THE GUIDE TO GLOW

Written by Sarah Brown & Lena Raff

The Goal: Nonstop golden-hour glamour
The Tools: All that shimmers and glows
The Techniques: Pro tips for every type of formula

Glowing, radiant skin—the kind of complexion that smacks of health, happiness, and outdoor leisure pursuits—is a perennial lodestar. We all want this skin. What we don’t want is to have to wade through a shimmer-drenched mountain of products in order to find the very, very best items that can usher in said incandescence. Fortunately, we at VIOLET GREY try everything so you don’t have to—including the most refined glow-givers, which you will find below. As for how exactly to use them—which formulas, where, and how?—we have asked our all-star Committee members and esteemed founders to break it all down.

LIQUID

WHY: When you simply can’t be bothered with complicated techniques, fluid bronzers and highlighters are, hands down, the easiest way to dial up the vacation effect, with formulas designed to melt into skin. These are your essentials for no-makeup makeup.

WHERE: Apply sparingly all over for subtly luminous skin, or strategically dab on for a sheer yet precise placement. The new Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops are the makeup artist Gucci Westman’s genius way to bottle up a sun-kissed flush, delivering shimmer-free warmth in four flexible shades. She recommends blending a few drops wherever the light naturally falls, in order to create a naturalistic dimension. For a glowy effect, the brand’s Liquid Super Loaded Drops work to amplify radiance “without looking too pearly or sparkly,” Westman says. Don’t be afraid to overdo it: The delicate micro-pearl in the formula “allows you to wear it all over without looking makeup-y, giving an ethereal finish to your skin.”

HOW: Start by prepping the skin with a splash of Dr. Loretta’s Barrier Enhancing Milky Essence, for a quenching boost of hydration. Try mixing a few drops of Liquid Super Loaded into moisturizer (or even sunscreen) or tap it on top of foundation to create the glowy impression you've just had ten hours of sleep and a shot of espresso. For a warm hit of sunshine, massage a touch of liquid bronzer onto the tops of your cheekbones, nose, and forehead with your fingertips. Pop on a hit of rouge with Surratt’s Artistique Liquid Blush—bright color with an appealing gleam. As for below the neck? A sparkling body oil, like Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Portofino ’97, is the definition of sexy.

CREAM

WHY: Precision, control, and a versatile, skinlike finish make the case for an emollient formula. The result is a polished look that’s not too perfected. A translucent balm can also mimic a true dewy effect: juicy, hydrated, glass-like skin.

WHERE: Glow-inducing cream formulas require ever so slightly more nuance than liquids, but a little strategic application means you gleam in exactly the right spots: the high points of the face that naturally catch the light. “It’s the cheeks, the crest of the forehead, the bridge of the nose, the cupid’s bow,” says the master makeup artist and VG Committee member Sam Fine. “As you move, they catch light.” Ami Colé’s aptly named Light Catching Highlighter features a speckling of golden particles in its translucent formula, giving the impression that you just emerged from a tropical paradise (or the gym). Westman Atelier’s Super Loaded Tinted Highlight imparts a creamy wash of rose or caramel glow. And Fara Homidi’s Essential Face Compact multitasks a skin-perfecting concealer alongside a radiance-boosting highlight—easy and elevated.

HOW: Tap and press with your fingers. The warmth of skin-on-skin will melt in the product, creating an incandescent effect. Makeup artist and RMS founder Rose-Marie Swift recommends using her molten gold, candlelight-in-a-jar Master Radiance Base anywhere you see fit: on top of cheekbones, blended into lipstick, even swiped onto lids. “Use it as an eye shadow—it looks amazing!” she promises. A dot of shimmery balm, like Victoria Beckham Beauty’s Reflect Highlighter Stick, also has a twinkling effect above the lashline and elsewhere.

POWDER

WHY: As with exquisite tailoring, powder highlighters make you look finished—deliberate, purposeful, polished. “They look a little more like makeup,” notes Fine. A powder formula can also help set what’s underneath, which is good for all-day wear, especially in humid environments.

WHERE: A dusting is welcome in all the usual places: the tops of the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, inner corners of the eyes, collarbones, shoulders. When using a formula like Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Glow Glide Face Architect Highlighter, let a high-noon sunbeam be your guide.

HOW: For a diffused look that allows you to control the placement, use a brush that isn’t too dense, like this highlighter brush by La Bouche Rouge, or Jillian Dempsey’s mini fan brush. For the inner corners and other targeted zones, try a smaller eye shadow brush. Powders are terrific if you have oily skin and prefer shimmer to shine—and if too much glow is a real concern, layer in Westman Atelier’s Vital Pressed Skincare Powder as needed. “It sweeps away excess oil while maintaining the radiance,” says Westman—and we are all about maintaining the radiance.