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Step 1: Skin Prep
The key to a dewy finish starts with prepping your canvas, aka your skin, with the right kind of skincare, leaving it with the perfect start to a dewy makeup look.
Ditch the mattes, because dewy makeup is where it’s at. Everyone’s clearly loving the dewy makeup look trend — and here’s a makeup artist’s guide to achieving it perfectly
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The key to a dewy finish starts with prepping your canvas, aka your skin, with the right kind of skincare, leaving it with the perfect start to a dewy makeup look.
Tatiana Dias is a beauty & lifestyle journalist with nearly a decade of experience, with bylines in Grazia, Vogue & Harper's.
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After years of playing second fiddle to matte finishes, dewy makeup has officially stepped into its main character era. Picture this: skin that looks hydrated, radiant, and luminous — never greasy. The trifecta? Sheer coverage, strategic highlight, and skin that looks like skin, but a whole lot better. Encapsulating that quintessential lit-from-within finish, dewy makeup is the perfect way to fake that glow effortlessly. And that's what makes it such a favourite!
As the beauty world shifts toward an anti-filter, pro-skin mindset, dewy makeup fits the moment perfectly. It champions healthy, breathable skin while still delivering that polished, effortlessly chic vibe. And its appeal goes beyond just aesthetics — this look works across all skin types, though it's especially transformative for dry or dull complexions. In short, the dewy makeup look is versatile, modern, and here to stay. And here's how to get it right, according to the experts.
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The appeal of dewy makeup goes beyond the glow. Its skin-first approach and delivery are what set this particular trend apart, making it a favourite go-to for many.
1: Skin-First Approach - Dewy makeup is packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane, that boost moisture, leaving your skin looking refreshed and feeling great.
2: Versatility - It's a game-changer for all skin types — from dry to oily to combination. It transitions seamlessly, making it a go-to for both brunch and cocktail hour.
3: A Healthy Glow - Eight glasses of water, a full night's sleep, and a moisture sandwich for your skin — dewy makeup wraps it all up in one effortless glow.
4: Enhances, Not Hides - Breathable and skin-forward, dewy makeup lets your natural texture shine through — no cakiness, no heaviness, unlike matte formulas that often mask the skin.
5: Youthful Finish - When your skin is well-moisturised, it softens the appearance of fine lines and adds a plump glow to the skin that can make you look younger. Dewy makeup does that for you!
6: No Filter Required - In an era of ditching heavy filters, dewy makeup does the work — naturally. It catches the light in all the right places, creating a soft-focus effect that adds depth and dimension. 7: Low Maintenance - Dewy makeup often comes in lighter, more airy formulas that require fewer steps and less time, effort, and skill to apply, making it perfect for those on the go.
Unlike matte makeup, achieving a dewy look isn't complicated. In fact, it's refreshingly low-effort. With skin prep taking centre stage, the makeup itself stays minimal and intuitive...psst, it's just as effortless as it looks. Celebrity makeup artist Sandhya Shekar breaks it down for us, step by step.
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BeBe Picks: Lakme Unreal Blur Perfect Primer (again, this is a matte primer and it goes against what the makeup artist is saying)
BeBe Picks: The Lakmē Absolute Skin Dew Serum Primer combines the powers of a serum, moisturiser, and primer, leaving you with a nourished start to your dewy makeup look base. It is hydrating and plumping, and also increases the longevity of your base, ensuring that it stays put all throughout the day.
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Apply A Luminous Foundation: Ditch the heavy foundation and opt for light or buildable coverage formulas such as tints, BB creams, or tinted moisturisers that allow your natural skin to peek through, all while offering an even tone. Blend with a makeup sponge or a buffing brush for a seamless glow. "For people who have extremely dry skin and no amount of moisturisation helps, I recommend using an oil," says Shekar. "You can mix it up with your foundation or tinted moisturiser." In terms of foundation, she recommends a luminous base foundation or one with a natural finish.
BeBe Picks: If you're looking for a lightweight, creamy approach to achieving your dewy makeup look, then Lakmē 9 to 5 CC Cream will be your everyday bestie. A hybrid combination of your daily skin cream with a hint of a tint, it offers an even-toned finish instantly. It brightens and conceals, moisturises, protects, and strengthens, in just one go!
BeBe Picks: Giving you a slightly heavier coverage, the Lakmē VitC Superglow Skin Perfecting Tint comes in a hydrated formula that brightens and smoothens the skin. The makeup-meets-skincare hybrid is formulated with vitamin C that gives your skin that tackles dullness, while the vitamin E, hydrating essence, and moisturising emollients leave your skin with a protected and nourished glow. This particular tint contains a soft focus technology that blurs imperfections — a perfect choice for that dewy glow.
Conceal Strategically: In order to maintain a natural, not-so-overdone look remember to focus on concealing only blemishes, dark circles, or any redness.
Lakmē Xtraordin-airy Mattereal Mousse Foundation (how to recommend this when we're going for radiant complexion?)
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Warm Up With A Cream Bronzer: Apply a hint of bronzer to the hollows of your cheeks, jawline, and along the hairline for that sunkissed warmth.
Apply A Cream Blush: Add a natural-looking flush of colour to your complexion by applying a rosy pink or peach cream blush to the apples of your cheeks. This will give your skin a fresh, healthy glow and blend seamlessly for that soft, dewy finish.
