If you’ve ever wanted that lit-from-within, just-got-back-from-vacation glow, you're in luck. The secret to healthy, radiant, clear, glowing skin is actually really simple: choose the right skincare and beauty products, build a skincare and beauty routine, step back, and admire the results.
Sure, getting a year-round glow takes time and practice, but there are plenty of quick techniques and tricks you can start right now to jumpstart your glowing skin journey. In fact, while it's not possible to achieve blemish-free, clear skin overnight (we'll let you know if we figure it out), there are a few super-simple steps you can take to hydrate, highlight, and brighten your skin for that healthy skin glow.
Below, we’ve put together some of our favorite skin care and beauty tips for attaining effortless, radiant skin in no time.
1) Build A Customized Skincare Routine (and Stick To It!)
The most important step to getting glowing skin is creating a skincare routine that works for you. We break down the specifics of what your skincare routine should consist of here, but in general, your skincare regimen should consist of a cleanser, toner, exfoliator, serum, and moisturizer.
While your unique skin type will determine the exact products you reach for, a great cleanser and toner specifically formulated for getting glowing skin is SKIN & CO ROMA’s Truffle Therapy Cleanse & GLOW Duo. This nourishing, hydrating duo keeps your skin refreshed and radiant thanks to a luxurious blend of botanical extracts and powerful skin-boosting antioxidants. It’s perfect for your glow-up because it’ll tighten the appearance of pores, reduce irritation, refine fine lines, protect your skin from environmental damage, and minimize blemishes and discoloration.
Of course, if you're really committed to the glow, don't forget to wash your face daily, both morning and night. Also, be sure to use gentle, circular motions whenever you're cleansing: this will both improve blood flow to your face and keep your skin clean without tearing or irritation.
2) Slather on the Vitamin C
It's no secret that vitamin C is great for clear, glowing skin. This vitamin is a main ingredient in collagen, which is an important building block for strong and healthy skin. Vitamin C also has brightening and smoothing effects and can zap away dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
While you can of course opt for extra oranges to up your vitamin C dosage, another simple way to take your vitamins is to include products with vitamin C in your skin care routine. SUNDAY RILEY’s C.E.O Glow Vitamin C and Turmeric Face Oil recharges the radiance of your skin while hydrating, and won't leave a greasy residue. Great for a variety of skin types–from combination to dry skin–it’s packed with advanced Vitamin C and golden turmeric for instant vibrance and antioxidant defense. It's also formulated with cold-pressed, nutrient-rich extracts to brighten and nurture your complexion.
Another great way to boost your vitamin C is incorporating PIXI BY PETRA’s Vitamin C Tonic into your routine. This brightening toner is made with probiotics to fortify your skin’s barrier, while willow bark and fruit extracts gently exfoliate for a brighter, more luminous complexion.
3) Exfoliate–But Not Everyday
Ever wondered how to get glowing skin fast? Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. Using a chemical or physical exfoliant is the best way to get rid of debris and dead skin cell buildup to instantly smooth and brighten skin. But be careful not to overdo it: exfoliating too often can actually worsen dry or irritated patches, and even make breakouts worse. So, no matter what you use to exfoliate, be sure you're being super gentle on your skin and only exfoliating a couple times a week at most.
While which exfoliator you'll use will depend on your skin type, GOLDFADDEN MD’s Doctor’s Scrub is a great daily facial exfoliator for a variety of skin types. This exfoliating scrub hydrates as it removes dead skin cells to reveal your natural glow and improve your skin texture and tone. It also contains super-hydrating hyaluronic acid, a moisturizing agent that makes your skin look and feel soft, smooth, and luxurious.
For another great gentle option suitable for a variety of skin types, APTO SKINCARE’s Liquid Exfoliant is a convenient and easy-to-use spray you can take with you on the go. Packed with good-for-you ingredients like glycolic acid and pomegranate extract, this exfoliant is like a superfood smoothie for your face.
4) Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
The skin is the body's largest organ, so you have to make sure it's happy and hydrated. Moisturizing on a daily basis (yes, even if you have oily skin) is essential for keeping your skin smooth and supple, and finding the right moisturizer for your skin type can only help you get glowing skin. A good moisturizer not only balances your skin's natural oil production, but protects against dryness and environmental damage, too.
For a great moisturizer for most skin types, GLAMGLOW’s Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturizer is a beautiful daily moisturizer that will give your skin an illuminated glow and luminous finish. It also combats dryness and dullness by boosting your skin’s radiance with pearl particles.
5) Use a Luminous-Finish Foundation
The right foundation can make your skin shine like never before. For the ultimate glowy look, stick to dewy or luminous finish foundations: these will hydrate your skin and leave them with a moisturized sheen. For more information on everything need to know about how to choose the right foundation for your skin type and skin needs, read our foundation guide here.
