Sheen queen
Dewy skin is everywhere these days, but just how do you achieve that inner glow?
When I was a teenager I would get my makeup professionally applied at a MAC counter whenever I had a remotely fancy event to go. Every time the makeup artist would ask me what “look” I was after. “Matte,” I’d reply confidently, convinced that a heavy base of foundation baked in with even heavier powder was the key to sophistication, because everyone would know that I had “Had My Makeup Done”.
Fast forward a decade, and all I want now is wet-face. That dewy, sheeny, almost sweaty-looking skin that I see all over beauty blogs and Instagram, and that I’m supposed to have because I’m only 25. I thought that when you were in your 20s you automatically have the kind of skin that only needs a dab of BB cream on special occasions because you’re just so young and hydrated and commitment-free.
Instead, I’m a yo-pro working in savage air conditioning and have just started taking acne medication so strong that it has dried my body into potpourri. So while my insides feel like dust I’ve become even more obsessed with finding the best ways to faux-glow my face.
Now, aside from the important inner beautystuff like drinking as much water as humanly possible, exercising and eating all the vegetables, there are ways to get an extraglowing face by using the right products.
Just imagine it. When you turn your head slightly the light bounces off your cheekbones and forehead instead of just being a onedimensional, matte moon face. No one asks you what highlighter you’re wearing, because you’re never fake-glittery, just glowy.
Instead, people ask you what yoga class you go to, what meditation app you use, if you’ve just fallen in love. But you’ve never done yoga, and you are so single. But you know how to faux-glow and your skin is perfection. Sorted.
START WITH EXFOLIATING
The best way to get rid of your old average skin and get your new superior skin is by exfoliating. Not with one of those harsh, gritty face scrubs like you used to use, but with the big guns, a chemical exfoliator. Chemical exfoliators with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA), and beta-hydroxy acids (BHA) gently break down dead skin cells, leaving your skin healthy and illuminated.
An easy way to work a chemical exfoliator into your skincare routine is with an exfoliating toner after cleansing, and Pixi Glow Tonic and Glossier’s New Solution are cult favourites for giving an instant glow. Shine bright like a diamond.
Next up, vitamin C for that “lit from within” look. As well as protecting your skin from pollution, it boosts collagen production which makes your skin look firmer and can even help repair old damage, like sunspots and fine lines.
Murad’s Rapid Resurfacing Peel wipes have been getting a good rep, they use both glycolic acid and vitamin C to enhance radiance.
WHAT’S BENEATH YOUR BASE COUNTS
While there’s a time and a place for sparkly cheeks and full coverage foundation, this isn’t it. What we want is chic cheek sheen.
MAC Strobe Cream is iconic for a reason. Use it underneath your base product like you would a primer, or mix it with the product for an even sheerer, natural base, or, heck, even wear it alone if you’re having a good skin day.
Becca Shimmering skin primer, RMS Living Luminiser and Stila Heaven’s Hue are very good for cheeks and foreheads, they’re uber glowy without being glittery.
Pat into skin with your finger tips or a damp beauty blender.
BARELY THERE BASE
Don’t cover up all your hard work by slapping on a full-coverage foundation. Trust me, you don’t need it.
Instead, use a lightweight, uber-sheer, barely-counts-as-foundation product and only on your actual problem areas. For me, that’s my jawline and the lower half of my cheeks, where I have scarring and redness.
Pat a small amount in with a damp beauty blender, and steer clear of applying it above your cheekbones, you want to leave that area bare and freshly glowing.
Shiseido Synchro skin tinted gel cream is a like a BB cream, but more hydrating. Thirsty for even more glow? Mix it with Shiseido Synchro skin illuminator in Rose gold.
Eve Lom Sheer Radiance Oil-Free Foundation contains mattifying rice powder so you stay dewy without straying too far into greasy territory.
Giorgio Armani Crema Nuda Supreme Glow Reviving Tinted Cream is apparently Kim Kardashian’s favourite for creating a dual-effect of glow with a light tint. It’s a bit of a splurge but can you really put a price on having Kardashian-worthy skin?