There is something so enticing about the moisturized, youthful and radiant appearance of dewy skin. It is a facial "trend" you want to upkeep all-year round and could be achieved naturally with proper skin care or from the help of our favorite makeup products.
PHOTO: The Fashion Spot
So first things first, let’s start with your natural skin. Dr. Michelle Henry, dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon (and friend to 21Ninety), says you have to just let go… of dead skin that is.
"The key to dewy skin is to adopt a great exfoliation regimen to help shed dull, dead skin cell(s) and flood the new fresh skin cells beneath with hydration," she says.
A great tool to help with exfoliation is a spin brush:
Spin for Perfect Skin on Vanity Planet, $99.
After you wash your face, you’re going to want to follow-up with a moisturizer and/or serum. Dr. Henry suggests serums with hyaluronic acid or ceramides, saying, "Hyaluronic acid absorbs 1,000 times its weight in water and (is) a powerful addition (to) any hydrating regimen."
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer is a drug-store product which is composed of hyaluronic acid, amino-Peptides and vitamin B3 to hydrate your skin and combat wrinkles/fine lines.
OLAY REGENERIST MICRO-SCULPTING CREAM FACE MOISTURIZER on Olay website, $10.49.
Okay sis, but what if I’m an oily-girl looking to get dewy? Don’t worry! According to Dr. Henry, oil-free, light gel moisturizers or serums provide moisture without the excess shine.
Say hello to hydration with Mario Badescu's Herbal Hydrating Serum! The oil-free serum with ceramides, ginkgo extracts and ginseng extracts works on all skin types and is known to "unveil a dewy, glowing complexion."
MARIO BADESCU Herbal Hydrating Serum on ULTA, $30.
And as we all know, we are what we eat (or drink), so making sure you are internally hydrated is just as important as how you treat your skin externally.
"Drink sufficient water and eat foods that are rich in healthy fats such as avocado and salmon to maintain a beautiful, radiant complexion. The most common and easy to remember recommendation is eight oz of water eight times a day. If one is able to drink 8 glasses, this is fantastic. A good guideline is to pay attention to your body, drink when thirsty and drink more when working out or perspiring," Dr. Henry notes.
Achieving naturally dewy skin takes time and patience as you take the proper steps to enhance your skincare routine inside and out. But while you wait to see those glowing-results, busting out your favorite makeup products and tools can help do the trick. Tiara Willis, founder of MakeupForWOC, refuses to leave us out to dry with her dewy makeup tips.
In all things preparation is key and for this look, that notion rings true. When prepping the skin for a dewy face, Willis recommends using under eye gel patches, moisturizer and a liquid highlighter.
PEACE OUT’s Puffy Under-Eye Patches help to de-puff the under eyes and go beneath the surface to produce soft, hydrated skin for one of the most sensitive areas on your face.
PEACE OUT Puffy Under-Eye Patches on Sephora, $25.
When figuring out what to apply and where/how to apply it, Willis offers these steps:
"When creating dewy looks, I’ll stick to natural finish foundation like NARS Natural Radiant and apply cream blush and highlighter before foundation is set. I’ll use a dewy setting spray like Tatcha Dewy Skin Mist on the sides of the face. I will only use powder in oily areas (nose, chin, above eyebrows)"
Tatcha LUMINOUS DEWY SKIN MIST on Tatcha site, $48.
Her recommended products also include: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream, Dermologica Phyto Replenish Maker, Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Highlighters, Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer, Patchology Eye Gels and Sunday Riley CEO Moisturizer.
Once again, girls with oily skin fear not! You can still use your trusty matte foundation and a dewy setting spray to add a welcomed gleam, but Willis still stresses setting oily areas with powder.
Now our makeup is set, we’re glowing and ready to get going, but want to make sure our dewiness lasts all day.
"You can reapply refreshing sprays like Mario Badescu facial sprays throughout the day," Willis suggests.
Mario Badescu FACIAL SPRAY WITH ALOE, HERBS AND ROSEWATER on Mario Badescu site, $7.
Although a lover of makeup and mastering any look, Willis takes us back to the tips shared by Dr. Henry when it comes to successfully achieving a dewy makeup look.
"Skin prep and exfoliation is very important. I also use Dermologica Daily Microfoliant. Its rice based powder formula is activated by water and salicylic acid, and rice enzymes are also used to micro-exfoliate dead cells. I’ll use this no matter the skin type to remove any flaky skin."
Dermalogica daily microfoliant on Dermalogica site, $57.
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