2 Makeup Artists Just Told Me Their Trade Secrets for Looking Glowy—Not Shiny

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(Image credit: @emmaleger)

When in doubt, I swear by a classic, glowy makeup look that plays up my favorite natural features and completely camouflages the rest. Yes, many products on the market promise to deliver dewy results, but a select few can be trusted to produce a photo-ready finish every time. With the help of two beauty content creators who've dedicated countless hours to testing, reviewing, and creating high-impact looks with their favorite ones, I've pieced together a quick guide to achieving a glowy complexion without having to rely on an Instagram filter.

Tips Tricks

"Healthy, glowing makeup is my favorite type of makeup to do," shares makeup artist Christen Dominique, founder of Dominique Cosmetics. Clean skin is important for makeup to apply smoothly. Before starting a glowy makeup look, Dominique recommends thoroughly cleansing the face and using a toner to ensure your skin's cleanliness. "When you're ready to apply makeup, take a hydrating yet tacky primer that works well for your skin type," she says. This ensures that any cream-based makeup products will apply evenly and smoothly and last all day.

Makeup artist and TikTok content creator Danielle Estrada also shared her secrets to pulling off the look. "I always start out with hydrated, prepped skin before applying makeup. I love using a super-hydrating moisturizer under makeup," Estrada explains. "I then stick with mostly cream products vs. powder to keep the skin glowing and still keeping the skin looking like skin." To lock in the look, she opts for a minimal powder that will keep the glow followed by a cream- or liquid-based highlighter.

Estrada finishes off any glowy makeup look with a few spritzes of hydrating setting spray to bring moisture to the face. "My number one tip is less is more! I like to apply minimal product and add layers! This makes it easier to apply the product and is more forgiving," she says. Additionally, when applying highlighter, Estrada opts for a Beautyblender for that desirable skinlike finish. 

If you're wondering which products these two beauty queens use to create their signature glowy makeup looks, you're in luck! Keep scrolling to see which products they're using nonstop, plus the ones beauty editors swear by.

Hydrating Primer

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Eye-Catching Liquid Highlighter

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Dewy Foundation

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(Image credit: @symphanisoto)

Natural-Looking Blush

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Lightweight Bronzer

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Setting Spray Powder

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Maya Thomas
Assistant Beauty Editor
Maya Thomas isBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's assistant beauty editor based just outside of Seattle, Washington. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.