How to Get Glowing Skin Naturally

If you’ve spent countless hours in quarantine lying in bed scrolling through Instagram, Youtube, or Tiktok, chances are, you’ve wondered how so many influencers and celebrities have that perfect, bright, and glowing skin… even without makeup. I know I’ve done it!

Glowing skin has been the foundation of many skincare practices, including the well-loved Korean “glass skin” trend. Let’s face it, we all want to look uber-fresh without tons of makeup on!

Luckily for us, there are a few ways to achieve natural glowing skin without spending as much as Kylie Jenner on expensive procedures or being blessed with genetics like Charli D’Amelio’s.

Here are a few easy steps to get naturally glowing skin for ALL types.

Cleanse daily

Remember the golden rule of skin care: DO NOT, under any circumstance, go to bed with makeup on! If you’re someone who likes to put on a full face of makeup to the grocery store or just a gal who loves to experiment with cosmetics at home, then you know how vital it is to cleanse before hitting the sack. Leaving makeup on for long periods of time can irritate the skin—triggering acne, flakiness, or even breakouts.

I’ve found the best way to go about removing all that product is by double-cleansing. Start with an oil-based cleanser to remove the makeup, then follow up with a water-based cleanser to get rid of any excess dirt and pollution. 

If you rarely use makeup, washing your face at least once a day will get rid of any dirt and pollution so your other products like moisturizer and serums can penetrate your skin deeper. You’ll be able to get glowing skin in just a few weeks!

Exfoliate the right way

One of the barriers to glowing skin is the dead skin cells sitting on top of your face. Recently, there’s been a rise in the use of chemical exfoliators compared to physical scrubs that we’re more familiar with.

If you’re someone looking to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads on your skin, or looking to dust off those dead skin cells, chemical exfoliation is definitely something you should check out.

Chemical exfoliators work their magic by dissolving dead skin cells on your face. They usually contain active ingredients like Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs), or natural enzymes. Just squeeze the recommended amount of product onto a cotton ball and massage it gently onto your face.

While mostly suited for any skin type, how often you use it should vary depending on your skin’s sensitivity. You wouldn’t want to burn your skin by going at it too strong on the first try! Find out how to use chemical exfoliation according to your skin type here.

Look for brightening ingredients in your products

Whether it’s in a cleanser, moisturizer, or serum, brightening ingredients can do wonders to get you naturally glowing skin! Start with molecules like niacinamide which can be found in different products or sold as a serum to dab on your face.

Niacinamide reduces inflammation, redness, and can get rid of even the most stubborn acne marks over time. It’s also compatible with most skin types, so you most likely won’t have to worry about an allergic reaction (ladies and gents with sensitive skin, rejoice!). There’s a reason beauty gurus treat this as a must-have to any skin care routine.

Other brightening ingredients you can look out for are the well-loved alpha arbutin and Vitamin C.

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen

Remember how our parents always told us to wear sunscreen as kids? I do, and it always felt like a chore. But it turns out our parents were right!

Sunscreen is one of the easiest ways to get glowing skin, keeping it healthy and protected from harmful UV rays that can speed up skin aging, dryness, wrinkles, and discoloration.

And yes, even indoors, you need to wear SPF! That’s right — your skin is exposed to harmful light rays just by sitting in front of a computer all day.

Quality and product compatibility is a huge factor to get glowing skin, and the right type of sunscreen will depend on your skin type and sensitivity level. You can choose between mineral sunscreens, which usually sit on top of your face and deflect UV rays, or chemical sunscreens that work by absorbing those UV rays and dissolving them.

If you’re prone to have reactions to active ingredients, which are found in chemical sunscreens, then you can opt for a mineral sunscreen instead to keep your skin protected without exposing it to potentially harmful skincare ingredients.

Maintain a proper diet

As cliche as it sounds, you really are what you eat. So make sure you’re loading up on those vegetables and fruits, especially the ones rich in antioxidants.

Having a healthy diet means having healthy skin, and these foods are shown to improve your complexion to keep you naturally glowing all day.

The good news is, these superfoods are also super accessible in the Philippines!

• Durian
• Mangosteen
• Eggplants
• Grapes
• Cabbage
• Seafood
• Lean meat
• Nuts
• Pumpkin
• Mangoes

And there you have it! Just stick to these skincare basics, and you’ll have that naturally glowing look in no time. Perfect for a quarantine glow-up! Don’t forget to take care of your hair while you’re at it too!

Joey Baldonado

Joey is an AB Psychology graduate of the University of St. La Salle – Bacolod. Her life’s passions include writing, film, and spending hours on end binge-watching fashion vloggers on Youtube.