Glowing skin doesn’t stop on your face, which is why iconic makeup artist Pat McGrath recommends always using highlighter on your décolletage. “My Skin Fetish highlighter stick works amazingly as a body shimmer,” she says.
Her best advice for putting it on so it looks natural and not contrived? “The trick is to hunch your shoulders forward so your collarbones pop out; that’s where you want it,” she says. After that, McGrath recommends adding a powder on top for even more glow: “It photographs beautifully.”
Use toner before serum or moisturizer.
Using a great moisturizer is a no-brainer for getting glowing, healthy skin, but what you use before it is just as important: toner. Toners get a bad rep for either doing nothing or totally stripping your skin, but the new generation is essential for hydrating and prepping your skin. “Think of it as a glass of water for your skin,” says Nachi Click, owner of Mist Beauty. “Serums and creams can penetrate deeper if your skin is hydrated.” Shop some of our favorites below, and see here for some of the best toners we can’t live without.
Strengthen your skin barrier.
Exfoliating two to three times a week is great for your skin, but any more and you can risk compromising your skin’s barrier function (i.e., its ability to keep moisture in and damaging elements like free radicals out). A weak barrier can lead to flakes, dryness, and irritation. The good news is that there are now treatments formulated specifically to strengthen and repair your skin barrier (look for keywords like soothing, replenishing, and barrier repair on the label). Charlotte Cho, cofounder of Soko Glam, swears by the Thank You Farmer Back to Relax Soothing Gel Mask, while we love Dr. Loretta’s Intense Replenishing Serum.
Add vitamin C to your routine.
Ask any skin expert, and they’ll recommend a vitamin C serum for radiant skin. “Apply five drops of vitamin C serum underneath SPF each morning to target free radical damage, help lighten dark spots, and even out your skin tone,” says Natalie Smyth, an influencer and skin-care expert. See some of our favorites below, or click here for more of the best vitamin C serums.
Switch to a chemical exfoliator.
Swap your classic face scrub for a chemical exfoliator—i.e., a peel or serum that uses AHAs, BHAs, or PHAs—which tend to be less abrasive on your skin. “Physical exfoliants sand your skin’s surface,” says New York dermatologist Dennis Gross, M.D., whereas acids break apart the bonds that hold dead skin in place to gently clear it away. Chemical exfoliators also have a bonus when used regularly: “By increasing cell turnover, you’re going to encourage the creation of new collagen,” says Gross. “So you’ll see a firming effect over time.”
Start by using a gentle acid a few times a week, or a stronger one once a week to knock out dullness, clear away dead skin cells, and unclog pores.
Binge-mask.
While most of us might save a sheet mask for a special occasion or spa night, when your skin is acting particularly finicky, consider making it a daily thing. “When my face looks blah, I’ll do sheet masks like St. Ives Glowing Apricot Sheet Mask for seven days straight. “It has a compounding effect of hydrating and smoothing that delivers a crazy glow by week’s end.”
