Glass skin, glazed donut skin, and yes, even dolphin skin—you may have heard some of these skincare trends, but quirky names aside, do you know what else they have in common? They’re all just a catchy way of describing dewy skin that’s plump, supple, and glows from within. Fact is, dewy skin has long moved past the stage of being just another buzzy fad. It has now turned into a lifelong goal for skincare aficionados everywhere, and it’s here to stay. But how exactly do you achieve that luminous, hydrated, and lit-from-within glow? Turns out, all it takes is a few tweaks in your skincare regimen and adding hydration-obsessed products and ingredients. Keep reading to find out more tips for how to get dewy skin so you can be on your way to rocking your glowiest skin ever.Meet the Expert
- Dr. Ashley Magovern - Board-certified dermatologist and member of Dermstore's Medical Advisory Board
How to Get Dewy Skin
1. Amp Up Hydration
Achieving glowy, dewy skin is all about doubling down on hydrating your skin not just on the surface but also from within. “When it comes to hydration, you should hydrate inside and out. When skin cells are plumped with moisture, they reflect light better, giving a natural glow,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ashley Magovern, MD. “Drinking water is important, but drinking structured water (from fruits and vegetables) is even more important.”
Hydrating your body also includes taking steps to detoxify and flush out toxins out of your system. “Drinking lemon water or incorporating chlorophyll drops into your daily routine will help clarify and reveal brighter, more dewy skin,” adds Dr. Magovern.
You’ll also want to go over your daily staples and make sure you’re pampering your skin with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides, and peptides that improve your skin’s ability to hold and retain moisture. “Hyaluronic acid attracts moisture to the skin and can create that plump, dewy effect,” says Dr. Magovern. “Moisturizers with glycerin, another humectant, draw moisture to the skin. Ceramides help restore and maintain the skin barrier, which is crucial for long-term and long-lasting hydration
Featured Product: U Beauty The Super Hydrator
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, HYDRA-SIREN Technology
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefits: Delivers long-lasting moisture, protects against free radical damage
We absolutely love it when a product lives up to its name, and that’s exactly what this ultra luxurious moisturizer does. Featuring five types of hyaluronic acid and a patent-pending hydration system, it imparts all-day moisture to the skin and fights off free radicals at the same time.Beauty Insider Tip: This gentle moisturizer works great for all skin types and skin tones and is even safe to use around the eyes.
2. Cleanse Gently and Thoroughly
Cleansing is the very foundation of every skincare routine, and without it, you’re setting up your skin for failure. Think clogged pores, dirt, and residue that cause your skin to look dull and lifeless and make it hard for your other products to fully penetrate the skin. On the other hand, over-cleansing and using face washes with harsh ingredients can also strip the skin of its natural moisture and weaken the skin barrier. To prevent this, make sure you reach for a gentle cleanser that won’t dry out your skin and is packed with moisture-boosting ingredients.Featured Product: Revision Skincare Brightening Facial Wash
Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefits: Cleanses, brightens, and exfoliates gently
This brightening and exfoliating facial wash is all you need to start your day with fresh and dewy skin. It gently removes dirt and other impurities without drying out your skin, leaving it feeling clean and nourished.Beauty Insider Tip: Use this cleanser twice daily to reap its maximum benefits. Make sure to apply sunscreen during the day to prevent sun sensitivity.
Related Article: The Ultimate Guide on How to Double Cleanse for Clean, Glowing Skin
3. Exfoliate with Care
Just like cleansing, exfoliation is essential in maintaining soft, smooth, and blemish-free skin. By sloughing away dead skin cells and encouraging cell turnover, exfoliation can help improve the skin’s radiance and youthful glow. “Regular exfoliation removes dead skin cells that can impart a dull and textured complexion. When skin is smooth, it reflects light better and can enhance that dewy effect,” explains Dr. Magovern.
Choose gentle exfoliating acids like glycolic acid and lactic acid, says Dr. Magovern, to effectively renew the skin’s surface, enhance hydration, and prevent over-exfoliation. But if you’re going the physical exfoliation route, make sure to do so with utmost care. “Physical exfoliants, like beads and scrubs, are good for an ‘instant’ smooth feel, but it’s important to be gentle to avoid microtears in the skin,” Dr. Magovern adds.
Featured Product: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment
Key Ingredients: Papaya, Pineapple, and Pumpkin Enzymes, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Silica, Aloe Vera, Honey, Vitamin E
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefits: Combines exfoliating chemical exfoliants, enzymes, and physical beads; improves dullness, softens signs of aging, enhances glow
This hardworking exfoliating scrub from editor-fave brand Kate Somerville features a combination of AHAs, BHAs, enzymes, and physical beads to rid the skin of dead skin cells and debris. It improves dullness and softens lines and creases, leaving you with a smoother, glowing complexion.Beauty Insider Tip: Using the product while taking a warm shower helps activate the enzymes for even better results.
4. Brighten with Vitamin C
We can’t talk about dewy and radiant skin without mentioning vitamin C. This powerhouse antioxidant is a must not only because of its brightening properties but also because of its protective benefits. It shields the skin from environmental aggressors, counters free radical damage, supports collagen production, and imparts a healthy glow to the skin.Featured Product: Medik8 C-Tetra Luxe Serum
Key Ingredients: Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Vitamin E, Activated Red Ginseng, Squalane
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefits: Improves radiance, refines fine lines and wrinkles
This serum features a form of vitamin C that’s just as potent and stable as it is gentle, leaving skin with a noticeable glow and smoother texture while fighting off dullness and minimizing signs of aging.Beauty Insider Tip: Apply six drops of the product to face, neck, and decolletage before your moisturizer.
