture runways (think CHANEL Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2023/24) and the cool-toned makeup looks that have come back to the forefront in recent times, it seems that matte is back and better than ever.

Here, we roundup our top tips for tweaking your makeup routine to embrace the trend (without having to buy a whole new slew of products). 

Just because our makeup is now ultra-matte doesn’t mean that skin prep goes out the window. Not to prime is still a crime—it’s just a matter of finding the right formula to achieve the look you’re after. So, rather than reaching for your ultra-luminous base products, try something that will mattify excess oil and keep your makeup lasting all day long. Our favourites include the Benefit Cosmetics Porefessional Primer, the Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas and the Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Primer.

Let’s get one thing straight: matte makeup is not makeup that looks dry, flakey or cakey. Matte makeup is makeup that perfects the skin, evens the complexion and does it all with a subtle satin finish (rather than an all-out glow). This means, when it comes to base products like foundations and concealers, it is important to look for something that is both suited to the matte finish but also to your skin type.

If you have ultra-dry skin, looking for a satin-finish foundation or concealer will still provide that cool-girl matte look without appearing chalkey. And, if you have oily skin, you’re in luck because your favourite mattifying complexion products are now in Vogue! Our favourite foundation formulas to achieve this look include the Armani Power Fabric + Ultra Longwear Matte Foundation, the Guerlain Parure Gold Skin Foundation and the L’Oreal Infallible Matte Foundation.

It’s likely that your makeup case is filled with bronzers, blushes and luminisers galore. The only problem? They’re all laced with shimmer. But just because the complexion is now matte a la Kate Moss in the ‘90s, doesn’t mean we need to go without colour and definition. Swap out your glowy cream products for toned down powder or stick products to keep the skin looking smooth and shine-free. Our favourite matte bronzers include the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer, the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer and the Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder. We also love the Too Faced Cloud Crush Blurring Blush and the Rituel De Fille Inner Glow Creme Pigment as great matte blush options.

Keeping your makeup look in place all day long is a vital step—and it’s likely that you already have a powder you swear by for keeping your t-zone and under eyes looking smooth and oil-free. But when it comes to setting the rest of your now-matte face, you don’t want to go too hard on the powder as it can cause that dreaded cakiness. Instead, look for a setting spray that will lock your makeup in and mattify the skin without adding any extra product. Our favourties include the Urban Decay All Nighter Ultra Matte Makeup Setting Spray (a classic), the M.A.C Cosmetics Prep + Prime Fix+ Matte and the Makeup Forever Mist & Fix Matte Spray.