Dumplings: whether you prefer yours filled with pork, prawn or veggies, I think we can all agree that they’re freakin’ delicious. But we’re also willing to bet you’ve never looked down into your bamboo basket and wish you looked like the Chinese delicacy. However, that may be about to change! The latest skin trend taking the beauty world by storm is dumpling skin, and no, it doesn’t involve using a dumpling as a beauty blender (although we’d be impressed by anyone who managed to do that without breaking the dumpling!).
What is dumpling skin?
Dumpling skin refers to that plump, doughy, sheen you get when your highlighter is on point. You only need to look at NYC makeup artist Nam Vo’s Instagram to see this magical look in action—on supermodels like Rosie Huntington Whitely, no less! People are taking notice of Vo’s highlighting wizardry, with the #dewydumplings going viral (it has 1700 tags on IG, and counting!).
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How to get dumpling skin
So, do we get that #dewydumpling glow? According to Vo, it all begins with the prep. “I steam, I LED mask, I massage, I jade roll my face, I do Clear and Brilliant laser. I also do Higher Dose because I am all about steaming and sweating. I have the at-home wrap,” she told The Cut. She also swears by face oils.
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In terms of the actual makeup application, Vo shared a highlighting hack to get the dumpling-esque look with Glamour UK. “When the skin is wet and moist and very hydrated, it’s going to collect that highlighter pigment much better versus applying to dry skin”, she says. “Whether it’s a dewy primer, a cream-based product, whatever it is, it’s moist, it’s wet, it’s dumpling skin, and then the highlighter goes on and it’s going to grab that pigment.”
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She also adds that it’s all in the technique. “When I swiped on highlighter, it’s not sloppy, it’s very controlled and I bend my wrist back and forth”, she says. “I didn’t really notice until I watched other people’s videos trying to create a similar thing and I was like ohhhhh, it’s because they’re sloppy in the wrist.”
In terms of products to help you get that glutinous glow, Vo names Georgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation and Glossier’s illuminating stick as some of her faves.
