I can say with confidence that most of us would like to have glowing skin. After all, why else would we invest in pricey luxury beauty items if they didn't make our skin look absolutely flawless? There are plenty of ingredients and skincare products out there that can help us achieve this. Some say hyaluronic acid is the way to go, while others love things like retinol for a boost of radiance. But what if I told you there was a much simpler swap you can make in your routine that can also give you a megawatt glow? I reached out to experts to give us the scoop. If you're curious, keep scrolling. I've also enlisted their help in finding the absolute best glowing-skin products money can buy. You'll find all their recs below.
How to Choose the Right Products for Glowing Skin
There are a lot of ways you can finally have the glowing skin of your dreams, but there's one key step in your routine that can really make a huge difference. "It's only obvious that everyone wants to achieve that perfect glow, but what I've learned after all these years in the industry is that most people do not know how to exfoliate properly," says aesthetician and Facify Beauty founder Crystal Koro. "Either they are using products that are too harsh and rough or not using the proper form of exfoliation for their skin type." If you have sensitive skin, you'll want to opt for something extremely gentle and only exfoliate a couple times a week. For those who are acne-prone or have oily skin, you may want to opt for a BHA toner with salicylic acid or even a PHA one.
Dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD, agrees. "Exfoliating about two to three times per week is critical to remove dead skin cells to keep skin bright and smooth," he says. "You'll also want to protect skin from environmental factors that contribute to aging skin, such as UV radiation and pollutants, by using products that include sunscreen and antioxidants, respectively."
Another glowing-skin secret Koro has is to incorporate a device like the Facify Beauty Wand ($399). "Facify offers a unique five-iron head pulse magnetic massage head that provides a cooling massage to help with de-puffing, toning, and promotes blood circulation, which truly gets your skin glowing. It also improves fine lines and wrinkles and promotes lymphatic drainage to reduce inflammation of the face. It truly feels like getting a professional lymphatic massage but in the comfort of your own home," she shares. For a few expert-recommended glowing-skin products, keep on scrolling.
The Best Moisturizers for Glowing Skin
Pros: Restores essential skin lipids, ceramides, and natural cholesterol; improves skin evenness and radiance; lightweight; absorbs quickly
Cons: Expensive.
"This luxurious face moisturizer contains a patented lipid ratio of 2% pure ceramides, 4% natural cholesterol, and 2% fatty acids to replenish skin and address signs of aging and give it a glow." — Camp
Customer Review: "This is another one of my favorites, I love this product. It’s not too light and not too heavy, using SkinCeuticals products has made my skin look 90% better. My own brother told me how great my skin looked and asked me why I hardly have any wrinkles and I told him I was using SkinCeuticals products. The products do what they say they do that’s for sure."
Pros: Makeup primer and moisturizer in one, boosts skin's natural microbiome
Cons: Might be too luminous for some
If a moisturizer and makeup primer in one is more your thing, try this one from Elemis. It contains energizing kombucha, fermented green tea seed oil, and active prebiotics to help protect the skin's delicate microbiome and give it a serious glow.
Customer Review: "Since discovering this primer, I have given up my previous product by another brand and only use this as a makeup base under foundation. My skin loves it and I love the glow I get all year round but particularly in winter."
Pros: Moisturizer and makeup primer in one, provides rich hydration, contains firming peptides
Cons: Expensive
This is one of the best products I've ever used to achieve glowing skin. It makes my skin feel so hydrated and smooth before I put on foundation. Rich in hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, and a peptide complex, it leaves your skin radiant and perfectly prepped for makeup application.
Customer Review: "Such an underrated and amazing skin cream- works amazing on my skin when I’m breaking out."
The Best Toners for Glowing Skin
Pros: Gentle exfoliant, contains hydrating hyaluronic acid, minimizes the appearance of large pores
Cons: May not be suitable for dry skin types
This best-selling toner from Glow Recipe delivers some serious results. Watermelon extract and hyaluronic acid hydrate while PHA and BHA exfoliants cleanse the pores of debris for smoother, brighter-looking skin.
