Summer is well underway, which means one thing: It’s time to glow up—literally. From fresh out-of-the-shower to fresh off-the-runway, the season's dewy, lit-from-within look is appearing on every red carpet and every celebrity Instagram account. (Just look at crazy-popular superstars like Kim Kardashian and supermodel Sydney Harper for proof.) The good news? Unlike the rich and famous, you don’t need a makeup artist on call to achieve this look.
Instead, just follow these 12 steps—all of which are paired with the absolute best products on the market—and you'll be rocking the perfect dewy summer glow in no time. (Yes, it really is that simple.) And for more summer makeup must-haves, check out these 30 Summer Beauty Products That Sweat-Proof Your Look.
Step One: Exfoliate.
OmoroviczaOmorovicza Refining Facial Polisher
$95; buy now at Omorovicza
Exfoliation is one of the most important steps in any skincare regimen—and it does more than you think. Sloughing away dead skin cells with Omorovicza’s Refining Facial Polisher can help you combat signs of aging while brightening and smoothing your skin with Hungarian Moor mud. Most importantly, however, exfoliation means that all the skincare products you apply after can better penetrate your skin, leaving it smoother, healthier, and blemish-free.
How to use it: Squeeze a quarter-sized amount into the palm of your hand and massage it into your skin with your fingertips using a circular motion until the polish turns from an emerald green to a teal blue. Leave on as a mask for two minutes and allow the polish to work its magic and extract impurities. Wash with warm water or use a muslin cloth to wipe the remaining product away.
Step Two: Put on a skin-brightening mask.
111SKIN111SKIN Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment
$32; buy now at 111SKIN
111SKIN's rose gold mask is about as innovative a skincare product as you'll find on the market. Originally developed to help heal traumatized skin, company founder Dr. Yannis Alexandrides studied the aging process among astronauts before creating this line, formulating his products to accelerate cell turnover.
This gold- and rose-damask-extract-infused mask will leave your skin feeling hydrated, smooth, and supple—and it’s no secret that smooth, well-nourished skin is the first step toward achieving—and maintaining—that summer glow.
How to use it: After cleansing, apply the sheet mask to your face and leave on for 20 minutes. And for more products that'll have you feeling ready to take on the day, check out The 20 Best Energizing Beauty Products for an Extra Morning Boost.
Step Three: Apply a lightweight serum.
Space NKOdacite Gt+L Radiance Effect Serum Concentrate
$42; buy now at Space NK
After being diagnosed with cancer, Odacite founder Valerie Grandury decided to remove all toxins from her life—including the facial serums she'd come to love. Realizing that natural, yet effective products were hard to come by, Grandury created Odacite's antioxidant-rich Green Tea and Lemongrass serum, which revitalizes and tightens the skin, leaving even the dullest complexion looking refreshed. It even smells amazing!
How to use it: Apply 2-3 drops directly to your face, or mix it with your moisturizer.
Step Four: Moisturize.
Tata HarperTata Harper Illuminating Moisturizer
$126; buy now at Tata Harper
Want a moisturizer that enhances your complexion and will leave your skin glowing? Sourced from organic ingredients from around the globe, Tata’s Illuminating Moisturizer certainly fits the bill. Between its anti-aging properties, diamond dust, and hyaluronic acid, it’ll have people dying to know your beauty secrets.
How to use it: Apply a generous amount to the whole face.
Step Five: Add your eye cream.
BarneysMila Moursi Triple Action Eye Contour Cream
$125; buy now at Barneys
Your eyes are one of the first things people notice when they look at you, so it's essential to keep them looking healthy, de-puffed, and bag-free—and luckily, this quick-absorbing eye cream from Mila Moursi will do just that.
How to use it: Gently massage this cream underneath the eyes and onto your eyelids using the product applicator tip. If you're struggling with under-eye bags, try leaving your product in the refrigerator, which will help soothe your skin and reduce puffiness.
Step Six: Prime your base.
Hourglass Ambient Light Correcting Primer
$44; buy now at Space NK
The difference between dewy makeup that stays on all day and dewy makeup that slides off before lunch? The right primer. Keep in mind that dewy does not mean greasy, so if your skin tends to be on the oily side, try a mattifying primer like Hourglass’ oil-free Ambient Light. You want to walk out of the house with a fresh summer glow, not an oily T-zone, after all.
How to use it: Apply a small amount to hydrated skin using your fingertips. This is your last skincare step before bringing on the makeup!
Step Seven: Even out your skin with a tinted moisturizer.
Space NKChantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15
$74; buy now on Space NK
Chantecaille has pretty much reinvented foundation with their tinted moisturizers. This lightweight, yet buildable formula is perfect for creating a dewy no-makeup makeup look—it provides a flawless finish with an almost airbrushed effect and never creases. And if that wasn't an impressive-enough CV, its SPF 15 makes it a must-have this summer.
How to use it: Apply with either your fingertips or a foundation brush. For a perfect sheen, stipple this tinted moisturizer, then switch to a denser buffing brush to help blend the outer portion of your face.
Step Eight: Highlight your bone structure.
Kevyn AucoinKevyn Aucoin Glass Glow Liquid Illuminator
$32; buy now at Kevyn Aucoin
Kevyn Aucoin’s Glass Glow will leave your skin so radiant strangers will be begging for your facialist's number. It even comes in three shades, allowing you to highlight, bronze, or add a little blush for a freshly-flushed glow.
How to use it: Mix a little of your preferred illuminator in with your foundation and apply to the whole face or, for a more conservative look, strategically focus on key areas, like the cheekbones, brow ridge, and Cupid's bow.
Step Nine: Get rosy with cream blush.
Space NK
ILIA Multi-Stick
$34; buy now at Space NK
Give yourself a rosy glow with ILIA’s creamy Multi-Stick. While it's most often used as a blush, this versatile product works for the eyes, lips, and cheeks, so don't be afraid to apply it wherever you want to add a subtle glow.
How to use it: Swipe it across your cheekbones with your finger or use a buffing brush to blend it in. For a more natural look, apply some before your foundation and blend well.
Step Ten: Set your look to keep it fresh all day.
OmoroviczaOmorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist
$90; buy now at Omorovicza
Want your look to stay put all day? Sourced straight from Hungary's thermal waters, Omorovicza’s mineral-rich purifying mist provides long-lasting hydration and can instantly refresh any look if spritzed on again a few hours into the day.
How to use it: Spray some onto your skin before you apply your makeup and once again when your look is complete to set it and keep your skin hydrated and glowing.
Step Eleven: Add some shine to your pout.
By TerryBy Terry Baum de Rose Lip Care
$60; buy now at By Terry
As a final step for your face, soothe your lips with By Terry’s Baum de Rose. Its shea butter formula both hydrates and repairs whilst providing a glossy, but not sticky, sheen.
How to use it: Apply with your fingers whenever your lips start to feel dry.
Step Twelve: Give your body a healthy glow
Space NKSusanne Kaufmann Body Oil
$72; buy now at Space NK
Before walking out the door (or as a first step after the shower), slather on some of Susanne Kaufmann's nourishing, fast-absorbing body oil for an all-over dewy look. It provides a velvety feel and subtle sheen to your skin without the heavy feeling of other oils.
How to use it: Apply to the entire body after bathing while your skin is still damp. And for more great buys, check out these 25 Beach Essentials You Won't Believe Are From Target.
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