5. Add a Hydrating Toner
Unlike the traditional toners most of us are familiar with, hydrating toners serve as a tall drink of water for skin that needs some serious quenching. An Asian beauty fave, it can be layered multiple times to fully soak the skin with hydrating botanicals and ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin that pull moisture into the skin.Featured Product: CeraVe Hydrating Toner for Face with Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, and Ceramides
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Ceramides 1, 3, and 6-II
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefits: Hydrates, soothes, and cleanses the skin
Looking for the perfect moisture booster that’s light on the pocket but heavy on hydration? This toner is for you. Its non-drying, non-comedogenic formula pulls and locks in moisture while soothing and nourishing the skin.Beauty Insider Tip: Use twice daily for cleansed, balanced, and refreshed skin day and night.
6. Reach for a Hyaluronic Acid Serum
No dewy skin routine is ever complete without a hyaluronic acid serum. An undisputed rockstar when it comes to hydration, hyaluronic acid works by drawing moisture into the skin and boosting its own natural production of the molecule. It’s known for its ability to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, which results in a skin-plumping effect that helps refine the look of fine lines and leaves the skin looking more supple and naturally radiant.Featured Product: SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator
Key Ingredients: 25% Hydroxyethyl Urea and Aminosulfonic Acid Compound, Kombucha, Hyaluronic Acid
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefits: Supports the skin barrier, rebalances hydration levels, enhances the skin’s own production of amino acids
A serum and treatment in one, this hydration heavyweight quenches and renews the skin by boosting the skin’s own supply of amino acids and strengthening its natural barrier. The result? A smoother complexion, perfectly balanced moisture levels, and a healthier, more radiant glow.Beauty Insider Tip: Apply four to six drops of the serum to face, neck, and chest twice daily.
Related Article: Reviewed: SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Multi-Glycan And Its Powerful Benefits
7. Add an Essence
Another dewy skin can’t-miss brought to you by Asian beauty,essences are like less concentrated serums with one goal in mind: to hydrate and boost the overall appearance of the skin. Adding an essence to your routine provides an extra layer of hydration and replenishes any moisture your skin might have lost after cleansing, exfoliating, or applying a treatment.
Featured Product: Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Glycolic Essence
Key Ingredients: Organic Grape Water, Glycolic Acid, White Peony
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefits: Hydrates, softens, smooths complexion; brightens dark spots; tightens pores
With its botanicals-powered formula, this skin-perfecting essence is the perfect way to give your skincare routine an upgrade. Not only does it brighten and smooth out the complexion, it also drenches the skin with soothing and moisturizing grape water to reveal a more even, plump, and luminous complexion.Beauty Insider Tip: Aside from boosting radiance and hydration, clinical studies also show this essence effectively tightens pores and improves dark spots and pigmentation
8. Try a Sheet Mask
Although achieving dewy skin may take some time, using a sheet mask is a great way to instantly rejuvenate the complexion especially on days when your skin is feeling extra dry and thirsty. Hydrating sheet masks add a much-needed boost of hydration and immediately perks up tired and lackluster skin, giving you a healthier and dewier visage.Featured Product: Skin Gym Gold Foil Face Mask
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Amino Acids, Bakuchiol
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefits: Spa-like skin rejuvenation, enhances glow and hydration
Fancy getting spa-like results right at home? This high-performing facial mask boosts glow, improves radiance, and rejuvenates the skin within minutes—all thanks to its super hydrating formula.Beauty Insider Tip: Keep the product in the fridge a few minutes before use to enjoy a more cooling and refreshing effect and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes. You can also use your favorite roller over the mask while you wait.
9. Don't Leave Home Without a Hydrating Mist
It’s hard to maintain a dewy complexion throughout the day when your skin is being bombarded by pollution, UV rays, and other environmental stressors. By keeping a hydrating mist within reach, you can give your skin a refreshing pick-me-up and an instantly dewy glow at any time of the day.Featured Product: Avene Thermal Spring Water
Key Ingredients: Thermal Spring Water, Trace Minerals, Silica
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefits: Refreshes and hydrates skin, imparts a natural radiance
Infused with thermal spring water, trace minerals, and silica, this super hydrating mist is all you need to awaken and pep up your skin and instantly give it a healthy, dewy glow.Beauty Insider Tip: This mineral-rich water mist also works great in calming inflamed or sensitive skin.
10. Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen
We’ve said it a million times before, and we’re going to keep saying it: sunscreen is a must. Even on cloudy days. Even if you’re behind a glass window. Even if it’s in the middle of winter. Using sunscreen properly—that means, choosing one that is broad spectrum, is at least SPF 30, and applying the right amount—not only protects your skin from UV-induced premature skin aging, it also makes sure that daytime staples like vitamin C don’t lose potency or cause sensitivity even when exposed to sunlight.Featured Product: Colorscience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50
Key Ingredients: Zinc Oxide, Iron Oxides, Lipochroman®, Vital ET™, InfraGuard
Skin Type: All skin types
Skin Benefits: Protects against UVA/UVB, infrared, blue light, and other environmental stressors; hydrates; tone-adapting formula that provides medium coverage
With its unique tone-adapting pigments, complete UV and environmental protection (including infrared and blue light), and 100 percent mineral formula, this hydrating and antioxidant-packed mineral sunscreen is all you ever need to stay safe under the sun. Beauty Insider Tip: This buildable SPF offers medium coverage and can be layered under foundation for fuller color.
The Bottom Line
If you’re wondering how to get dewy skin, it’s important to remember that achieving a healthy, luminous, and natural glow all boils down to keeping your skin well-nourished and hydrated. That means taking steps to ensure your skin is getting all the moisture it needs, which includes eating a diet of water-rich foods and drinking plenty of water to hydrate the skin from within and opting for skincare products that pamper the skin with moisture-boosting ingredients. 
