How do I achieve the glowy look that so many I know have !!

[Sundayagain27]

I’m 56 like to look good so wear make up daily but my make up always looks too Matt to me and not glowy like everyone I see!
is it that I’m using the wrong products or the wrong regime or am I just old !
I medik 8 tetra vit C followed by a moisturiser then ysl glow foundation then a Creme blusher and finish with glow setting spray - should I be using highlighters somewhere.
i use powder eye shadows that ring seem to stay put and Charlotte Tilbury eye liner (like a pen) and can’t seem to find a planting mascara that stays put ! I’ve tried asking in space nk and tbh they seem disinterested.
any ideas welcome 🙏

I prefer a glowy look as my skin is very dry. I use more skincare products- as well as vitamin C I use a serum for dry skin, facial oil, moisturiser and a dewy spf. It depends on your skin though as I need it for my skin type

L’Oréal panorama mascara has stopped me looking like Alice Cooper.

@Livpool what brand of face oil do you use and when in your regime do you use it ? My skin just seems dull !

Laser facial treatments 😍
and a little bit of Botox

Rimmel Multi Tasker Better than Filters is fab. I mix it with Max Factor Facefinity All Day Flawless.

Do you drink lots of water and hydrate naturally? I find when I do it gives my skin much more glow.

It’s also good to layer the glow, use a glowy primer and personally I don’t rate the YSL glow foundation - I find a better glow if using something more sheer. What setting spray are you using? The Anastasia glow one is great. Charlotte Tilbury do a flawless filter which is a great way of getting glow, can go all over the face under makeup or be used as a highlighter, I love mine.

What do you mean by planting mascara? Tarte tubing XL mascara is smudge proof for me and gives long lashes, I recommended to my mum and she adores it too.

@FestiveBauble apologies - plumping and lengthening mascara !
tbh I don’t drink enough water - I eat really well and b little upf but fail at water !

@Sundayagain27 i’m a similar age to you. I’ve just bought the new Victoria Beckham foundation which is not cheap but is fabulous. It’ll give you the glow. I did use Armani luminous silk before which is also glowy but not like the VB. I also bought a VB concealer. I use an Armani fluid sheer glow underneath it. I also use Armani liquid blush and another fluid sheer as a bronzer. No setting powder necessary but I do use the Charlotte Tilbury flawless setting spray mentioned above. No make up is going anywhere after you apply that (at the end) I use CT eyeshadow, lipstick, lipliner,mascara, VB satin kajal eyeliner, blink brow mascara for brows, and an NYX liquid eyeliner.

Skincare wise, I’ve found a double cleanse, acid tone, vit c/A (depending on the time of day) NIOD fractionating eye serum followed by a good moisturiser and spf for the daytime means I have a healthy base to work with. I’ve got a Nuface that I should use more than I do and It’s on my resolution list for 2026 to use it at least 5 x pw…!

thanks @Netaporter I will try vb
how do you apply your foundation ? I use a brush but maybe a sponge/ fingers better ? Will try the concealer too as I struggle to cover dark circles and will try CT setting spray !

My current products - annoying I’ve just repurchased the foundation 😬and was mixing with the cosmic glow !

I use a brush. It’s a foundation that is also skincare so I’ve found it sinks into my skin in a way other foundation does not. I also use elf Powergrip primer straight after moisturising which stops the foundation moving anywhere before we start!

My skin leans dry especially in winter so dewy/glowy products are my thing. The best skin tint/foundation I've found, and I've tried quite a few, is Milk Makeup. Not everyone loves this and the packaging can be a bit leaky but I think it's amazing even if I set it with a little powder. I have others that I rate but if I want to look naturally glowy this is my go to.
https://www.spacenk.com/uk/makeup/complexion/tinted-moisturiser-skin-tint/hydro-grip-gel-tint-MUK200054227.html

I really love this as a primer at the moment for extra hydration, they also do a bronze and gold version. Very pricey unfortunately - I manage to get mine in a Liberty sale at 40% off.
https://chantecaille.co.uk/products/sheer-glow-face-tint

For a cheaper alternative I've seen good things said about the new Fenty hydrating primer but haven't personally tried this yet.
https://www.boots.com/fenty-beauty-grip-trip-hydrating-primer-30ml-10368317

I also love this Kosas highlighting bronzer. It's very sheer and natural and a really good one for winter when you want a bit of colour but not too much.
https://www.spacenk.com/uk/makeup/cheeks/bronzer/sun-show-glowy-baked-bronzer-MUK200038983.html

