Dewy skin is a term that is being branded around a lot these days. But for many people, one important question remains – what is dewy skin? The skincare world has a habit of popularizing lesser-known phrases and terminology, so it’s important we do our best to explain them.
In this article we’ll finally answer the question of what is dewy skin, tell you how to know if you have it, how to get it, and much more!
So settle in and grab a coffee, here we go.
What is dewy skin?
We may as well get right to it. In simple terms, dewy skin refers to skin that is fully hydrated, super soft, smooth and has a constant glow to it. Think of your favorite movie stars on the red carpet and how flawless their skin looks, especially the women. They have a noticeable shine to their skin but it doesn’t look sweaty or greasy. They look healthy, bouncy, and youthful. This is dewy skin.
Glowing skin has been sought after for thousands of years. Women in ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt were well known for using natural oils to make their skin appear dewier. Today, this similar effect is achieved through consumer skincare brands and products, but the mentality behind it remains unchanged.
How to tell if you have dewy skin
Everyone’s skin is different. Some people have naturally dewy skin, but most of us need to work to achieve it. Understanding what specific skin type you have is the first step in identifying whether you have dewy skin or not.
While dewy skin gives off a shine, it is not greasy or oily. Those with naturally oily skin may have a “glow” to them, but in reality, this is caused by the extra liquid present on the skin’s surface and doesn’t count as dewy skin. Excess or sudden oiliness in the skin may be an indicator that you need to switch up some of your habits in order to improve skin health.
If you have smooth, supple, and soft skin that also gives off a pleasant glow, you have dewy skin. Congratulations, by the way! We’re all very jealous. If you’re a mere mortal like the rest of us, don’t worry, there are many things you can do to attain dewy skin through simple lifestyle changes and by incorporating certain elements into your daily skincare routine.
How to get dewy skin naturally
If you want to get the dewy look but don’t want to splash your face with a ton of products, there are a few lifestyle adjustments you can make to try and get dewy skin naturally. Of course, there’s no guarantee that this will work for everyone as we all have different skin, but these universal tips will lead to better skin health overall.
Here’s what we suggest:
Keep hydrated
One of the main qualities of dewy skin is how hydrated it always is. By drinking more water during the day, you will create the right conditions for your skin and body to become healthier. The more water you consume, the better your skin will look, and the less dryness you will experience. It’s that simple.
How do you know if you’re properly hydrated? Check the color of your pee. If it is clear and colorless, you’re doing a good job.
Reduce sugar intake
This might be difficult if you have a sweet tooth. Research suggests that having a high sugar intake can have a detrimental impact on your skin.[1] High blood sugar and insulin spikes can trigger the body into producing excess oil, which makes the skin appear greasy and sweaty, and increases the chances of pore blockages and breakouts. The symptoms of acne can also be amplified.
Try to avoid or cut down on the following foods:
- Soda
- White bread
- White rice
- Cake
- Potato chips
- Fries
- Fast food
- Candy
Get good sleep
Did you know that most of us aren’t getting enough quality sleep? Either we sleep too little, or our sleep is interrupted due to our unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Sleep should be a priority for everyone. When we sleep, our body repairs and regenerates itself. Depriving yourself of sleep can make your skin look tired, worn out, dull, and actually increase signs of aging. Having drooping bags under your eyes isn’t a quality of beautiful dewy skin.
Make sure you get 8 hours of sleep every night. Avoid drinking alcohol or eating before bed, as this can damage the quality of your rest. They don’t call it beauty sleep for nothing!
Reduce alcohol and smoking
Cigarettes and alcohol can have a hugely negative impact on both your skin and overall health. Everyone knows the risks associated with smoking and drinking, so we won’t waste time going through them here, but the effects on the skin aren’t as widely understood.
Both smoking and drinking alcohol, especially to excess, can severely dry out your skin and deprive it of vital oxygen flow. Over time, the skin will appear rougher, tired, aged, and in some cases discolored. Alcohol in particular can also massively disrupt your sleep, which will only add to these problems.
Do yourself a favor and cut back on the partying. If you want to get dewy skin, you’re going to have to limit yourself.
Our dewy skin daily routine
You can elevate your chances of developing lovely dewy skin by having the right skincare routine. There’s no rocket science involved, but it does require consistency and patience. Dewy skin can’t be achieved in a day or even a week. Only through caring for your skin in the right way for the long term can you attain that much-desired glowing aesthetic of dewy skin.
Here are our routine recommendations for how to get dewy skin:
1. Start with a cleanser
Cleansers are a fantastic way to start any skincare routine. Apply a well-regarded cleanser to your face to prime the skin for the rest of the routine. Surface-based dirt and pollutants will be softened and removed, allowing your skin to breathe.
We’d suggest opting for cleansers with softer, gentle ingredients. Avoid alcohol-based products as these can dry out the skin easily and cause irritation.
2. Follow up with an exfoliator
Exfoliators, or scrubs, are products with thousands of tiny hard particles mixed into their formula. When rubbed over the skin, they work to comprehensively scrape away deep-seated dirt, muck, excess oil, and other gunk. A good exfoliator will help to widen and clear blocked pores, as well as stimulate collagen production in the skin.
This is an essential step for any skincare routine. Both physical and chemical exfoliators do a great job of removing all the bad stuff from the skin, allowing the body to generate healthy new skin cells that help the skin look youthful and radiant.
3. Hydrate with moisturizer serum
Next, we need to hydrate the skin. Exfoliators wash away natural oils from the skin, so it’s always important to restore that vital hydration with a moisturizer serum.
Moisturizer serums contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin. These little guys are responsible for hydrating your skin cells and are important tools in the quest for dewy skin.
We recommend using serum rather than a moisturizing cream. Creams only smooth dry skin by locking in moisture that is already there. However, if we have just used an exfoliator, there will be very little water available. Serums on the other hand actually rehydrate the skin cells themselves, and that’s what is needed at this stage.
4. Brighten your skin
Finally, it’s time to add a bit of shine to your skin. There are many ways to brighten the skin, and it’s up to you which method you choose to go with. Vitamin C is a proven ingredient that can brighten areas of the skin, improve skin cell turnover, and fight free radicals. Likewise, specialist brightening serums are great for providing that glowing boost.
Finally, you could try increasing your glutathione consumption. Glutathione is an antioxidant used in many skin-brightening products, but it can also be found naturally in certain foods.
They include:
- Fish
- Chicken
- Nuts
- Onions
- Eggs
- Garlic
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
While you will definitely get quicker results from using Vitamin C products or brightening serums, upping your daily glutathione for a long period of time may also contribute to dewy skin.
Conclusion
What is dewy skin? We hope we’ve answered that question today. While dewy skin can be genetic, you can work towards achieving the same look through sensible lifestyle habits and a well-thought-out skincare routine.
Can we promise you’ll look like Scarlett Johansson? We wouldn’t go that far! However, everyone can inject a healthy glow and contagious shine into their skin and feel like a movie star.
Go get that dewy look! See you on the red carpet!
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