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Are you striving to defy your oily skin woes and manifest the coveted Korean dewy skin look?
Or perhaps you’re aiming for that naturally radiant, ‘just stepped out of a spa’ glow?
Whatever your skin goals, achieving the dewy skin look is well within your reach!
By rotating skincare secrets and make-up master strokes, you can unlock the door to a luminous, glowing complexion.
Become a glow-getter and rediscover your skin’s innate vitality as we demystify the dewy skin look in this comprehensive guide, unveiling the secrets behind the masterpiece that is glowing skin.
We promise, it’s not as tricky as it might seem. Let’s glow, shall we?
What Is Dewy Skin?
If you’ve ever watched a Korean drama, you’ll notice how flawless their skin looks, it’s poreless and ultra-dewy – also known as having “glass skin”, a popular K-beauty trend, which is likely where the inspiration for “dewy skin” comes from.
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You might think there’s a very skilled make-up artist behind this look helping clients to achieve this effortless and youthful glow (and sometimes there is) but aside from a little highlighter or luminizer to enhance the finish, you can get this look naturally by paying closer attention to your skin health first.
I know it’s easier said than done but drinking plenty of water and a clean diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables is a good place to start.
A 2014 study by The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology found a direct link between what you eat and its impact on your skin.
Regular exfoliating also plays a major role in improving your skin’s texture and tone.
According to a study by PRS Global Open, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, skin radiance diminishes as we get older as the “epidermal cell turnover rate slows down”, this creates a “build-up of dead keratinocytes in the stratum corneum and follicular ostia, creating the appearance of rough, dry skin, enlarged pores, and poor light reflection.”
When we exfoliate, it removes this excess buildup on our face, which then stimulates cell turnover for a more polished, smoother and translucent surface (hello dewy!)
Plus, makeup sits much better on skin that has been cared for anyway!
Dewy Skin vs Oily Skin
Dewy skin and oily skin often get mistaken for each other due to their similar appearance, but they are fundamentally different.
A fresh, radiant complexion that looks as if it’s been kissed by morning mist – that’s the essence of dewy skin. This look is usually achieved through skincare routines and makeup application techniques that emphasise hydration and luminosity (which we’ll get into!)
On the other hand, oily skin is a skin type characterised by the overproduction of sebum, the skin’s natural oil, by the sebaceous glands.
This leads to a shiny or greasy appearance and can often result in clogged pores and acne. Individuals with oily skin might find it challenging to maintain makeup as the excess oil can cause it to break down faster.
Oily skin requires a tailored skincare approach to balance oil production and maintain a healthy complexion.
With dewy skin as the goal, here’s everything you’ll need to achieve “dewy skin” without make-up.
Keep Your Face Clean with a Quality Cleanser
Cleansing is considered the cornerstone of any skincare routine. It removes your make-up, oils and dirt from your skin. If your face is not cleansed properly it could lead to breakouts, ageing and dehydration – exactly what we don’t want when trying to get dewy skin!
Dr.Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Enzyme Foam Cleanser is a mild cleanser made with hydrating glycerin which gently removes impurities and a unique blend of herbs, minerals, a moisturising humectant, and a probiotic ferment to leave the skin feeling soft and soothed.
Use a Hydrating Toner
Using a facial toner, particularly one with rose water will supercharge hydration into the skin, providing a healthy and youthful radiance. According to Byrdie, it also has “natural antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial powers” too.
Rosewater is made by distilling rose petals with steam and it’s no new skincare sensation either – it’s been around for thousands of years!
Fresh’s Rose Deep Hydrating Toner contains lots of hydrating face goodies like Hyaluronic Acid, Angelic Leaf extract, Rose Fruit Extract as well as Rosewater and 97% of their test subjects reported that their skin felt softened and refreshed after using it.
Exfoliate 2-3 Times Per Week
According to celebrity esthetician Renee Rouleau, there are many benefits to exfoliating your skin, some of which are:
Fewer visible lines and wrinkles around the eyes.
Makes large pores appear smaller
An overall smoother, brighter and more even-toned complexion
Makeup goes on more smoothly
The Facial Puff Sponge with French Red Clay from Konjac Sponge Co may not look like much, but once water is added to it, it turns into a ‘pillow-soft’ sponge that will gently brighten dull skin, refine pores and reduce uneven skin tone.
