The latest milky toner makeup hack delivers a fresh, dewy, skin-like finish without the endless layers of makeup. By combining creamy stick-based formulas with a milky toner, you can create an everyday dewy, natural look in less time, using less product. It’s going to be your winter dry skin saviour, and here’s how you can achieve the look…

If your skin tends to feel dry or your base often looks flat or cakey, this is a technique worth trying, particularly during the colder months when skin can need extra hydration.

Daisie, Beauty Contributor

Step 1: Apply your base in one layer

The secret to this technique is rethinking how you apply your makeup. Rather than layering foundation over your entire face before adding concealer, bronzer and blush on top, start by applying creamy stick formulas exactly where you need them.

Apply concealer to the under-eyes and T-zone, bronzer around the perimeter of the face and along the cheekbones, and blush to the apples of the cheeks. Then, use foundation to fill in any gaps, focusing only on areas that need a little extra coverage. 

Not only does this create a more natural, skin-like finish, but it also makes your routine quicker and helps reduce product waste. By applying everything where it’s needed from the outset, you’re using less product and avoiding unnecessary layers.

Step 2: Grab a milky toner

This is where the magic happens. Pop a small amount of milky toner onto the back of your hand to dip your brush into. The key is choosing a toner with a milky, hydrating texture rather than a very watery formula. This helps give the skin that fresh, hydrated glow that makes this trend so amazing.

I’m using the Fenty Skin Fat Water Hydrating Milky Toner, which is packed with hyaluronic acid, glycerin and squalane to give skin a plump, juicy finish.

Step 3: Melt makeup into the skin

I’d recommend using a dense stippling brush for this step. Gently pick up the toner and press it into the areas where you’ve applied your makeup, using light, stippling motions rather than sweeping the brush across your face. 

You want to melt the products into the skin, not move them around or mix all your products together. Work in small sections, keeping your touch light, until everything has melted into the skin.

Step 4:To finish

The result is fresh, luminous skin that looks like skin, rather than a heavy, layered base. Complete your makeup with the same effortless vibe with brushed-up brows, a touch of mascara and a sheer lip shade. It’s a perfect everyday look when you want a dewy base that will quite literally take you minutes to achieve.

If your skin tends to feel dry or your base often looks flat or cakey, this is a technique worth trying, particularly during the colder months when skin can need extra hydration.

The verdict

As someone who is always looking for ways to achieve that glass-skin glow without piling on endless products, I’m giving the milky toner makeup hack my seal of approval. It’s quick, easy and creates the kind of fresh, healthy-looking finish that works just as well for everyday makeup as it does for a full glam look. If you’re short on time, trying to make your makeup bag go further or simply struggling to get that glow, this is a beauty trend worth trying. 

My top 6 milky skincare heroes

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