Are you on a quest to get the glowiest skin of your life? We're right there with you. When it comes to how to get glowing skin, dermatologists often offer some of the best tips and tricks. Sure, skincare basics like proper daily cleansing and using the right products with scientifically proven active ingredients sit high on the list. Still, you'lllikely want to incorporate plenty of other changes to get the glowy skin of your dreams. Ahead, we share some of the best insights from the experts on how to get glowing skin.
Dermatologist-Recommended Tips to Get Glowing Skin
1. Find a Routine That Works for Your Skin Type and Stick with It
One of the ways to get glowing skin is to stick with a well-rounded skincare routine that works best for your skin type and its needs. According to dermatologist Dr. Tina Funt, the best way to take stock of your skin type is by looking at your pores and where your skin gets oily or dry. Ingredients like salicylic acid, retinol, and benzoyl peroxide decrease oil on the skin’s surface, while dry skin responds well to hyaluronic acid and ceramides in lotions and creams
Featured Product: Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2 BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, green tea
Skin Type: Acne-prone, mature, dry
Skin Benefits: Help de-grease oily skin, clear and minimize enlarged pores, and shed built-up layers of dead skin
Oily skin doesn’t stand a chance against this lightweight daily liquid exfoliating toner that improves the skin’s overall tone and texture, leaving it with a natural glow. Salicylic acid goes hard to work to exfoliate dead skin and minimize the appearance of blemishes and enlarged pores, which often result from excess sebum production.
Beauty Insider Tip: A little bit of this product goes a long way. Apply a few drops of the exfoliant to a cotton round and gently stroke it onto the skin—one pass is enough.
2. Stay Hydrated Internally and Externally
No matter your skin type, hydration is essential. As Dr. Funt says, staying hydrated is vital for a healthier you. While drinking water helps hydrate the skin and body from the inside out, topical moisturizers add hydration from the outside in. Hydrated skin also nourishes the skin barrier, which adds a protective layer and keeps skin feeling elastic.
Featured Product: Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
Key Ingredients: TFC8®, evening primrose oil, squalene, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed rice protein
Skin Type: Dry, mature
Skin Benefits: Reduces signs of aging and environmental damage, deeply hydrates, softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, evens tone and texture, and protects skin from environmental damage and oxidative stress.
Fans of this face moisturizing cream love it, and for good reason. It is formulated with some of the most potent skincare ingredients, including a unique blend of powerful botanicals, antioxidants, and skin-friendly vitamins. This luxe cream magically makes dry skin feel nourished, hydrated, smoother, and supple, giving it a youthful glow.
Beauty Insider Tip: For the best results, apply a pea-sized amount to clean, dry skin and use an upward sweeping motion to massage the cream thoroughly into the skin.
3. Brighten the Skin with Antioxidants
Antioxidants in foods and skincare products help protect the skin from damaging environmental aggressors while calming inflammation for healthier, glowy skin. When it comes to how to get glowing skin, especially if it is dull, Dr. Funt says to look to antioxidants like green tea, which soothes the skin, and fruits, which add moisture. By limiting skin-related damage, the skin can take on a healthier, more youthful, brighter appearance.
FeaturedProduct: Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Advanced Firming Daily Treatment
Key Ingredients: Peptides, teprenone and ferulic complex, Biotech algae complex
Skin Type: All, including sensitive skin
Skin Benefits: Provides a daily dose of moisturizer, helps firm, brighten, and refine the skin while providing antioxidant protection
Double-duty products like this antioxidant-rich moisturizer are a skincare must-have for hydrating while protecting the skin. This smooth-as-silk treatment is formulated with a bevy of skin-boosting ingredients and helps revive the skin and restore firmness while defending against everyday environmental aggressors.
Beauty Insider Tip: Layer the treatment under makeup for a seamless finish that does not pill.
4. Add in Retinol—But Do it The Right Way
Retinol is a skincare staple since it helps speed up the rate of skin cell turnover to improve the skin's overall tone and texture, leaving it brighter and with a natural glow. "Retinoid and vitamin A products increase cellular turnover, so younger cells replace older skin cells," says Dr. Funt. "This type of ingredient causes younger, plumper cells to absorb moisture, decreasing pigmentation or brown spots." But when it comes to incorporating it into your skincare routine, it's best to take a low and slow approach so the skin builds up a tolerance, so start with a gentle formula to prevent dryness, redness, and peeling.
FeaturedProduct: Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty Retinal Night Advanced 0.1% Retinal Firming Treatment
Key Ingredients: Retinaldehyde, peptides, lipids
Skin Type: Mature, acne-prone
Skin Benefits: Firms and smoothes skin, increases elasticity, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, restores bounce and radiance
This vegan, fragrance-free firming serum is a gentle alternative to retinol but still provides the same benefits as the vitamin A-derived ingredient. Developed by a dermatologist, use this formula as part of your skin cycling routine or nightly.
