Dewy makeup looks are having a major moment—and if you’ve been on social media lately, you’ve likely seen the trend everywhere (most recently, in the form of glazed donut skin). The appeal is obvious: Dewy skin looks healthy, radiant, and effortless, like you just stepped out of a facial. And the best part? With the right lineup of products, it’s surprisingly easy to recreate, whether you’re doing a full beat or keeping things minimal.
That said, there’s a fine line between looking luminous and looking greasy. Achieving the perfect dewy skin look comes down to balance—hydrating, layering strategically, and choosing formulas that enhance your natural glow without overwhelming it. Ahead, we’re breaking down exactly how to nail the trend and get that lit-from-within look that lasts all day.
What Is Dewy Makeup vs. Glossy Makeup?
The terms “dewy skin” and “glossy skin” are often used interchangeably to describe a complexion that appears radiant, hydrated, and naturally luminous. To achieve this look with makeup, you’ll typically want to reach for lightweight, sheer products with radiant finishes, steering clear of anything overly matte or pigmented.
Note that while the dewy makeup and glossy makeup are largely synonymous, they’re distinct from glazed donut skin. While glazed skin also falls into the dewy category, it features an added sun-kissed element (usually achieved with warm-toned highlighters or bronzers). Dewy makeup doesn’t require the use of bronzing products, though they can be layered on for added dimension.
What Is The Best Makeup for Dewy Makeup Looks?
Because glossy makeup looks are all about giving your skin a natural-looking sheen, highlighter is a must—ideally, one that adds luster without making the skin appear metallic or sparkly. However, it’s far from all you’ll need. To nail the fresh-faced effect, you’ll also need the right base makeup. Radiant foundations and tinted moisturizers are ideal, as they can help even out your complexion without making your skin appear flat or one-dimensional. Those who favor a more natural finish may forgo the foundation altogether and simply spot-conceal with a hydrating concealer, such as the Bare With Me Concealer Serum. As a general rule, you’ll want to stick with liquid and cream products, as they melt into the skin to create a naturally glowy finish. If you do choose to use powders, you can, but do so sparingly to avoid mattifying your complexion.
Products Needed for a Dewy Makeup Look
If you’re looking to create a glossy makeup look, here are the products we recommend having on hand:
- Cleanser
- Exfoliating scrub, toner, or serum
- Moisturizer (and SPF, if it’s daytime!)
- Hydrating primer
- Luminous foundation or tinted moisturizer
- Lightweight, buildable concealer
- Liquid or creamy blush
- Highlighter
- Radiant-finish setting spray
How To Create a Glossy, Dewy Makeup Look in 6 Easy Steps
With the above products in hand, you’re ready to begin painting your canvas. Keep reading to learn how to get a dewy makeup look in just a few simple steps. .
1. Prep your skin
One of the main queries beauty enthusiasts ask is how to get glossy skin naturally, and the answer to that is proper skincare. Thoroughly prepping your skin at the beginning of your dewy makeup routine ultimately determines how much you’ll glow. Prep usually involves removing impurities with a gentle facial cleanser and buffing away dead skin cells with a toner, physical exfoliator, or both. Afterward, your skin will be a fresh canvas for the rest of your skincare and makeup routine.
2. Moisturize and prime
Moisturizing and applying primer are the next steps in your base regimen—moisturizer will help hydrate your skin, while primer will work to keep your makeup on lock. We generally recommend choosing a primer based on your skin type. However, if you’re after that dewy, glazed finish, we suggest water-based primers. These formulas are often made with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and can help plump your skin with moisture, enhancing the dewy effect.
For a fresh-faced, glossy look, we love the Honey Dew Me Up Primer, which contains honeydew melon extract and leaves the skin plump, dewy, and smooth. The Plump Right Back Primer + Serum is another excellent option for a radiant (but not greasy) look. If you’d rather combine your moisturizing and priming steps into one to streamline your routine, the Face Freezie Cooling Primer + Moisturizer is a great option. The skincare-makeup hybrid is infused with snow mushroom and niacinamide for all-day hydration, and it can be used as a primer or worn alone on no-makeup days.
