Our Beauty Panel shares how to pull off the dewy skin trend without looking oily
ICYMI, appearing as though you’ve just stepped out of a hot yoga class is trending in the beauty world. Seriously, illuminating makeup was all over the Spring 2015 runways as designers like Christopher Kane, Donna Karan and Alexander Wang attempted to shed some light (see what we did there?) on the trend. But achieving the dewy look can be tricky, because there is a fine line between a radiant, healthy glow and looking like you’ve straight up smeared oil all over your face.
We asked our Beauty Panel how they wear the dewy skin look. Read on to find out!
Challenge 93: Show us how you wear the dewy skin look. See the answers now! »
Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at [email protected]. Read on for the answers to this week’s challenge and for more goodness, get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.
Megan Joy
Toronto | Megan Joy
The line between shiny and dewy is a fine one. It took me quite some time to figure out how to apply my makeup in a way that gave me a subtle glow instead of looking straight up oily. For me the key is hydrated skin and a champagne highlighter. Gold highlighters don’t look natural on me and pink highlighters only accentuate my redness and rosacea. Making sure my skin is moisturized is the best canvas for this type of look. I love the Priming Moisturizer from Glossier. It contains hyaluronic acid to give skin a plump, cushiony effect. It also has mushroom extract which is a known anti-redness ingredient. Perfect for rosacea sufferers like me!
My favourite product to give my skin a dewy glow is the Smashbox Soft Lights in Shimmer. It took me over 2 years to hit pan and I keep returning to it again and again. It doesn’t have any large pieces of glitter in it like many highlighters, so it gives a really soft and “lit from within” glow. I apply this on my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose, along my temples and on my cupids bow.
Products used: Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown, Dior Airflash Spray Foundation in 200, Smashbox Soft Lights in Shimmer, NARS blush in Orgasm, theBalm Bahama Mamma Bronzer, Colourpop Lipstick in Scandy.
Colleen Conroy
Montreal | Blush Rouge
There’s something about dewy skin that makes you look and feel extra sparkly. A healthy glow is a desirable thing and there are lots of different ways that you can achieve it. Here are a few of my favourite tips to get that fancy shine:
Taking care of your skin is a major factor in getting that dewy complexion, so make sure to exfoliate, moisturize, and protect your skin routinely. When I want a luminescent start during skin care, I use Strobe Liquid Lotion from MAC (I use this a lot on clients to give that pretty flushed look). It has a bit of subtle shimmer right in the moisturizer so it instantly gives the skin a great pick-me-up. Sometimes I mix an iridescent pigment straight into my concealer or foundation to create a shimmery base. Try using kabuki/stipple brushes to apply your makeup in a circular buffing motion (I often spritz my brushes with a little bit of Fix+ from MAC Cosmetics, which keeps your skin hydrated while putting on product.) Highlighter is a dewy girl’s best friend. Liquid ones are ultimately the best at creating more of a wet look, but I also like to use a powder highlighter mixed in with the Fix+ (do powder onto brush first, and then a quick spray of Fix+ onto the brush). Last but not least, if you want even more of a glow added to the look, try dabbing a bit of Vaseline or clear gloss onto your cheekbones to get the ultimate sheen.
Products Used: MAC Strobe Liquid Lotion, MAC Moisturecover concealer in NC20/NW25, MAC Pigment in Tan (mixed into concealer), NYX Cream Blush in Natural, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Give Me Sun, Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown, L’Oréal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara, Quo Lashes #806, MAC Clear Lipglass (on lips and cheekbones), MAC Brushes #188 #130 and #187.
Maisie Dunbar
Germantown | Maisie Dunbar
When creating dewy skin you have to be very careful, especially people of colour. You want to look dewy, not oily. Here are some steps to give you a long-lasting, dewy look for everyday.
Cleanse your skin, hydrate with a toner, sun protect and lastly use an illuminator mixed in with your moisturizer all over your face. Make sure you are using all products evenly on face and neck. Use concealer, if necessary. Apply mascara, blush and a little power bronzer over the blush. Finish with lip gloss and you are ready for your day.
Products used: Bluffajo Cosmetics Hot Chick Lip Gloss, Bluffajo Cosmetics Bare Concealer, Bluffajo Cosmetics Natural & Camera Ready Primer, Bluffajo Cosmetics Cherish Foundation, Bluffajo Cosmetics Just Hue Foundation, Bluffajo Cosmetics Blossoming Blush, Bluffajo Cosmetics Aphrodite Sheer Glo Illuminating Lotion, Bluffajo Cosmetics Sunkiss Bronzer.
Ashley Pettigrew
Calgary | Lions Lace Lattes
I think the easiest way to create an everyday dewy look is to start out with a light base using a tinted moisturizer or a BB cream, but I often like to use a matte foundation, so when I want to create a dewy look my go-to method is to use a radiant primer. My favourite is the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiant, although recently I have been loving the Radiant Bronze version. You can apply the primer before your foundation, or mix in the primer with your foundation if you really want to glow. This year I have also been using the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in the cream-liquid formula, which you can also apply before foundation, mix in with your foundation, or apply straight to the high points of the face (cheek bones, bridge of the nose).
Another favourite trick I use to amp up the glow and really create that dewy look is to use a highlighter on the high points of the face. One of my favourites right now is the highlighter in the Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo. If you are not up for wearing blush and a highlighter, another option to create a glowing complexion is a blush with a built in highlighter like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes.
