The Glazed Donut Glow
Everyone's been talking about the "glazed donut effect," but do you know what it actually means?
Essentially, it's the appearance of smooth, glowing skin that resembles the glazed finish of a donut. While everyone's skin has texture and visible pores, with the right skincare products and care, you can achieve a well-frosted complexion that out-glazes all the other donuts.
Especially in the summer, it's nice to be able to head to the beach or BF's house with skin that naturally glows, rather than needing to layer on concealer, highlighter, and bronzer to get the same effect.
Here, we show you how to get your glow on for summer by using the most effective beauty products and techniques.
HOW TO GET A GLAZED DONUT GLOW
Sub skincare for makeup this summer with these glazed doughnut skincare tips.
Exfoliate
To begin, you'll need a clean slate so that skincare products to come can penetrate the skin better.
"At night, your skin regenerates—old cells die, new cells grow, and then you wake up and you have dead skin cells—so I want to remove it so that everything penetrates better," says skincare expert Tata Harper.
Opt for a cleanser, toner, or exfoliator with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) to remove dead skin cells without irritating or damaging the skin. Be careful if you have sensitive skin, as these acids may cause redness.
Get your glow on with: Truly's Matcha Face Scrub.
Moisturize
Hydrating your skin is essential for achieving the dewy, glazed donut-like glow. Whether you're looking for a quick route to glowing skin or you want to maintain it for years to come, your go-to glow fix is a good, nourishing moisturizer.
Hydration helps align your skin cells so that your skin reflects light differently. Unfortunately, dry skin doesn't reflect light very well, so moisturizing really is key for getting that glam glow.
When it comes to finding the best moisturizer for your skincare routine, look for a product made with hyaluronic acid. It'll give your skin a nice glow and shimmer while feeding it the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
Get your glow on with: Truly's Cream Skin Face Cream.
Make it Glow
Now's the time to apply your oils and serums. For that perfect sugary glaze, choose topical antioxidants like vitamin C which give an instant boost of brightness while protecting the skin from UV rays and pollution. Another great ingredient to try: retinol.
"Retinoid and vitamin A products increase cellular turnover so younger oils replace older skin cells," says Dr. Tina Funt, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York. "This type of ingredient causes younger, plumper cells to absorb moisture and it decreases pigmentation or brown spots."
Get your glow on with: Truly's Vegan Collagen Facial Serum.
Protect Your Skin
UV radiation increases the activity of proteolytic enzymes that decrease collagen and accelerate the degradation of your skin. To keep your skin protected, wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, every day. Because sun exposure causes dryness, pigmentation, and uneven skin tone, smothering your skin in sunscreen can maintain your complexion's smooth texture, which keeps your skin glowing.
Glow Up Your Pout
When it comes to nailing the glazed donut glow, your lips need to shine too. Give your pout some TLC to polish it, hydrate it, and nourish it for an ultra soft, glowy pair. While you can achieve the same look with lip gloss or other drugstore makeup products, invest in quality lip care products instead. Lip care products deliver nutrients to your pout so that it looks and feels it very best.
Get your glow on with: Truly's GLOAT: Greatest Lips Of All Time Bundle.
Get on Board with Gua Sha
Maybe you've heard all the hype around Gua sha? Well, there's good reason for it. Gua sha is used in traditional Chinese medicine, and involves scraping a special tool made of jade over the skin to relieve tension, boost circulation, and leave the skin looking brighter and more supple.
"Gua sha treatment relaxes the muscles, gets the energy and blood moving and shifts any puffiness," says Katie Brindle, founder of the Hayo’u Method. "It boosts the circulation – studies show by up to 400 percent – which takes away toxins and brings in oxygen and nutrients."
Enhance Your Glow with Makeup
You don't need to pile on the makeup to get a nice glow. But if you'd like to enhance your natural radiance, makeup can get you there quickly. Any makeup artist will tell you that!
All you need is a dewy, lightweight foundation (no matte foundations here!), highlighter, and bronzer. These three products will help you achieve a glowing no-makeup look without going overboard. Feel free to add a few swipes of Nyx mascara or Anastasia Beverly Hills lipstick to liven up the look even more. But you don't need these to glow.
Medical Facials Might Help
If you've tried everything but your skin isn't as glazed as you'd like it to be, book an appointment for an in-office medical facial. Facials are the best and fastest way to rejuvenate dull skin. That's because they instantly increase hydration, directly brightening and de-accentuating fine lines and wrinkles.
"It helps increase blood circulation, improves the lymphatic drainage which effectively hydrates and detoxifies the skin," celebrity dermatologist Dr. Jamuna Pai wrote in her book. "Medical-based facials with potent actives like Vitamin C, niacinamide and collagen-based masks are proven to enhance the natural glow of the skin."
Sure, your skincare routine and the products you use matter in regards to achieving glazed donut glowing skin. But you can also make your skin work harder by incorporating a daily workout routine to get the blood pumping and the skin glowing. Add in some antioxidant-loaded fruits and veggies, and you'll glow even more.
The key to achieving the glazed donut glow is consistency. Stick with your routine and products, and you'll soon accomplish that radiant complexion you've been craving.
