Get Your Glow On: How To Get a Glowy Makeup Look

Some genetically-blessed people have naturally even, effortlessly dewy skin, and that’s wonderful for them. But the rest of us often need a bit of help to give our skin that coveted luminosity. While maintaining a consistent skincare routine is the best way to achieve your skin goals, you can also use glowy makeup to add radiance to your complexion. If you’re not sure how (or what to use to get that glow), keep reading. Ahead, we’re outlining a simple glowy makeup routine that works for low-key days and glam nights alike. Plus, we’re sharing some of our favorite tricks for faking naturally glowy skin with makeup.

How To Get a Glowy Makeup Look That Lasts

The key to getting a glowy makeup look that looks natural lies in choosing the right products and applying them correctly. Follow our glowy makeup tutorial below and get your glow on.

Step 1: Prime your face

Whether you’re after a natural glowy makeup look or want something with a bit more oomph, you’ll want to prime your face—this simple step helps your makeup adhere better and last longer. We recommend using an illuminating makeup primer such as L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24H Dullness Reducer, which has an instant brightening effect and visibly evens skin over time . Use your fingers to smooth the lightweight formula onto clean, dry skin before proceeding to the next step in your glowy makeup routine.

Step 2: Add luminosity

Next, amplify your glowy base with L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. The luminous formula hydrates and adds a hint of radiant color for healthy-looking, glowing skin. If you’d prefer a subtly glowy no-makeup makeup look, you can wear this multitasking product alone as your base. Otherwise, continue on to step three.

Step 3: Apply foundation and concealer

Next, even out your skin tone with a lightweight, medium-coverage foundation, such as L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation. There’s a lot to love about this hydrating formula. It’s oil-free, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic; comes in 47 skin-adapting shades, and offers a natural-looking, skin-like finish. We recommend applying it with a makeup sponge for a truly seamless-looking blend. If there are any areas you’d like a bit more coverage (like your under-eye area), reach for L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer. True to its name, this hyaluronic acid-infused concealer provides medium coverage with a radiant finish ideal for glowy makeup looks.

Step 4: Boost your bronze

When we think glowy, we think beachy—and there’s nothing beachier than sun-kissed, bronzed skin. Fake a natural summer glow (sans sun damage) with L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer. The soft powder formula adds natural-looking warmth to the skin and comes in eight shades to flatter a variety of skin tones (and undertones). Plus, it’s sweatproof, waterproof, and humidity-proof, so you don’t have to worry about it melting off when temperatures rise. We recommend using a large, fluffy brush to lightly dust the buildable bronzer onto areas you’d naturally tan, such as your cheekbones, nose, and the center of your forehead at your hairline.

Step 5: Highlight your high points

As far as we’re concerned, no glowy makeup look is complete without highlighter. The aforementioned Lumi Glotion is great for this purpose—just snag a shade slightly lighter than your base color and tap it onto the high points of your face to give your skin added luminosity.

Step 6: Define your arches

While defined eyebrows aren’t strictly essential for a glowy makeup look, we’d argue that it’s a little detail that helps pull your look together. Fortunately, you don’t have to do much to give your brows a little definition—just brush a brow gel, such as L’Oréal Paris Unbelieva-Brow Longwear Waterproof Brow Gel, throughout your arches to add color and give them shape.

Step 7: Reach for eyeshadow

Here’s where you have a decision to make—namely, whether you want to keep it low-key or lean into glowy glam. If the former, you can go forgo the eyeshadow. But if you want a little more glow, it’s time for eyeshadow. Play up the golden tones in your glowing base with L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eye Shadow in Amber Rush, a gorgeous, coppery shade that wears up to 24 hours without fading or creasing. Apply the luxurious shadow all over your lid, then define your crease with a slightly darker hue (we love Bronzed Taupe)

Step 8: Line your eyes

Next, lightly trace your upper lash line with a brown pencil eyeliner such as L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Brown. Flick the liner upward at the outer corner of your eye to create a soft, subtle wing that perfectly frames your eyes.

Step 9: Swipe on mascara

Finish your eye makeup with a few coats of mascara. Rather than your classic deep black, we recommend leaning into the warm, bronzy tones of your glowy makeup look with a dark brown option, like L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Panorama Washable Mascara in Black Brown. This volumizing mascara includes a multi-level bristle brush that coats each lash for corner-to-corner volume that resists flaking, smudging, and clumping for up to 24 hours.

Step 10: Add lip gloss

As far as we see it, a hydrating lip gloss is the perfect accompaniment to a glowy, bronze makeup look. Our pick: L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip-Balm-in-Gloss with Pomegranate Extract. The lightweight, non-sticky formula instantly moisturizes and conditions while giving lips a sheer wash of natural-looking color. We love the shade Feathery Flur for a barely-there nude lip moment, but if you prefer brighter lips, try Angelic Daydream—the warm coral shade practically screams summer.

Step 11: Seal the deal

Last but definitely not least, lock your glowy makeup look into place with L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray and Set Makeup Oil-Free Setting Spray. The non-comedogenic formula helps set makeup into place for all-day, smudge-proof wear.

4 Must-Try Tips for Glowy Makeup

The above tutorial is just a jumping-off point: Ultimately, you can customize your glowy makeup look any way you want (for example: swap the nude gloss for a bold lip). That said, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind to ensure your makeup looks as radiant as you’d like. We break down our top tips below.

1. Use a glow-enhancing lotion

One of the easiest ways to make your skin look more radiant is to reach for an illuminating lotion, like L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. There are several ways to wear this versatile product, including on its own or under makeup. Or, for an extra dewy-looking finish, mix a pea-sized amount of the glotion with your favorite moisturizer and apply it to your face (and body!) for a seriously glowy, fresh-looking finish.

2. Opt for warm-toned blush

Glowy makeup and sun-kissed makeup go hand-in-hand, and you can lean into those beachy vibes by swapping your cool-toned blush for a slightly warmer, sunnier tone. We love L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Blush in Fearless Coral.

3. Try self-tanner

Get a glowy look that lasts by adding self-tanner to your self-care Sunday ritual. Whether you opt for a mousse, cream, or spray-on formula, make sure to thoroughly exfoliate first to ensure a smooth, streak-free finish.

4. Keep your skin hydrated

Dryness and flakes are the enemies of glowy makeup. Make sure to keep your skin hydrated by following a consistent skincare routine that includes (at a minimum), a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

Next Up: 10 Tips to Help You Get Glowing Skin This Year