Walk into any beauty aisle or scroll through your favourite creator’s GRWM, and one thing becomes clear: base makeup finishes are no longer just about skin type—they’re about identity. Whether you’re radiating main character energy with a luminous glow or you’re serving cool-girl edge with a velvety matte finish, your foundation is a mirror to your mood.

But here’s the real tea: choosing between dewy and matte isn’t just about trends—it’s about you. Your personality, your lifestyle, and your skin all play a part in picking a finish that not only looks good but feels right.

Let’s decode what your fave finish says about you—and along the way, we’ll drop celeb parallels, skin type science, and how Admigos helps brands animate both finishes across diverse tones. Because yes, beauty should show up for everyone.

First, What’s the Deal with Base Makeup Finishes?

Before we get to the juicy stuff, let’s define our terms:

Both can be gorgeous, but they create totally different vibes.

Finish = Aesthetic Identity

Ever wondered why your bestie swears by glowy skin but you feel your best when everything’s set and snatched?

Your makeup finish is part of your aesthetic language—just like your go-to outfit or the playlist you keep on repeat. And it reflects more than just light; it reflects you.

Here’s a quick personality decode based on your fave base:

Dewy or Matte? What's your vibe?

Quiz Time: What’s Your Finish Energy?

Still not sure where you land? Take our fun, no-pressure quiz below. Grab a pen, or just keep score in your head.

1. Your skincare goal is to:

A. Glow like you’ve had 8 hours of sleep (even if it’s been 4).

B. Stay shine-free and smooth from AM to PM.

2. Your dream vacay involves:

A. A beach, an iced drink, and glowy selfies.

B. A city tour, museum stops, and a packed itinerary.

3. Your current fashion inspo is:

A. Sofia Richie’s dewy “mob wife meets clean girl” look.

B. Alexa Chung’s cool, matte, Parisian style.

4. Midday makeup touch-up?

A. A spritz of facial mist.

B. Blotting paper and a powder puff.

5. You’d rather be described as:

A. Radiant, joyful, effortless.

B. Polished, confident, unfazed.

Mostly A’s: You’re Team Dewy! You light up rooms, and your foundation should do the same. Mostly B’s: You’re Team Matte! You’re sleek, strategic, and never caught slipping—literally. Mix of Both? You’re what the kids call a Mood Blender. You switch it up depending on the day, your skin, or your outfit.

Your Skin Type Does Matter (A Little)

Let’s bring in the science, because the right finish also respects your skin’s natural behaviour.

So while finish = personality, your skin type helps you navigate the how.

Celeb Energy: Who’s Your Foundation Twin?

Let’s match your finish to some of our fave faces:

Dewy Darlings:

Zendaya, Alia Bhatt, Ananya Pandey, Jisoo (BLACKPINK), Rihanna

Matte Mavens:

Hailey Bieber, Deepika Padukone, Kiara Advani, Rosé (BLACKPINK), Kendall Jenner

Ever noticed how even celebs switch up their base depending on the event? A dewy skin moment on a red carpet can look ethereal, but for performance-heavy days or HD shoots, matte is often the go-to.

It’s not about one being better. It’s about what you need, when.

Visualizing Finish on All Skin Tones

Let’s get real—one of the biggest pain points in base makeup is representation. What looks glowy on one undertone can look oily on another. What looks matte on light skin might look flat on deeper tones if not rendered right.

That’s where Admigos steps in.

Admigos uses high-res 3D animation and visual equity strategies to show how both dewy and matte foundations look across a diverse range of skin types and lighting. We help beauty brands bridge that gap with:

Because when it comes to foundation, it’s not just the shade that needs to match—it’s the finish, too.

Pro Tips for Getting the Finish Just Right

No matter which team you're on, application plays a huge role in how your finish holds up.

Foundation finish is a tool, not a rule.

Final Glow-Up Thought

The next time someone asks if you're dewy or matte, you’ll know: it’s not just about what’s trending—it’s about what’s true to you.

And in the age of hyper-personalised beauty, that’s the finish that really matters.

Whether you're the glass-skin goddess or the matte-velvet minimalist, one thing’s for sure: your makeup isn’t masking you—it’s reflecting you.