High Rise Skin 2026: The Beauty Trend Replacing Glass Skin, According to Celebrity Makeup Artists
High Rise Skin 2026: The Beauty Trend Replacing Glass Skin, According to Celebrity Makeup Artists
In 2026, the beauty world is witnessing a seismic shift in how we think about skin. Move over, glass skin—there is a new complexion goal in town. Celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin, Tatcha's Global Director of Artistry and Education, has coined a term that is rapidly becoming the defining beauty trend of the year: High Rise Skin. The concept, first spotlighted by Marie Claire in March 2026, is redefining how makeup artists, dermatologists, and beauty enthusiasts approach their daily routines, placing emphasis on skin preparation over product layering.
Unlike the high-shine, reflective finish championed by the glass skin movement, High Rise Skin prioritizes smoothness, evenness, and dimension that come from properly prepped skin. Think of it as building a skyscraper: if the foundation—your skincare—does not create a strong base, then every additional floor—your makeup—is going to crumble. This architectural metaphor captures exactly why the High Rise Skin trend is resonating so deeply with beauty consumers in 2026.
What Exactly Is High Rise Skin?
High Rise Skin is a beauty philosophy that centers on achieving a radiant, refined, and controlled glow through meticulous skin preparation rather than relying on heavy makeup application or excessive product layering. According to Daniel Martin, who works with A-list clients including Michelle Yeoh, Dakota Johnson, and Gemma Chan, the trend is about creating a canvas so flawless that minimal makeup is needed.
"It is about smoothness, evenness, and dimension that come from properly prepped skin, not necessarily from layering on products for extra shine," Martin explained in his interview with Marie Claire. The end result is skin that looks polished and luminous from within—not because of a dozen highlighters stacked on top of each other, but because the skin itself is healthy, hydrated, and well-prepared.
This approach aligns with the broader 2026 skincare movement toward longevity and regeneration. According to Boots' 2026 Beauty & Wellness Trends Report, 80% of adults are now adopting a preventative approach to their beauty routines, prioritizing consistent, long-term care over quick fixes. High Rise Skin fits perfectly into this paradigm shift.
High Rise Skin vs. Glass Skin: What Changed?
Glass skin, the K-beauty trend that dominated beauty conversations for several years, was all about achieving the most reflective, dewy, almost wet-looking complexion possible. While stunning in editorial settings and Instagram photos, the look proved difficult to maintain in real life and often required multiple layers of hydrating products, essences, and illuminating primers.
The High Rise Skin trend represents what industry insiders are calling "post-glass skin" or "glass skin 2.0." Instead of chasing maximum shine, the focus has shifted toward creating skin that looks naturally healthy, smooth, and dimensional. The glow is still there, but it is a controlled radiance rather than an all-over reflective sheen.
Beauty Independent's 2026 trend report notes that consumers are "overwhelmed by constant product launches" and are gravitating toward "products with clear purpose, multifunctionality, and proven results." Erica Choi of Superegg observes that the ten-step routine era is fading, replaced by streamlined regimens that deliver visible results without the complexity. High Rise Skin embodies this philosophy—fewer products, better application, superior results.
Daniel Martin's 3-Step Foundation for High Rise Skin
Achieving the High Rise Skin look does not require an expensive overhaul of your skincare collection. According to Daniel Martin, the approach rests on three foundational pillars that anyone can incorporate into their existing routine:
Step 1: Preparation and Hydration
The first and most critical step is ensuring your skin is properly hydrated. Martin recommends starting with a hydrating essence—he personally favors Tatcha's The Essence—to create a moisture-rich base. "You want something that truly supports the skin so it stays plump and even throughout the day," he explains. The key is not just surface-level hydration but deep, sustained moisture that keeps skin looking fresh for hours. For his celebrity clients, Martin follows the essence with either Tatcha's The Water Cream for oilier skin types or The Dewy Skin Cream for those needing richer hydration.
Step 2: Gentle Exfoliation
The second pillar involves texture refinement through gentle exfoliation. Martin is adamant that this step is non-negotiable: "A gentle exfoliator or a toner is key to refining texture and creating a smoother surface with no pilling or flaking." He uses Tatcha's The Texture Tonic to remove dead skin cells and create the smooth canvas that High Rise Skin demands. This step ensures that whatever products are applied next—whether skincare or makeup—adhere evenly and beautifully to the skin's surface.
Step 3: Moisturizer with Purpose
The final skincare step is a moisturizer that delivers a specific finish. "The goal is a cushiony, velvet-like finish," Martin says. This is not about loading up on dewy creams; it is about creating a surface that is soft, smooth, and perfectly primed for whatever comes next. The moisturizer acts as the final "structural floor" before any makeup application. If those three things are done properly, everything else becomes easier, and you do not need heavy coverage because the surface is already doing the work.
How to Apply Makeup for High Rise Skin
Once the skincare base is established, the makeup application for High Rise Skin is deliberately restrained. Daniel Martin emphasizes that foundation "should be buffed into the skin so there are no visible seams; it should not sit on top, but look like skin." This means using lighter coverage formulations, applying with a damp beauty sponge or dense kabuki brush, and building coverage only where truly needed.
For red carpet events requiring 12+ hours of wear, Martin employs a specific technique: he starts with a water-based primer like Tatcha's Liquid Silk Canvas as a base "magnet," follows with his makeup application, and finishes with a setting spray. Throughout the event, he recommends Tatcha Blotting Papers for touch-ups rather than powder, which can look cakey over time.
His blush technique is equally strategic: cream blush goes on before foundation to create a natural flush from within, then a dusting of powder blush on top locks the color in place. This layering method ensures the color looks skin-like rather than painted on—a hallmark of the High Rise Skin aesthetic.
