10 Must-Try Tips for Glowing Skin

No matter your skin type, it’s safe to say that having radiant, glowing skin is a goal that most of us share. But while a youthful, dewy glow looks effortless in an “I woke up like this kind of way,” that’s not always the case. Achieving smooth, glowy skin requires building the right skincare routine—and sticking to it.

If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry: we’re breaking it all down here. Ahead, we’ll reveal how to get glowing skin and introduce you to some of our favorite products for a radiant, healthy-looking complexion. Read on—and get ready to glow.

How Can I Get Glowing Skin Naturally?

Naturally glowy skin is born from a combination of many different factors. Being well-hydrated and well-rested helps, as does following a skincare routine tailored to your skin type and unique needs.

If you have oily skin, you may already have a glowing face brought on by overactive oil glands. While this may make you want to forgo moisturizer, all skin types need hydration, and skipping it can lead to a dull, lackluster skin tone. (It can also lead to dehydration, which may ramp up your skin’s oil production even further). Instead, you’ll want to look for a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer that provides hydration without weighing your skin down. Those with dry skin, meanwhile, typically require deeper, more intense hydration to achieve a natural-looking glow. Look for moisturizers with hydrating ingredients—like ceramides and hyaluronic acid—and face serums and treatments with brightening ingredients like vitamin C and glycolic acid.

Finally, when determining how to make your skin glow, remember that perfect skin is a big (and frankly, unattainable) goal—everyone has some skin concerns, and that’s completely normal. Instead of chasing flawlessness, shift your focus on giving your skin what it needs to look and feel its best.

How To Get Glowing Skin

Achieving smooth, glowy skin requires building a skincare routine tailored to your skin type, being consistent, and addressing any skin concerns that can affect your skin texture and tone. Ahead, discover our 10 best tips to get glowing skin.

1. Be consistent with your skincare routine

Consistency is key to healthy-looking, glowing skin. Establishing a regular skincare routine helps maintain your skin's balance and can help keep concerns like dryness, dehydration, or breakouts at bay. Keep in mind that your routine doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective: If you want to keep things simple, you can check all of the boxes in just a few steps (cleansing, moisturizing, and wearing sunscreen are musts).

It’s also important to remember to be patient (we know, easier said than done). But the longer you stick to a skincare routine, the better results you’ll see over time—and that’s how you can make your face glow naturally.

2. Exfoliate regularly (but not too much)

Exfoliating your skin removes the dead surface skin cells that can leave your complexion dull or uneven-looking. Bonus—exfoliated skin can better absorb skincare products, making them more effective. However, over-exfoliation can dry out or irritate your skin, so it's essential to use gentle products and not overdo it.

Both physical and chemical exfoliants have their advantages, but for gentle exfoliation, we prefer the latter. Look for products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), such as glycolic acid or lactic acid. If you’re new to exfoliation, you may want to start with a mild exfoliating cleanser, such as the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 3.5% Glycolic Acid Cleanser. The mild formula helps resurface the skin while removing dirt, oil, and other impurities to reveal smoother, brighter-looking skin. It’s suitable for all skin types and can be used daily as the first step in your skincare routine.

If you’re already accustomed to AHAs, try an acid toner or serum instead. We love the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum, as it helps improve the appearance of fine lines, smooths, and visibly refines the skin to reveal a glowier complexion over time. We recommend starting with once-weekly usage and gradually increasing the frequency to nightly or every other night as your skin adjusts.

3. Hydrate your skin

If you want glowing skin, you’ve got to hydrate—both inside and out. Moisturizing helps combat dullness, dry patches, and dehydration, common issues that can make your skin look tired and lackluster. (Plus, well-hydrated skin is better able to protect itself against environmental stressors).

For daytime, try L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives Micro Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides Line-Plumping Water Cream. It’s a lightweight moisturizer that applies like a watery gel, packing your skin with hydration without a greasy look or feel. Over time, it helps plump the skin and visibly reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Wear it alone, or layer it over a lightweight hyaluronic acid serum, such as the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, for an added boost of hydration.

At night, you may want to reach for a heavier cream. We love the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Skin Care Cell Renewal Midnight Cream, which boasts a rich yet non-greasy texture and provides up to 24 hours of hydration for smooth, radiant-looking skin.

4. Use retinol

Retinol is a well-studied skincare ingredient that can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture, and brighten dull skin. With regular use, products with retinol may also help improve the appearance of dark spots and unevenness to promote even, glowing skin.

If overused, retinol can be irritating, so we suggest adding it to your routine slowly. It’s also a good idea to opt for lower concentrations of retinol to minimize irritation. Try the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives Night Serum, 0.3% Pure Retinol, which is formulated to help balance the potential drying effects of retinol. If you're new to retinol, start by using it once or twice a week and gradually increase the frequency as your skin builds tolerance. Always follow with a hydrating moisturizer (and broad-spectrum SPF during the day) to hydrate your skin and safeguard against sun damage.

