GET THE GLOW MAKEUP
Over recent seasons we've become accustomed to a makeup look that is increasingly natural and minimal; gamely swapping an opaque matte base in favour of a complexion that is overwhelmingly sheer and dewy. "Shiny" was once the dirty word of the makeup world, but these days shine is in - glossy skin with a fresh sheen-like finish is all about recreating the appearance of a well-rested [and well-moisturised] healthy glow. Thankfully the makeup world has supplied us with an artillery of products specifically designed to give good glow - from glossy foundations through to luminous creams and pearlescent powders.
The hard part is translating the look into real life without going overboard [easily done, especially if you're prone to an oily complexion]. The key is in finding the right products. Below I've collated an edit of my favourite and most-recommend glow-getters; a wardrobe of products that were designed with glow in mind and manage to pull off the luminous effect with finesse.
Hugely underrated, and far more effective than many of its high-end counterparts, SOAP & GLORY's Hocus Focus* offers a foolproof way to inject skin with a bright, lit from within glow. Part primer and part illuminator, the silky lotion can be swept over the cheekbones post-makeup application or mixed with foundation for a delicate pearlescent sheen. I personally favour applying it all over a bare face for a fresh radiance that transcends consequent foundation application and gives a glow that remains luminous all day long.
The cornerstone of a glowing makeup look is a fresh, natural-looking base - less is most definitely more. I adore the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser*, which has surprisingly good coverage for a tinted moisturiser, but doesn't look or feel heavy upon the skin. Designed to result in a 'your skin but better' effect, the vitamin-rich formula blurs imperfections and brightens the complexion. When it comes to base makeup [and particularly base makeup with radiant results] Nars' offerings are quite unrivalled. Those who seek a little more coverage would be best served in reaching for NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. Despite its name, the formula offers surprisingly high coverage and is far from sheer - evening out a patchy skintone and concealing blemishes and redness with unsurpassed prowess. The texture is refreshingly light, and the finish results in a subtle dewy glow, whilst keeping oiliness at bay.
Brightening the under-eyes brings finesse to any look, and in this case is best performed with a product that is as much as highlighter as it is a concealer. Fortunately [in the wake of YSL's Touche Éclat success] most brands offer a highlighter/concealer hybrid these days. My personal favourite is the NARS Creamy Radiant Concealer*, which is satisfying devoid of shimmer particles, and instead imparts a subtle radiance via light-diffusing particles. The luxuriously creamy texture blends beautifully and masks even the darkest of dark circles.
For a look that is all about luminosity, I favour a blendable cream bronzer such as the NARS Matte Multiple in Vientiane* to contour the cheeks. The sheer texture and golden hue impart a fresh sheen, which gives skin a warm, healthy radiance and blends beautifully for a subtle, natural finish. In much the same spirit, the merits of a cream blush [delicate colour with a fresh, sheer sheen] lend themselves better to a glowing base than a [typically mattifying] powder blush would. CHARLOTTE TILBURY's Beach Stick in Formentera* is designed to recreate that healthy, post-holiday summer glow with light diffusing pigments that illuminate the skin for a dewy finish with just a hint of colour.
I prefer to avoid the over-saturated market of frosty, glitter-infused highlighters, especially when aiming for a natural, dewy effect. The goal is a subtle radiance that captures the light and adds dimension to the face - best achieved with a cream highlighter such as the W3LL PEOPLE Bio Brightener Stick*, which has a creamy, golden finish. I typically apply this straight from the stick to my cheekbones, in a 'C' shade around my eyes, and down the bridge of my nose, before blending with my fingers and dabbing any excess onto my brow bones and Cupid's bow. The light cream blends to a soft, pearlescent sheen, which sculpts the face beautifully for a satin highlight effect. To promote longevity, I set the cream with a powder highlighter; the newly released EVE LOM Illuminating Radiance Powder* is perfect for the job as it prevents the cream from fading or slipping without compromising upon its luminous finish. Unlike most highlighting powders, this doesn't result in a dry, cakey effect; the silky blend of light-diffusing particles and mother of pearl extract instead delivers a believably natural, healthy, glossy sheen.
The finishing touch to the look is the product that inspired this entire edit; I've long since raved about the EVE LOM Sheer Radiance Translucent Powder*, and doubt I'll ever find a setting powder I love more. Long gone are the days when face powders were exclusively mattifying - these days the best keep oil on lockdown whilst simultaneously illuminating skin with a fresh glow. This powder is the best I've used in terms of its ability to keep makeup in place from dawn till dusk [no touch-ups required], and has the most incredible airbrush effect. Light-diffusing particles lend themselves to a soft-focus effect that minimises the appearance of imperfections and gives skin an ethereal 'perfected' finish. Most commendably, no matter how heavily I dust this on, it in no way dilutes the glow-factor of previously applied products.
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What makeup do you use to get the glow?