By Bella Blissett
More often that not, seasonal skin rules dictate that in summer we slip into something glowy and in winter we go all powdered and velvety. For spring summer 2013 though, the backstage make up maestros have match made dewy and matte and come up with a whole new complexion crossbreed.

Case in point? Diane Kendal leading the charge at by prepping skin with moisturiser – but using a large blusher brush to follow up with NARS Powder Foundation for a look that was "matte but still fresh".
One demi-powdered look down and it was on to Tibi where Kimberley Sloane used Bobbi Brown’s SS13 Retouching Powders to create a texture that was “not glowy, not matte – but satin”.
Bringing up the New York, new skin finish charge was Charlotte Tilbury. At she “let the skin’s natural shine creep towards the outer edges of the face” yet powdered the centre strip to create our favourite new complexion compromise.
Fast forward to Paris and Val Garland used creamy concealer to contour cheekbones then topped skin with a new light-reflecting powder for a demi-moist, demi-matte “honed to the bone” finish.
Setting her quasi-powdered seal on new season skin texture today was Pat McGrath at (pictured above). Atop foundation, the old slightly ‘boyish’ blush trick, (cream formula blended in a downwards direction) added a natural-looking freshness – while a featherlight dusting of loose powder over the whole face created a subtly matte finish.
Forget ‘no make up make up’, this new “fresh matte” is McGrath’s tip for getting that really “looks perfect just the way it is”. We just wish we’d thought of this years ago.