How to Create a Dewy-Skin Look With Makeup

Achieve the glow of dewy skin with the right skin care and makeup.

Getting dewy skin -- without looking shimmery or greasy -- starts with proper skin care followed by just a few makeup products and tricks of the trade. Take out the exfoliant and highlighters and put away the heavy foundation to start creating that healthy glow. Whether you are 20 or 50, you can give your dull, tired-looking visage the wake-up call it desires.

Things You'll Need

• Exfoliant
• Cleanser
• Moisturizer
• Foundation primer
• Foundation
• Translucent powder
• Makeup sponges
• Makeup brushes
• Cream blush
• Cream or powder highlighter
• Lip gloss or lipstick
• Eye shadow
• Mascara

Instructions

1. Clean your face with a cleanser for your skin type. Unless you have very oily skin, avoid foaming cleansers that strip all the oil from your face and leave you dry. Add an exfoliant, such as a microdermabrasion treatment, to your beauty regimen about two to three times a week to slough off dead skin cells and give you a fresh glow. Avoid scrubbing active acne and rosacea flare-ups.

2. Apply moisturizer all over your face. Dermatologists prefer a moisturizer with some SPF in it, since the sun's rays can damage and age your skin. Even gals with oily skin need to use a moisturizer; look for one for oily/combination skin and one that is noncomodogenic, which means it won't clog your pores.

3. Apply a foundation primer all over your face. Primers give you a smooth canvas to work on by filling in tiny lines and crevices on your face and smoothing out its surface.

4. Dab on a liquid foundation and blend it in with a cosmetic sponge. Choose a lightweight foundation in a color that matches your skin tone. Look for words such as "luminous," "satin finish," and "glow" for a dewy look. If you have very oily skin, you may want to stick to a foundation made for your skin, such as matte-wear, oil-absorbing formulas, and let your blush and gloss give you the dewy look.

5. Apply a cream blush to the apples of your cheeks, blending upward into the cheekbones. Choose a cream blush in a peach or rose color and blend well. Avoid powder blushes, since they won't give you the glow you are going for.

6. Sweep on a translucent powder with a big, round brush. If you have dry skin, you can probably skip the powder, but oily-skin gals will appreciate the powder's oil-absorbency power.

7. Apply a lipstick or lip gloss in a shade of peach or light pink. Avoid lip liner, since it tends to produce a harsh look. If you choose a lipstick over lip gloss, make sure it is a moisturizing formula.

8. Apply a cream or powder highlighter to your cheekbones. Highlighters -- not to be confused with concealers -- have light-reflecting pigments that will give off a natural glow. Stick to a cream highlighter unless you have oily skin. You also can use a highlighter along the top of your nose and on your temples.

9. Complete your makeup with a neutral eye shadow and mascara. Cream eye shadows in pinks, browns and grays are a good choice for neutral dewy looks. If you are over 35, you might want to avoid shimmery colors, since they often settle into fine lines and creases and can age you. Go as light or bold as you want with a black-brown or black mascara.

Tips & Warnings

• Try a tinted moisturizer if you are not a big fan of foundation or you don't need a lot of coverage.

References

• Glamour: The Girls in the Makeup Dept.; How Do I Perfect the Dewy Skin Look?
• Glamour: The Girls in the Makeup Dept.; Simple Date Makeup Idea
• Daily Makeover: Get The Look: Fresh, Dewy Skin
• Natural Visage: The Dewy Look