Achieve Dewy Skin With These Hydration & Oil Control Tips

Summary:

The key to dewy skin is proper exfoliation, oil control, and drenching the skin in multiple layers of hydration-focused skincare.
To achieve dewy skin, exfoliate regularly and apply successive layers of hydrating products in the following order: essence, serum, moisturizer, and finally either sunscreen (in the daytime) or facial oil (in the evening).
Managing excess oil is also an important part of dewy skin. Use oil-absorbing products that manage the long-term oil production and then blotting papers to temper oil throughout the day.
Dewy skin can’t be achieved without a healthy lifestyle, though sleeping well, eating a well-balanced diet, and managing stress not only make your skin more radiant, but also contribute to overall health and well-being.

Dewy skin started as a trend but it’s here to stay because it focuses not only on the appearance and glow of skin, but also its overall health. Here’s how to get radiant ASAP while also improving your skin over time.

Who doesn’t want radiant, dewy skin that looks so healthy it’s practically luminous? Dewy skin is so popular because it not only looks flattering and glowy, but also conveys your complexion is hydrated and healthy at every age. While many trends aren’t here for the long haul, dewy skin isn’t going anywhere—good thing it’s easy to achieve. Keep reading to learn how to get dewy skin ASAP.

What Is Dewy Skin?

Dewy skin is a radiant, smooth, lit-from-within, fresh-faced appearance that occurs naturally, sans pearlescent highlighters (though we’re a fan of those, too). Beauty trends tend to boomerang: matte skin is beloved and then dewy skin takes over (however both finishes are always in style). Dewy skin has gone beyond a trend though and is now a forever movement because skin looks so natural and flattering. While the words ‘glass skin’, ‘mirror skin’, and ‘glazed donut skin’ may be more temporary, they all are based on the main idea of dewy skin.

Dewy skin does have many iterations, but, in general, it has a few qualities that make it identifiable.

Hydration

Dewy skin always looks hydrated, plump, and youthful-looking (no matter your age).

Radiance

Dewy skincare imparts almost a translucent, natural glow that makes skin look flawless and healthy. It can almost appear to reflect light, but also that you’re naturally glowing, too.

Healthy Glow

Smooth, clear, natural, and glistening are all words that describe dewy skin, with the baseline being healthy-looking skin. The look is not only about glowy skin, but skin that glows because it’s so healthy.

How to Get Dewy Skin

The benefit of achieving dewy skin? You’ll not only look radiant, but your skin will be healthier too because dewy-looking skin is just about pampering with smart tips, tricks, and products. Here’s our advice for achieving dewy skin.

Exfoliate

The opposite of dewy skin is clogged pores, dead skin cells, and dullness. Eradicate all of these with the right exfoliator for your skin type and consistent, proper exfoliation. Plus, once you remove the layers of dead skin cells, the rest of your skincare can penetrate the skin even better, making all of your skincare products work more effectively. Determine whether you prefer physical exfoliation or chemical exfoliation—both are great, depending on your skin’s needs and your personal preference. Then, exfoliate as frequently as your skin enjoys (or the product packaging recommends)—as with all things skincare, consistency is key.

Choose Oil-Reducing Skincare

The line between dewy skin and oily skin is fine, so manage excess oil production with skincare products clinically proven to reduce and control oil. These are likely cleansers, exfoliants, serums, and moisturizers that reduce oil production over time. Also, if excess oil crops up mid-day, rely on oil blotting sheets and/or powder to tap down shine.

Layer Hydration

What is dewy skin without hydration? The basis of the dewy skin movement is moisture—not just from a single product though, but rather layers of hydrating skincare. This means starting with a juicy essence (perhaps even two or more layers of pressing it into the skin), then a hydrating serum, followed by a radiance-enhancing moisturizer, and finally a pearlescent sunscreen. Drenching skin in multiple layers of hydration is the key to dewy skin.

Apply Radiant Moisturizers

Dewy skin is moisturized skin—but not just any moisturizer. Choose a moisturizer that boasts a radiant finish, rather than matte. This helps to not just hydrate the skin, but also give you a shortcut to instantly dewy-looking skin. Beyond just the finish though, seek out a moisturizer that has notable hydrating ingredients, like squalane, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid.