For full coverage without a cakey finish, try BOBBI BROWN’s Skin Nourishing Glow Foundation. This rich yet lightweight cream foundation offers nourishing moisture and a glowy finish for an ultra-polished, effortlessly radiant look. This foundation is perfect for normal to dry skin types, and combats dryness with an added moisture-reviving extract to instantly comfort, strengthen, and calm your skin. Your skin will look and feel intensely hydrated and plumped while this foundation covers everything from fine lines to redness.
If you want a more dewy look, try a tinted moisturizer. Tinted moisturizers tend to work best for dry skin and those who don't desire a fuller coverage, but it's all about experimenting to find what feels good for your skin. Generally, people love the lightness of a tinted moisturizer in the hotter months, and a skin-perfecting foundation in the cooler months.
For a great tinted moisturizer you can wear year-round, try AVEDA’s Inner Light Mineral Tinted Moisture. This tinted moisturizer contains 100% mineral-derived pigments and nourishing plant emollients for a smooth, even complexion. Tinted moisturizers tend to work best for dry skin and those who don't desire a fuller coverage, but it's all about experimenting to find what feels good for your skin. Generally, people love the lightness of a tinted moisturizer in the hotter months, and a skin-perfecting foundation in the cooler months.
6) Apply Sunscreen (Seriously)
Yes, we know you’ve heard it a million times, but it’s worth repeating: wear sunscreen, no matter what! Sunscreen protects your skin from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays, and it also reduces the effects of sun damage, which can cause discoloration, dark spots, sagging skin, and wrinkles–not to mention skin cancer. Dermatologists say it’s good to use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for the best daily protection, but you'll want to go higher than that if you're frequently outdoors or spend a lot of time in the sun.
An easy way to make sure you're applying your sunscreen regularly is to use a moisturizer with built-in SPF. PURLISSE BEAUTY’s Blue Lotus Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30 Sunscreen is a non-greasy formula that doesn’t leave a white tint, so you can layer your makeup on top of it without worrying it'll look paler than usual. This lightweight and nourishing moisturizer-sunscreen combo also protects against free-radical damage. What's not to love?
If you prefer to apply your sunscreen separately, try COOLA SUNCARE’s Full Spectrum 360 Mineral Sun Silk Crème Organic Sunscreen SPF 30, an oil-free, light-as-air mineral formula that gently glides to form a protective, transparent veil. Featuring a blend of supercharged antioxidants and plant stem cells, this sunscreen protects against environmental pollutants and promote skin radiance.
7) Use Highlighter or Illuminator
Highlighter is the perfect instant-glow tool because it illuminates specific sections of your face quickly and easily. Highlighters have been a staple for many makeup artists for years, and for good reason: highlighters come in a variety of formulations, from creams, liquids, gels, and sticks, and are so easy to use for a red carpet-ready glow. To learn how to apply highlighter and to find the best product for you, check out our guide here.
For a quick, dewy glow, use a fan brush to swipe a highlighting powder, like NOMAD COSMETICS’ Stockholm Illuminated Highlighting Powder, on the high points of your face: the tops of your cheekbones, on your brow bone, above the arch of your brow, on your Cupid’s bow (just above your upper lip), and on the tip and bridge of your nose. You can also mix a liquid or cream illuminator into your foundation for a fresh, all-over glow. A product like LXMI Nilotica Goddess Glow, which comes in a universally-flattering rose gold shade, hydrates and highlights for dewy perfection that can be easily mixed in or worn on top of your face makeup for a skin-boosting radiance.
8) Use a Radiance-Boosting Primer
Primer can be the key to a smooth, hydrating base that decreases the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, pores, and uneven skin tone. While you can totally use a primer alone for a sheer skin-perfecting coverage, it's a great stay-all-day base for your foundation or other face makeup. Find out more about different types of primers and how to apply them here.
For a truly bright, natural glow, we recommend LAURA MERCIER’s Radiance Foundation Primer (for fair to light skin tones) and Laura Mercier’s Radiance Bronze Foundation Primer (for medium to deep skin tones). This creamy, pearl-infused primer imparts a healthy, sun-kissed glow and creates a smooth surface for flawless makeup application. Unlike traditional primers overloaded with silicone smoothers, this gel-based primer is water-based, fresh, and lightweight, making it perfect for oily skin types.
Getting healthy, glowing skin is totally doable and attainable, no matter your age or skin type. As with all skincare and beauty products, it might take some trial and error before you find the right fit for you: but if you're making an active effort to take care of your skin, you're sure to be rewarded with a nourished, hydrated, and happy complexion.
Want to receive personalized products you can use to get started on your glowing skincare journey? Take our fun beauty quiz (check it out below!) to get started.