How you make your skin glow

Nothing says ‘summer-ready’ like a gorgeous, glowing complexion.

Thanks to the power of certain make-up products, you can give your mug a faux glow totally worth showing off. But nailing a luminous look isn’t just about using the right make-up products, it needs to start with your skin first.

Follow our guide to getting ridicuously glowy skin…

IT STARTS WITH YOUR SKIN

STEP 1: Exfoliate

When your complexion looks dull, tired and is even a bit flaky, it’s likely that your skin is harbouring a layer of dead skin cells. Slough them away by giving your face the once-over with an exfoliator. After cleansing, smooth your exfoliant between your fingertips and massage it using circular motions over your skin.

bh loves: QV Face Exfoliating Polish, Ella Bache Revealing Fruit Enzyme Exfoliant

STEP 2: Brightening eye cream

Dark circles are a dead giveaway that you’re tired, so give the illusion that you’re wide-awake with a brightening eye cream. To apply, pop a dot of the cream on the tip of your ring finger and lightly dab it about one centimetre underneath your lower lash line. Use a gentle tapping motion to cover your dark circles and say hello to instantly brighter peepers!

bh loves: First Aid Beauty 5-in-1 Eye Cream, Simple Daily Radiance Eye Cream

STEP 3: Hydrating moisturiser

A skin-quenching moisturiser will give your skin an instant and natural glow. It will help to replenish your skin’s hydration levels to keep it looking plump and radiant all day long. Simply spread an almond-sized amount of the good stuff over your nose, cheeks, forehead and chin, avoiding your eye area. Focus on particularly dehydrated areas like your hairline and the inner corners of your nose.

bh loves: Innoxa Organic Hydrating Daily Moisturiser, ModelCo Hydrating Moisturiser Day & Night

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MAKE YOUR MAKE-UP (SUBTLY) GLISTEN

STEP 4: An illuminating primer

Now that you’re rocking gorgeously luminous skin, it’s time to make sure your foundation stays in place all day long without moving or slipping off after a few hours – because patchy foundation doesn’t exactly scream ‘natural radiance’.  And the key to nailing a glowing complexion with your foundation is to give your make-up the right kind of base. Smooth an illuminating primer over your entire complexion and let it absorb completely into your skin. The primer will not only give your skin an instant glow, but it’ll help to set your make-up too.

bh loves: Estee Lauder Illuminating Perfecting Primer, L’Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Primer

STEP 5: Liquid foundation

Get your hands on a hydrating, radiance-enhancing foundation. They’re usually formulated with illuminating pigments that help to capture light and reflect it off your face, giving the illusion of fresh, dewy skin. A hydrating formula will also give your skin an extra hit of moisture, keeping your skin from drying out throughout the day. If you tend to get oily in the day or you want to tone down the dewy factor, seal your foundation with a dusting of translucent powder. Just make sure to be light-handed, as too much will undo all of your hard work.

bh loves: Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation, Maybelline New York Superstay Better Skin Foundation

STEP 6: Highlighter

A liquid or powder highlighter can work miracles to give your skin an enviable glow. Apply it over the bridge of your nose, across the highest point of your cheekbones, above your eyebrows and across your brow bone. The light will hit these high points on your face, instantly giving you the appearance of a healthy, bright complexion and on-point bone structure. Win!

bh loves: NYX Cosmetics Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator, Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator

STEP 7: Blush/bronzer

To finish off, give your complexion a warm glow with a dusting of a pale pink blush on the apples of your cheeks or a shimmering bronzer in the hollows of your cheekbones. Just make sure you apply it for your face shape.

bh loves: Covergirl Cheekers Blush in Soft Sable, Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick

STEP 7: Mascara

Now that your skin’s glowing, make your peepers look brighter and wider with some mascara. If you want to keep the focus on your skin and leave the rest of your look natural, apply just a few lashings and a slick of lip gloss. Otherwise, go all out with a winged line and smoky eye. Now, let those glowing skin complements roll in!

bh loves: MUD Volume & Length Mascara, Sormé Tasty Tube

How do you make your skin glow? Will you be trying any of these tricks?