If you’ve been scrolling social media lately, you’ve probably noticed the new desire to get that satin sheen glow.
The blinding “dolphin-skin” shine that dominated last year’s feeds is quietly fading out. Instead, makeup artists are now talking about something softer, subtler, and much easier to achieve in real life.
They’re calling it “satin sheen.”
You can think of it as the glow that happens when candlelight hits your skin. It’s luminous, but not slick. It doesn’t scream, “Look at my highlight!” Instead, it whispers, “My skin is happy and healthy.” Which means, of course, that we love this look!
What’s nice about this trend is that, unlike many others, it acknowledges that real skin has texture. That means pores, variations in tone, and other potential flaws. The satin sheen approach doesn’t try to create an impossible, airbrushed perfection. Instead, it enhances your natural skin while giving it that soft, dreamy luminosity that looks beautiful both in person and in all those holiday photos.
So let’s talk about how you can realistically achieve this coveted look this holiday.
What If My Skin Isn’t Ready for the Satin Sheen Glow?
There’s something timeless about glowing skin. It signals health, vitality, and confidence. The problem is that most of us deal with something that dulls that natural radiance. It could be dryness, irritation, redness, or dark spots that seem to steal the light.
The good news is that the satin sheen trend doesn’t demand perfection. All you have to do is restore your skin’s natural light and enhance it in a way that looks soft, hydrated, and touchable.
This look is wonderfully forgiving. Instead of using heavy highlights or shimmers, it focuses on balance. If you take good care of your skin and work to keep it healthy, you’re already ahead of most.
How to Get That Satin Sheen Glow This Holiday
If you’re hoping to gain that satin sheen glow this holiday season, here are some easy, skin-loving ways to get there.
Step 1: Start with Calm, Balanced Skin
You can’t fake radiance if your skin barrier is struggling. Inflammation, irritation, and dryness all steal luminosity and send you straight to dullsville. That’s why the first step toward satin sheen is to calm your skin and help it find balance again.
The best way to help your skin look and feel calm and balanced is a regular skin-care routine. Morning and night, use a gentle cleanser, moisturizing toner (like our Rescue + Relief Spray), and hydrating moisturizer (like our Calming Moisture). Twice-daily care with these simple steps will give you the foundation you need for a healthy glow.
Step 2: Exfoliate Gently
Your skin can’t radiate light if it’s got a covering of dead skin cells. It does shed these on its own, but as we get older, the process of shedding slows down. We can speed it up with exfoliation, but we have to be careful not to overdo it.
Use a mild exfoliant once or twice a week. Avoid harsh options that contain crystals or nuts, and use those with exfoliating acids like glycolic, salicylic, and malic. Harsh scrubs can create microtears in the skin that may later develop into irritation, redness, and even breakouts.
If your skin starts to appear raw and flaky, that means you’re overdoing the exfoliation. Back off for a week or so and try again. A good rule of thumb—your skin should feel refreshed and silky after exfoliating, not tight or stinging.
Satin Sheen Glow Step 3: Make Sure You’re Properly Hydrated
No amount of highlighting product can fake the look of genuinely hydrated skin. Moisture is the foundation of any luminous look. When your skin is properly moisturized, it naturally reflects light better and appears plumper and more even-toned.
Think of your skin like a sponge—when it’s dry, it looks dull and shriveled, but when it’s moisturized, it becomes smooth and light-reflective. Make proper hydration your non-negotiable step. We recommend our Calming Moisture, as it not only moisturizes deeply, but helps encourage healing of any skin barrier problems.
Step 4: Mix or Layer for the Perfect Luminous Base
Here’s a pro tip that makeup artists swear by: You can incorporate your glow directly into your foundation.
Try mixing a small amount of Calming Moisture with your foundation before applying. This creates a naturally luminous base that looks like your skin, just better.
Or you could apply your foundation as usual, then gently pat Calming Moisture on top of your base, focusing on the high points of your face where light naturally hits—cheekbones, bridge of the nose, cupid’s bow, and chin. This layering technique gives you control over exactly how much glow you want. And with Calming Moisture’s natural radiant look, you’ll love the results!
Step 5: Refresh Throughout the Day
No matter how good your morning routine is, it’s likely that your skin may start getting flat or dull as the day goes on. This is where Rescue + Relief Spray becomes your secret weapon. Keep a travel-sized option in your bag and spritz it over your makeup throughout the day.
It refreshes your glow, adds back moisture that has evaporated, and makes your skin look just as dewy at dinner as it did when you left the house. Plus, it feels amazing and gives you a little moment of self-care during busy holiday festivities.
Satin Sheen Glow Step 6: Don’t Forget the Details
Sometimes the smallest touches can make the biggest difference. Take your brows, for example. They frame your face, as they say, so try a little of our Restorative Skin Balm to help set them in place naturally while adding a subtle sheen that ties your whole glowing look together. This type of cohesive luminosity, where your entire face has that soft radiance, is what separates a truly polished satin sheen look from one that just uses highlighter.
Step 7: Sleep, Stress, and the Inner Glow Factor
No luminous skin routine is complete without addressing what happens inside. Late nights, high stress, and poor hydration can dull your skin faster than any missed serum.
Try these quick fixes:
- Sleep: Your skin repairs itself at night, so aim for 7-8 hours of rest.
- Hydrate: Water keeps your cells plump and your skin reflective. Herbal teas and fruits with high water content (like cucumbers and watermelon) are great additions to your regular daily water intake.
- Relax: Stress triggers the release of the hormone cortisol, which then leads to breakouts and inflammation. Small rituals—like deep-breathing exercises, warm baths, and gentle stretching—can bring your glow back.
Satin sheen isn’t just about surface sparkle—it’s also about harmony between your insides and outsides. When your body and skin feel cared for, that light shines through.
The Satin Sheen Glow Can Be Yours!
The nice thing about the satin sheen trend is that it’s a shift toward more realistic, achievable, and inclusive standards of what glowing skin can look like. This holiday season, you don’t need perfect skin to look radiant. The more you use quality products to genuinely care for your skin, the more confidence you’ll gain to embrace your natural beauty.
Are you ready for this new trend this holiday season?
Featured image by lookstudio on Freepik.