5. Try an at-home peel

At-home peels are a next-level addition to your skincare routine, helping you get a deeper level of exfoliation and rejuvenation than your regular exfoliants. They can help remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and improve the appearance of skin concerns like dark spots and discolorations. The L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot Exfoliant Peel is an excellent pick for all skin types and tones. The professional-inspired formula contains a blend of alpha-, beta-, and polyhydroxy acids and helps visibly reduce dark spots while boosting brightness and refining skin texture. Keep in mind that this isn’t an everyday treatment—four times per week (at night) is ideal. When you do use it, skip your other exfoliants or retinoids to avoid irritating your skin.

6. Use vitamin C

Vitamin C can be a powerful ally when you’re on a quest to get glowing skin. Studies show that products with the occurring antioxidant can help brighten the skin, improve the appearance of discolorations, and support a radiant, luminous complexion. It’s also often used to help address other age-related skin concerns, like fine lines and wrinkles.

There are plenty of ways to incorporate vitamin C into your skincare routine, but we suggest opting for a vitamin C serum, like the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift 12% Pure Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Acid Serum. It contains 12% pure L-ascorbic acid as well as vitamin E (another antioxidant) and salicylic acid. The brightening formula instantly increases radiance while helping to smooth skin texture and visibly even skin tone over time. Plus, it’s suitable for all skin types and tones and gentle enough for use morning and night.

7. Never skip SPF

A day spent soaking up the sun may seem harmless, but in reality, sun exposure can contribute to an array of skin concerns, including fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots, and dullness. So to get glowing skin, sunscreen is a must—every day, rain or shine. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends everybody wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 daily. It’s also important to reapply your sunscreen frequently—at least every two hours, or after sweating or swimming.

To help ensure you’re diligent about your sunscreen application, look for a formula that feels nice on the skin. We recommend the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion, which is lightweight, non-greasy, and suitable for all skin types and tones. The multi-tasking formula with vitamins C and E also helps brighten and even the skin, making it doubly useful for those looking to get glowy skin. Finally, remember that sunscreen is only one aspect of sun protection—you should also wear protective clothing and seek shade whenever possible to help protect your skin.

8. Use a dark spot serum

Dark spots, like post-acne marks and age spots, can put a damper on your glowing complexion. If you’re prone to discoloration, consider adding a dark spot serum to your routine to help fade stubborn dark spots. Like vitamin C, products with this powerful ingredient can help brighten the skin, improve the appearance of discoloration, and help support a more even, radiant appearance.

You can incorporate niacinamide into your daily routine with the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal 12% [Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid] Dark Spot Serum. It’s made for all skin types and tones and helps visibly fade the appearance of dark spots within one week of use. It also provides gentle exfoliation to help brighten, smooth, and refine the skin. You can use it morning and night alongside your other serums (even retinol serums!) to help promote luminous, glowing skin.

9. Use luminous makeup products

Opting for luminous makeup products is one of the easiest ways to make your skin look radiant. These glowy products for skin contain light-reflecting particles that create a soft, lit-from-within effect that looks natural.

For an all-over glowy base, reach for the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. This pearlescent formula comes in five shades to flatter a range of skin tones and gives the skin a glowy look with just a hint of color. You can use it to prime your skin, mix a few drops into your foundation, or use it as a sheer tinted moisturizer.

Afterward, add color to your cheeks with a liquid blush, such as the L'Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush. The lightweight, blendable formula comes in six shades—three dewy, and three glowy—and is buildable, so you can customize your flush to your liking. If you find that you want even more glow when you’ve finished applying your base and blush, reach for a highlighter. For a natural-looking finish, we suggest steering clear of glittery formulas and instead opting for a highlighter with soft shimmer, such as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24HR Highlighter Longwear Powder. Apply it to the high points of your face (cheekbones, Cupid’s bow, brow bones) for a truly luminous glowy skin look.

10. Try self-tanner

A beachy, sun-kissed tan can take your subtle glow to the next level. But figuring out how to make your skin glow without sun damage is essential—as we’ve established, sun exposure doesn’t do your skin any favors. Fortunately, you don’t have to risk damaging your skin for a bronzy glow—self-tanner does the job perfectly well. By helping to create the appearance of a more uniform complexion, self-tanner can make your skin look smoother, more even, and more radiant. Plus, you can control the depth of your tan by adjusting the frequency and amount of product you use to get a natural-looking result.

We recommend L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Facial Drops for a hydrating, bronzed complexion. Mix these drops with your favorite moisturizer to gradually build your facial tan drop by drop. It’s a clear, lightweight formula free from added fragrance and dye, so it works for all skin types.

Next Up: How To Exfoliate Properly For Brighter, Smoother Skin