The Science of Glow
What Makes Skin Dewy?
Dewy skin isn’t just a beauty trend; it’s a reflection of healthy, hydrated skin. That luminous, soft glow comes from how light interacts with your skin’s surface, but it also mirrors what’s happening beneath: hydration, barrier function, and smooth texture. Think of it as your skin’s natural spotlight, highlighting its vitality and resilience¹.
Water is the first ingredient of dewy skin. The outer layer of the skin, or stratum corneum, needs adequate hydration to appear plump, soft, and light-reflective. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin draw water into the skin’s deeper layers, smoothing fine lines and increasing translucency². When hydration levels drop, skin looks dull, flat, and lifeless, even with makeup.
Imagine your skin as a canvas: water adds volume, softens texture, and primes it to catch the light.
Barrier Health and Lipids
A healthy skin barrier locks in moisture and prevents dehydration. Lipids like ceramide NP, squalane, and plant oils reinforce this barrier³. When the barrier is intact, hydration is retained longer, and the skin remains resilient against environmental stressors. Without it, even the most hydrating serum evaporates too quickly, leaving skin dry and matte.
A strong barrier doesn’t just prevent water loss; it ensures that light interacts evenly with the skin, enhancing natural radiance.
Texture and Reflectivity
Dewy skin reflects light most effectively when the surface is smooth. Exfoliation, gentle resurfacing, and daily moisturizing reduce unevenness and improve light reflectivity⁵. Moisturizers that support the natural lipid matrix and epidermal hydration create a soft, luminous surface, letting the glow shine through naturally.
Oils and Antioxidants
Natural oils and antioxidants further amplify dewy skin. Squalane, seed oils, and antioxidants maintain skin softness, elasticity, and defense against oxidative stress⁴. By protecting structural integrity and reducing environmental damage, these ingredients preserve that coveted “lit-from-within” appearance.
Consistency is Key
Dewy skin is a result of habitual care, not a single application. Daily hydration, barrier support, and gentle maintenance cultivate a resilient, radiant skin environment¹⁻⁵. Over time, these practices allow moisture to stay locked in, surface texture to remain even, and skin to naturally catch the light.
Achieving dewy skin isn’t about layering highlighters or glossy products; it’s about hydration, barrier support, smooth texture, and antioxidant protection. Focus on building and maintaining your skin’s internal environment, and the glow will follow. Dewy skin comes from supporting your skin’s health from within, and not just from what sits on top.
References
Draelos ZD. Appearance benefits of skin moisturization. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2010;9(2):105–110. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20923460/
Manca ML, et al. A unique gel matrix moisturizer delivers deep hydration resulting in significant clinical improvement in radiance and texture. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2019;12:713–721. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31114284/
Baroni A, et al. Effects of investigational moisturizers on the skin barrier and microbiome following exposure to environmental aggressors: A randomized clinical trial and ex vivo analysis. J Clin Med. 2023;12:6078. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/18/6078
Mougeot J, et al. Skin barrier benefits of a natural moisturizing factor and lipids-based moisturizer for clinically sensitive skin. Medicina. 2023;59:1234. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41037531/
Draelos ZD. In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of an Emollient-Rich Moisturizer Developed to Address Three Critical Elements of Natural Moisturization. PubMed. 2023;40176773. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40176773/