How to Get Glowing, Dewy Skin

Want to understand how to get glowing skin? Maybe you’re having one of *those* mornings - where you don’t just feel “blah,” but feel as if you look it, too? You might be stressed, overworked or have burnt both ends of the candle so far down that all that’s left is the wick. Unfortunately, skin isn’t very good at keeping secrets - and will be telling all via your dull, dreary complexion.

Or, maybe your skin is perfectly happy and healthy - but just doesn’t have that radiant glow you see other people with, and you’d like some of that same illumination for yourself? We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about how to make your skin glow for the kind of radiant, dewy skin we all want to see looking back at us in the mirror. 

What does ‘dewy’ skin mean? 

The description stems from dew, the glistening droplets of moisture that form on the ground and other surfaces during the night. Dewy skin is skin that appears smooth and glossy – as if it was saturated in moisture. The smoother and clearer skin is in terms of texture and tone, the more easily it will reflect the light and appear dewy. The level of luminosity we’re aiming for has been likened to a glazed doughnut, the shiny exterior of a dumpling and the gleam of an egg wash. You get the picture: dewiness is a sign of healthy, hydrated skin, which is all anyone wants. 

What makes glowy skin so appealing?

The real, anthropological appeal of glowy skin is that it signifies the appearance of good health for both your skin and body. Who doesn’t want to look rested and well? The reality might be that we’re surviving on a not-so-nutritious diet of snacks and caffeine, but that’s not what we want to present on the outside. 

Glowy skin is inherently youthful too. It’s no secret that our skin changes as we age. Lines and wrinkles form, and we can see the emergence of sun damage we accumulated in our younger years with the appearance of hyperpigmentation,too. These factors impact our complexion’s ability to bounce light, and therefore reduce glow. Ultimately, what’s good about glowing skin is what the term implies that your skin isn’t. It’s pretty much impossible for the skin to be dull and glowy, or dehydrated and glowy all at once. 

Is it possible to make dry or older skin look dewy? 

It is absolutely possible to make dry or older skin look dewy. The route to dewy skin is open to everyone – it just might be a little longer or windier depending on where you’re starting.

Dry skin is naturally lacking in oil, which means it’s not very good at keeping itself moisturised. This impacts the way skin looks and feels (it can often be rough or itchy) and it’s hard to get that longed-for luminosity without a good supply of oil. The best way to counteract this is to use ultra-hydrating and nourishing skincare and work on strengthening and supporting the skin barrier, so it can hold onto all the goodness you’re feeding it. Exfoliation can help too, to whisk away old, radiance-reducing skin cells from the surface. 

More mature complexions will additionally benefit from the advice for dry skin, as everyone’s natural supply of oil declines as we age – even if you had previously had combination or oily skin. You also want to focus on clearing pigmentation and smoothing lines with ingredients like Vitamin C and Niacinamide as well as gentle hydroxy acids,, as the clearer and smoother your skin is, the dewier it will look.

In the short term, what you can do is take the same approach most of us take when walking into an important meeting, or tiptoeing into a daunting new gym class, and fake it til you make it. Lightweight foundation, creamy blushers and luminous highlighters are all your shortcut to glowing skin while you wait patiently to reap the benefits of your skincare. 

10 ways to get glowing, dewy skin

Consider this your dewy skin checklist. The more you do, the more likely you are to glow: 

1. Eat well

Our skin is pretty good at giving us clues as to whether our body is happy or not, and a healthy inside will be reflected in glowing, dewy skin. Aim for a balanced diet with as many fresh fruit and vegetables as you can on every plate – the more colourful, the better. That’s not to say you can’t enjoy some treats too (the key is in the word balance) but make sure the scales aren’t tipping too far in favour of chocolate over nutrients. Beeline for healthy fats like avocado, Vitamin C-packed fruits like oranges and blueberries and watery foods like cucumber and watermelon.

