I Thought This Beauty Product Was "Dated", But It Turns Out Its the Key to Glowing, Dewy Skin

When you want to lean into the dewy skin trend, the right prep is the key to a fresh, glass skin finish. In fact, if you’re anything like me, then before you’ve even opened your makeup bag, you’ve already spent time perfecting your skincare routine—layering hydrating serums and toners, and using water-based moisturiser and gel-textured sunscreen to ensure that every step adds glow. Applying mattifying makeup products would ruin all that hard work and send you right back to square one, right?

When most people think of primers, they think of the old-school makeup primer formulas which were oriented towards mattifying skin, absorbing oil, and creating a thick barrier to stop any shine from showing through. As someone who grew up with oily, acne-prone skin, these primers were originally staples in my makeup bag for years. However fast-forward a few years, and (like most people) I’m no longer into that flat, powdery-looking skin finish. I’m now officially a dewy skin girl through and through—but since I can still be prone to T-zone shine, I know how important it is to strike the balance between glowy and greasy.

Dewy skin primers

(Image credit: @alllisonho)

These days, primers can address a much wider variety of skin concerns and goals, so will do far more than just smooth your skin for makeup application and help your foundation to last longer. If you’re on the hunt for a dewy skin primer then there are plenty of options to choose from, and I’ve compiled a list of my favourites below. Packed with hydrating ingredients and specifically formulated to keep skin looking fresh and dewy, these primers will help to maintain your natural glow and ensure it shines through your makeup, without looking greasy.

The best primers for dewy skin:

1. Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Illuminating Primer

2. Milk Makeup Cloud Glow Primer

3. Laneige Glowy Makeup Serum

4. Vieve Skin Nova

5. Refy Face Primer

6. Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Face Primer

7. Rare Beauty Always an Optimist Illuminating Primer

8. Beauty Pie Wonderfilter Brightening Primer

9. E.l.f. Cosmetics Illuminating Face Primer

10. Saie Glowy Super Gel

11. SUQQU Treatment Serum Primer

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Freelance Beauty Editor

Grace Day is a beauty editor and content creator. She has over 10 years of beauty-industry experience, spanning editorial, retail, and e-commerce, which gives her a unique understanding into how people shop for their beauty routines.While studying for a history degree (specialising in the history of beauty) and working as a beauty adviser in department stores, Grace started writing her own beauty blog in order to share the products she discovered while dealing with acne. After graduating, she moved to Beauty Bay as beauty editor and content manager. Grace is currently a beauty contributor toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing . She has also written for Hypebae and PopSugar and works as a brand consultant and copywriter.