In this article:
What is dewy skin?
Tips to achieve dewy skin without makeup
What products give you dewy skin?
Dewy, healthy skin never goes out of style, and it all starts with a great skin care routine. That’s right—achieving a hydrated, healthy glow doesn’t have to include using shimmery primers, luminous foundations and glittery highlighters.
Keep reading to learn more about dewy skin, how to achieve it without makeup and which skin care products will help you achieve a fresh-faced, glowing look.
What is dewy skin?
Dewy skin refers to a radiant, luminous skin-look that prioritises a hydration-fueled-glisten over a matte appearance. In short, dewy skin looks nourished, hydrated and balanced, not dry or over-oily.
In recent years, this timeless look has been used as the inspiration for many other dewy-based skin trends, including “glass skin” and “glazed doughnut skin”—and there’s no doubt future iterations of dewy skin trends will continue for years to come.
Whatever you choose to call it, the same techniques used to keep your skin healthy can be employed to create dewy-looking skin, with a few additional add-ons to seal the deal.
Tips to achieve dewy skin without makeup
Although makeup is often seen as the ultimate way to achieve the appearance of hydrated, dewy skin, this simply isn’t true. There are many skin care and non-skin care related techniques that’ll help you achieve that perfect luminous look.
Let’s dive into our top skin care tips for dewy skin:
- Drench skin in replenishing ingredients. This group of beneficial ingredients includes ceramides and hyaluronic acid to keep skin looking soft, smooth and plump.
- Avoid fragrance and high amounts of SD alcohol in products. Fragrance contains volatile compounds which are known to irritate skin. SD alcohol, used as a solvent in skin care preparations, also causes irritation. Steering clear of these types of ingredients helps ensure your healthy tone isn’t overcome by redness and dehydration.
- Layer hydrating toners, boosters and serums for the perfect dewy skin cocktail. Experiment to see which combos work best for your skin or try a trusted pair such as our Hyaluronic Acid Booster + CALM Repairing Serum focused on promoting healthy hydration while soothing skin. Have drier skin? Go for the Moisture Renewal Oil Booster instead.
Now, our favourite non-skin care ways to achieve radiant skin:
- Prioritise sleep. We know, we know, you’ve heard this tip a million times before, but it’s true: When we lack sleep, our skin can appear dull and dehydrated (the opposite of dewy).
- Protect skin beyond SPF. When out in the sun, opt for wearing sunglasses, wide brimmed hats and sun protective clothing. UV rays can irritate and damage skin, causing dryness, rough texture that won’t reflect light evenly and redness.
- Take time to relax. It’s proven that stress impacts skin. Stress negatively impacts the barrier, most notably causing transepidermal water loss, leading to dry skin.
What products give you dewy skin?
Finding the right daytime moisturiser with SPF is crucial. Unprotected sun exposure is the main cause of redness, irritation, rough skin texture, and uneven skin tone—basically everything except that healthy, dewy glow we all aspire to. Whether you want to reduce shine, tackle dry skin and increase moisture, deliver antioxidants to boost skin’s luminosity or calm skin and reduce redness there’s a Paula’s Choice sunscreen for you. And, if you’re turned off by the heavy feel of sunscreens you’ve tried in the past, one of our weightless formulas is sure to change your mind.
Drench skin with a hydrating toner. The best facial toners deliver a splash of replenishing substances that revive radiance and nourish the barrier. If you’ve skimped on this step in the past, you’ll be surprised at what a difference it can make for achieving dewy skin.
If you’re not currently using a well-formulated leave-on exfoliant or exfoliating toner, it’s time to begin. Exfoliation is about so much more than sloughing dead skin; the right product will loosen the bonds that hold pore-clogging, dull-looking dead skin to the surface, and deliver a radiant, smooth, hydrated, blemish-free, even-toned complexion. You may begin to see results as quickly as overnight. Once the layers of dead surface skin are removed, the other skin care products you apply afterwards can penetrate more effectively.
Add a Moisture Renewal Oil Booster if you have dry, reddened skin. It’s tough to find a facial oil blend that’s completely fragrance free—a crucial element for healthy skin. This oil-rich booster fits the bill with nine non-fragrant, gentle, nourishing plant oils. They instantly deliver essential fatty acids and antioxidants, which alleviate signs of dry skin, calm redness and create a dewy, smooth glow.
If you have dehydrated skin and are looking to protect and strengthen, use the 7% Ectoin + Hyaluronic Acid Milky Hydrating Serum. This milky-textured booster works as skin’s bodyguard to provide over-the-top hydration while protecting skin from external damage by tapping into the power of ectoin, moisture-protecting hyaluronic acid and water-binding glycogen.
Nix dehydration with Water-Infusing Electrolyte Moisturizer. This electrolyte-charged formula quenches skin’s thirst with lasting hydration and an instant plump, dewy look. The airy, “rain cloud” texture feels heavenly, no matter what your skin type. Looking for a bouncy, juicy skin look? Our peptide-powered Pro-Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer restores bounce with targeted peptides, promotes a dewy look and provides lightweight hydration through an elegant gel-cream texture.
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References for this information:
British Journal of Dermatology, January 2019, pages 1129-1137
The American Cancer Society, April 2017, ePublication
Indian Journal of Dermatology, May-June 2016, pages 279–287
Dermatology Research and Practice, February 2015, ePublication
Phytotherapy Research, August 2015, volume 29, issue 8, pages 1117–1122
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, March 2014, pages 27–29; and February 2010, pages 22–41
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, December 2014, issue 6, page 271–278
Indian Dermatology Online Journal, April-June 2013, issue 2, pages 143–146
Journal of Cosmetic Science, January 2012, pages 43–54
