Whether you just rewatched Bridgerton for the tenth time, you’ve been scrolling through TikTok, or just liked your favorite Korean musician’s most recent Instagram post, you’ve probably spotted dozens of dewy makeup looks in the past hour. The hallmarks of this ubiquitous summer makeup trend are easy to pinpoint: glowing skin, flushed cheeks, and no-makeup makeup. (In other words, zero matte finish in sight.)
As much as we love dewy makeup looks, we are well aware that you may have some apprehensions. Achieving dewy skin that doesn’t look too wet or greasy, especially for those with oily skin, can seem daunting. Others may believe they can never have a natural glow because of their dry skin. We often hear about the unreliable staying power of dewy makeup products, too, i.e., they tend to slide off and disappear before the day ends. But fear not, we have solutions to all of these concerns. In fact, we are experts in this area. Ahead, Sara Wren, our Milk Makeup Director of Artistry, shares an easy dewy makeup tutorial suitable for all skin types and stay-all-day wear time.
Some makeup products you’ll need to follow the makeup artist’s steps below belong to our Bionic Fam, including Essence Beauty Award-winning Bionic Blush, Bionic Bronzer, and Bionic Glow. They’re the perfect skincare and makeup hybrid with 90% natural formulas containing deeply hydrating ingredients, like mushroom extracts, hyaluronic acid, plant-derived collagen, and cherry water.
How to Get a Dewy Makeup Look
1. Prep your skin with a hydrating primer.
The most important step in achieving the most stunning dewy skin is prepping your canvas with a hydrating makeup primer. Not only will our award-winning Hydro Grip Primer give the makeup products you use over it serious longevity, but it will also give you the look of glass skin, even if yours is typically dry. Blue agave extract helps form an invisible layer to lock in your dewy makeup look for up to 12 hours while adding a burst of hydration like an extra layer of moisturizer.
Speaking of which, be sure to run through your skincare routine right before priming your skin, Sara recommends. She slathers on Vegan Milk Moisturizer before spreading a thin layer of Hydro Grip Primer on top. “No need to rub it in,” she says.
2. Apply a lightweight skin tint.
After your skin is primed with lots of moisture, it’s time for skin tint. Skip the matte, full-coverage foundations and powders for this makeup look. Instead, you want to summon every bit of glow you can with lightweight, glowy skin tints.
If you’re worried about your face looking too oily, particularly along your T-zone, don’t worry: our hydrating primer will ensure your skin is glowy in all the right ways.
If you want to intensify the glow even further, blend your skin tint with a liquid highlighter, like Bionic Glow, before blending it into your skin. For more coverage, particularly if you want something more substantial for your blemishes, you can also dab Future Fluid All Over Cream Concealer where needed.
3. Grab a liquid or cream bronzer.
The next step in Sara’s dewy makeup tutorial is adding a warm, sun-kissed effect to your skin. Our Bionic Bronzer comes in several shades to suit a wide range of skin tones. Tap small dots of the weightless liquid formula onto your face wherever you'd naturally get some sun, like the tops of your cheeks, the bridge of your nose, and along your hairline. Then, blend it in with your fingertips, a makeup sponge, or brush.
As with all our Bionic products, you’ll want to shake the tube well before squeezing to dispense the formula. Apply as little or as much as you want for your desired level of bronzing; it’s buildable and reviewers love the ease of application. For those who haven’t tried it yet, it has a natural, skin-like finish that isn’t too dewy or too matte. Plus, it’s sheer and shimmer-free, so you can’t overdo your sun-kissed skin look.
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4. Add blush. Then add some more!
Dewy makeup looks would be nothing without this signature step: blush. No dewy glow is complete without it.
Our Bionic Blush comes in four shades, so we leave the choice to you and your mood. Whichever shade you pick, this supercharged liquid blush will instantly enhance your glam. Because it’s more like a hydrating serum than a powder or cream blush, Bionic Blush won’t settle into any fine lines or get patchy on oily skin.
A pro dewy makeup tip to keep in mind for deeper skin tones: Try Bionic Blush in Fly (ruby red) or Beyond (blue-toned plum)—or mix for a custom, punchy hue. “They may look super bright at first glance but can be worn as a sheer flush or built up to a bold, glam look,” Sara says.
We specifically designed all our Bionic formulas to have a barely-there feel and layer seamlessly over other makeup, so no matter how much Bionic Blush you pile on, you won’t disturb anything you’ve applied underneath. To complete the rosy effect, add any excess product on your fingertip or makeup sponge onto your lips and layer a lip gloss, like Odyssey Lip Oil Gloss, on top for juicy jelly lips.
5. Top your high points with highlighter.
The grand finale for an absolutely divine dewy makeup look? Extra glow, of course. Pick your favorite shade of Bionic Glow to amp things up to angelic levels.
The liquid highlighter formula was made to be applied with either your fingertips, a makeup brush, or a makeup sponge—your choice. Take a small amount, and blend it onto the high points of your face, like your cheekbones, collarbones, cupid’s bow, and anywhere else you want to highlight. Both shades of Bionic Glow will give you a gorgeous natural glow and a lit-from-within effect. Think of that healthy radiance you get after a facial—subtle, never sparkly.
In terms of eye makeup, you can also sub in Bionic Glow for eyeshadow to give your lids a dewy finish. Plus, skip eyeliner and smokey vibes so your eye makeup doesn’t draw attention away from your glass skin. All you’ll truly need in addition to dewy makeup products is mascara.
6. Spritz on a setting spray.
Hydro Grip will keep your makeup smooth and fresh for 12 hours straight, but if you want some extra insurance, mist on our hydrating setting spray, Hydro Grip Set + Refresh Spray. It will keep your dewy makeup look perfectly glowy all day long.
And there you have it: our favorite dewy makeup look tips. We’re ready to see you shine!
Meet the Expert:
Sara Wren (she/her) is the Director of Artistry at Milk Makeup. In her role, she does all the makeup artistry and direction for our Milk Makeup global campaigns, educates the staff and field team on application methods, stars in the brand’s social media videos, and travels to different markets spreading Milk Makeup’s good vibes. When she’s not on set, Sara loves experimenting with DIY hair colors, eating tacos, watching basketball, and scouring for vintage cosmetics to add to her impressive collection.
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