The definitive guide to perfect dewy skin this summer.
We have officially entered the dewy skin era. Indeed, that soft, fresh glow that transcends your skin into reflecting the light by making people continuously say “You truly are glowing!”.
Lockdown began a transformation in the way we interact with beauty and skincare, with many people taking the time to truly research and understand how to ‘self-care’ better. The term dewy skin began gaining popularity across Instagram and TikTok in 2021 as many beauty gurus began talking more and more about the fresh face look that was reliant on a soft coverage base - a big shift from the full coverage foundations and heavy bronzing that we all underwent in the 2010s, but let’s face it: healthy skin has always been, and will always be, the main frontier across beauty.
Compiling the freshest, most exciting and skin-nurturing products right now, we have compiled your ultimate step-by-step guide of the dewy skin look that does not just begin with make-up, but with caring for your skin first and foremost.
You need to nurture and care for your skin.
Across the gigantic beauty community that brings tips and tricks daily across all social media platforms, the focus is always on how makeup performs, taking into consideration solely its application on the skin. However, with dewy skin, it all starts at the very core - the skin barrier, and the routine surrounding it.
Taking advice from one of the very best advocates for healthy skin, Dr. Barbara Sturm, we begin to understand the importance of hydration, alongside the right application. Most physical scrubs and cleansing products target pureness, however they could also be very irritating to the fragile skin layer, causing tiny tears and rips on the surface. Nowadays, team Barbara Sturm are tackling the vital importance of the skin’s microbiome, and the nurture of the skin barrier.
“The human microbiome is the collection of all microbiota that resides on, or within, the human body, including the skin and consists of bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae and more. The ecosystem of microbes that resides on the skin’s surface is called the ‘skin microbiome’ and plays a key role in our immunity; our skin constantly interacts with bacteria, helping it to grow and thrive and creating a healthy diversity which protects our bodies against the harmful substances that could affect the skin or our overall health,” says Barbara Sturm. “Microbes can be potentially harmful – disease-causing bacteria produces toxins that can damage cells and make you ill, whilst some viruses can cause anything from the common cold to influenza. To prevent this occurring it’s essential for bacteria to be balanced. You can think of it as a cinema theatre where there are only a certain number of seats; if these seats are taken up by the ‘good’ microbes, then there are no more seats for the ‘bad’ ones. Disturbance in the microbiome’s balance - brought on by infectious illnesses, certain diets, cosmetics, air pollution, emotional stress, or the prolonged use of antibiotics or other bacteria-destroying medications, causes dysbiosis, stopping the skin’s normal interactions, and resulting in a disharmony in the microbiome.”
The importance of balancing the skin is key, as we face different environmental and stress aggressors, which lead to pesky breakouts, blemishes and dull-looking skin. This is why such importance is placed on taking care of the skin, both AM and PM. The biggest difference in glow is caused by careful curation of morning and evening routines, and how they need to target different conditions.
AM:
In the morning, I start by using the Dr. Barbara Sturm Microbiotic Gentle Cleansing Balm, working in circle motions as this cleanser gently cleanses and hydrates my skin without leaving it dry and irritated.
The next step is always a hydrating serum in the morning. As you are prepping the skin for the day, the goal is to replenish the hydration in the morning. Using the Microbiotic Blemish Control Hydrating HA Serum, it’s not only hydrating it and balancing the microbiome, it also helps protect from all of the different environmental aggressors, and calm the skin down.
The biggest trick I learned about having a healthy glow was to switch to using a balanced face oil in the mornings. It all started when I purchased a rose quartz Gua Sha and ever since I am a Gua Sha convert. By using it in the mornings, and sculpting my face with the tool, my skin is tight, glowing and completely redefined (using it in combination with my current favourite face oil - Sunday Riley’s Juno Face Oil). Gua Sha helps drain away any excess puffiness or water you may store in the face, by helping lymphatic drainage. Remember, you have to be consistent and know how to sculpt in the right way for your face and skin (it is a learning curve, but once you understand your structure, your face will scream in joy).
