“Glow”

Researching new HD makeup for Broadcast recently, I got distracted and delved into the “GLOW” trend that has become so popular every major brand has a new product they’re touting as “The Best.” InStyle Magazine calls it “glow-from-within” skin.

Listed under the “LOOKING HEALTHY” column, GLOW formerly required months of massive vegetable smoothie consumption and exercise. The idea was that you create glowing skin from the inside out. What I found was that with a little know-how, there’s a shortcut combining skin care and a fun highlighting application technique for both men and women.

‘Cuz who doesn’t want a shortcut to fabulous skin without drinking green shakes and yoga-ing all day long?

“Glowing skin is always in!”

1. Prep yo skin.

This means ya gotta take care of that facial dermis! What I’m listing is perhaps a little oversimplified, but these are the basics. If you want to begin your GLOW to radiate health, start here.

(Guys, you may have already logged off, but your skincare program matters, too! Whether you are face-to-face with clients or patients or speaking in front of thousands, putting your best face forward is important.)

  • Brighten: Got sunspots or dark patches or wanna keep them from happening? Anything with arbutin or 4% hydroquinone helps diminish hyperpigmentation. I use Obaji Skin Brightening Cream to spot-treat my past sun-tanning exploits, though you can ask your doctor or dermatologist for a prescription.
  • Exfoliate: Dead skin cells dull complexion. Get the junk off using a chemical or a physical process. Click HERE for a great article from THE CUT about the best ones around right now. (I use TATCHA Rice Enzyme Powder and ExfoliKate by Kate Sommerville.) I also love a good Clarisonic Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush System.
  • Hydrate: Dryness dims the dermis. Products with hyaluronic acid plump the skin though technology is evolving with so many hydrating products it might be hard to keep track. Click HERE for some of the best facial moisturizers of 2018.

(Click on any of the bolded products
for links to more information!)

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(Photo by Max Felner on Unsplash)

2. CHEATER CHEATER.

Skin care alone can give you GLOW, but it might take a few weeks to see your full benefits. Wanna quick trick? Add an “Illuminator” to the mix to give your skin a hint of translucent pink or peachy tones!

Search for “luminizing drops”, “radiance oil”, or “dew drop” at Sephora.com.

Smoothing an illuminator post-moisturizer can give you that little extra “glow-burst” especially once skin is prepped and in good shape from that brightening, exfoliating, and hydrating. BEWARE – the illuminator’s pigments can settle into cracks and crevices if skin isn’t well-hydrated.

3. Strobing and Highlighting

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(Photo courtesy and credit: Jean Coutu)

What I love about this makeup technique is that it can hide flaws while correcting and highlighting features.

What does it do? Strobing adds shine to areas of your face that naturally catch the light. THINK: Bridge of your nose, cheekbones, temples, cupid’s bow, lower eye bone region.

Why do they call it strobing? It’s a technique that defines features by light alone, not by contouring or bronzing, by reflecting light on high points of the face (a la if you had a strobe light shining from above your head on your face). Click HERE to read more about strobing in an article by Marie Claire Magazine and HERE for 2018’s Best Highlighters according to Allure Magazine.

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*love

Lately, I’ve seen a sweet phrase “Glow Getter” which makes me smile. Here’s the definition:

Glow Getter:
(noun) a driven, busy gal
who strives to achieve goals in life
while attaining a beautiful glow both inside and out.

“Glow-from-within” doesn’t just come from good nutrition, good makeup or good genetics. We should be beautiful both inside and out. “Pretty is as pretty does” is one of my favorite sayings. It’s our character and deeds, our minds and our thoughts.

Jesus talked about the importance of having a glow on the inside as well on the outside to the religious leaders of his day in Matthew 23:

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

If I have generosity and humility, godly righteousness and goodness, I reflect the heart of God. When I clean out the gunk of sin on the inside of my heart, Christ can radiate outwardly in my life. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks…What’s on the inside matters.

I wanna be a GLOW GETTER. 

How about you?

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(Feature Image Photo Credit: Matt Krieg at Unsplash)