9 Best Tips for Getting the Glowing Skin of Your Dreams

9 Steps to Making Your Skin Glow

1. Water Yourself Daily

Yes, we’re talking about hydration—specifically from the inside out. Water is crucial for skin health, as it can help strengthen your skin barrier, boost skin elasticity, and combat dryness. If you struggle to meet your daily H2O intake, try starting your day with a glass of water, then filling up a large water bottle (we know you have a Stanley somewhere) two to three times a day. No matter what skin type you have, this tip is for you.

2. Pay Attention to Diet

PSA for all the millennials out there: Your obsession with avocado toast can finally pay off. Incorporating more healthy fats (à la avocados and nuts) into your diet can help keep skin moisturized, and antioxidants (via food like blueberries and leafy greens) can help fight free radicals. Free radicals can damage skin cells and lead to premature aging, two things that work against you on your quest for a healthy glow.

3. Exfoliate Your Skin

The buildup of dead skin cells can cause your complexion to look dull, which is why exfoliation is key when you want glowy skin. Whether you opt for chemical exfoliants or physical exfoliants is up to you (we like to alternate), but just be sure not to overexfoliate. For a gentle physical exfoliation, one of our favorite cleansers is the FENTY SKIN Cherry Dub Superfine Daily Cleansing Face Scrub, which helps buff away dry skin and instantly reduce the look of pores.

4. Use a Vitamin C Serum

The list of benefits to using this antioxidant powerhouse goes on and on, from helping to boost collagen production to helping defend against free radical damage (which, as we mentioned earlier, can lead to signs of skin aging). When building your skincare routine for glowing skin, adding vitamin C is essential. We recommend trying the OLIVIAUMMA Glass Skin Tanghulu Multi Vitamin Serum, a multivitamin multitasker packed with vitamins A, B, C, and E—plus niacinamide—to help brighten and even out your skin tone.

5. Layer on Luminosity

We find that the most radiant complexions are built layer by layer. Rather than simply adding highlighter to your cheeks at the end of your makeup routine (though you could do that too), think about what products you can use together to create a natural glow. We like going in with the GLOW RECIPE Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops after applying vitamin C serum. This serum makes your skin look glowy without emphasizing skin texture, imparting that gorgeous lit-from-within radiance.

6. Lock in Moisture

After your cleansers and serums, be sure to seal in all that hydrating goodness (and the glow you’ve created so far) with a moisturizer or facial oil—or both. You can’t go wrong with the TATCHA The Dewy Skin Cream, a decadent cream that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, or the PURLISSE BEAUTY Glow Revival Facial Oil, a luxurious facial oil that leaves skin looking smooth and radiant. When in doubt, an easy way to dial up the hydration factor is to look for products containing hyaluronic acid, one of skincare’s most-loved ingredients for its ability to help skin retain moisture.

7. Never Skip Your SPF

Not to alarm you, but all your skincare ingredients will basically go to waste if you forget to apply your sunscreen. A broad-spectrum sunscreen helps protect your skin from harsh UV rays that can lead to dark spots, fine lines, sun damage, and even skin cancer. The bottom line? We all need sun protection in our lives for healthy skin.

8. Look for Dewy Finishes

For a makeup-focused way to create a radiant complexion, we swear by illuminating primers and dewy-finish foundations. By creating a luminous base for your makeup to sit on, you’ll achieve a much more natural glow—and it’s also a quick way to cover up any pigmentation, breakouts, or dark circles that could compromise your glow.

9. Add Blush or Highlighter

Ever notice how your face can go from looking flat to fabulous with just a few swipes of blush? Same. Give your cheeks that just-pinched look with a dusting of your fave blush, then apply highlighter wherever the sun would naturally hit—like the high points of your cheeks or along the brow bones—to make your skin glow.

Final Thoughts

No matter your lifestyle, skin type, or makeup skill level, you’ve got options when it comes to achieving glowing skin. Some take more time and commitment, while others are great for a quick fix—but being intentional with your diet and skincare will go a long way in making your glow goals a reality.