The only finishing touch left in the morning before make-up is to apply a good sunscreen. I have been following different K-Beauty brands for the longest time, and their water-based formulas have worked wonders on my skin such as the Thank You Farmer SPF50 Water Based Sun Cream. The formula does not leave a white cast, and completely melts into the skin with a super light finish. Another favourite is the Dr. Barbara Sturm SPF50 Sun Drops, with an easy applicator and light hydration, super protective and barely feeling like you have sunscreen at all!
PM:
Skincare in the evenings should aim to calm, repair, and hydrate the skin, as both sleep and hydration go hand in hand. After double cleansing the skin (once to remove makeup and residue, the other to actually cleanse the skin layer), I would aim to go with a powerful reparative serum. Again, skincare is extremely personal, so you need to know how to find the right serum for you, so be sure to get advice from your dermatologist or from a professional that can guide you and explain the main concerns that need addressing. I have always struggled with a combination skin, that is prone to blemishes and blackheads, and discovering niacinamide has been a blessing. In the evenings, I go with Dr. Barbara Sturm The Better B Niacinamide Serum that gently targets any skin discoloration and dullness, alongside blemishes and post-blemish discoloration. It supercharges my face by targeting pores and environmental hyperpigmentation.
Afterwards, a powerful hydrating moisturiser such as Sunday Riley’s Vitamin C CEO or Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Face Cream provide a moisture that you can feel, without feeling overly greasy or heavy. Top it all off with a layer of eye cream to further hydrate the eye contour, and you are ready to rest and rejuvenate.
Explore the right makeup for you.
I have always been a big fan of glowing, subtle, barely noticeable make-up. In my beauty journey, I discovered that the main “secret” behind a healthy, dewy look is that less is definitely more. Oftentimes, the base of your make-up routine is what can turn the look to feel heavy and “cakey”, even whilst attempting to be natural.
In the last 12 months, the beauty industry has turned more towards soft products, with natural finishes, which have highlighted the need for healthy glow products, as lockdown has also led us to experiment with what works best, and how to create effortless (and quick) looks.
As a base, starting out with a good understanding of foundation is key. I am a big believer that some days, a dewy look does NOT need foundation. I apply face oil and let it do its thing as the ultimate base. However, other days I would reach for a water-based, soft foundation like the Gucci Beauty Natural Finish Fluid Foundation. A tiny drop makes a big difference by evening out the tone for a barely-there feeling with a radiant finish. Up next, I use a small amount of the Fenty Beauty Bright Fix Eye Brightener for an absolutely perfect cover-up of dark circles that again, feels natural and luminous. This product has been my holy grail in every situation.
Once your base is set with your trusted setting powder (I prefer a colour correcting one, specifically the Dior Forever Cushion Powder in Lavender), you move on to sculpting the face. A trick that I learned from the years of YouTube deep-diving was to actually purchase a bright red blush. I use blush to further sculpt the face (like a very natural contour). My absolute favourite for years has been the Nars Blush in Exhibit A, and I apply it on the cheekbone, across the forehead and the nose to give off a I-Just-Went-Skiing-And-Burned-My-Face-In-A-Really-Luminous-Way, giving a very healthy tone of being outside and soaking up the sun.
Moving onto the last steps of this look, a good, light bronzer is the main key ingredient, as you can afford to build and play around with the other steps and skip a few, however the bronzer stage is THE MAIN CHARACTER here. For this step, I use Gucci Beauty’s Éclat Soleil bronzing powder, whose effortless light illuminance brings out a natural highlighting and sculpting effect on the skin, without overpowering the face (also, 10/10 for the beautiful aqua blue packaging).
The very last step ties the whole look together as it marries all products: it is the setting spray stage. Whenever working with powder products, we can oftentimes notice feeling slightly dry or matte, therefore a good hydrating setting spray acts as a binder to all products together.
My absolute favourite is the brand new Gucci Beauty Brume De Beauté hydrating mist - I use it without any makeup, after working out, before going out, before the supermarket, it’s perfect for every situation, with or without make-up. It helps act as a slight highlighter and refresher all at once. As a personal touch, sometimes I finish everything off with Gucci Beauty’s Multi-Use Nourishing Balm to my skin to maximise the wet effect, giving out a sense of coming out of the ocean, using it across my face to complete the ultimate summer-ready look, by using it across the lips, cheeks, and any dry area that needs a slight touch of refresh.
