How to Get Glossy Skin Without Looking Oily

Dewy skin is no longer a trend. It is a way of life! Gone are the days of baking your entire face with powder to ensure that not a drop of sebum shines through. It’s 2019…bring on the glow!

But if you’re an oily skinned gal, like myself, then you may be treading the fountain of glow waters with caution. I mean, who wants to show up to a 9am meeting looking like a disco ball!

Not to fear, I’ve got you covered.

The fantastic thing about the dewy/healthy/glossy skin look is the fact that it’s so attainable for any skin type or tone. Gone are the days of having to use vaseline all over your face to get a bit of shine (Marilyn Monroe was famous for that trick!) There are so many outstanding formulas on the market at all price points that make glossy skin attainable for everyone! The trick is to learn how to use them without going overboard.

Follow along as I share a few of my favorite ways to get glossy skin without looking like you’re about to fry a chicken tender with your face!

Exfoliation

The key to having fresh, glossy, non textured skin is regular exfoliation. You need to slough away the dead skin cells so that the beautiful skin underneath can shine through! This can be done physically or chemically (I prefer the latter.) A few of my favorite chemical exfoliats are the Pixi Glow Tonic, Tarte Knockout Treatment. I have not tried the infamous Lotion P50 but celebs and skincare addicts all admit that if they could choose only one product, it would be Lotion P50. My favorite physical exfoliants are the Kora Organics Turmeric Mask, Josie Maran Argan powder and the Kate Somerville Exfolikate. Kate also just brought out a liquid version called Liquid Exfolikate that looks incredible.

Prep and Hydrate

Now that the dead skin is gone and the fresh skin is front and center, we must give it some love! Hydration is KEY to having glossy skin but the trick is to not overdo it. Essences and hydrating toners are fantastic to use if you’re dry or even oily. If you’re oily, you don’t want to add to many layers of hydration. Perhaps all that your skin needs is a lightweight gel cream like Bobbi Brown gel cream, Kate Somerville Oil Free moisturizer or a budget friendly fave Neutrogena Hydro Boost. Think light layers, not heavy creams. If you’re dry, try a hydrating essence or toner like Bobbi Brown’s Hydrating Toner and top it off with a light lotion and SPF. One trick that I’ve been doing recently is skipping the toner and essence, misting my face with the Clinique Moisture Surge Mist and immediately applying a dollop of the Weleda Skin food to cheeks and forehead. It gives the most INSANE glow and surprisingly, does not clog pores. It is a thicker formula but if you don’t use anything underneath, you won’t look like a pool of water come midday.

A Lightweight Base

Now that we’ve done all of that work to get beautifully prepped skin, we don’t want to cover it up! The trick is to enhance that glow without taking too much way. For this step, choose lightweight BB creams, tinted moisturizers and lightweight foundations. A few of my favorites are the Nars Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer, Bobbi Brown’s Skin Foundation and Charlotte Tilbury’s Light Wonder. If you don’t own a lightweight foundation or tinted moisturizer, just mix in a few drops of your moisturizer or face oil with your foundation. It will give the same effect!

A Cream Highlight and Blush

Cream and liquid formulas work BEAUTIFULLY on the skin and are nearly foolproof. Apply more blush than you normally would as it will fade throughout the day. Cream products are essential if your goal is to have realistic, glossy skin. You simply cannot get the same effect with a powder, no matter how much prep you do beforehand. Try the classic Bobbi Brown pot rouge which can be used for eyes, cheeks and lips. A few of my other favorites are the Josie Maran Argan sticks and Honest Beauty’s cream blushes.

The same rule does not apply for highlighter. Do not apply more than you normally would because you will end up looking overly glossy. Apply a minimal amount of a liquid or cream highlight anywhere that the light would naturally bounce off of your face. A few of my favorites are the RMS Living Luminizer (a classic that you must try,) Kora Organics Rose Quartz luminizer and the Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Balm (works beautifully under and on top of makeup.)

Powder only in the T-Zone

Need I say more?

A Final Spritz

This is my favorite step (and in my opinion, one of the most important!) Many may think that face mists are flighty products that are completely unnecessary in the beauty routine. I couldn’t disagree more! A facial mist seals in all of the work that you just created and will tone down any powder that may be sitting on the skin. Ever get caught in a lightweight afternoon mist?  Take a look in the mirror next time you do. I always used to think my skin (and makeup) looked phenomenal after a brisk walk or getting caught in a sprinkle.

And then it dawned on me that I could create that effect before I even left the house!

A few of my favorites are the Kora Organics Rose Mist, the classic MAC Fix+, a good quality rose water or my cult favorite, Sukin Hydrating Mist. The Sukin is super affordable and easy to find if you’re in Australia or the UK. If you’re in the states, check out your TJ MAXX or Marshall’s. I used to occasionally see Sukin products pop up there!

Happy glossy skin days ahead! Let me know in the comments below your favorite way to get the glow!

“Glow is the essence of beauty” – Estee Lauder

Love and light, Carrie xo

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