If your skin is naturally on the oilier side and shine isn’t a concern, consider reaching for a natural-finish primer, like The Face Glue Gripping Primer, instead. This hydrating pick helps keep your skin feeling balanced and extends makeup wear for up to 24 hours while leaving the skin with a flattering, soft-focus finish.
3. Apply your dewy base makeup
The real magic happens when you apply your luminous foundation or tinted moisturizer. Dewy, glossy makeup is similar to the minimalism of a no-makeup look, so you’ll want to use a light hand to achieve the most natural-looking result. Opt for a buildable skin tint, such as the Buttermelt Glaze Soft Glow Skin Tint SPF 30, rather than a full-coverage foundation, and gradually build up the coverage to your liking. Alternatively, even out your complexion by using a damp sponge to buff the Bare With Me Concealer Serum onto your skin. The multi-tasking formula can be used as a spot concealer or as an all-over base product, and it’s even suitable for use on your body. The formula’s lightweight texture and hydrating feel are perfect for nailing your glossy makeup look.
4. Blend your creamy blush
A healthy flush is an almost non-negotiable part of your dewy makeup look. Creams are great picks for the job due to their ultra-blendable formulas. Try the Wonder Stick Blush, which colors, shapes, and blends onto skin like a wonder. If you’re a diehard powder blush enthusiast, use the Buttermelt Blush instead. Though it’s a powder, the shea, almond, and mango butter-infused formula boasts an ultra-buttery texture that melts into the skin, providing up to 12 hours of fade and transfer-resistant wear.
Keep in mind that for the most natural finish, you’ll need to pick the right shade for your skin tone. Our Virtual Try On tool can help you find the most flattering blush shades for your skin (and you don’t have to leave your house to test drive them, either). To further hone in on the craft of blush, read our article How to Apply Blush and Flatter Your Face Shape.
5. Enhance your features with highlighter makeup
Highlighter is arguably the most important makeup for a dewy look, as this shimmery staple helps reflect light, making your skin appear more luminous and radiant. For a high-impact yet still natural-looking glow, we recommend using a fluffy brush to buff the Buttermelt Highlighter onto the high points of your face (namely, your cheekbones, along each brow bone, onto your Cupid’s bow, and down the bridge of your nose). Though we mentioned earlier that liquid and cream products tend to be best for glossy makeup looks, this unique highlighter is an exception to the rule. The lightweight formula is enriched with a trio of plant-based butters (almond, mango, and shea) that melt into the skin for a smooth, seamless-looking glow. If desired, you can also use a small eyeshadow brush to pat a small amount of highlighter onto the inner corners of your eyes. This will help tie your look together and make your eyes appear bigger and brighter—a true win-win.
6. Set your dewy makeup look
This is when we’d normally say to set your makeup with a translucent powder, but we don’t want to compromise that dewy finish. In this case, look to a setting spray to save the day. You can extend your makeup wear for up to 24 hours with The Face Glue Setting Spray, which boasts an ultra-lightweight, waterproof finish. Or, for added luminosity, try the Plump Finish Setting Spray. If your skin tends to get noticeably oily throughout the day, you can lightly dust a translucent powder onto your T-zone (nose, chin, and forehead). But the key here is to use a light hand—too much powder, and you’ll risk dimming your hard-earned glow.
How To Take Your Dewy Makeup Look To the Next Level
Glazed, glossy makeup doesn’t have to stop at the skin. You can also score glossy lips, lids, and even a dewy decolletage, which can help tie the whole look together. Here are four ways to level up your glossy makeup look.
1. Glossy lips
Play up your pout—and put the perfect finishing touch on your dewy makeup look—by opting for a glossy lip look. For all-day color that won’t budge or smudge, we recommend using the Lip I.V. Hydrating Lip Gloss Stain. The unique formula is available in 16 shades that instantly hydrate the lips and leave them with a flattering wash of glossy, high-shine color. Though the shiny finish will fade with time (like all glosses), the pigment will stay put—so you can enjoy a stained lip look even if you’re not up for reapplying your gloss throughout the day. That said, feel free to add another coat anytime you want to bring the shine back.
