Don't stay matte! 'Shower makeup' is the next cool beauty trend to try out

Huda Kattan, the founder of the Huda Beauty brand, has made the "shower makeup" look a hit on social networks. Photo: AFP

Water is amazing. But this time, it's not nutritionists who are praising its benefits, but social media users, TikTok users in the lead, who swear by the effects water has on the skin.

The social network's latest trend comes in the form of "shower makeup", a makeup look that's supposed to give the impression that you're standing right under the shower.

Progress is unstoppable, and TikTokers even less so. After "crying makeup" and "laminated skin", two beauty trends that use water – or sweat – to achieve the ultimate glow, now here's "shower makeup".

Read more: Yes sweat! New 'laminated skin' makeup craze celebrates the look of sweaty skin

The idea is the same, except that this makeup look aims to recreate how you look in the shower.

The trend is all the rage on the Chinese social network, with no less than five million views for the #showermakeup hashtag. This new fad comes from the makeup goddess Huda Kattan, founder of the cosmetics brand Huda Beauty.

A wet-look effect

After embracing beauty looks mimicking sadness, if not tears, then sweaty skin, TikTok users now seem to be fascinated by precisely the wet look you get from being in the shower.

Surprising as it may seem, it's all about ditching the matte complexion – which has been popular for years – and adopting shiny skin, subtly rosy cheeks, and slightly puffy lips.

All of which might sound like a surprising goal for beauty lovers.

Still, the trend has gone viral, and TikTokers are now having a blast sharing their own variations of "shower makeup".

Before getting down to business, it's important to point out that this makeup trend has nothing to do with the beach or pool looks we've known for years.

Here, Kattan sets this beauty look apart by focusing on the kind of lighting you get in a shower, much more flattering than natural light, but also by the heat that emanates from a shower and which gives you rosy cheeks and puffy lips.

A distinction to keep in mind if you want to successfully nail the trend of the moment.

To achieve this bold look, which Kattan says is just "the sexiest", you have to start with a glowy makeup base.

Read more: How to achieve the 'crying makeup' look, social media's latest beauty trend

The idea is to banish any mattifying product from this new beauty routine. The professional then mixes her foundation with a moisturiser for a light and fresh look, and focuses on concealer, which should be lighter than her skin tone, with an emphasis on the forehead and chin.

Then comes contouring, with more product under the cheekbones and on the jawline to capture the effect of bathroom lighting and the famous warmth of the shower, all followed by a glossy highlighter to achieve a wet look.

All that's left to do is apply mascara, lip liner, lip gloss and – an essential step – to give hair a matching wet look.

And that's it. Just be careful not to get caught up in the game and leave home in a bathrobe... – AFP Relaxnews