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For the longest time, I thought the secret to a soft, dewy makeup look was all about foundation. I tried every formula from glowy, matte, satin, full coverage , but no matter what I used, my makeup never had that soft, dewy hydrated look.

But over the years of testing products I have realized, the glow doesn’t start with makeup. It starts with skincare.

Once I shifted my focus to how I was prepping my skin, my makeup looked more natural and fresh..

Here’s exactly how I get that soft, dewy look every time. Everywhere I go, people compliment my skin. This blog post was highly requested, so I hope it comes in handy!

Step 1: Start with clean, hydrated skin

Dewy skin starts with a smooth, hydrated base. If your skin is dry or tight, skincare won’t penetrate and makeup will cling to texture and settle into lines..

I always start with a gentle rinse, then go in with hydrating skincare to bring life back into my skin. Think plump, fresh, and comfortable, not over cleansing! The night before I love to use an overnight mask of some kind. A few of my favorites include sea buckthorn oil (discount code alexisroch 45% off at checkout), this Elemis rest, and also these collagen masks.

Step 2: Use glow-boosting skincare

This part is really important for setting the right base.

I focus on products that add moisture, smooth texture, and give skin that healthy glow.

A good serum and moisturizer can make more difference than any highlighter ever could. When your skin already looks healthy, makeup becomes more of an enhancer than a cover-up.

I use a hyaluronic acid and niacinamide firming serum (discount code alexisroch for 45% off at checkout) and a really good quality VC-IP serum (also use discount code alexisroch for 45% off at checkout). I also love this bud nectar face cream to top it all off.

After skincare is applied, I use this red light therapy wand (on sale today!). This provides incredible lymphatic drainage, tightens and firms skin. It also helps all your skincare absorb well. I have been using this for several years and the results are amazing!

Step 3: Don’t skip SPF + a good base

SPF is always part of my routine, and I love when I can use one that also gives a subtle glow. The VC-IP serum I use doubles as a primer, but then I follow up with the GLOW me mineral sunscreen (discount code alexisroch for 45 % off also works for this!) that is also tinted. I think this is one of the biggest reasons people ask about my skin…it gives a dewy glow with a light tint that makes you look like you are wearing foundation. I also use the SPF plumping lip balm (discount code alexisroch for 45% off) which makes you look like you have lipstick on, but it is actually just tinted SPF for your lips.

This step helps my makeup melt into my skin instead of sitting on top of it.

Step 4: Keep makeup light and fresh

Once your skin is prepped, you really don’t need much makeup at all.

I don’t wear foundation, usually just the tinted SPF mentioned above, some concealer and a light bronzer.

Because my skin is already hydrated and smooth, everything blends better and looks more natural! That’s the secret to that soft-focus, dewy finish. I always skip heavy makeup and foundation which can make you look older.

If you do need some foundation, one of my favorite drugstore makeup options is the FITme by Maybelline. I use the concealer and pressed powder, but they also have a good foundation. It is affordable with a good formula too.

Why this routine changed everything

When your skin is plumped and hydrated, you don’t need much makeup. In fact, you can use tinted SPF and some concealer for a dewy hydrated makeup look.

Final thoughts

If you’ve been chasing that soft, glowing makeup look, try shifting your focus from your makeup bag to your skincare shelf. A hydrated, healthy base truly is the secret! As a chemist, my goal is to find the best products that work to make your skin healthy, hydrated, and soft. You will love the transformation!