Best highlighter I've tried is this Prada one in Champagne. Not cheap but it packs a punch without being glittery. Sometimes gets reduced on sale at LF or Selfridges.
https://www.lookfantastic.com/p/prada-highlighter-6.8g-various-shades/16758497/

I also think the Hourglass highlighters and finishing powders are very good and give a subtle glow. They always have one or two shades in their palettes but can be bought as singles too. These have been on sale recently on many sites so fairly sure they will go 20% off again somewhere in January.
https://www.hourglasscosmetics.co.uk/products/ambient-lighting-edit-unlocked?_pos=1&_sid=e8b4a115d&_ss=r

My fave setting spray at the moment is Tirtir but I do also like the Charlotte Tilbury one. The spray on the Tirtir is very fine which I love.
https://www.notino.co.uk/tirtir/mask-fit-makeup-fixer-makeup-setting-spray-in-a-spray/

I have a few mascaras I've enjoyed recently as I struggle with smudging on a lot.

All the Tarte tubing mascaras, Estee Lauder double wear, Kosas soulgazer. None of these smudge on me and do a decent job with my not so great lashes.

The Hourglass tubing one is supposed to be very good too - have a mini of that yet to be tried.

Lisa Eldridge kitten lash doesn't smudge and comes in some good shades but I find it doesn't do much for thickening or lengthening. Good for a natural look.

I recently went away and forgot to pack a mascara so bought a mini Benefit Badgal from Boots, first impressions of that were quite good but I probably need to try a few more times to decide how much I like it.

Come and join our long running threads where we chat about this sort of stuff quite regularly in between posting beauty bargains (although we can be a bad shopping influence on each other, so bear that in mind! )
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5459827-beauty-chat-freebiesgifts-with-purchaseoffers-thread-seven?page=4&reply=149242319

@OvaHere thanks following your other chat !
would the fenty primer go under the milk tint and provide a nice glowy coverage ?

I would think so although I haven't used the Fenty one, just seen people who like a glowy primer say it is good. I find the Milk tint glowy on it's own, I just like to use an extra primer in winter because central heating really dries out my already dry skin.

I guess as a word of caution and why some people don't like it, the Milk tint isn't one that's going to 100% set down - that's how it retains it's glowy look. A light finishing powder sets it enough to suit me but it does depend on your preferences.

I use Nuxe glow. It's available in John Lewis.

Going against the grain on this thread, but amongst my glowing friends and familyubv their 40s and 50s the common theme is tret, not what makeup they use. Dermatica is very good. It takes a few months to start seeing results and they build over time, but I've been able to ditch foundation entirely in my 40s and get random compliments on my glowing skin which was unheard of before.

I use Korean skin care, Origins Vitazing tinted moisturiser and IT Cosmetics foundation. I've got sensitive skin so have to be careful with the products I use, but they all work for me. Clinique do a good tubing mascara.

@Sundayagain27 botox. My mam has a shine/glow better than any teenager. I swear it's the reason all these women have shiney glass skin but just won't admit it.

Joining as it seems there are knowledgeable people here , thanks for the recommendations

I use Victoria Beckham highlighter stick and eyeliners and use a creme blush. Chantecaiile eye shadow stays put pretty well. I have a sparkly one and also put a bit on my cheekbones at this time of year. I use an Elf dewy fixing spray sometimes.

I'm 50 and my skin hasn't been dewy since I was 25! Nor is it meant to be. I just changed the way I did makeup when I wear it.

Thanks everyone @Flibbertyfloo when / how do I use tret ?
I'm afraid i’m too scared for Botox ! Nothing against it just not for me.

Thanks everyone @Flibbertyfloo when / how do I use tret ?
I'm afraid i’m too scared for Botox ! Nothing against it just not for me.
i do use medik8 retinal number 10 is that similar ?

I agree, but if you fake tan (which I do) I still need a foundation to even out my skin tone - ad I’ve posted what I use. As a former natural red head I like a bit of colour on my skin after years of frankly looking blue 😂 A good skincare routine with skin brightening products will undoubtedly give you great skin for non makeup days for sure. It’s great you’ve found what works for you, lots of people have no idea where to start though.

Use a face oil after your usual serum or moisturiser. Try a tubing mascara for no smudge.

Have a look at skin and me- Tret is a product you need to introduce slowly though. It takes a good 4-6 months to see the results and you need to be consistent with it.