You too? This winter, more than ever, I’ve struggled with my dry skin. But dry skin looks more than just dry, amiright? Dry skin looks tired. It looks dull, even when you fiiiinally get your 8 hours of sleep. With the winter air drying me out, my skin lost its natural glow and that “bouncy” quality that hydrated skin has. I was almost grateful for the masks we had to wear during this pandemic so no one could see my face. If you’re struggling with skin that is dry, dull, tired, dehydrated, or lackluster, don’t worry. Today, I’m sharing my simple skincare routine for hydrated, glowing skin in the winter. Keep reading for my skincare routine, that answers how to make skin glow without makeup. My routine is made up mostly of products you can find at your local Target or local pharmacy.
Get ready to take some “glow up” pics and post your #nofilterneeded skin on Insta.
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What helps make skin glow without makeup? How do you get hydrated skin?
I want to help you get skin that is both hydrated AND glowing. So, some of the ingredients and products I mention might offer help with hydration and glowing, while others might offer just one or the other.
Glowing skin comes from a number of different things. For one, It comes from exfoliating, so your dead skin cells are removed and new skin cells can shine. You also get glowing skin when you protect your skin from sun and UV ray damage, which causes dark spots and wrinkles.
For hydrated skin, you’ll want ingredients that both attract and lock in moisture.
A note about glycerin
While I was doing some research on moisturizers and how to make skin glow without makeup, I learned that one ingredient that’s good to have in your moisturizer is humectants. Humectants draw water to themselves. (Examples of humectants include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe, honey, panthenol, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and sodium hyaluronate.)
Here’s what I didn’t know.
Having a humectant in a moisturizer is not enough by itself. In order for humectants to be effective and actually retain the moisture, they must be paired with two other moisturizing treatments.
So if you see humectants in your moisturizer, that’s great! But, make sure it’s paired with two of the following: occlusives, which create a protective barrier that keeps the moisture in; and barrier-repairing ingredients, which solves the issue of the damaged skin barrier, by replenishing the lipids found in healthy skin.
Occlusives include, but aren’t limited to:
- Shea butter
- Jojoba oil
- Beeswax
- Cetyl alcohol
- Lethicin
The 3 barrier-repairing ingredients are:
- Ceramides
- Cholesterol
- Fatty acids (stearic acid, glyceryl stearate, palmitic acid)
The info I learned about pairing humectants with occlusives and barrier repairing ingredients came from this super helpful article!
To make skin glow without makeup, start with a gentle + hydrating cleanser
Starting with a hydrating cleanser in the winter has really helped me with my dry skin. Since my skin type is acne prone, I usually buy cleansers with salicylic acid, or some other ingredient that fights acne but is often quite drying. This winter, I changed it up with a hyaluronic acid cleanser. More on that in a moment!
For a hydrating cleanser, I suggest finding something that has hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or lactic acids in it.
Hyaluronic acid is already in your skin naturally, and really helps to lock in your skin’s moisture, keeping it looking plump and hydrated.
Glycerin is a humectant, which means it draws water to itself. So it basically pulls water from deeper layers of skin to the top layer for added moisture.
Lactic acid is an interesting one, because while it is used as an exfoliant, it’s also a humectant. So it actually hydrates while exfoliating (crazy, huh?). Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), which is a chemical exfoliator and will help remove dead skin cells to give you that glowing, fresh faced look.
A few months back, I purchased Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleanser Gel from my local Target and fell in love. I don’t usually say this about cleansers, but this one actually feels hydrating. My skin always feels soft after using it, instead of feeling dried out or stripped of its natural oils.
Let me tell y’all a bit more about why it’s so great:
- Oil-free. I love that it’s oil free, because it’s super hydrating, but without that oily feel I hate. It also means I can use it in the summer when my skin goes back to being oily, instead of dry.
- Free from parabens and other controversial stuff. It’s Fluoride-Free, Soap-Free, Sulfate-Free, Paraben-Free, Oil-Free, Dye-Free and Aluminum-Free.
- Contains hyaluronic acid. I already mentioned this, but this is what makes this cleanser so hydrating. My skin always looks very supple, and feels soft after using it.
