You glow girl! A Guide to Glowy Skin Using Makeup ✨

Matte makeup has certainly taken over the beauty world. For years it has all been about applying thick layers to cover any sign of human life on your skin. Baking, contouring, blending, layering, you name it, I’ve done it all. But over here at James HQ we think your skin is your best asset so I’m going to give you some simple steps to enhance your natural beauty and give your skin that youthful, healthy glow.

STEP 1 – It’s All About That Base

Let’s talk primer – most people use a primer to prolong their makeup or to fill in pores, but did you also know you can get primers to enhance your glow? I love using the Becca Backlight Primer or the Smashbox Primer Oil.

STEP 2 – Foundation

When it comes to foundation you need to avoid the word MATTE at all costs! For dewy skin I prefer to go for light to medium coverage to really make sure my skin can still shine through. I love M.A.C Studio Face & Body and Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue. But if you are looking for a high coverage, I also like NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation and L’Oreal Pro-Glow Infallible, they have great coverage whilst also leaving your skin with a dewy finish.

STEP 3 – Shine Bright Like a Diamond

If you have already found your holy grail foundation and you aren’t interested in buying a new one, another trick I use all the time is to add a liquid illuminator to my foundation before I apply it to my face. I love the M.A.C Strobe Cream and the Tarte Radiance Drops.

STEP 4 – Cream On

Everyone at James HQ is obsessed with cream products at the moment! Powdered products can make your skin look dry, more mature, and patchy. Here are some of our faves:

Blush – Glossier Cloud Paints

Bronzer – KKW Cream Contour Stick & Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel

Highlighter – Colourpop Super Shock Highlighters & Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick

Eyeshadows – Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Stick & By Terry Ombre Blackstar Color Fix Cream Eyeshadow

STEP 5 – Ready, Set, Glow

Now this is the final and my favourite step. I’m not going to lie there have been times where I needed a lifesaver because I had drowned my face in so much setting spray!

But the final step is to use an illuminating setting spray. Setting spray helps keep your makeup in place and also can add some final glow. We love the M.A.C Fix+ Shimmer Spray & Tatcha Dewy Skin Mist.

P.S I would not recommend overdoing the illuminating setting spray or you might need to call in an oil spill expert.

Now glow get em’!

Written by @courtneymangan