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With spring sunshine comes a natural beauty query: how to get glowing skin, the sort that’s luminous enough to meet the radiant, dew-strewn days. The answer lies in maintenance—a routine that incorporates a thoughtful combination of protection and clarification aided by supplemental emollient and shine. “A glowing complexion comes primarily from a healthy skin barrier, maintained by practicing sun protection,” says cosmetic and medical dermatologist Hadley King, who also cites habits like healthy diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management as integral to effulgence. (As if you needed an excuse to relax, cortisol, the primary stress hormone, has been shown to break down collagen in the skin.) Should those basic bases be covered, a menu of products that resurface, hydrate, brighten, and refract will transmute even the dullest of skin to a surface far more lustrous. Below, a step-by-step route towards the answer for “how to get glowing skin”—and the best skin-care products to get you started.
Exfoliate
To begin, a clean slate is key. “At night, your skin regenerates—old cells die, new cells grow, and then you wake up and you have dead skin cells—so I want to remove it so that everything penetrates better,” says Tata Harper, who relies on her eponymous Regenerating Exfoliating Cleanser to ready her skin for the day. Cleansers, peel pads, and mini-peel masks function to reveal the freshest layer of complexion.
Moisturize
Though a fan of exfoliation, Harper is quick to note that, for a healthy skin finish, the focus should fall to moisture. “The best way to achieve a glow is by keeping your skin hyper-moisturized,” says Harper. “Because when all of your cells are aligned, your skin reflects light differently.” King agrees, adding that those with dry skin should lean into moisturizing products.
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Protect
“Sun exposure is a huge factor in decreasing collagen,” says King, noting UV radiation increases the activity of matrix metalloproteinases, proteolytic enzymes that break down collagen, speeding up the degradation of skin. A new camp of sunscreens not only offers protection, but aids in tint and shimmer, aiding you on your quest to incandescence.
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Brighten
“Topical antioxidants like vitamin C are helpful in protecting the skin from damage from free radicals, most notably from UV rays and pollution,” says King. Adding a touch of a cultish serum, like SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, can aid your SPF in its protective endeavors while infusing skin with a boost of brightness.
Highlight and Bronze
With a well-honed skin-care regimen, makeup that warms and glitters offers a bit of glow-enhancing frosting. Considered touches of highlight and bronzer will ensure maximum luminosity.
