The Ultimate 5-Step Recipe for Glowing Skin

We obsess over our skin care routine and spend our hard-earned cash on the latest-and-greatest beauty buys in the name of one thing we really, really want: glowing skin. It’s fair to say that achieving luminous skin is high up on a daily skin care to-do list for most everyone. And while a natural glow may be an effortless task for some lucky ducks, others may have a harder time kicking dull, lifeless skin to the curb. But not anymore. We’ve outlined five easy steps for a youthful-looking glow, below.

1. CLEANSE 

It’s simple: Skin won’t look beautiful and radiant if it’s weighed down by dirt, excess oil, and impurities. The longer you go without washing your skin, the more pore-clogging gunk builds up on it, increasing your risk for breakouts and skin that’s dull and flat-looking. Pick a dirt-removing cleanser—like Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser—that’s suited for your skin type and use it morning and night. Sayonara, grime!

2. TONE

After cleansing your skin, apply a toner. Not only does it help remove any lingering dirt the cleanser may have missed, it also helps with soon-to-use products—like a moisturizer, for instance. Drench a cotton pad with Vichy Pureté Thermale Toner and apply it over the entire face using sweeping motions for a perfectly clean, refreshed complexion. Follow up with your favorite moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp.

3. EXFOLIATE

According to board-certified dermatologist, and Skincare.com expert, Dr. Dendy Engelman, exfoliation is the single easiest way to achieve radiant and glowing skin. Sloughing off the buildup of dead skin cells on the skin’s top outermost layer reveals a smoother-looking skin surface that better reflects light. Opt for a glycolic acid peel, an exfoliating scrub, or—to be environmentally-friendly—a microbead-free exfoliator once or twice a week.  

4. APPLY SPF

We know: You’ve heard it a million times. But, here’s a million and one. You must wear sunscreen every day. You may not notice any signs of skin damage or aging now as a result of unprotected sun exposure, but it certainly will creep up on you. Ward off the signs of premature skin aging—stay wrinkle-free for longer!—and lessen your risk for skin cancer by creating a barrier against harmful UVA/UVB rays with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. 

Check out some of our favorite SPFs—for dry, normal, sensitive, and oily skin—here!

5. FAKE A GLOW

If all else fails, whip out a highlighter. Mix a drop of L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator into your foundation for all-over luminosity. Or, sweep a bit of product across the top of your cheek bones, brow bones, cupid’s bow, the tip of your nose, and wherever else you want a boost of glimmer. Warm skin tones should reach for the Golden shade, Rose for neutral skin tones, and Ice for cool skin tones.

Important: Avoid touching and picking at your skin throughout the day. Your hands carry germs and bacteria that you certainly shouldn’t transfer onto your face. Show off all your hard work achieving that envious glow, don’t hamper it.