To get that lit-from-within glow, experts say you need to regularly exfoliate and moisturize. They also recommend incorporating products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, orange peptides and vitamin C.

Regular exfoliation sloughs away dead skin cells to reveal brighter-looking complexion. However, over-exfoliation can lead to breakouts and irritation. Try to stick with a once-per-week exfoliation regimen.

1. Wash Your Face

It’s skin advice best products for glowing skin as old as time: Wash your face both morning and night. Your skin cells secrete waste during the night, including excess oils and free radicals that can cause aging damage. Your cleanser rids the surface of these impurities and preps it for daytime skincare products.

If you have oily skin, consider a cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to help control excess sebum and prevent breakouts. If you have dry or sensitive skin, a gentle cleanser with hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can plump up the complexion.

If you have combination or oily/dry skin, a face scrub with natural exfoliants like black sugar can give the glow you desire without damaging the delicate surface of your skin. Then, seal in hydration with a moisturizer that contains ingredients like shea butter and cocoa butter to make the skin supple and smooth. Finally, a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher can protect against the sun’s harmful UV rays that accelerate aging and pigmentation. All of these steps together are the foundation of a glowing complexion.

2. Exfoliate

If you don’t exfoliate regularly, the surface of your skin will remain dull and lackluster, no matter how many moisturizers or anti-aging creams you use. Exfoliating removes accumulated debris, such as oil and dead skin cells, to reveal healthy new skin underneath. The process can also help to prevent pore clogging, blackheads and whiteheads, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

To exfoliate your face, start with a gentle cleanser for your skin type. Then, once or twice a week, use a physical or chemical exfoliator. Those with sensitive skin may want to opt for something physically exfoliating, such as a microdermabrasion pad or a scrub. Chemical exfoliants, such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid or alpha hydroxy acids, can also be used a few times a week to visibly resurface the complexion and refine texture without physical trauma.

The best time to exfoliate is in the morning, after your skin has repaired itself overnight. “If you exfoliate at night, it could disrupt the natural balance of your skin and cause it to produce more oils,” says Burns.

3. Moisturize

Having glowy skin isn’t just about products—your routine needs to be carefully considered for your specific skin type. Harsh cleansers or over-exfoliation can compromise your skin barrier, causing dryness and sensitivity. A pH-balanced cleanser with a lipid matrix like the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant can help restore the protective layer, leaving your complexion more radiant. Moisturization is also essential, as it promotes plump cells and healthy-looking skin. Look for humectants such as glycerin, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid to attract water and leave your complexion looking more youthful.

If you have oily or combination skin, opt for a gel-based moisturizer that won’t weigh the skin down. For example, the La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+ contains prebiotic thermal water, shea butter, and glycerin to nourish and protect your complexion. It’s also packed with anti-inflammatory and brightening ingredients such as niacinamide, vitamin C, and grapeseed extract to minimize the appearance of dark spots.

If you have normal or sensitive skin, opt for a cream-based formula that will hydrate your complexion without over-exfoliating it. The Sunday Riley CEO Face Cream is a lightweight cream that has both shea butter and squalane for intense hydration as well as nourishing rose-hip oil and antioxidant maracuja oil. It also has a subtle shimmering yellow tint that helps boost luminosity. This formula is a favorite of many celebs, including Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Katie Holmes.

4. Apply Makeup

You’ve applied your serum, exfoliated, moisturized, and now it’s time to apply makeup for glowy skin that shines through. Reiss-Andersen recommends using foundations and tinted moisturizers that include glow-boosting ingredients like hyaluronic acid (like the Miracle Touch Foundation), vitamin C (in the Radiant Lift Concealer), or cucumber (found in the Lasting Performance Setting Spray).

To avoid a heavy base, she suggests focusing on liquid makeup formulas—starting with a hydrating primer such as the La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+, which features skin-nourishing glycerin, moisturizing shea butter, and skin-brightening niacinamide. Next, she likes to blot on foundation with a stippling brush or blending sponge for a dewy look.

She also reaches for cream blushes and bronzers to help her achieve the glowing complexion she loves. For example, she uses the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Palette and mixes the blush, highlighter, and bronzer shades together to create a natural-looking rosy flush. Finally, she finishes off her look with a waterproof mascara like the L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Panorama Washable Mascara in Black Brown, which provides corner-to-corner volume that resists clumping and smudging.

5. Sleep

A glowing complexion depends on more than just your skincare routine. Research shows that getting the recommended amount of sleep helps your body repair damage, boosts collagen production, and reduces stress hormones, all of which contribute to aging skin.

The good news is, there’s a simple way to add glowy beauty benefits into your bedtime skin routine. Simply pat on a night-time moisturizer with added skin-boosting ingredients while you sleep and watch your complexion improve overnight.

We’ve rounded up the best beauty products to do just that. From a sleep-in facial serum to a hydrating face cream, shop our picks for healthy-looking skin come morning.

Conclusion

This velvety face mask from Korres combines the nourishing power of shea butter with brightening pineapple and vegan collagen. It nourishes dry, dull skin while reducing the appearance of wrinkles and redness. The mask also contains a stabilized form of vitamin C to fade discolorations and protect against free radicals, while the blend of ingredients works to plump skin by morning.