My final option is a finishing powder such as the Bourjois Java Rice Powder, or the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. These powders can be dusted all over the face for a subtle all over radiant finish, or if you prefer you can just apply them to the high points of the face.
 on the trend. But achieving the dewy look can be tricky, because there is a fine line between a radiant, healthy glow and looking like you've straight up smeared oil all over your face.
We asked our Beauty Panel how they wear the dewy skin look. Read on to find out!
Challenge 93: Show us how you wear the dewy skin look. See the answers now! »
Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at beautypanel@fashionmagazine.com. Read on for the answers to this week's challenge and for more goodness, get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.
Megan Joy
Toronto | Megan Joy
The line between shiny and dewy is a fine one. It took me quite some time to figure out how to apply my makeup in a way that gave me a subtle glow instead of looking straight up oily. For me the key is hydrated skin and a champagne highlighter. Gold highlighters don't look natural on me and pink highlighters only accentuate my redness and rosacea. Making sure my skin is moisturized is the best canvas for this type of look. I love the Priming Moisturizer from Glossier. It contains hyaluronic acid to give skin a plump, cushiony effect. It also has mushroom extract which is a known anti-redness ingredient. Perfect for rosacea sufferers like me!
My favourite product to give my skin a dewy glow is the Smashbox Soft Lights in Shimmer. It took me over 2 years to hit pan and I keep returning to it again and again. It doesn't have any large pieces of glitter in it like many highlighters, so it gives a really soft and "lit from within" glow. I apply this on my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose, along my temples and on my cupids bow.
Products used: Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown, Dior Airflash Spray Foundation in 200, Smashbox Soft Lights in Shimmer, NARS blush in Orgasm, theBalm Bahama Mamma Bronzer, Colourpop Lipstick in Scandy.
Colleen Conroy
Montreal | Blush Rouge
There’s something about dewy skin that makes you look and feel extra sparkly. A healthy glow is a desirable thing and there are lots of different ways that you can achieve it. Here are a few of my favourite tips to get that fancy shine:
Taking care of your skin is a major factor in getting that dewy complexion, so make sure to exfoliate, moisturize, and protect your skin routinely. When I want a luminescent start during skin care, I use Strobe Liquid Lotion from MAC (I use this a lot on clients to give that pretty flushed look). It has a bit of subtle shimmer right in the moisturizer so it instantly gives the skin a great pick-me-up. Sometimes I mix an iridescent pigment straight into my concealer or foundation to create a shimmery base. Try using kabuki/stipple brushes to apply your makeup in a circular buffing motion (I often spritz my brushes with a little bit of Fix+ from MAC Cosmetics, which keeps your skin hydrated while putting on product.) Highlighter is a dewy girl’s best friend. Liquid ones are ultimately the best at creating more of a wet look, but I also like to use a powder highlighter mixed in with the Fix+ (do powder onto brush first, and then a quick spray of Fix+ onto the brush). Last but not least, if you want even more of a glow added to the look, try dabbing a bit of Vaseline or clear gloss onto your cheekbones to get the ultimate sheen.
Products Used: MAC Strobe Liquid Lotion, MAC Moisturecover concealer in NC20/NW25, MAC Pigment in Tan (mixed into concealer), NYX Cream Blush in Natural, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Give Me Sun, Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Medium Brown, L’Oréal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara, Quo Lashes #806, MAC Clear Lipglass (on lips and cheekbones), MAC Brushes #188 #130 and #187.
Maisie Dunbar
Germantown | Maisie Dunbar
When creating dewy skin you have to be very careful, especially people of colour. You want to look dewy, not oily. Here are some steps to give you a long-lasting, dewy look for everyday.
Cleanse your skin, hydrate with a toner, sun protect and lastly use an illuminator mixed in with your moisturizer all over your face. Make sure you are using all products evenly on face and neck. Use concealer, if necessary. Apply mascara, blush and a little power bronzer over the blush. Finish with lip gloss and you are ready for your day.
Products used: Bluffajo Cosmetics Hot Chick Lip Gloss, Bluffajo Cosmetics Bare Concealer, Bluffajo Cosmetics Natural & Camera Ready Primer, Bluffajo Cosmetics Cherish Foundation, Bluffajo Cosmetics Just Hue Foundation, Bluffajo Cosmetics Blossoming Blush, Bluffajo Cosmetics Aphrodite Sheer Glo Illuminating Lotion, Bluffajo Cosmetics Sunkiss Bronzer.
Ashley Pettigrew
Calgary | Lions Lace Lattes
I think the easiest way to create an everyday dewy look is to start out with a light base using a tinted moisturizer or a BB cream, but I often like to use a matte foundation, so when I want to create a dewy look my go-to method is to use a radiant primer. My favourite is the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiant, although recently I have been loving the Radiant Bronze version. You can apply the primer before your foundation, or mix in the primer with your foundation if you really want to glow. This year I have also been using the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in the cream-liquid formula, which you can also apply before foundation, mix in with your foundation, or apply straight to the high points of the face (cheek bones, bridge of the nose).
Another favourite trick I use to amp up the glow and really create that dewy look is to use a highlighter on the high points of the face. One of my favourites right now is the highlighter in the Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo. If you are not up for wearing blush and a highlighter, another option to create a glowing complexion is a blush with a built in highlighter like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes.
My final option is a finishing powder such as the Bourjois Java Rice Powder, or the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. These powders can be dusted all over the face for a subtle all over radiant finish, or if you prefer you can just apply them to the high points of the face.){kind=link}