Massage Your Face
Jade rollers have grown to become an essential skincare staple in recent years, in fact, a search of #jaderoller on Instagram pulls up over 227,000 posts.
Popular Influencer-turned-entrepreneur Marianna Hewitt made a testimonial video back in 2017 on how to use a jade roller and its benefits which has amassed more than 3M views.
So if you want a cost-effective and non-invasive tool that improves circulation and encourages lymphatic drainage (which boosts the skin’s natural detoxification process), reduces puffiness and calms inflammation, include a jade roller in your skincare routine!
Use a Serum or Face Oil with Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a bit of a buzzword in the skincare and beauty world and for good reason! Hyaluronic is a sugar molecule found naturally in the skin, it holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water and keeps the skin plump and hydrated, but as we get older this decreases.
But fear not, there are many Hyaluronic Acid serums out there that will deliver a burst of hydration no matter your age or skin type!
An article on Byrdie states that “hyaluronic acid is safe for all skin types, but it is especially helpful for those with dry skin.”
The Typology Hydrating Serum also includes 2% Pro-Vitamin B5 and 1% Bio-sourced Aquaxyl for an extra boost.
Vitamin C Moisturiser
Moisturising should be one of the most important steps in your morning and nighttime skincare routine.
Moisturising helps to keep your skin replenished and hydrated, but when you have Vitamin C in the mix, you can also benefit from extra hydration, brightening, collagen production and much more!
According to Skincare Hero, Vitamin C was the second most Google-searched skincare ingredient after Aloe Vera in 2021.
So unless you want ‘dewy’ without the ‘glow’, try Sunday Riley’s C.E.O Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream.
Use a Hydrating Mask
Like most of the products on this list, the creamy Avocado Nourishment Hydration Mask from Kiehl’s deeply softens and nourishes the skin.
But thanks to the star ingredient in this formula, your skin will soak up antioxidants, minerals, omega-9 and vitamins A, D and E too.
This mask also contains Evening Primrose Oil which can enhance the elasticity and texture of the skin, increase moisture and soothe irritation.
If you want to make your own glowing face mask, click here for 5 recipes!
If you really want to use make-up to achieve dewy skin, give these a try:
Illuminating Face Primer
If you want to wear make-up with a non-greasy glow, you’ll need a good-quality illuminating primer.
Apply the primer on top of your moisturiser, before your foundation, it will help to make your skin appear silky and hide fine lines. An illuminating primer will add a subtle radiance!
The Illuminating Face Primer from e.l.f promises to stay on all day!
Hydrating Foundation
All foundations are formulated to cover blemishes and imperfections, make your complexion appear uniform, and smooth out your skin. But a non-mattifying foundation will also give an airbrushed radiance.
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation is one of the most popular dewy foundations on the market and with 30 shades available, you’re very likely to find the right shade for your skin tone.
Tip: If you have oil-prone skin, a hydrating foundation will only make you look super greasy, so stick to a matte foundation and apply a little highlighter in the areas where you would like some glow.
Hydrating Cream
Tatcha’s The Dewy Skin Cream is a luxurious, rich moisturiser lauded for its ability to hydrate and nourish the skin, resulting in a healthy, radiant glow.
The cream is a unique product from Tatcha, a popular Japanese skincare brand renowned for its high-quality, clean ingredients, and innovative formulas.
Designed for dry and dull skin types. It is powered by a variety of key ingredients that together create a unique recipe for skin revitalisation.
These ingredients include Japanese Purple Rice, which is rich in antioxidants, Okinawa Algae Blend and Hyaluronic Acid for deep hydration, and botanical extracts like Ginkgo Biloba and Green Tea to protect and nourish the skin.
Use a Luminizer or Highlighter
A luminizer like the RMS Beauty Living Luminizer will create an ultra-sheer, ‘lit-from-within’ natural glow to your overall complexion.
This nourishing luminizer is available as a cream, but you can get lumunizers in powder and liquid form too.
Use a highlighter like the celebrity-approved Iconic London Illuminator (loved by the likes of Vanessa Budgens and Kim Kardashian) if you want to emphasise your bone structure in certain areas like your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose or browbone – a highlighter will concentrate light in that area.
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