The word glowy carries more than one definition. For some, it’s simply dewy skin. For others, it’s liquid makeup that looks luminous instead of greasy. Sometimes, it’s a mix of the two. However you choose to look at it, there’s no mistaking glowy skin when you see it… it just is. And while a healthy skin-care routine and makeup appropriate for your specific needs and concerns definitely help the cause, there are some finds that have achieved best-seller status because they can brighten your complexion in mere minutes.
Whether they’re new kids on the blocks or old pros that have been on store shelves for years, these are the top-rated products that’ll deliver the ultimate glow-up if your vitamin C serum isn’t working as quickly as you’d like.
Available in four shades—from pale pink to bronze—this liquid formula can be used as a base under your foundation or mixed in with your coverage to create a more radiant complexion. Apply all over or to wherever light directly hits the face (cheekbones, bridge of nose, brow bone).
We're never tired of raving about this complexion booster, which can be used to up the brightness of bare skin or on top of foundation to create a dewy glow in seconds.
Since launching its first skin-care range earlier this year, this serum has become a quick standout for its ability to hydrate and brighten the skin without a greasy buildup. It's made with a custom blend of natural ingredients that includes honey, fruit extracts and squalane.
Dubbed as the first-ever "dew effect highlighter," this stick formula comes in three different shades and is made with crystal extracts to literally light up your face.
Meant for use on the eyes, lips and cheeks, this transparent vegan gloss is a quick and easy way to give your bare skin a natural shine or a glossy finish when used on top of makeup.
A lightweight luminizing lotion available in four different hues (fair, light, medium and deep) to hydrate and give your skin an effortless-looking glow-up. Wear alone or under foundation.
This non-shimmery gel-like formula dries down to a texture that isn't too sticky or too dry, leaving you with a highlight that doesn't look like an awkward stripe across the cheekbones. It's also available in gold and rose gold shades.
A multitasking cult favorite face mist that can be used to set makeup, cool off your skin or simply boost your energy in the midst of a crazy day. It's made with glycerin, a humectant that draws moisture to the skin so you can feel dewy, too.
Infused with 24k gold, rosehip seed oil and pure botanicals, this luxe formula not only slows down collagen depletion; it also gives your skin a supple glow.
This lightweight mist is infused with Icelandic glacier water to take your makeup from matte to dewy in a matter of seconds.
Though it may seem like finely crushed rose quartz wouldn't exactly give you a smooth, luminous finish, the addition of nourishing noni fruit extract, coconut and rosehip oils ensure your skin is getting that nourishing luminous glow.
This clean beauty brand's top-selling product is a sheer illuminator with a translucent finish that can be used to create a glowy finish on all skin tones.
This skin multitasker is the key to a radiant glow when you're going makeup-free but still want the lustrous effects of a highlighter palette.
This product has long carried a "cult favorite" status, but its newer illuminating version is slowly climbing the ranks as a skin-makeup hybrid that personifies glowy skin goals.
In addition to providing intense relief to dry skin patches, its all-natural formula is also a low-key amazing way to deliver just the right amount of shine to naked skin.
Hydration? Check. Coverage? Check. Sun protection? Check. What isn't there to love about this all-in-one product, which also delivers a dewy finish (especially when paired with a mix-in illuminator).
No one does mix-in formulas quite like this brand, which offers a line of varying finishes—from holographic to shimmering bronze—depending on your mood.
Blush can be tricky for many, but when you've got a dewy liquid formula that can be blended in like your foundation, the process gets a lot easier.