Just like adding butter to a dish instantly makes everything richer and smoother, the butter skin effect delivers that same indulgent satisfaction—only for your complexion. This glow-forward skincare trend focuses on skin that looks soft, nourished, and effortlessly luminous.
Inspired by close-up camera moments on idols like Jennie, Aoomtwp, and Anada Prakobkit, butter skin is defined by an even, velvety finish with a natural glow that never looks greasy or overly shiny. And the best part? You can achieve this look year-round—even in winter, when cold weather and dry air are usually the biggest enemies of radiant skin. Ahead, we break down what butter skin is and the easy, glow-boosting steps to help you achieve it.
What Is Butter Skin?
Butter skin is a skincare and makeup technique that creates a smooth, even, and naturally glowing complexion. The butter skin effect emphasizes hydration and skin prep rather than shine, giving skin a soft, velvety, and luminous look without appearing greasy or wet.
The butter skin effect evolved from the butter skin makeup trend, but as makeup artists often emphasize, flawless makeup always starts with proper skin preparation. Rather than focusing on heavy coverage or shine, butter skin prioritizes skin that looks healthy, balanced, and well cared for.
So, how do you get butter skin? It’s all about achieving a smooth, even texture across the entire face. The skin should appear uniform, with no areas that look overly shiny, wet, or reflective. Butter skin makeup avoids glittery highlighters and instead relies on hydration, skin-smoothing products, and lightweight layers to create a soft, continuous glow. The result is skin that looks naturally radiant, velvety, and effortlessly luminous.
How to Get Butter Skin: Step-by-Step
Achieving the butter skin effect isn’t about heavy highlighters or glitter—it starts with hydrated, smooth, and naturally glowing skin. Follow these simple steps for butter skin makeup that looks effortless and radiant. From cleansing to sealing with a lightweight balm, this guide shows how to get butter skin that feels soft, plump, and luminous every day.
Step 1. Cleanse
Start with a creamy or creamy-foaming cleanser enriched with hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. This gently removes impurities while keeping your skin soft and prepped for the next steps.
Step 2. Hydrate
Reach for a milky toner that’s richer than a standard toner but absorbs easily. Ingredients like ceramides lock in moisture and give your skin that plump, healthy glow essential for butter skin.
Step 3. Apply Facial Oil
This is the magic step that helps smooth texture and blur fine lines, scars, or marks. Use just three drops, press gently into the skin, and avoid rubbing. It creates a seamless, even base for your glow.
Step 4. Seal with Lightweight Cream
Use a minimal amount of gel-cream or ultra-light moisturizer that absorbs quickly. Focus on cheeks or dry areas—this locks in hydration without adding heaviness, maintaining that soft, continuous glow.
Step 5. Add a Balm
Skip glittery highlighters. Instead, use a transparent balm on the high points of your face—cheekbones and the bridge of your nose. This creates a natural, moving light that enhances your skin’s radiance.
Extra Tip:
If certain areas feel too shiny, lightly dust translucent powder—but only in the center of the forehead and sides of the nose. This keeps your glow balanced without dulling it.
Ready to try the butter skin effect for yourself? Start with these five simple steps and watch your complexion transform into soft, plump, and naturally radiant skin. For an extra boost, pair this routine with your favorite hydrating serums, lightweight moisturizers, and transparent balms—your skin will thank you. Glow effortlessly, feel confident, and let your butter skin shine all day.
Shop the Butter Skin Essentials
Clinique All About Clean Foaming Face Cleanser
LANEIGE Cream Skin Refillable Milky Toner
The Ordinary 100% Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil
Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Balm
CHANEL BAUME ESSENTIEL Multi-Use Glow Stick
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