Matte About You
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Forget shine and shimmer, gloss and glitter; matte makeup is having a moment.
The cosmetics company MAC has two new lines of matte products, Matte2 eye shadow ($14) and Mattene lipstick ($14.50). Benefit Cosmetics and Urban Decay both launched fall/winter collections of matte powder eye shadows ($18 and $16, respectively); and Therapy Systems introduced a line of tinted lip balms ($22) in shine-free, neutral shades. Meanwhile, Maybelline New York recently introduced Dream Matte powder ($7.99), and Mattése N.Y.C. also added five matte and neutral shades of its Shadow Dust loose powder eye shadow this fall ($9.99).
“We are definitely seeing a matte trend right now,” MAC’s executive director of product development for color, Nicole Masson, said. “On the runway, it is a response to the ladylike clothes and attitude of the past couple of seasons. Makeup is more colorful, but still chic and sophisticated. You can have a bright red lip, but it is not glossy or trashy; it is matte and appropriate.”
Those who equate matte with matronly can rest assured. “Matte makeup isn’t just for old ladies and newscasters anymore,” a New York-based makeup artist, Lindsay Hile, said.
While matte formulas of the past had a reputation for being heavy, dry, and chalky — leaving skin “looking and feeling thirsty,” she said — the new matte formulas are easier to wear. The eye shadows from MAC, Benefit, and Urban Decay all boast pigment-rich, soft, and blendable formulas that are comfortable on the eyelid; MAC’s Mattene lipstick was designed to mimic the matte textures found naturally in the skin. The result of these new formulations, Ms. Hile said, is “a beautiful finish with serious staying power.”
To keep the matte look fresh, and not outdated, Ms. Hile recommends using matte products in moderation. “It’s best to not go matte on the entire face at once,” she said. “Try a shimmery eye paired with matte lips and cheeks. Or try matte eye shadow and skin with creamy lip color. Playing with different textures is fun and can give a whole new look and feel to your makeup.”
Matte eye shadows also can double as eyeliner, and shocking shades can be blended with softer ones. “If you can make the color comfortable and low-maintenance, it’s not scary at all,” MAC’s Ms. Masson said.