2. Stay hydrated

It’s easy to tell when your body is lacking in hydration - maybe it’s the dry mouth or sluggish energy levels. Your skin can feel it, too. In the pecking order of our body, the skin is right at the back of the queue, with our vital organs taking priority. This means that whenever you drink water, the skin is the last place it reaches. So if you’re not drinking enough, it will barely get a look in. Aim for the recommended six to eight glasses per day, remembering you might need more during hot spells or after exercising. 

3. Double cleanse

A quick swipe with a wet wipe at the end of the day won’t cut it in the quest for glowing skin. To make sure your complexion is as clean as possible, and to give your other skincare the best possible chance of penetrating, try to kickstart your evening routine with a thorough double cleanse. Start with an oil-based cleanser to melt away makeup, SPF and daily grime before using a water-based cleanser to give those pores a good clear-out. By only cleansing once, you’re merely removing the first layer of dirt rather than getting into the skin. 

4. Exfoliate regularly

Our skin naturally works a little bit like a conveyor belt, shedding old, redundant skin cells to make space for the newer ones coming through beneath. This process doesn’t always work efficiently though (and slows as we age) so sometimes needs a helping hand. Exfoliating with either a physical grainy scrub or a liquid exfoliant like alpha, beta or poly-hydroxy acids will help to dislodge these old skin cells to reveal the shiny new ones beneath. 

5. Incorporate antioxidants 

It might not be visible to the naked eye, but every time we step outside our homes our skin is under siege from external stressors like UV and pollution. Both of these generate free radicals, which can wreak havoc on the skin to leave it dull, tired and dehydrated. What antioxidants do is act as a shield, protecting skin so that those free radicals can’t get a look in. Vitamins C and E are the most commonly used antioxidants in skincare and are best applied during the day to help defend your glow. Vitamin C also helps to brighten skin and fade pigmentation over time. 

6. Hydrate with serums 

We’ve already touched on the importance of drinking water, but it’s a good idea to apply hydration directly to the skin as well. Look out for humectants, like Hyaluronic Acid, which attract moisture and hold it in the skin like a big glug of water for your complexion. A hydrating serum can be applied morning and night and will help any follow-up serums slide into the skin more easily too. 

7. Consider an oil

Facial oils are a straightforward way to add luminosity to your complexion in the short and long term. The short term is pretty straightforward, as the skin will look instantly dewier and glossier when coated with nourishing oil. As for the long term, adding additional oil to the skin will help to seal in much-needed hydration. 

8. Give Retinol a go 

Retinoids like Retinol are hardworking ingredients with a whole roster of benefits. They work in two key ways. Firstly, they increase the rate at which our cells turnover. This brings the shiny new skin to the surface sooner than planned and helps to fade hyperpigmentation in the process. Secondly, they encourage the production of collagen and elastin to maintain and restore bounce and spring in the skin. Just remember retinol is a nighttime-only ingredient (it breaks down in sunlight) and needs to be followed with an SPF the next day to protect those fresh new skin cells. 

9. Make moisturiser a must-have

Not everyone likes the feeling of moisturiser on their skin, but it’s the glacé cherry on top when striving for dewiness. The key aims of a moisturiser are to act as an additional barrier that keeps hydration in, and also (as you’ve probably guessed by the name) to add additional moisture. Moisturisers tend to include emollient ingredients like shea butter, squalane and Ceramides which work to keep skin smooth and soft. Layering emollients over humectants (like Hyaluronic Acid and glycerin) seal them in the skin. 

10. Don’t forget your SPF

It might not be the most exciting part of your routine, but if glowing skin is your aim then wearing a broad-spectrum daily sunscreen with at least SPF30 is an absolute must. Unlike an exfoliating acid or a thirst-quenching hydrating serum, SPF is not going to give you instant visible results. It’s not going to improve your skin over time either. What it is doing though, is preventing new damage and stopping existing gripes from getting worse. It’s a bit like stopping the clock, working to keep hyperpigmentation at bay and making sure that things like fine lines don’t make a premature appearance.