How to Get Dewy, Glowy Makeup in 4 Steps

In a world where looking like you “woke up like this” is becoming increasingly trendy, a subtle glow and skin-perfecting products have taken center stage. Call it no-makeup makeup, natural makeup, the clean look — the list goes on, but the effect is the same: dewy, minimal coverage foundation and radiant skin. Whatever you call it, it’s makeup that can work for anyone, with products like lightweight concealers, luminizing primers and creamy, glowy blushes. Get the look by following the tutorial below.

Step 1: Prep Your Skin

Any makeup artist will stress to you the importance of proper skin prep before makeup application. The right moisturizing skincare routine will help your makeup glide on smoothly and give your complexion a glow before you apply even a drop of foundation. We have an entire article on skin prep here, but the TL;DR of it is this: Mist your skin with a face mist, then massage in a moisturizer and a glow-inducing primer on top of that. We love the Youth to the People Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream and the Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer.

Step 2: Apply Foundation and Concealer — Sparingly

The choice is yours whether you want to apply foundation or just spot-conceal. If you spot-conceal, choose a lightweight yet full-coverage concealer that blends in easily to your skin tone for a seamless, barely there finish. We like the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer, applied with a brush and tapped into the skin with the fingers.

If you’re looking for more coverage, try applying a light layer of a radiant foundation. There are many glowy formulas we love, including the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Fresh Wear 24H Foundation, the Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation and the Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care & Glow Foundation. 

Step 3: Add Color With Cream Products

To keep your skin as dewy as possible, skip the powder in favor of tinted cream products. We’re partial to the Tower28 Extra Cheeky Trio, which includes a cream blush and bronzer in shades of your choosing, as well as a transparent highlighter that imparts a subtle glow on any skin tone. 

Step 4: Add a Setting Spray

Lock in your skin’s luminosity with a setting spray, like the NYX Professional Makeup Dewy Setting Spray. If you need extra staying power, apply a small amount of loose setting powder to areas that get oily, such as the T-zone, before applying your setting spray. Use a small, fluffy brush to keep the powder from caking in one specific area.

Additional reporting by Ariel Wodarcyk

Photo: Chaunte Vaughn