Customer Review: "This is amazing product—a must have in my morning and night routine."
Pros: Helps clear the skin of excess oil, alcohol-free, reduces redness
Cons: Expensive
"This toner helps cleanse the skin of excess oil, tighten pores, and prepare it for the application of other products. It's also alcohol-free, helps reduce redness, oil, and leaves skin feeling smooth." — Camp
Customer Review: "Pleasant, soothing, and calming to the skin. A slight scent of calendula. Compact travel size that is enough for 2.5 weeks of travel. AM/PM everyday use."
Pros: Affordable, soothes redness and inflammation, gives skin a smoother, brighter appearance
Cons: May not be suitable for highly sensitive skin
Niacinamide, arbutin, and licorice root extract in this formula soothe inflammation, tone the skin, and give it an overall smoother and brighter appearance.
Customer Review: "So good!! Helped my rosacea so much and made my skin look sooo glowy. Great as a toner for basic skincare, as well as my skincare prep before makeup. It helps my base look so smooth!! also, for the price and how much you get? Super affordable."
The Best Serums for Glowing Skin
Pros: Brightens the skin, helps protect against damaging free radicals and UV radiation
Cons: May be too strong for sensitive skin
"Vitamin C serums help neutralize free oxygen radicals that develop throughout the day as a result of UV radiation, cellular metabolism, and exposure to pollutants. This 15% vitamin C serum helps increase the skin's radiance and evens skin tone." — Camp
Customer Review: "I have only been using this for a week and I am already seeing great results with reduced fine lines around my mouth and face. It feels rejuvenating when you use it and I actually feel a tightening happening. My skin brighter and more illuminated too—more dewy. I am turning 60 this year so really looking for ways to battle these lines and look good! Really love this product and just ordered the Mineral 89 moisturizer to use all so since I'm so impressed with this product. Thanks Vichy! You are my new go to brand of skin care!"
Pros: Contains 21 plant extracts to fight early signs of aging, helps reduce existing wrinkles, adds natural radiance to the skin
Cons: Expensive, not fragrance free
This best-selling serum is fortified with 21 plant extracts to help stave off premature signs of skin aging. But it's the strategic addition of turmeric, in particular, that will boost the heck out of your skin's natural radiance.
Customer Review: "Love this product. It worked really well and I loved the light scent and packing. Would highly recommend purchasing this serum. Would def try again! Love it, love it."
Pros: Contains 30% lipid-soluable vitamin C; brightens, firms, and protects skin; squalane adds extra hydration
Cons: Expensive
"This literally makes you look like a glazed doughnut. It contains a 30% concentration of lipid-soluble vitamin C that helps brighten, firm, and protect the skin. I love the plant-based blend of exotic seed butters that reduce skin sensitivity, smooth skin texture, and hydrate. It also has my favorite ingredient of all, squalane. Squalane feels like an oil, except it not. It's a smaller molecule that deeply hydrates the skin. It acts as the perfect glide or slip for any of your favorite skincare tools." — Koro
Customer Review: "This serum feels so silky on your fingers (texture unlike any previous vitamin C serum I've ever tried). Highly recommend. I use it at night and in the morning my skin is so glowy! I also noticed that it really does lighten my dark spots when I use it consistently."
Pros: Contains 15% vitamin C, delivers enhanced environmental protection, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Cons: Expensive
This patented day serum from SkinCeuticals has amassed a cult following in the skincare community. Celebs, dermatologists, and skincare enthusiasts alike all sing its praises for the incredible antioxidant protection it provides along with the unreal glow. Is it pricey? Yes. But the formula is also 100% worth it.
Customer Review: "This is my go-to serum! This is the only serum I have ever used with which I actually see results. It absorbs into the skin very well and quickly. I use this every morning, followed by a moisturizer. My skin is appearing healthier over time since using this serum."