BeBe Picks: Add a flush of colour with Lakmē Facelift MultiSlayer Blush Stick. The creamy formula instantly melts into your skin and leaves your cheeks with the perfect amount of colour that looks hydrated and well-nourished. The multi-purpose product can be used as a contour stick, highlighter, and eyeshadow hue, depending on the shade.
Highlight Mindfully: Remember to apply your highlighter strategically on the high points of your face and not everywhere. Think cheekbones, brow bones, bridge of the nose, and cupid's bow. Opt for liquid or cream-based balmy highlighters and avoid chunky shimmer or glitter — remember you want to glow and not shine like a disco ball on NYE.
BeBe Picks: Add a hint of shine to your highpoints with a cream highlighter like Lakmē 9 to 5 Powerplay Velvet Crème Highlighter. The creamy, buildable formula allows you to add that glowy touch to your skin, making it a great addition to your dewy makeup look.
Pro Tip: In order to retain the freshness of your dewy makeup look, avoid applying powder-based products such as blushes or bronzers. The expert recommends opting for cream or liquids instead. "Creams, especially, tend to increase the overall hydration." These also melt beautifully into the skin, adding to that glow.
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Powder Selectively: "If you want to lock the product in the end with a powder, do it in selective areas like your undereyes, T-Zone, and lip area, where it tends to get oily," advises Shekar. "That apart, I'd say not using a powder is actually something that will really help you achieve the dewy makeup look."
Spritz On A Dewy Setting Mist: Finish off with a dewy setting spray to lock in your makeup and add a radiant sheen that enhances the overall dewy makeup look.
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Daytime: Shekar recommends using subtle shimmers. "Mix your eyeshadow with a little bit of Vaseline to create a balmy or creamy texture," she says. "Cream or liquid textures do not make your eyelids look dehydrated." For your lips, she advises pairing your dewy look with a more balmy lip product, such as a gloss.
Evening: Sandhya recommends opting for more metallic and earthy tones. "I feel anything reflective and sparkly will work." And as for the lip, the expert says to move on to using something deeper that amplifies the look even further. "I think you can always switch into something matte as well, which would be able to tie better into the night light on Indian skin."
BeBe Picks: Give your everyday dewy makeup look a desi touch with Lakmē 9 to 5 Eyeconic Kajal, a smudge-proof kajal designed to stay by your side, all day long. The waterproof formula comes in different vibrant shades, allowing you to add that pop of colour to your dewy makeup look.
Optional Touch Up: Keep a facial mist or compact powder handy for mid-day touch-ups. If you're using powder, however, apply it only to the areas that tend to get oily.
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1: Avoid Overdoing Shine
Avoid overloading the forehead with too much shine. When you're outdoors or in a situation where you're likely to sweat — humid weather, a night of dancing, or a long day out — excess dewiness can quickly shift from radiant to greasy. The key is balance. Aim for just the right amount of glow to keep your skin looking fresh, not like a hot, sweaty mess.
2: Keep The Daytime Fresh
Choose your colours wisely, as they play a big role in achieving the right dewy look for different times of day. For daytime, soft pinks and peaches add a fresh, natural flush, while highlighters closer to the skin tone help maintain a subtle, skin-like glow that feels effortless and appropriate in natural light.
3: And The Evening Glamorous
For evening looks, the glow gets a little bold makeover. Golden or warm-toned highlighters, especially in liquid formulas, add a richer, more luminous finish that complements deeper and medium Indian skin tones beautifully.
4: Mix It Up
Products like strobe creams or liquid illuminators can be mixed into foundation or layered on top for a radiant, lit-from-within effect that stands out without overpowering.
5: Ditch The Tools
Balmy and cream-based textures blend best with your fingers. Feel free to ditch the brushes and use your fingers to warm up the creamy products, for that natural melt and seamless blend.
The dewy makeup look isn't so much a trend as it is a statement. With freshness and radiance at its core, it's all about enhancing your skin — not transforming it. Whether you're leaning into an easy, breezy daytime vibe or dialling it up for full-on evening glamour, this glow-forward look is undoubtedly here to stay.
The difference between dewy and matte makeup lies in its finish. Dewy makeup is often radiant, glowy, and hydrated, whereas matte makeup is often shine-free, velvety, and even provides more oil-control. Dewy makeup works well when you're looking for a soft, natural finish, whereas matte is great for full coverage.
When selecting makeup products for a dewy makeup look, keep an eye out for hydrating or illuminating products. Anything that offers a dewy finish in the form of foundations, primers, tinted moisturisers, or cream or liquid-based highlighters and blushes, will offer that radiant, natural glow.
Yes, of course, you can get dewy skin with an oily skin type. The key is to use oil-free, non-comedogenic products that offer a dewy and radiant finish. Always pick lightweight formulations, keeping the layers minimal. You can also include a powder to set oilier areas in your t-zone to prevent any excess shine.
Yes, you can get a dewy makeup look without using foundation. You can either opt for a tinted moisturiser, serum, or sunscreen or a BB cream, and straight away go in with your cream blush and highlighter. Just make sure you're using a hydrating moisturiser that lends the perfect glow to your base.
Think hydrating or illuminating primers that will work well for a dewy makeup look. Avoid matte primers and instead look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid or light-reflecting pigments that offer a soft focus blurring effect without mattifying the skin.
The key to preventing a dewy makeup look from turning greasy lies in using oil-free yet hydrating products. Feel free to set your makeup with powder in areas that tend to get greasy. And you can always use blotting paper or mattifying balms to control the shine, without taking away from the radiance.