- Can be used to remove eye makeup. Obviously, you don’t want to get it in your eye. But it certainly removes my mascara and eyeshadow on the days I wear them.
Possible cons:
- Fragrance maybe not for sensitive skin. Not everyone’s skin agrees with fragrance, and some people might not like that it’s scented. I personally like the scent, but it’s worth mentioning.
- Not specifically acne-fighting. While I don’t think it would necessarily cause acne (I for one have never broken out from using it, even though I am acne-prone), it’s also not intended to heal acne.
A few cleansers on my Wish List:
- Youth to the People Superfood Cleanser with Kale, Green Tea, Spinach and Vitamins
- Peach and Lilly Power Calm Hydrating Gel Cleanser
Toners for hydrated + glowing skin
Toners are basically the last step in cleansing your skin. Using a toner is going to help get hydrated, glowing skin in a few ways.
- It’ll help remove any last traces of dirt or grime left on your skin after cleansing.
- It helps prepare your skin for whatever delicious skincare products are coming next.
- It helps restore the pH balance of your skin.
- It’ll improve and even out your skin tone.
- Finally, toner helps reduce the appearance of pores.
A general rule of thumb is to choose a toner with no alcohol. But ESPECIALLY when you’re looking for a toner during winter. Alcohol is going to dry your skin out, way more than the dry winter months would on their own.
The best toner for each person will vary, depending on their skin type. During the colder months, look for a toner that has hydrating ingredients to make skin glow without makeup. A toner with hyaluronic acid or glycerin is a good choice to amp up moisture and keep it locked in.
Personally, my affordable toner of choice is the lavender Thayers Witch Hazel. It contains glycerin, which helps hydrate my skin. But the best part is, the witch hazel also helps with my acne prone skin, and calms it with lavender.
Toners for other skin types:
For oily skin, choose something that will help combat the oil production without overdrying. Ingredients like witch hazel, salicylic acid, and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are good options.
If your skin is sensitive, pick a toner with soothing ingredients. A toner with lavender, chamomile, or aloe are good options that’ll help calm your skin.
If you struggle with hyperpigmentation, dark spots and uneven skin tone, you might want a toner that specifically brightens your skin. According to this article at Coveteur, for a brightening skin toner, go with an AHA gentle toner. Brightening skin toner ingredients include ascorbic acid, licorice root, paper mulberry, lactic acid, kojic acid, rice extract.
Serums for radiant skin:
Serums are amazing to get more hydrated, glowing skin. They’re basically concentrated cocktails of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to nourish your skin. For a hydrating serum that will give you glowing skin, look for:
- Hyaluronic acid (you’re probably tired of hearing that by now haha)
- Antioxidants
- Ceramides
- Squalene
- Plant oils & Extracts
- Peptides
If you can swing it, I suggest using different serums for daytime versus nighttime. Why?
Some serums are extra great for daytime use because they have ingredients that fight free radicals and protect your skin from UV radiation and pollutants, which you encounter mostly during the day. Vitamin C is an example of a free radical fighting ingredient.
Then, you want to let your most exfoliating and renewing serums do their work in the evening, when your body’s resting and can recuperate. Also, serums that contain AHAs or retinol are going to make your skin more susceptible to sunburn. So they’ll be more beneficial to use while you’re asleep and not out in the sun.
The ingredients that are good for daytime serums are still good to look for in evening serums! That said, consider saving your serums with retina and AHAs for evening use, since they exfoliate the skin and encourage cell turnover.
The bottom line is a good facial serum is key to making skin glow without makeup because it nourishes your skin, so it glows naturally.
My favorite daytime serum + moisturizer combo:
For hydrated, glowing skin without makeup, I use my all-time-favorite serum/moisturizer combo: Peach Slices Citric-Honey Aqua Gel. Besides the delicious name (which is honestly the reason I bought it in the first place), this product does wonders for my skin.
When I want to look particularly hydrated and glowy, this is what I put on. It’s a serum-moisturizer duo that has both glycerin and ceramides. It also has other yummy stuff, like peach extract, which is full of vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids.
You can use it as a serum and follow it up with moisturizer, or use it as a One Step Serum/Moisturizer combo. I love this serum because it actually does what it says it will! It promises glowing, lit-from-within skin, and that’s exactly what I get out of it. My skin even feels and looks more firm and glowing after using it.