The Best Masks for Glowing Skin
Pros: Contains gentle exfoliating beads to lightly resurface skin, detoxes with kaolin clay
Cons: Expensive, may be too drying for some skin types
"I really love the Skinbetter Detoxifying Scrub Mask because it uses gentle, biodegradable spherical beads to lightly resurface the outer layer of skin. It exfoliates my skin without being too harsh and removes unwanted oil. Safe for all skin types, I use it two to three times per week. On my off nights, I make sure to cleanse deeply with my multifunctional Facify Beauty Wand. It not only gives me one but three different silicone cleansing options to choose from to ensure that I am thoroughly cleaning and prepping my skin for my next skincare steps." — Koro
Customer Review: "This mask has been amazing for my acne-prone skin."
Pros: Extremely hydrating, plumps the skin, brightens the skin with vitamin C
Cons: May not be suitable for oily skin
This deeply hydrating overnight mask from Youth to the People plumps and brightens the skin giving it a next-level glow. With antioxidant-rich superberries, squalane, and hyaluronic acid, the rich formula leaves skin extra soft and youthful.
Customer Review: "I don’t usually write reviews, but I definitely wanted to write one for this product. In the 34 years of my existence, I have never found anything to be able to hydrate my skin like this. I have extremely dry skin. This is the best so far! Also, if you have oily skin this is NOT for you! Try YTTP Air Whip Moisture for normal/oily. I apply before bed and wake up with a hydrated beautiful face. Love it!"
Pros: Can be used as a scrub or detoxifying mask, great for blemishes and dark spots, brightens the skin
Cons: May be too harsh for sensitive skin
I love using this mask whenever I get a little congested. The turmeric, papaya enzymes, and aspen bark in the formula always leave my skin looking extra radiant after use.
Customer Review: "I was really surprised how much I liked this exfoliator. It is brown and gritty and my skin felt really clean after rinsing it off my face. This product has peppermint in it so it leaves your face with a lingering menthol feeling, which I loved, but it's important to know before buying. I've had issues in the past with some exfoliants causing me to breakout but that isn't the case here. I really like that it has lots of natural ingredients too. I will definitely consider buying this exfoliator again and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a new exfoliation/brightening product."
The Makeup-Artist-Approved Products for Glowing Skin
Pros: Gives the skin a subtle glow, can be worn by itself or under foundation
Cons: Expensive
"A must-have [of mine] would be, hands down, Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter. This sheer, radiant foundation gives a skin-like finish for everyday, or it's great for the minimalist who doesn't want to look like they're wearing makeup." — Judi Gabbay, Celebrity Makeup Artist
Customer Review: "I love this product, it gives a glow without being a 2016 glazed donut type of highlight. This product is definitely not a foundation replacement. I layer this under light foundation on the highest point of face and dab some extra after powdering. Trust me and buy this ASAP!!! My only complaint would be that I would like a 3.5 shade (slightly lighter than shade 4 but still olive). I received this product in exchange for review via Influenster."
Pros: Adds radiance to the skin in addition to sun protection, works well under makeup
Cons: Can be heavy on the skin
"A favorite all-in-one product of mine would be Glowscreen by Supergoop. Not only does it give my skin a youthful and effortless iridescence, but it also boasts a protective SPF 40 for summer days." — Gabbay
Customer Review: "Worth the hype. Leaves my skin glowy and gorgeous. Received many compliments. Layers well with concealer."
Pros: Lightweight facial oil that brings nutrients to the skin, rebuilds and rehydrates the skin's barrier
Cons: May not be suitable for acne-prone skin
"Prepping your skin with the Elaluz Beauty Oil is a key step in achieving glowing skin! It all begins with skin. Drinking enough water during the day also is huge." — Hailey Hoff, Celebrity Makeup Artist
Customer Review: "One of the best beauty oils! great price and great product!"
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
