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There’s a new kind of glow taking over this wedding season, and it’s not the high-shine, glass-skin look we’ve seen all over our feeds. This time, it’s all about satin skin—that beautifully balanced finish that sits between matte and dewy, giving your complexion a soft, natural radiance that looks like yours, just better.
It’s polished yet effortless—the kind of base that catches the light in all the right places without ever feeling heavy or flat. “I would define satin skin as matte in the right places and sheer with a glow from within at the high points of your face,” says makeup expert Riddhima Sharma Khubchandani, one of our expert panellists.
We spoke to her to decode how to achieve this coveted finish—from skin prep to balancing coverage and luminosity. Whether you’re a bride, bridesmaid or guest, satin skin is the perfect way to look radiant and beautifully put-together from the first photograph to the last dance.
A cult-favourite for many, the Benefit Cosmetics High Beam Liquid Highlighter gives a satiny-pearl-like effect to your face. The precise applicator allows for spot application in areas like your eyelids, brow bones and cheeks—giving you a more focused highlight. If natural is what you like to go for, then the High Beam surely won’t let you down.
Blush is having a moment (again) and this one absolutely gets it right. The shade 335 Baddie On The Block is a warm, mid-tone pink that brings life to your face in just a few swipes. It has a soft, smooth texture that blends easily without patchiness and leaves behind a subtle satin finish. It’s the kind of shade that pulls everything together and looks equally good with a bare face or a full look.
You can’t fake good skin prep—at least not convincingly. And if you ask Khubchandani, that’s the first mistake most people make. “Skin prep doesn’t start in my chair—it starts at home,” she says. “It’s doing a nice face mask before bed, exfoliating once a week, just taking care of your skin so it’s ready to hold make-up beautifully.”
When she’s behind the brush, her approach is minimal but methodical. “I always apply a good coat of moisturiser, a little illuminating primer and under-eye cream,” she shares. “Then I let it all sit while I do the eyes. By the time I’m back to the base, the skin has absorbed everything—it’s soft, plump and ready.”
It’s not the kind of step that shows up on camera, but it makes all the difference in real life. Satin skin, after all, isn’t about product—it’s about how your skin feels underneath it.
Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream, Korean Glass Skin Moisturizer with Rice Nourishes Dry Skin (50 ml)
Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Foundation Primer -Travel Size (10 ml)
Minimalist Vitamin K + Retinal 01% Eye Cream (14g)
Once the canvas is ready, the real artistry lies in knowing where not to apply product. “If your skin looks good overall, you don’t need a full face of foundation,” says Khubchandani. “Just focus on the areas that need attention—maybe under the eyes, around the mouth or wherever there’s pigmentation. Keep the rest fresh.”
Her rule of thumb is simple: build only where necessary. “I’ll start with a sheer, luminous base and then apply concealer or colour corrector just on the concern areas,” she says. “Sometimes, if my skin’s behaving, I skip foundation altogether. A bit of corrector and a good moisturiser is enough.”
That selective approach—pairing restraint with precision—is what gives satin skin its signature finish. The glow comes through because you’ve let it.
NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation - Punjab (30 ml)
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Full Wear More Than Concealer - 308 (10 ml)
Sheglam Multi-Fix Concealer and Color Corrector - Macaron (9 g)
Technique matters just as much as formula. Khubchandani swears by tools that make the skin look untouched. “I love a buffing brush—it helps remove excess product and blends everything evenly,” she says. “But honestly, fingers work wonders, especially under the eyes. The warmth helps the product melt right in.”
Her approach feels intuitive rather than rule-bound—a little brushwork, a little fingertip blending. It’s make-up that moves with you, not against you. And that’s the point: satin skin isn’t a finish you force; it’s one you coax out.
Tira Foundation Buffer Brush
Here’s where many go wrong—too much powder can erase that glow you’ve worked to perfect. “I like to lightly powder the T-zone or any area that tends to get oily,” Khubchandani says. “Then I use cream blushes and liquid highlighters, but I always set them with just a whisper of powder blush. It locks everything in without killing the sheen.”
It’s an old-school trick that keeps your base breathable yet balanced. Think of it as maintenance, not mattifying.
“There’s no rule in make-up,” Khubchandani says. “You do what makes you feel good. If matte feels right, do matte. If you love dewy, go dewy. Satin skin just happens to be that perfect middle ground—it works because it feels like you.”
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Light Catcher - Cosmic Rose (29g)
KIKO Milano Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush New 2016 - 08 Rose Mauve (10 g)
Benefit Cosmetics High Beam Liquid Highlighter - Satiny Pink (6ml)
Kylie Cosmetics Pressed Blush Powder - 335-Baddie On The Block (10 g)
You can’t fake good skin prep—at least not convincingly. And if you ask Khubchandani, that’s the first mistake most people make. “Skin prep doesn’t start in my chair—it starts at home,” she says. “It’s doing a nice face mask before bed, exfoliating once a week, just taking care of your skin so it’s ready to hold make-up beautifully.”