The Science Behind the Trend: Why Skin Prep Matters More Than Ever
The High Rise Skin trend is not just an aesthetic preference—it is grounded in dermatological science. As skincare formulations become more advanced in 2026, experts are emphasizing that how you prepare your skin directly impacts the efficacy of every product that follows.
Dr. Whitney Bowe, a board-certified dermatologist, has been vocal about the importance of barrier health and skin preparation. She emphasizes that peptides, the building blocks of skin proteins, require proper delivery systems and "clinical efficacy" backed by "measurable data." The High Rise Skin approach naturally supports this by ensuring the skin barrier is intact and receptive before any active ingredients or makeup are applied.
The 2026 focus on biotech-driven actives further supports this trend. Stephanie Sprayregen of Mumuk explains that "lab-engineered peptides, recombinant growth factors, and precision ferments are outperforming traditional hero ingredients." When skin is properly prepped using the High Rise method, these advanced actives penetrate more effectively and deliver superior results.
Product Recommendations for Achieving High Rise Skin
While Daniel Martin naturally gravitates toward Tatcha products in his professional work, the High Rise Skin approach can be achieved with a variety of brands. Here are some expert-approved product categories and recommendations for building your High Rise Skin routine:
Hydrating Essences: Look for formulations containing hyaluronic acid, amino acids, or fermented ingredients. K-beauty innovations continue to lead in this category, with postbiotic and microbiome-supporting formulas gaining particular traction in 2026.
Gentle Exfoliators: Chemical exfoliants with low concentrations of AHAs or PHAs are preferred over physical scrubs. The goal is to refine texture without compromising the skin barrier—a concern that aligns with the broader shift away from aggressive treatments.
Barrier-Supporting Moisturizers: Ceramide-rich formulas that strengthen the skin's natural defenses while providing a smooth, velvet-like finish. Tatcha's Water Cream, Tata Harper's new Crème Supreme, and formulations featuring amino acids are all excellent choices.
Lightweight Sunscreens: Since High Rise Skin is about natural radiance, a sunscreen that does not leave a white cast or greasy finish is essential. Tatcha's Milky Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA++++ and other K-beauty sunscreens with advanced filters fit this requirement perfectly.
Primers: Water-based primers that create an invisible barrier between skincare and makeup. These should smooth, not add shine—the luminosity should come from the skin itself.
Why High Rise Skin Is More Than Just a Trend
What makes High Rise Skin particularly compelling is its alignment with several major beauty movements happening simultaneously in 2026. The trend intersects with skinimalism (the less-is-more approach to skincare), longevity beauty (focusing on long-term skin health rather than quick fixes), and the broader rejection of complicated multi-step routines.
Alexandra Keating of Uni predicts that "AI-powered recommendations and discovery" will further drive this trend, as personalized skincare routines become more accessible and consumers can identify exactly which prep products work best for their individual skin type. The future of High Rise Skin may well involve AI-powered skin analysis tools like Swan Beauty's mirror, which offers features like an AI Skin Analyzer and Routine Builder to optimize each person's preparation steps.
The decline of fear-based "clean" marketing and the rise of evidence-based skincare also supports the High Rise Skin philosophy. As Kim van Haaster of Bloomeffects notes, the emphasis in 2026 is on "formulas with ceramides, antioxidants, and SPF" that strengthen skin function—exactly the kind of products that build the strong foundation the High Rise Skin approach demands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the High Rise Skin trend in 2026?
A: High Rise Skin is a beauty trend coined by celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin that focuses on achieving a smooth, even, and radiant complexion through meticulous skin preparation rather than heavy makeup application. The concept uses a skyscraper metaphor—if your skincare foundation is strong, everything built on top will hold perfectly.
Q: How is High Rise Skin different from glass skin?
A: While glass skin emphasizes a high-shine, almost wet-looking reflective finish, High Rise Skin prioritizes a controlled, natural-looking radiance that comes from well-prepped skin. High Rise Skin requires fewer products and focuses on skin health and texture rather than maximum dewiness.
Q: What products do I need for the High Rise Skin look?
A: According to Daniel Martin, you need three core products: a hydrating essence or serum, a gentle exfoliator or toner, and a moisturizer that delivers a cushiony, velvet-like finish. From there, minimal foundation buffed seamlessly into the skin completes the look.
Q: Can I achieve High Rise Skin on a budget?
A: Absolutely. The High Rise Skin approach is more about technique than expensive products. Any gentle exfoliator, hydrating toner, and quality moisturizer can serve as your foundation. The key is consistency in your prep routine and learning to buff foundation into the skin rather than layering it on top.
Q: Is the High Rise Skin trend suitable for all skin types?
A: Yes. Because High Rise Skin focuses on proper preparation and barrier health rather than specific product types, it can be adapted for oily, dry, combination, and sensitive skin. Daniel Martin himself adjusts his product choices based on each client's skin type—lighter hydrators for oily skin, richer creams for dry skin—while maintaining the same foundational approach.
The Bottom Line
High Rise Skin represents a maturation of the beauty industry's relationship with complexion. Rather than chasing the next viral filter-like finish, this trend asks a more fundamental question: is your skin actually healthy? In 2026, the answer matters more than ever. By focusing on preparation—hydration, gentle exfoliation, and purposeful moisturization—the High Rise Skin approach delivers results that look better, last longer, and actually improve your skin over time.
As Daniel Martin puts it, when your skincare foundation is strong, "you do not need heavy coverage because the surface is already doing the work." In a year defined by longevity, skinimalism, and evidence-based beauty, High Rise Skin is not just a trend—it is a philosophy worth building on.
Sources: Marie Claire | W Magazine | Beauty Independent | Cosmetics Business
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