How to Achieve a Glowy Look Without Highlighter

By Jasmine Torres, Makeup & Artistry International Institute of Beauty

There’s something undeniably captivating about a radiant, lit from within glow. That skin that looks like it’s catching the light just right even when there’s no sun. And while we’ve all got a trusty highlighter in our makeup bag, sometimes the goal isn’t shimmer or sparkle, but a more natural, skin first radiance.

The good news? You don’t need highlighter to achieve that healthy glow. In fact, some of the most stunning glowy looks I’ve created on shoots, runways, and real clients didn’t include a speck of highlighter.

Instead, they were built on intentional skincare, smart product choices, and luminous textures that mimic real skin.

So if you’re ready to master the subtle art of radiance without relying on glow sticks or glitter, here’s how to achieve a dewy, luminous look no highlighter required.

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Step 1: Start With Skincare Glow Begins Below the Surface

A glowy finish begins before you touch your makeup bag. Healthy, hydrated skin is the ultimate base for that lit from within effect.

Jasmine’s Skin Prep Tips:

• Cleanse gently: Start with a hydrating cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin.

• Exfoliate (but don’t overdo it): A mild chemical exfoliant once or twice a week helps remove dull skin cells and boost natural luminosity.

• Hydrate deeply: Use a serum with hyaluronic acid or glycerin, then lock it in with a nourishing moisturiser.

• Don’t skip SPF: A lightweight, non mattifying sunscreen will protect your skin and enhance its glow.

Step 2: Use Radiant Primers or Skin Tints

If you want your skin to glow without highlighter, look to your base products. Radiant primers and sheer foundations can offer that coveted sheen without any shimmer.

Look for:

• Illuminating primers with light diffusing particles

• Skin tints or dewy foundations with skincare benefits

• Tinted moisturisers that let your natural skin shine through

  
  

Top Picks:

• Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow

• Glossier Futuredew

• NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser

• MAC Strobe Cream (used before foundation)

  
  

Technique: Apply a radiant primer across the high points of the face cheekbones, brow bones, and bridge of the nose before your base to create a natural highlight effect from beneath.

Step 3: Choose Creamy Complexion Products

When aiming for a glow, avoid powder heavy makeup routines. Creams and liquids blend seamlessly into skin, mimicking its natural texture and reflecting light in a way that looks effortlessly radiant.

Go for:

• Cream blushes with a dewy finish (try peach, rose, or berry tones)

• Liquid bronzers or contour sticks with soft satin finishes

• Sheer, hydrating concealers instead of thick matte formulas

Step 4: Strategic Moisture = Subtle Glow

If you’re skipping highlighter but still want certain areas of your face to catch the light, here’s a makeup artist trick: reintroduce moisture after makeup.

Yes, you read that right.

Take a teeny dab of moisturiser, balm, or even a non greasy facial oil and tap it gently onto the high points of your face.

Apply to:

• Top of the cheekbones

• Brow bones

• Bridge of the nose

• Cupid’s bow

  
  

Warning: Less is more here. You want a soft gleam not a slick or greasy finish.

Try: Weleda Skin Food (in micro amounts), Dr. PawPaw Balm, or even Aquaphor for a glossy skin finish.

Step 5: Glow From the Inside Out

This might sound like a cliché, but trust me: what’s happening inside will always show on your skin. A true glow is the result of good habits as much as great products.

Glowy Skin Habits to Adopt:

• Drink plenty of water (yes, the boring advice still matters!)

• Get quality sleep your skin repairs itself overnight

• Add omega 3s and antioxidant rich foods to your diet

• Manage stress levels cortisol can wreak havoc on your complexion

  
  

Bonus: Herbal teas, leafy greens, and berries are skin glow gold.

Step 6: Finish With a Dewy Setting Spray

Lock in your glow and avoid the dreaded powdery finish by spritzing a dewy setting spray at the end of your routine.

These sprays not only help your makeup last longer, but they also fuse all the products together for a skin like finish.

Favourites:

• MAC Fix+

• Morphe Continuous Setting Mist

• Iconic London Prep Set Glow

• Milk Hydro Grip Set + Refresh Spray

  
  

Hold the bottle at arm’s length and mist lightly this isn’t a soak, just a sheen.

What to Avoid When Going for a Highlighter Free Glow

Even with the right products, a few common missteps can get in the way of your glow up:

Over powdering: Matte powders will flatten your features and kill radiance. If you must set, use powder only in areas prone to creasing or excess shine (like the T zone).

Using the wrong foundation finish: Heavy matte foundations can cake or separate, especially when layered with other glow giving products.

Skipping skincare prep: Makeup will never look radiant on dry, dehydrated skin.

Too much glow: Ironically, going overboard with dewy products can make you look greasy rather than glowing. It’s all about balance.

Final Thoughts

Achieving a radiant, glowy look doesn’t have to involve layers of highlighter or sparkly powder. True glow comes from within and from thoughtful skin prep, light reflecting textures, and embracing your natural complexion.

As a makeup artist, I’m constantly asked how to look fresh and luminous without looking “done.” The secret isn’t in a single proudt it’s in how you layer, where you add light, and how you honour your skin in its most natural state.

So next time you want that glow, skip the sparkle. Let your skin be the star. Hydrate, nourish, and enhance what’s already there and you’ll radiate beauty in the most effortless way.