Opt for Glowy Sunscreens

Since daily sunscreen is a must, choose a sunscreen that provides broad spectrum coverage and mimics radiance with pearlescent finish versus matte. This will help to continue your glowy goals while also protecting the skin from harmful UV rays. Also, sunscreen (finally!) includes clever ingredients that help to actually improve skin while wearing. This can help with your long-term goals of achieving naturally radiant and dewy skin.

The Best Skincare Products for Dewy Skin

Over time, the goal is to have skin look naturally dewy and radiant and there are a few products that will help you get there instantly and also improve the health of your skin long-term. Here are the best dewy skincare products. Not all are necessary, take what might be a fit for you and leave behind the products that aren’t ideal for your skin.

Best Oil-Controlling Cleanser

The Matcha Cleanse

As mentioned before, dewy skin can quickly venture into oily skin, which is where The Matcha Cleanse comes to save the day—and your skin. This clarifying gel cleanser controls oil immediately and also over time* so skin can look healthy but not feel greasy. It also purifies and visibly reduces the appearance of pores over time.** Not only that, it supports the skin barrier with Japanese mugwort to mimic the benefits of ceramides for healthy-looking and feeling skin.

*Based on a bio-instrumentation study of 40 panelists.

**Based on a clinical study of 40 panelists.

Best Liquid Exfoliant for Instantly Smoother Skin

The Texture Tonic

If you prefer a chemical exfoliant, try The Texture Tonic after cleansing. The liquid exfoliating treatment removes dead skin cells and resurfaces dull skin with fruit AHAs, niacinamide, and Japanese mugwort. After just a single use, skin is softer, more radiant, supple*, and moisturized**. Also, The Texture Tonic simultaneously minimizes excessive oil and visibly tightens the appearance of pores.

*Based on a clinical study of 40 panelists.

**Based on a bio-instrumentation study of 33 panelists over 8 hours.

Best Face Mask for Instant Hydration

The Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask

While skincare is about consistency, a face mask is a guaranteed shortcut to instant results. If dewy skin is all about hydration, flood skin with instant moisture thanks to this unique coconut biocellulose sheet mask. The Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask is clinically proven to boost moisturization levels by over 240 percent* and immediately improve the look of suppleness, plumpness, radiance, and firmness.**

*Based on a bio-instrumentation study of 40 panelists.

**Based on a clinical study of 40 panelists.

Best Exfoliant for a Healthy-Looking Radiance

The Rice Polish

For those who prefer a physical exfoliant over a chemical exfoliant, consider The Rice Polish, a water-activated powder that comes alive into a delightful cloudy foam with just a few drops of water. The formula is unlike anything else—gently exfoliating for smoother skin, restoring the look of radiance, and nourishing for silky soft skin. The other wonderful thing about The Rice Polish is there’s a formula just for you, thanks to the many different types of Rice Polishes – including Gentle, Calming, and Deep – so you can find the polish that best suits your skin type.

Best Product for Long-Term Hydration and Glow

The Essence

This liquid essence is a workhorse for hydration, making it a necessity for instantly dewy skin. In clinical studies, it was shown to improve skin moisture levels by up to 621 percent in a single use* and actually improves the performance of other skincare products that follow.

*Based on a bio-instrumentation study on 30 panelists.

Best Plumping Serum

The Dewy Serum

As the name implies, this is your shortcut to plump and bouncy skin. The Dewy Serum instantly floods skin with hydration from hyaluronic acid and improves radiance, texture, and elasticity over time.

Best Moisturizer for Dewy Skin

The Dewy Skin Cream

What is dewy skin without the cream that put dewiness on the map? This rich decadent cream seals in moisture, improves barrier function*, and instantly plumps.** Designed to hydrate dry skin, this moisturizer contains hyaluronic acid, red algae, and squalane for the ultimate hydrating experience.

*Based on a clinical study of 36 panelists & a bio-instrumentation study of 30 panelists.

**Based on a clinical study of 36 panelists.

Best Lightweight Moisturizer for Dewy Skin

The Dewy Milk Moisturizer

This lightweight, milky moisturizer deeply hydrates while balancing excess oil and boosting radiance for bouncy, supple skin with a lasting dewy glow. The Dewy Milk Moisturizer contains a clever blend of tried-and-true Japanese botanicals, including zinc hyaluronate, prebiotic green tea, and Japanese purple rice, for a moisturizer that supports the skin barrier and balances oil while still enhancing the skin’s natural radiance.

