• Beauty

What the Heck is Dolphin Skin?

No sea creatures were harmed in the making of this viral beauty trend!
  • ByMeghna Sharma

Shanaya Kapoor’s image courtesy: Instagram

Another day, another beauty trend celebrating glowing skin. But this time around, we are stepping away from the realm of desserts [remember, glazed doughnut skin?], and bringing animals into the fold. 

As you might have guessed by the name, the ‘dolphin skin’ beauty trend is characterised by a radiant, dewy glow reminiscent of a dolphin’s wet, luminous skin. Put simply, ‘dolphin skin’ is similar to other viral beauty concepts like glass skin and mochi skin. But to achieve this viral visage technique, one needs skin and make-up products to work in tandem for that lustrous, ‘I just emerged from the waves’ effect the cute aquatic mammals are known for. 

While the Internet credits celebrity make-up artist Mary Phillips for this trend—whose A-list clients include Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner among others—she admits to having learnt about her technique going viral from social media. “My signature look has always emphasised hydrated, dewy, radiant skin, so I’m happy to see it trending,” Mary was quoted in an interview with a magazine.

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Here’s how you can achieve ‘dolphin skin’ that focuses on a clear, hydrated, healthy-looking complexion with a tinge of make-up thrown in a few easy steps.

Cleanse and Exfoliate to Prep Skin: Post cleansing, use a gentle exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and promote a more even skin tone. Doing so will also ensure your skincare products get absorbed well, and make-up glides on smoothly.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate: To ensure your skin is adequately hydrated, apply a humectant-based serum to damp skin, followed by moisturiser to lock in the moisture. Pick a serum with ingredients that focus on hydration and illumination like hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, niacinamide, and more, to enhance the skin’s radiance. Pick a lightweight, hydrating moisturiser rich in ceramides and peptides to plump up the skin and create a supple base for make-up application.

Get Glowing: Now layer all your illuminating products on top of each other to create dimension. After moisturising, dab a liquid highlighter on the high points of your face—like your brow bones, cheekbones, and the bridge—for a hint of pearlescent glow. Then apply a sheer layer of luminous, dewy foundation. Pick a lightweight formula to embrace a more natural finish, allowing the skin’s radiance to shine through.

Strategic Highlight: Add a hint of warmth to the cheeks by buffing a non-shimmery cream or powder bronzer onto the hollows of the cheeks—and anywhere the sun would naturally hit your face. Then, use a cream highlighter to amp up the shine onto the same areas, and dab a little liquid or cream blush to add colour to the cheeks. 

Take It a Notch Higher: You can extend this trend to the lids for a seamless effect. Pick a liquid or cream eyeshadow with finely-milled glitter specks for lids glistening effect. 

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