Everything You Need To Know To Get Dewy, Glowing Skin

Master glowing skin makeup looks with the dewy-centric tips experts reveal to achieve that captivating glow.

The dewy makeup look has been the mainstream aesthetic for quite some time now. It has replaced the heavily made-up contouring of Instagram's past. Now it’s all about glass-like dolphin skin – that has a dewy to almost wet look glow. 

One factor attributed to this change in beauty behaviour is living amid a pandemic. Many of us still wear less make-up than we used to. 71% of women surveyed by NPD Beauty said they “wear make-up less often due to COVID-19 lifestyle changes.”

Charlotte McHale, Clarins Training Manager, couldn’t agree more: “Based on our experience, people are spending more time on skincare and less time on make-up. It’s as a result of having more time at home and also dealing with problematic pandemic-related skincare concerns like maskne.” 

Adding, “Mask wearing has affected skin in terms of dehydration level but also congestion. When it comes to make-up, we see more people wanting a dewy make-up look. More emphasis on the eyes and less on bold lips.”  

What is dewy skin?

Dewy skin refers to skin that looks healthy, radiant, and is supple and smooth to touch. 

“Dewy, glowing skin, if it is a healthy glow rather than excess oil, comes from a high-water content in the epidermis [outer layer of the skin]. Of course, you can cheat the look with make-up, but to achieve ‘lit from within skin’ we would also recommend a consistent skincare regimen, with hydration and exfoliation,” McHale advises.

A skincare routine to get a dewy skin

Before we get started, it is important to point out that there is no such thing as a single correct skincare routine. When choosing the right facial cleanser, moisturiser, or foundation – one must know their skin type. 

Step 1: Exfoliate

If dewy, glowing skin is the goal, you’ll need to slough away dryness and dullness. McHale suggests exfoliating first to make sure dead skin cells are out of the way, so skin is more receptive to hydrating products. 

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, exfoliation can leave your skin looking brighter and improve the effectiveness of topical skincare products by enhancing absorption.  

McHale recommends using the One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. This scrub cleanses and exfoliates, gently removing everything that makes the skin look dull, leaving smooth, soft, and luminous skin. The orange extract tones up, and the moringa seed extract purifies and refines the skin. 

Step 2: Hydrate

After the cleansing and exfoliating process, hydration is next. To make sure your skin pH is balanced, don't forget to use a toner. Soothing Toning Lotion is all you need for a cleansed skin. Organic chamomile extract soothes and softens the skin. 

According to McHale, “The more water you have in your skin, the more light-reflective it is. Hydration is the absolute key.”

She recommends the products in the Hydra-Essentiel range because they are packed with the most hydrating ingredients, including the Leaf of Life, a succulent plant known in cosmetics to boost the skin’s natural hydration mechanisms.

For this step, Hydra-Essentiel Bi-phase Serum works best. This formula is perfect for women looking for intensive moisture. 

Followed by the Double Serum for a brighter, smoother complexion. With 22 powerful plant extracts, including the iconic turmeric extract, and 5 new pure active molecules to stimulate the skin's 5 vital functions, this serum is the top choice for youthful-looking skin. 

Step 3: Moisturise

While hydrating skin requires adding water, moisturising means adding ingredients that lock the water inside. Post serum, use the Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream moisturiser for an added radiance boost. This cream, enriched with hyaluronic acid, organic leaf of life extract and organic alpine willow herb, intensely hydrates and plumps the skin while also mattifying it. 

How to get dewy, glowing skin with make-up

When people see glowing skin, they think of healthy skin. The key to mastering this effortlessly dewy look is to wear as little make-up as possible. Here are dewy skin make-up tips experts swear by. 

Step 1: Start with a glowy base

Using a primer helps to prep the skin before make-up application. A product like SOS Primer does this job perfectly as it evens the skin tone and blurs fine lines and imperfections, and the active plant ingredient, sea lily, naturally illuminates and hydrates the skin. 

Step 2: Apply an ample amount of foundation

McHale recommends “using a serum-textured foundation compared to heavy formulas. This gives immediate freshness and a beautiful glow without masking the skin’s natural beauty. 

Skin Illusion Foundation is a good choice. It is formulated with red Jania extract and light optimising complex which instantly revives radiance.” The foundation gives you a barely-there finish and natural radiance

Step 3: Conceal dark circles

Since we are going for the look that says you have had eight hours of sleep, meditated and had a green smoothie all before 8 am, we may need to fully conceal those dark circles with something like the Everlasting Concealer. 

This light-weight but high coverage concealer is enriched with organic oat sugar with skin-tightening benefits, horse chestnut, which activates microcirculation and organic quinoa extract to maintain hydration on the skin. 

Step 4: Add some pigment

Blushes and highlighters are your new best friends for a defined and lively look. Joli Blush is available in 7 shades to match your preferences, from pinky baby to orange hues. 

Step 5: Coat your lashes

Just a couple of coats would do the trick. McHale raves about the Supra Volume Mascara because it is part lash care and part makeup. Draw a thin line above your lashes using a felt-tip eyeliner for a more lifted, youthful effect. Waterproof Eye Pencil is an option for those who want a stroke of pure bold colour to the eye contour yet is easy to blend for a smoky effect.

Step 6: Finish with a matte lip

Pros recommend finishing the dewy make-up look with subdued lips. A matte lip would be perfect. Opt for natural shades like coral or nude, as this keeps the glowy skin the focus of the face. Consider Joli Rouge in Raspberry and Nude Brick. 

Step 7: Set with a face mist

Clarins' Fix’ Make-Up ensures your make-up holds 24 hours and leaves skin beautifully radiant day after day. A better alternative to set your dewy make-up look in place is the Hydra-Essential Hydrating Multi-Protection Mist. 

Pro Tip: You can also place the highlighter on the peak of your forehead, eyelids, the tip of your nose and your cupid’s bow. 

Need more help in creating a dewy canvas? We recommend getting your beauty diagnosis for a personalised skincare routine tailored to your habits, expectations, and preferences through Clarins’ beauty prescription.

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