Best Shortcut to Dewy Skin

The Luminous Dewy Skin Mist

This refreshing mist provides instant hydration, antioxidant protection, and luminosity instantly. Just spritz this supercharged mist – boosted with hyaluronic acid, algae, and squalane – on for an instant dewy glow. It can be used at the start or end of the day—or mid-day for an instant glow pick-me-up.

Best Radiance-Enhancing Sunscreen

The Silk Sunscreen

Finding a sunscreen you enjoy is important, but a sunscreen that gives a radiant finish, provides superior protection, and is boosted with ingredients that improve your skin over time? Well, that’s dewy skin-approved. The Silk Sunscreen features broad-spectrum SPF 50, has a weightless feel, a sheer, radiant finish, and has powerhouse ingredients (including niacinamide and hyaluronic acid). The clever formula not only will immediately give skin a glow (and instantly hydrate), but it will also help skin look healthier over time. In clinical studies, 90 percent of participants showed an improvement in skin radiance in just two weeks.*

*Based on an expert grader study on 40 panelists.

Best Excess Oil-Removing Tool

Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers

Blotting papers are perfect for dewy skin because they help absorb excess oil throughout the day, without irritating skin or disturbing makeup. Japan has been singing the praises of abaca leaf papers for centuries, when gold artisans used the soft, strong, and absorbent paper to protect their gold leaf. Geishas later discovered the papers were brilliant at wicking away traces of oil without stripping moisture from the skin or disturbing their intricate makeup.

Best Non-Skincare Tips for Dewy Skin

Dewy, glowing skin isn’t possible without a healthy lifestyle, too. Here are a few ideas to consider when trying to achieve your healthiest skin yet.

Beauty Sleep

Prioritizing sleep isn’t just a gimmicky concept and beauty sleep isn’t just a phrase. There are many benefits of sleep for your skin; it’s clinically proven to improve the look and health of your skin, plus skin rebuilds its collagen as you sleep, which helps visibly plump skin and gives skin a more youthful appearance. Need another reason to get enough sleep? Skin can look dull, more dry, and stressed with a continuous lack of sleep.

Go Beyond Sunscreen

Beyond sleep, the most important thing we can do for the look and health of our skin is sun protection. That means daily sunscreen, of course, but that also includes wearing clothing with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor), a wide-brimmed hat (or even a parasol!), and sunglasses with UV filters to keep your eyes safe when out in the sun for excessive periods of time. Also be mindful of the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM, when UV light is harshest.

Live a Thoughtful Life

Easier said than done, but managing stress and eating a healthy diet directly impacts not only how you feel, but the overall health of your body, including your skin. Stress directly affects the skin, leading to transepidermal water loss and dry skin—so managing and reducing stress can actually benefit your skin. You can even practice mindfulness during your skincare routine! Speaking of well-being, limiting tobacco and alcohol use are also two things that have a direct impact on how your skin looks (and your health, of course).

Frequently Asked Questions

Dewy skin vs. oily skin—what’s the difference?

There is a fine line between dewy skin and a too-shiny appearance. Dewy skin looks radiant, but not overly greasy, so it can be managed with skincare products, including products that manage oil in certain parts of the face. Lean into using products that reduce oil throughout the day and then use oil blotting papers if needed, too, which help absorb oil without pulling moisture from the skin.

How does the weather or climate affect dewy skin, and should my routine change with the seasons?

Weather can absolutely change the look and feel of your skin. Think of a humid, hot day and how skin can become oilier much quicker than a dry, chilly day. To counteract the effects of weather, allow your skincare routine to do the heavy lifting. In summer, reach for products that balance oil production, like The Matcha Cleanse, which is clinically proven to clarify and minimize oil. For winter, help boost hydration so skin naturally looks dewier with products that boost moisture levels, like The Essence and The Dewy Serum.

Are there makeup techniques or products that enhance a naturally dewy look without clogging pores?

While a great skincare routine can be the foundation to naturally dewy skin, a few makeup tricks can also enhance your skin’s natural beauty. Look for products that boost their pearlescent qualities, which can help mimic the look of a natural glow. This is especially helpful with primers that are applied all over the skin so you naturally look lit from within. Seek out dew-enhancing products that proudly claim that they’re non-comedogenic, which means they won’t clog pores.

Get Glowing: How to Achieve Dewy Skin