How to Get Glowing Skin: 6 Tips

Everyone wants that “glow-from-within” sheen to their skin. But finding natural radiance can be an uphill battle against hyperpigmentation, dull spots, and dry skin. 

How are you supposed to turn up the light?

Luckily, there are many ways to take control of your skin health and bring out your inner glow. From skincare routine tweaks to sun protection, here are our top tips on how to get glowing skin and help your skin feel its most luminous and healthy.

#1 Know What Stops Your Glow

“Glowy skin” is really just a code name for healthy skin. However, there’s no single factor (or solution) when it comes to maintaining skin health or shine. If you want that glowy appearance, you’ll need to first ask—what is dulling my skin?

Typically, dull skin is the result of damage, dryness, or aging. Depending on your anti-glow culprit, you’ll need different solutions to revitalize your skin. Here are some common reasons behind skin that refuses to shine:

• Lack of moisture – Skin cells thrive on moisture, which reinforces the bonds between skin cells. Moisturizing helps the skin appear dewy, plump and softer. Without moisture the skin may appear dull and dehydrated.
• Skin damage – The outer “skin barrier” is responsible for maintaining your skin's moisture and vital proteins, as well as protecting it from harmful substances [1]. When the outer layer is damaged by mistreatment or the sun, it can lead to harsh effects like irritation, dullness, and acne due to the increase in moisture loss. 
• Sun damage – Consider the sun to be your skin’s first and foremost enemy. If unblocked, the UV light from sun rays directly damages skin cells, leaving photoaging signs like wrinkles, loss of volume, and dullness [2]. Minimize sun damage by using a daily moisturizer with SPF that plumps and protects your skin.
• Aging – Wrinkles aren’t the only sign of aging skin. Over the years, your skin’s production of natural collagen and sebum slows [3]. This leaves you with more dead skin cells and slower skin renewal, which creates a dull appearance.
• Lifestyle factors – Beauty sleep is a real thing. Lifestyle factors like stress, pollution, diet, and exercise can all impact your skin’s health. The more you put your health on the backburner, the more your skin may suffer from dullness. 

#2 Opt for a Gentle Cleanser

Put down the rough bath towel and bar soap. If you want glowy skin, you’ll need to cleanse your face for glowy skin.

Cleansing is a vital part of every skin routine, even for the driest of skin. However, there are cleansing methods that can leave your skin irritated, dull, and parched. Wash away dirt and maintain your glow by following these soothing cleansing tips:

• Wash with tepid or room-temperature water, which won’t strip away natural oils
• Choose a gentle cream facial cleanser free of alcohol, sulfates, and pore-clogging ingredients
• Pat your skin with a clean towel to remove excess water, rather than dragging and tugging your skin

#3 Moisturize Deeply

Put simply, your skin runs on moisture. When the outermost layer of your skin is damaged, it releases water content. The result? Dead skin cells, dullness, irritation, and even long-term damage. The solution? Moisturizer.  

A moisturizer traps and seals in water content across your skin barrier, leaving your skin cells healthy and self-replenishing [5]. Typically, most skin types need to moisturize twice per day, but dull skin may need a richer night cream or even daytime moisturizer that won’t clog pores. Consider facial creams with these nourishing ingredients:

• Vitamin E – Not only is vitamin E good for your body, but it’s also an excellent topical ingredient for dry and dull skin. This fat-soluble vitamin is both a moisturizer and antioxidant—i.e., it prevents skin aging by protecting your skin from free radicals [6]. Since vitamin E is found naturally in skin sebum, it’s highly tolerable for most skin types.  
• Hyaluronic acid – Found naturally in the skin, hyaluronic acid is a beloved humectant. This means it draws water into the skin at a deep level, delivering long-lasting moisture [7]. A day cream infused with ceramides or hyaluronic acid can slowly improve your skin’s moisture quality to reduce irritation and texture. 
• Squalane – Proper moisturizing requires two actions: hydrating and sealing. A sealant like squalene will lock moisture into your skin, so that it doesn’t evaporate or escape throughout the day [8]. As a natural lipid, squalane is tolerated well by most skin types and won’t clog pores.

#4 Soak Up the Vitamin C

From orange juice to skincare, vitamin C is a star player. While you may have heard its praises for your health, you should also get to know its glow-boosting properties for your skin.

Vitamin C is a safe yet effective ingredient to combat dullness, since it's found naturally in the skin [9]. When applied topically, this nutrient encourages both your skin’s natural exfoliation mechanism and collagen production. Essentially, it’s a recipe for that all-over glow. With vitamin C products like our daytime moisturizer and eye cream formulas, your skin can see improvements in:

• Brightness and radiance
• Hyperpigmentation (dark spots)
• Hydration
• Redness & irritation
• Firmness
• Wrinkles and fine lines

#5 Use SPF Daily

Put simply, the ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun is your skin’s worst enemy. When absorbed, these rays can leave you with damaged and dull skin, possibly leading to severe symptoms like wrinkles, dark spots, and even cancerous cells. Luckily, the SPF in sunscreen can block these rays and preserve your glow for years to come.

It’s important to remember that using sunscreen takes consistency and care to work. When choosing and applying sunscreen products like a daily moisturizer with SPF, stick to the following dermatologist-approved guidelines [11]:

• SPF level – The SPF of a sunscreen measures how much solar energy a sunscreen blocks before your skin would burn [12]. According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher is adequate for daytime protection.
• Formula – While different skin types may have different needs, experts heavily suggest picking a facial sunscreen that is broad-spectrum. This means the sunscreen will block both UVA and UVB rays, the two types of UV light emitted by the sun. Similarly, it’s advised to use a mineral formula over a chemical formula, since they sit on the surface of your skin for better protection.
• Application – For sunscreen, consider the two-and-two rule. You should apply two-fingers-length worth of sunscreen to your entire face and neck, and you should reapply every two hours while outdoors. When in doubt, apply more rather than less.

#6 Adopt a Glow-From-Within Lifestyle

Ironically, your skin is more than skin-deep. The skin is a complex physical organ that reflects your inner health. If you want that outer glow, you’ll need to start on the inside by considering your lifestyle and daily habits. 

Here are a few tips for how to get glowy skin through your lifestyle choices [13]:

• Eat a nutrient-rich diet that’s low on processed foods and added sugars
• Exercise moderately to increase circulation and delivering more oxygen to your skin
• Sleep at least 7 hours per night to help your skin cells repair and renew themselves
• Avoid smoking, which can dry and age skin from the inside-out
• Reduce high stress levels that can speed skin aging and damage its health

Find Your Glowiest Skin with PROVEN

Everyone may face dull or dry skin from time to time, but radiance is never fully out of reach. With these tips, you can always revitalize your skin to achieve a healthy glow—and that begins with using the right skincare.

At PROVEN Skincare, your skin isn’t treated like a “type.” We create personalized three-step skincare routines to address your unique skin issues, from hormonal acne to dullness. No more guessing and experimenting, just natural and effective products built for your skin. Start by taking our quick skincare quiz to find your glow-up routine.