When she’s behind the brush, her approach is minimal but methodical. “I always apply a good coat of moisturiser, a little illuminating primer and under-eye cream,” she shares. “Then I let it all sit while I do the eyes. By the time I’m back to the base, the skin has absorbed everything—it’s soft, plump and ready.”
It’s not the kind of step that shows up on camera, but it makes all the difference in real life. Satin skin, after all, isn’t about product—it’s about how your skin feels underneath it.
Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream, Korean Glass Skin Moisturizer with Rice Nourishes Dry Skin (50 ml)
Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Foundation Primer -Travel Size (10 ml)
Minimalist Vitamin K + Retinal 01% Eye Cream (14g)
Once the canvas is ready, the real artistry lies in knowing where not to apply product. “If your skin looks good overall, you don’t need a full face of foundation,” says Khubchandani. “Just focus on the areas that need attention—maybe under the eyes, around the mouth or wherever there’s pigmentation. Keep the rest fresh.”
Her rule of thumb is simple: build only where necessary. “I’ll start with a sheer, luminous base and then apply concealer or colour corrector just on the concern areas,” she says. “Sometimes, if my skin’s behaving, I skip foundation altogether. A bit of corrector and a good moisturiser is enough.”
That selective approach—pairing restraint with precision—is what gives satin skin its signature finish. The glow comes through because you’ve let it.
NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation - Punjab (30 ml)
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Full Wear More Than Concealer - 308 (10 ml)
Sheglam Multi-Fix Concealer and Color Corrector - Macaron (9 g)
Technique matters just as much as formula. Khubchandani swears by tools that make the skin look untouched. “I love a buffing brush—it helps remove excess product and blends everything evenly,” she says. “But honestly, fingers work wonders, especially under the eyes. The warmth helps the product melt right in.”
Her approach feels intuitive rather than rule-bound—a little brushwork, a little fingertip blending. It’s make-up that moves with you, not against you. And that’s the point: satin skin isn’t a finish you force; it’s one you coax out.
Tira Foundation Buffer Brush
Here’s where many go wrong—too much powder can erase that glow you’ve worked to perfect. “I like to lightly powder the T-zone or any area that tends to get oily,” Khubchandani says. “Then I use cream blushes and liquid highlighters, but I always set them with just a whisper of powder blush. It locks everything in without killing the sheen.”
It’s an old-school trick that keeps your base breathable yet balanced. Think of it as maintenance, not mattifying.
“There’s no rule in make-up,” Khubchandani says. “You do what makes you feel good. If matte feels right, do matte. If you love dewy, go dewy. Satin skin just happens to be that perfect middle ground—it works because it feels like you.”
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Light Catcher - Cosmic Rose (29g)
KIKO Milano Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush New 2016 - 08 Rose Mauve (10 g)
Benefit Cosmetics High Beam Liquid Highlighter - Satiny Pink (6ml)
Kylie Cosmetics Pressed Blush Powder - 335-Baddie On The Block (10 g)
You can’t fake good skin prep—at least not convincingly. And if you ask Khubchandani, that’s the first mistake most people make. “Skin prep doesn’t start in my chair—it starts at home,” she says. “It’s doing a nice face mask before bed, exfoliating once a week, just taking care of your skin so it’s ready to hold make-up beautifully.”
When she’s behind the brush, her approach is minimal but methodical. “I always apply a good coat of moisturiser, a little illuminating primer and under-eye cream,” she shares. “Then I let it all sit while I do the eyes. By the time I’m back to the base, the skin has absorbed everything—it’s soft, plump and ready.”
It’s not the kind of step that shows up on camera, but it makes all the difference in real life. Satin skin, after all, isn’t about product—it’s about how your skin feels underneath it.
Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream, Korean Glass Skin Moisturizer with Rice Nourishes Dry Skin (50 ml)
Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Foundation Primer -Travel Size (10 ml)
Minimalist Vitamin K + Retinal 01% Eye Cream (14g)
Once the canvas is ready, the real artistry lies in knowing where not to apply product. “If your skin looks good overall, you don’t need a full face of foundation,” says Khubchandani. “Just focus on the areas that need attention—maybe under the eyes, around the mouth or wherever there’s pigmentation. Keep the rest fresh.”
Her rule of thumb is simple: build only where necessary. “I’ll start with a sheer, luminous base and then apply concealer or colour corrector just on the concern areas,” she says. “Sometimes, if my skin’s behaving, I skip foundation altogether. A bit of corrector and a good moisturiser is enough.”
That selective approach—pairing restraint with precision—is what gives satin skin its signature finish. The glow comes through because you’ve let it.
NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation - Punjab (30 ml)
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Full Wear More Than Concealer - 308 (10 ml)
Sheglam Multi-Fix Concealer and Color Corrector - Macaron (9 g)
Technique matters just as much as formula. Khubchandani swears by tools that make the skin look untouched. “I love a buffing brush—it helps remove excess product and blends everything evenly,” she says. “But honestly, fingers work wonders, especially under the eyes. The warmth helps the product melt right in.”
Her approach feels intuitive rather than rule-bound—a little brushwork, a little fingertip blending. It’s make-up that moves with you, not against you. And that’s the point: satin skin isn’t a finish you force; it’s one you coax out.
Tira Foundation Buffer Brush
Here’s where many go wrong—too much powder can erase that glow you’ve worked to perfect. “I like to lightly powder the T-zone or any area that tends to get oily,” Khubchandani says. “Then I use cream blushes and liquid highlighters, but I always set them with just a whisper of powder blush. It locks everything in without killing the sheen.”
It’s an old-school trick that keeps your base breathable yet balanced. Think of it as maintenance, not mattifying.
“There’s no rule in make-up,” Khubchandani says. “You do what makes you feel good. If matte feels right, do matte. If you love dewy, go dewy. Satin skin just happens to be that perfect middle ground—it works because it feels like you.”
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Light Catcher - Cosmic Rose (29g)
KIKO Milano Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush New 2016 - 08 Rose Mauve (10 g)
Benefit Cosmetics High Beam Liquid Highlighter - Satiny Pink (6ml)
Kylie Cosmetics Pressed Blush Powder - 335-Baddie On The Block (10 g)
You can’t fake good skin prep—at least not convincingly. And if you ask Khubchandani, that’s the first mistake most people make. “Skin prep doesn’t start in my chair—it starts at home,” she says. “It’s doing a nice face mask before bed, exfoliating once a week, just taking care of your skin so it’s ready to hold make-up beautifully.”
When she’s behind the brush, her approach is minimal but methodical. “I always apply a good coat of moisturiser, a little illuminating primer and under-eye cream,” she shares. “Then I let it all sit while I do the eyes. By the time I’m back to the base, the skin has absorbed everything—it’s soft, plump and ready.”
It’s not the kind of step that shows up on camera, but it makes all the difference in real life. Satin skin, after all, isn’t about product—it’s about how your skin feels underneath it.
Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream, Korean Glass Skin Moisturizer with Rice Nourishes Dry Skin (50 ml)
Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Foundation Primer -Travel Size (10 ml)
Minimalist Vitamin K + Retinal 01% Eye Cream (14g)
Once the canvas is ready, the real artistry lies in knowing where not to apply product. “If your skin looks good overall, you don’t need a full face of foundation,” says Khubchandani. “Just focus on the areas that need attention—maybe under the eyes, around the mouth or wherever there’s pigmentation. Keep the rest fresh.”
Her rule of thumb is simple: build only where necessary. “I’ll start with a sheer, luminous base and then apply concealer or colour corrector just on the concern areas,” she says. “Sometimes, if my skin’s behaving, I skip foundation altogether. A bit of corrector and a good moisturiser is enough.”
That selective approach—pairing restraint with precision—is what gives satin skin its signature finish. The glow comes through because you’ve let it.
NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation - Punjab (30 ml)
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Full Wear More Than Concealer - 308 (10 ml)
Sheglam Multi-Fix Concealer and Color Corrector - Macaron (9 g)
Technique matters just as much as formula. Khubchandani swears by tools that make the skin look untouched. “I love a buffing brush—it helps remove excess product and blends everything evenly,” she says. “But honestly, fingers work wonders, especially under the eyes. The warmth helps the product melt right in.”
Her approach feels intuitive rather than rule-bound—a little brushwork, a little fingertip blending. It’s make-up that moves with you, not against you. And that’s the point: satin skin isn’t a finish you force; it’s one you coax out.
Tira Foundation Buffer Brush
Here’s where many go wrong—too much powder can erase that glow you’ve worked to perfect. “I like to lightly powder the T-zone or any area that tends to get oily,” Khubchandani says. “Then I use cream blushes and liquid highlighters, but I always set them with just a whisper of powder blush. It locks everything in without killing the sheen.”
It’s an old-school trick that keeps your base breathable yet balanced. Think of it as maintenance, not mattifying.
“There’s no rule in make-up,” Khubchandani says. “You do what makes you feel good. If matte feels right, do matte. If you love dewy, go dewy. Satin skin just happens to be that perfect middle ground—it works because it feels like you.”
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Light Catcher - Cosmic Rose (29g)
KIKO Milano Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush New 2016 - 08 Rose Mauve (10 g)
Benefit Cosmetics High Beam Liquid Highlighter - Satiny Pink (6ml)
Kylie Cosmetics Pressed Blush Powder - 335-Baddie On The Block (10 g)