This is a great option for my fellow women-on-the-go who don’t always have time to apply serum, wait for it to sink in for 10 minutes, and THEN apply moisturizer.
My evening serum
In the evening, I opt for the Pura D’or 20% Vitamin C Serum. Yes, I know I mentioned Vitamin C serums are good for the daytime, but this particular formula also has retinol, so it’s suggested use is for the evening.
This serum is amaaaazing, honestly. It’s not sticky and doesn’t leave your skin feeling “tacky” after applying it. It contains a ton of my favorite skincare goodies: Vitamin C, retinol, hyaluronic acid, witch hazel, and argan oil. It also contains ferulic acid, white jelly mushroom, and Vitamin E.
Moisturizer
Daytime moisturizer
Of course, where would hydrated skin be without moisturizer? Probably not too hydrated. Moisturizer is the obvious next step for hydrated, radiant skin. But which moisturizer is best?
There’s no one answer to that. But I’ll share with you my tips for choosing a moisturizer that will help give you hydrated, glowing skin.
- Look for collagen, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and ceramides for deep hydration and to firm your skin
- If you have oily skin, opt for a water-based moisturizer
- For more shimmer, try a moisturizer with illuminating ingredients
- For moisturizers with glowing properties, look for Vitamin C, willow bark, Vitamin E, green tea, pomegranates
In the past, I’ve used and looooved the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, with hyaluronic acid. It’s super lightweight, but the hyaluronic acid makes it very effective for hydrated, glowy skin.
Now, I also use the Peach Slices Shimmer + Calm Starlit Glow moisturizer. Full disclosure: This is a highlighter moisturizer. So, it’s mostly a skincare product, with a hint of makeup thrown in. You can wear it by itself or under your makeup.
I love the slight shimmery effect this moisturizer has on my face, without looking like I rubbed glitter all over my skin. It basically has a highlighter effect that gives you both hydration and a glowy effect.
The Starlit Glow moisturizer also has strawberry extract and collagen to give your skin firmness and a plumping effect. It even contains diamond powder, to add to the shimmering aaaand make you feel a bit like a movie star.
While it does have a highlighting effect, it’s still one of my favorite methods for making my skin glow without makeup.
Evening moisturizer or overnight mask
In the evening, I like to use a heavier, thicker face lotion to give my skin all the nutrients it needs.
During the winter, I switch between a few different evening moisturizers.
On evenings when my skin doesn’t feel overly dry, I like to use the Simple Skincare Water Boost Skin Quench Sleep Cream. Though I usually like a thick evening cream, this one is pretty lightweight while being loaded with plant extract and minerals that nourish your skin while you sleep.
What I like best about this cream is that it actually works with your skin’s natural hydration process. So, the more you use it, the more you actually help your skin replenish itself.
It also is free from artificial fragrance, colors and dyes, drying alcohol, parabens, phthalates, harsh chemicals, and animal derived ingredients. All in all, this is a great option for people with sensitive skin.
On nights when my skin feels more dehydrated and in need of a serious antioxidant boost, I go for my Earth to Skin Super Fruits Avocado Overnight Mask. This mask feels so rich and creamy, but surprisingly never leaves my skin feeling oily.
It has avocado fruit extract, Vitamin D, Beta Carotene, Vitamin E and Potassium, and glycerin, all of which add up to make a luxurious cream that always leaves my skin looking supple and radiant in the mornings.
It’s also ridiculously cheap.
I suggest picking this one up at your local Walmart, or buying one of the more affordable options off Amazon.
Jade roller/stone roller to make skin glow without makeup (optional step)
For extra firm, glowing skin, try out a jade roller! (Yes, I did look for a “serious” jade roller photo, but the cat was too cute to pass up.)
In the interest of full disclosure, I actually have a black obsidian roller instead of a jade roller. Why? Because it was $3 at Target and I had to impulse buy haha.
Typically, jade rollers are used after applying serum during your skin care routine. Using a roller helps the serum to absorb nice and deep into your skin, where it’ll be most effective.
Other advantages of using a jade roller:
- Increased circulation to your skin, helping your skin look brighter and firmer.
