Matte-Dewy Foundations Are The Latest Clean Girl Makeup Must-Have, Here Are Our Faves

There’s a new foundation finish in town, and it promises to offer the most natural, skin-like texture yet: the matte-dewy hybrid. It started to gain popularity with beauty fans on TikTok who were mixing matte foundations with dewy primers to achieve a glowy look that didn’t look too oily. Then, in 2023, Maybelline’s Lumi Matte foundation went viral in China, and subsequently TikTok in 2024. And thus, the quest to find the ultimate clean girl foundation finish was born; a foundation that was as skin-like as possible and strikes the perfect balance between dewy and matte.

While this finish has been given many names in the past year (lumi-matte, satin, radiant, glowy matte, mewy etc.) they all strive for the same goal: to achieve a soft, natural glow without being too shiny or unnaturally flat. Scroll on for the best matte-dewy foundations in Singapore.

1. Luminous matte skincare foundation, $205, Hermes

Joining the brand’s Plein Air beauty line is a skincare-based foundation that’s as light as air. Enter Hermes’ newest beauty launch: the maison’s first foundation. It’s a medium coverage foundation that not only blends the matte and dewy finishes, but makeup and skincare too. 71% of its ingredients are of natural origin, using the combined power of niacinamide, pure hyaluronic acid, and white mulberry extract to nourish and protect the skin, while achieving a breathable and radiant finish.

2. NEO Cushion Mewy SPF 42++ cushion foundation, $74, Laneige

For the K-Beauty fanatics who swear by their cushion foundations, Laneige’s newest cushion innovation should be in your shopping cart. Named ‘mewy,’ its moniker is pretty straightforward: a perfect hybrid of matte and dewy in one cushion. Packed with 89% of skincare ingredients, this cushion offers the natural-looking yet blurred finish whilst being hydrating and long-lasting.

3. Luminous Silk Natural Glow Blurring Foundation, $69, Armani

A cult favourite just got a glow-up this January. Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation is known for its blurred yet radiant finish. This year, the foundation got 18 new shades and an updated formula: added skincare benefits and an enhanced radiance, alongside a dewier finish with a smoother feel.

4. Triclone Skin Tech Foundation, $80, Haus Labs

A major benefit of the matte-dewy hybrid is the dual benefit of achieving a natural radiance while still being long-lasting. Mother Monster’s brand, Haus Labs, promises to achieve both with a luminous foundation that’s buildable, non-comedogenic, and promises 12-hour long wear.

5. Mask Fit Red Cushion, $33, Tirtir

Can you really call yourself a beauty connoisseur if you’ve not heard of Tirtir and its cult-favourite cushion foundations? Of its very generous range of finishes and formulations, its OG red cushion offers a gorgeous satin finish (it’s oily-skin friendly — tried and tested) — a high-coverage and long-lasting foundation that’s powdery with a natural-looking shine. For those with dry skin, the brand’s silver version might be a better option.

6. HD Skin Hydra Glow foundation, $76, Make Up For Ever

For the Clean Girls with especially dry skin, Make Up For Ever’s take on the matte-dewy foundation is a great option. As its name suggests, it offers a blurring finish that packs a strong hydrating punch. With 86% of its ingredients being made up of hyaluronic acid and glycols (very hydrating skincare ingredients), this luminous foundation offers both a natural-looking glow and skincare benefits.

7. Dual Fermented Tea Cushion foundation, $18.90, Judydoll

For those looking for a foundation that caters to Asian undertones, C-beauty brand Judydoll’s newest foundation might do the trick. It gives a dewy-matte finish that’s both breathable and budge-free, offering up to 24 hours of water- and smudge-proof wear. Perfect for the Clean Girls who are constantly on the go.