How to make your face glow naturally

Start with these daily steps

1. 1Wash gently in the morning. Wet your face with lukewarm water, massage a mild cleanser with your fingertips, rinse completely and pat dry with a clean towel. Do not scrub. Limit washing to twice daily and after sweating.
2. 2Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp. Moisturizer traps water in the skin, helping it look brighter. Moisturize even if your skin is oily.
3. 3Apply sunscreen before going outdoors. Choose broad spectrum protection, SPF 30 or higher and water resistance. Cover exposed skin, reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating, and use shade and protective clothing too.
4. 4At night, remove makeup before cleansing if your cleanser does not remove it fully. Follow with moisturizer. The aim is to remove the day's buildup, not to leave your face feeling stripped.

Choose products for your skin type. If clogged pores are a concern, look for labels that say "noncomedogenic" or "won't clog pores." Effective products do not have to be expensive, so the price tag is not a glow setting.1

Do you need a serum or toner?

Neither is essential. An optional morning vitamin C serum can help protect skin from damaging molecules called free radicals and improve collagen production. Toner is also optional; alcohol based versions can strip natural oils and cause dryness or irritation. Start with the basics rather than adding several products at once.2

Does natural skincare work better?

The word "natural" has no set skincare standard, which is a lot of freedom for one word on a jar. Natural ingredients are not necessarily better or safer. Focus on the ingredients rather than the marketing. For sensitive skin, avoid fragrance and favor simple formulas. "Unscented" is not the same as "fragrance free": an unscented product can contain ingredients that mask other smells.4

What should you expect?

Moisturizer helps skin look brighter by holding in water. Sunscreen helps prevent wrinkles and age spots rather than creating a tan. Tanning outdoors or indoors prematurely ages skin and increases skin cancer risk. If you want a tanned appearance, use a self tanner and continue sun protection. Make room for sleep, balanced meals and stress management rather than relying only on products.123

When should you stop a product?

Introduce new products one at a time. For sensitive skin, first test a pea sized amount behind your ear along the jawline and wait a day or two before applying it across your face. Stop using a product that causes an itchy rash. Seek medical care if the rash worsens, lasts more than three weeks, affects your eyes or mouth, or interferes with sleep or concentration.24