Okay, so I know that I can’t be the only one who has seen those AI bikini pics that seem to be popping up more and more on Instagram. What’s truly wild to me about them is not the portraits themselves but the comments. What I mean by that is the number of people who have no clue that what they are looking at isn’t exactly real.
Know what I think was the gateway drug for the illusion? A lot of these filters. Boy, the way filters have folks thinking that what they see is what is happening…off social media is a trip. And to be real about it, like King Solomon once said, there isn’t anything new that’s under the sun. Before social media filters, there were camera lenses — both on- and off-screen — that also “softened up” people’s looks.
Thing is, though, no one can be behind a camera forever. Eventually, folks are going to see them, live and in living color and so, if they still want their face to appear absolutely flawless, what ever should they do then?
One solution? It’s a makeup trend known as cloud skin. If you’ve never heard of it before, I’ll explain.
What Is Cloud Skin All About?
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Although I wouldn’t exactly say that I’m afraid to fly (been on far too many flights for that resolve), at the same time, I must admit that flying isn’t my top 10 favorite things in life to do. Still, there are moments, while I’m thousands of feet in the air, that I do appreciate the experience. Like when I’m above the clouds, the sun is about to set, and the clouds look both fluffy and radiant at the same time.
Believe it or not, that is where “cloud skin” gets its name — it’s all about cultivating a matte skin look without it looking dry or caked up. Another way to look at it is it’s where matte and the dewy skin look “meet up” and find some common ground on the same face.
From what I’ve read and researched, a make-up artist by the name of Dominic Skinner actually coined the term and, according to him, “It’s all about specifically placed powder, a touch of foundation, and a facial oil to prime the skin.” When he was quoted as saying this, it was back in 2020; however (surprise, surprise), thanks to TikTok, cloud skin has experienced a resurgence in popularity and is predicted to be one of the most popular cosmetic looks for the next several months.
Why Cloud Skin Is Such an Appealing Make-Up Trend
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And why is cloud skin something that you should consider for your own face (at least every once in a while)? To me, I think it’s a dope approach to makeup if you’re looking for a way for your skin to look youthful, even-toned, and delicate without having a pack on a pile of layers of foundation in order to do it. Plus, even if you’re not an expert at applying makeup (or you don’t have a ton of time on your hands), the steps are relatively easy, even for a novice.
Another perk is, if you apply each step correctly, your skin will remain well-hydrated, your face will look picture-perfect and you won’t have to worry about using a filter when you do make a social media post.
These all sound like huge wins to me, so let’s get into how to actually achieve the cloud skin look.
5 Steps to Achieving Amazing-Looking Cloud Skin
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1. Hydrate your skin. It doesn’t matter how well you apply the other four steps if you overlook this one. That’s because, there is no way around the fact that if you want your skin to look dewy and fresh, you are going to need to make sure that it is well-hydrated. You can do this by applying a moisturizing serum or a lightweight moisturizer. Just make sure that it’s more water than oil-based. Oh, and in order to “lock everything in,” follow this up with a skin primer.
Primers are the unsung hero of make-up looks because they do everything from “fill in pores” (temporarily) and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to make sure that the cosmetics that you apply are able to last for a longer period of time. If you need help selecting one, TikTok has posts for days on the topic. Just go to the app and put “best primer make-up Black women” in the search field.
2. Apply a semi-matte foundation. Now you’re ready to put on your foundation. It’s important that it has a semi-matte finish to it because that is what will help to “blur away” any imperfections that your skin may have. Come to think of it, you may actually want to go with a foundation that also has concealer in it, just to keep the application steps down. Oh, and definitely apply with a damp cosmetic sponge instead of your fingers — that will help to create the cloud effect too.
3. Next up: blush. In my opinion, these days, blush isn’t given enough of the respect that it deserves. Not only does it add a pop of (subtle) color to your face, but it helps to contour, hide imperfections, and even bring out the best in some of your facial features (like your cheeks and chin). That’s why I think it’s dope that it’s a part of the whole cloudy skin process. For this look, opt for a cream or liquid blush in a color that will bring out the best in the next step: bronzer.
4. Definitely add a touch of bronzer. Although I personally try not to wear make-up often (beyond mascara and lipstick), when I do, especially during the warmer months, I am definitely gonna apply some bronzer. In my opinion, few things can make your skin look sexier in a really short amount of time. Bronzer also has a way of making your skin appear absolutely radiant. The hack here, for us (Black women), is to go with a warm and rich hue, one that is a shade or two darker than your complexion, and to preferably apply it with a brush; that way, it’s not too heavy on your face.
5. And now it’s time to “bake” your skin. Final step, do what is known as “baking your skin” which simply means that you set the work that you’ve just done with a translucent or finishing powder (and the help of a foundation brush). This is what ensures that your final result will last for hours at a time (you can read more about how to bake your skin here).
BONUS: Gloss those lips up. If you Google the whole cloud skin look, you may see a lot of women with a matte lip color to boot. My two cents? Go with a glossy look instead. There’s something about the way that the gloss plays off of the bronzer that really sets everything off in excellence!
There you have it — a way to look like you’re using a filter…when you’re not on a screen.
Enjoy sis. Enjoy!
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Featured image by Junior Asiama/500 px/Getty Images
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