Gone are the days where perfect skin meant full coverage matte foundation followed by loads of powder. Nowadays, we don’t suffocate our skin with harsh, heavy products to achieve a flawless face.
We all want to look radiant and glowy, and you don’t need to have perfect skin to achieve this look, either. Nobody has perfect skin all the time! Everyone should embrace their natural skin texture and impurities.
The most important thing to take into consideration when trying a glowing skin makeup routine is, of course, your skincare routine. Since this makeup technique is not meant to cover up, just enhance, it will work best if your skin is in tip-top shape. Remember to let your skin breathe—it will thank you in the long run.
Hydration is the key to glowing, glossy skin. You will need an even, protected base for your makeup products to go on smoothly.
Cleanser
Start with your favorite cleanser. If you are still on the hunt for the perfect cleanser, search for one that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils. A cult-favorite cleanser that does the job without being too harsh is Krave Beauty’s Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser ($16, shop here), which will protect and nourish your skin’s barrier function.
Serum
Next, follow up with your morning treatment or serum. This step will do the most to correct any skin issues, and it will also give you a healthy glow. Any skin type can opt for a vitamin C or a peptide serum. Try the Glow Maker for $27.95 (shop here). If you are oily, try a niacinamide serum (shop here) and if you are more normal-to-dry, opt for a hyaluronic acid serum (shop here).
Moisturizer
After treatments and serums, it’s time to moisturize! No matter your skin type, don’t skip this step. The type of moisturizer you choose can also affect the outcome of this glossy skin look.
If you are more on the oily side, look for a gel moisturizer, like Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Water Gel Moisturizer (shop here), for a lightweight formula with intense hydration. If you are have dry skin, opt for a moisturizer with Squalane, B vitamins, glycerin, ceramides, and/or hyaluronic acid (shop here). Regardless, you want a moisturizer that goes on smoothly and acts as a base for your foundation.
Sunscreen
The most significant step in any skincare routine is sunscreen. If you only use one skincare product, make it sunscreen. It is the best tool for protecting your skin. If you want very little coverage, consider a tinted sunscreen so you can skip foundation.
If you are looking for a glowy sunscreen that absorbs quickly, SuperGoop’s Daily Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 40 ($38, shop here) is perfect. If you need oil control, use SuperGoop’s Unseen Sunscreen ($34, shop here) to achieve a velvety, satin finish.
Makeup
Less is more with this routine. Glass skin is all about showing off your complexion, so go easy on any obvious makeup and focus on that glow.
Foundation
When it comes to your foundation, it’s all personal preference. Pick one that works for your skin type. Not every foundation finish will work for everyone, so take the time to find the right formula for you.
Concealer
Time to conceal! Again, pick what works best for you, whether you need extra coverage or just a spot concealer. If you’re having a good skin day, you may want to skip foundation all together and just use a bit of concealer where you need it.
Cheeks
When it comes to bronzer, contour, blush, and highlight, it’s crucial to stick with cream or liquid products. They will give the most natural, lit-from-within finish.
A cream bronzer or contour won’t look harsh and will be easy to blend. Even if you go overboard, you can go back in with your foundation brush to tone it down. Try the RMS Buriti Bronzer ($28, shop here). It’s buildable and works for most skin tones.
For blush, you can never go wrong with a universally flattering peach tone. Placement makes all the difference here. If you want a snatched look, place it on top of your cheekbones where you would usually apply highlighter. For a flushed look, blend it on the apples of the cheeks.
A balm highlighter will be your best option for glass skin—it will add the right amount of glow without too much shimmer. One of the best ones on the market is Danessa Myricks’s Dew Wet Balm ($22, shop here). This highlight comes in multiple shades and won’t smear your makeup. You can even tap it on top of powder. If you are sticking to a budget, use Aquaphor ($4.59, shop here).
Finishing Touches
To bring the look together, let’s talk about finishing powder. Use a finely-milled, translucent powder without a color tint, and set your makeup under the eyes and the t-zone. You want to use just enough to protect your set your makeup, not to matte it.
For full, fluffy brows, try a tinted brow gel. Fill an eyeliner brush with a bit of product to create hair-like strokes, and finish by brushing them up with the brow gel spoolie.
Finally, lips! It wouldn’t be a glossy skin look without lip gloss. Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb ($19, shop here) is a non-sticky option that stays liquid-looking all day. Not a fan of gloss? Aquaphor, again, can do the job. A nourishing lip balm can still give a glossy glow!