How to Get Flawlessly Clear Skin - Without Makeup! Ultimate Guide

We all know the feeling when we glance at somebody walking past and think - "wow! Their skin is perfect!".

You immediately assume they must be rich and use high priced skincare products, factor 50 SPF, drink 4 litres of water per day and have never frowned in their lives.

But in all reality, it simply means their skin is well hydrated - something that doesn't need to be difficult or expensive to achieve.

It's often known as the "dewy" look, and no make up is required whatsoever:

The "Dewy" Look

Beauty trends come and go rapidly - remember a few years ago when contouring was everything? 

It's still big, but nowadays skincare is the leading trend, as people scramble to come up with their own unique skincare routines to get their skin in optimum condition BEFORE makeup is applied. Korean beauty trends have also made it a popular strategy to not bother with makeup at all, simply focusing on skincare until the skin glows all by itself.

This is the best route for naturally dewy skin. Following this routine can make your skin appear natural, fresh and clear.

It's really simple too - exfoliate, then hydrate, then apply your oil products. Do this correctly and religiously while also cleansing regularly, and you've won most of the battle already.

Let's take a look at some of the primary products you will need to achieve this:

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid contributes to the dewy look by absorbing moisture and binding it to the skin's inner and outer layers. It works by increasing the amount of moisture the skin can hold and helping to push it towards deeper layers.

This makes it very powerful for removing fine lines and diminishing wrinkles, as well as protecting skincare from pollutants and other damage.

Try our Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Retinol

Retinol is very popular and powerful as a skincare ingredient. It is excellent for reducing signs of aging and promoting cell turnover. This combination will help to smooth out your skin and leaving it looking soft and supple.

However, it doesn't always play well with other ingredients and so is likely best applied to your skin hours before or after the other ingredients listed here.

Try our Retinol & Vitamin A Serum

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are needed in the skin just as much as in the body. They naturally help protect you from free radicals which can cause skin damage and remove some shininess. If you want your skin to look fresh and bright, antioxidants are a must.

Dragon's blood is a skincare super ingredient that is rich in antioxidants while also packed full of anti-inflammatory compounds and other beneficial ingredients. This can help reduce visible pores and redness, create a thick protective layer over skin cells, and lock in moisture.

Try our Dragon's Blood Serum

Peptides

You likely are well aware of collagen by now. The protein that helps keep our skin elastic, smooth and strong is naturally produced by our bodies, but only at a specific rate. This rate also starts to decrease in our early 20s. 

Free radicals can also reduce the collagen content of your skin if you don't use antioxidants enough.

Collagen peptides are a way to absorb collagen into your skin, giving your collagen levels a boost and keeping the skin looking youthful, firm and hydrated.

Try our Collagen Peptides Complex

Skincare Routine for Dewy Skin!

Now that we've taken you through some of the must have products for young, hydrated, plump and dewy skin, it's time to look at the ideal skincare routine to achieve those goals.

The basic thing to keep in mind is gentle cleansing, combined with layers of clean hydrating products to keep you protected and keep adding in the ingredients listed above.

1: First cleanse of the day

Your first cleanse should be aimed at gently removing makeup, clogged pores, dust, pollution and other contaminants. The goal with this step is to ensure your face is completely clean so that all future steps are applied directly to the skin as opposed to trapping nasty grime and blockages underneath them. We would recommend using a natural gel cleanser or a foamy cleanser in the shower.

2: Second cleanse of the day

That's right, we're cleansing again already! This time it's all about the deep clean - hydrating formulas that remove excess oil are the name of the game. Clay cleansers are ideal for this and if you've got the time, our australian pink clay mask would make an amazing additional step here.

3: Gentle exfoliation

This time, now that your face is fully clean, the goal is to buff away any dry skin, leftover blocked pores etc. This is an easy one to overlook, but if your goal is shiny, youthful skin it can't be forgotten. Don't scrub hard as this can irritate your skin or make it go dry - just gently massage your face with a gentle exfoliating scrub. Every 2-3 days is fine for this step as doing it daily can sometimes irritate sensitive skin, although daily is no problem too if you're gentle enough and know your skin can handle it.

Just be aware that you want to move onto the next step immediately. Exfoliation will remove acne-encouraging oils from your skin. While this is a good thing, your body will quickly try to replace them. Move onto the next step immediately to replenish and hydrate your skin and prevent this happening. If this isn't possible (for example you're travelling and don't have your normal products to hand), consider using a sheet mask to hydrate your skin in the meantime.

4: Apply a hydrating toner

This can be a real lifesaver, but ensure you use a toner that doesn't contain alcohol as this can just dry your skin. A hydrating and lightweight toner will penetrate the skin all the way down and help hold in moisture to prevent oiliness and protect your skin from irritation.

6: Apply serums now!

Now, of course, it's time to apply your favourite serum. You can use whichever one you think works best with your skin, as long as it is focused around one or more of the ingredients we listed above. 

This hyaluronic acid serum is a perfect starting point if you're not sure what to use.

7: Moisturizer

Once your serum has dried in and is no longer leaving an oily surface, it's time to moisturize. It's an excellent idea to use a moisturizer with SPF protection, as daily sun damage is the most major form of long term damage to your skin, so SPF will help you to look more youthful for longer.

Now that you're moisturised and smooth, it's important to take care of basic health tips such as drinking enough water. If you stick to the above daily and do this too, getting the skin you deserve is never too far away.