Beauty Insider Tip: Always apply retinol-type products at night since they can make the skin more sun-sensitive. Follow up in the morning with a high-performance sunscreen.
Related Article: How to Apply Retinol: A Step-by-Step Guide for Maximum Results
5. Never Go a Day Without Sunscreen
Any dermatologist will tell you that sunscreen is a skincare must if you want to know how to get glowing skin. Sunscreen prevents UV rays from penetrating the skin, leading to premature aging, uneven skin tone, and rough texture. No matter the weather outside or the season, wearing sunscreen is the best way to get glowing skin year-round.
FeaturedProduct: ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Daily Lightweight Mineral SPF 50+ Sunscreen
Key Ingredients: DNA Repairsomes®, zinc oxide
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefits: Fast absorbing, provides broad spectrum sun protection, helps repair existing sun damage
This lightweight emulsion-like sunscreen blends seamlessly into the skin for all-day sun protection. Unlike traditional sunscreens, this version goes one step further to reduce the signs of visible sun damage for more even, younger-looking skin.
Beauty Insider Tip: For adequate sun protection, apply at least two fingers' lengths of sunscreen to your face and neck and reapply as needed.
6. Exfoliate Weekly
Dead skin cells can build up on the skin's surface, leading to a lackluster complexion that lacks that healthy glow. By regularly exfoliating the skin, those dead skin cells and other impurities that accumulate are whisked away to reveal fresh new skin cells underneath and more radiant skin. However, it's important not to over-exfoliate the skin, so stick with exfoliating once per week.
FeaturedProduct: Neocutis Neo-Cleanse Exfoliating Skin Cleanser
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, glycerin
Skin Type: Normal and oily
Skin Benefits: Reveals fresh skin, hydrates
We like this gentle exfoliator as a weekly skin refresher because it does the job without stripping the skin or making it feel dried out. As an extra bonus, add this exfoliator to your skincare routine in the weeks leading up to any type of professional skincare treatment to improve the results even further.
Beauty Insider Tip: Exfoliation shouldn't stop at the face; make sure to exfoliate your neck and chest, too.
7. Don’t Gloss Over Vitamin C
If you're constantly Googling how to get glowing skin, you'll want to ensure your skincare routine contains a good vitamin C cream or serum. Antioxidant-rich vitamin C helps even out dark spots and brightens the skin's overall tone so that it appears brighter, more luminous, and more supple. Plus, vitamin C protects the skin against environmental damage that can wreak havoc on it.
FeaturedProduct: IMAGE Skincare VITAL C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum
Key Ingredients: Multiple forms of vitamin C, hyaluronic acid,
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefits: Brightens the skin, locks in hydration, reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles, decreases discoloration, provides antioxidant benefits, and soothes dry skin while reducing the appearance of dullness and fatigue
A constant best-seller, this vitamin C serum is suitable for all skin types thanks to its ability to improve hydration and decrease the look of fine lines and discoloration. Whereas some types of vitamin C may not provide enough hydration for more mature skin, this one floods the skin with much-needed moisture to leave it plump and bouncy.
Beauty Insider Tip: Mix this serum with a few drops of hyaluronic acid for an extra hydration dose.
8. Treat Your Skin to the Right Acids
Believe it or not, acids have a place in skincare, and they're one of the best secrets to achieving glowing skin. That's because acid-based skincare products exfoliate, refresh, rejuvenate, and clarify. Some of the most popular acids to use to induce a natural glow include beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), which also exfoliate and dissolve dirt deep within the pores.
FeaturedProduct: Replenix Glycolic Acid 20% Resurfacing Peel
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, witch hazel, vitamins A, C, and E, CoQ10
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefits: Gently exfoliates, moisturizes, removes excess oil, and tones the skin
Swipe these resurfacing pads across the skin and watch wrinkles, fine lines, discoloration, and enlarged pores diminish over time. Super easy to use and highly effective, these treatment pads go hard to work to cleanse and smooth the skin for a younger-looking complexion.
Beauty Insider Tip: Don’t double down on your exfoliating efforts. Instead, reach for these pads on the nights when you don’t use retinol or another type of exfoliator.
The Bottom Line
If you want to know exactly how to get glowing skin, it's not a one-stop shop in the skincare department. Several ingredients and products must find a home in your current skincare routine to achieve a status-worthy glow factor.If you’re ready to say hello to glowing skin, shop our best-sellers here, which are bound to up your skin’s glow factor.
Next up, The Ultimate Guide on How to Double Cleanse for Clean, Glowing Skin