- Lymphatic drainage, which helps detoxify your body by draining fluid (kind of like a tongue scraper detoxes your mouth!).
- Can help naturally contour your face by helping drain fluid from your face.
- Helps reduce fine lines.
I like to keep my obsidian roller in the freezer because the coldness helps decrease and calm the puffiness in my face first thing in the morning.
To use, roll in firm, upward and outward motions.
Sunscreen (yes, even while we’re stuck inside)
Did y’all know that sunscreens can actually be illuminating, glow-inducing formulas that protect your skin, instead of just over-oily chemically scented gobs of white that streak your face? Well if you did, I really wish someone had let me know because it wasn’t until recently that I discovered this blessing.
To start with, sunscreen is essential for radiant glowing skin because it protects you from early aging, wrinkles, and dark spots from sun damage.
Apply sunscreen as the last step in your skincare routine to ensure your skin stays bright, youthful and glowing.
I’m still playing around with different sunscreens to find what I like best, but if you haven’t yet added sunscreen to your skin routine, now’s the time. Why now, when most of us spend more time inside than ever before? (thx, Rona.)
Well, it sounds a little nutty, but you can still suffer UV damage while spending time INSIDE your house. Besides the fact that UV light can come through your windows, you’re also probably getting a ton more exposure to blue light. All this extra screen time from working at home, and staring at your computer or phone all day is actually damaging your skin.
Blue light can cause your skin cells to shrink, and even die, which leads to signs of early aging. according to this article.
The point is, wear sunscreen whether indoors or outdoors to make your skin glow without makeup.
My Sunscreen Wish List:
Kinship Self Reflect Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 32
Highlights:
- Reef-safe
- Gives a dewy, glowy finish
- Made using Kinship’s plant-based probiotic that supports a strong skin barrier + clear, glowing skin.
- Offers UVA/UVB protection AND blue light protection
Best for people ready to sweat or swim: Shiseido Clear Stick UV Protector WetForce SPF 50+ Sunscreen
Highlights:
- Becomes more effective the more you sweat or are in water
- Goes on super well over or under makeup
- Long lasting
- Doesn’t leave any white tint
- Goes on smoothly
- Non greasy
- Contains Soy lecithin, which is known to prevent wrinkles
Things to consider for a skincare routine to make skin glow without makeup
Now that you’ve learned about some of the best ingredients in skin care products for hydrated, glowing skin, and my favorite products in my glowing skin care routine, I want to add a few extra things to consider.
- Your skin type. Is your skin oily? Use water-based moisturizers so you can hydrate your skin, without looking more oily. Is your skin extra dry? Use products with shea butter for an extra boost of softening hydration.
- If your skin can handle it, try adding a retinol product in the evening to encourage cell turnover for glowing, fresh skin. Getting rid of the dead skin cells for new cell growth will help reduce fine lines, acne scarring, dark spots, and slow down aging in general.
Parting tips for how to make skin glow without makeup:
- Drink green tea
- Eat clean and avoid too much salt, sugar, or processed foods
For more healthy lifestyle tips, check out my post 21 Simple Tips for a Healthier You!
- Get enough sleep (7-9 hours) so your skin can renew itself while you sleep
- Limit your alcohol intake
- Use an exfoliator twice a week to slough off dead skin cells for softer, glowing skin. (You can also try a chemical exfoliator like lactic acid if you don’t want to physically scrub your face.)
- Do a face mask once or twice a week. Try a collagen or hyaluronic acid face mask for radiant skin.
- Take collagen supplements to promote healthy, youthful skin. Collagen supplements also help strengthen your nails and hair!
- Try adding a face oil as the very last step in your skincare routine (yes, even after your sunscreen). For glowing skin, rose hip oil, jojoba oil, and avocado oil are a few great options.
I hope you’ve found lots of helpful advice and beauty tidbits in this post covering my skincare routine for to make skin glow without makeup! Highlighters and bronzing powders are fun, but I like knowing I can have radiant, glowy skin naturally.
What’re your favorite beauty and skincare products for glowing skin? Let me know! I’d love to amp up my skincare routine with a few tips from you 🙂
Til next time, you hot tamales.
Love, hugs and good vibes,
<3 Sav