2. Dewy eyes
Want to extend that glossy sheen to your lids? It’s possible with a luminous eyeshadow. We can’t get enough of the Ultimate Glow Shots Liquid Eyeshadow, especially in earthier shades like Golden Goji, Wow Cacao, and $ix Fig$. They’re perfect for keeping your eye makeup light and fresh. A little goes a long way, too. Apply a thin coat of the liquid shadow to your lids and gently diffuse out using your fingertip for a gorgeously glowy—not glittery—look. If you prefer the ease of eyeshadow sticks, you can get a subtle shimmery effect with the Jumbo Eye Pencil in Frosting, French Fries, or Iced Mocha. Just swipe your chosen hue onto your lids and blend the pigment out with your finger for a soft, diffused effect.
3. Laminated brows
You may wonder how your brows fit into your glossy makeup routine. The secret is to keep them natural but tame so they don’t look overdone compared to your fresh-faced complexion. Take a cue from the laminated eyebrow trend and give them the right amount of lift, fullness, and definition with a few upward swipes of The Brow Glue Crazy Lift Brow Lamination Gel, which delivers up to 24 hours of strong (but not stiff or sticky) hold.
4. Glimmering décolletage
Add a soft, dispersed highlight on your collarbones and shoulders by using a large, fluffy brush to sweep the Buttermelt Highlighter onto your skin. For a natural look, we suggest using a shade that complements your skin’s undertones. If you lean cool, a silvery highlighter, like Bright & Butta, will be best. For those with warmer or naturally-tanned skin, try one with a golden tint, like Glaze It Butta.
What Is Glossy, Dewy Makeup vs. Glass Skin?
While the terms dewy makeup and glass skin are sometimes used interchangeably, they each have their own distinct vibe. Dewy makeup is all about creating a healthy, hydrated glow—think fresh, radiant skin with a natural sheen, often achieved through lightweight base products and creamy highlighters. It’s glossy, luminous, and meant to look effortless, like your skin is naturally that plump and moisturized.
Glass skin, on the other hand, takes things a step further. The goal here is skin that’s not only radiant but also exceptionally smooth, clear, and almost poreless—like glass. The look originated in Korean beauty and is typically rooted in skincare, requiring layers of hydrating toners, essences, and serums to build that ultra-reflective base. That said, you can mimic the effect with the right makeup techniques. A smoothing primer, sheer foundation, and light-reflecting products can help you fake the look of glassy, ultra-even skin—no 10-step skincare routine required.
How to get glass skin with makeup
If you want to fake it ‘til you make it, certain glass skin makeup products can help. The key is to look for formulas that help blur and smooth your skin so it looks almost glass-like. After prepping and hydrating (refer to step one above), pick up a pore-minimizing primer such as the Pore Filler Primer. Then, achieve instantly smooth, filter-like blurred skin using the Bare With Me Blur Tint Foundation, which is available in 24 diverse shades to enhance your color and tone. Highlight the high points of your face for that luminous look, then lock everything in with a hydrating, radiant-finish setting spray, such as the Dewy Setting Spray.
Next Up:6 Spring Makeup Trends To Try This Year.
We want to see how your dewy, glossy makeup look turns out! Share a pic on social and tag us @nyxcosmetics.
PRODUCTS USED
Buttermelt Blush
High pigment buttery soft powder blush. Fade & transfer resistant with up to 12HR wear.
Lip I.V. Hydrating Lip Gloss Stain
Lip gloss + long-lasting lip stain in 20 shades.
Face Freezie Cooling Primer + Moisturizer
10-in-1 benefits with snow mushroom + niacinamide
BUTTERMELT HIGHLIGHTER
Butter smooth glowy highlighter in eight shades.
The Brow Glue Crazy Lift Brow Lamination Gel
A 24-hour strong-hold brow lamination gel that delivers a non-crunchy, flake-proof, and sweat-resistant hold.
JUMBO EYE PENCIL
Multi-use eye crayon
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Ultimate Glow Shots Liquid Eyeshadow
Liquid Shimmery Eyeshadow
Plump Finish Setting Spray
Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray With Electrolytes
Plump Right Back Primer + Serum
Makeup-Gripping Serum Primer With Electrolytes
Bare With Me Multitasking Makeup Spray
Hydrating Facial Spray with Aloe and Cucumber Extracts
Bare With Me Blur Tint Foundation
Blurring tint foundation in 24 medium coverage, matte shades
