When Hailey Bieber declared 2022 the year of “glazed doughnut” skin, it was inevitable that it would become one of the year’s biggest beauty trends. A tasty term used to describe ultra-hydrated and plump, dewy skin, it’s the perfect trend to try for a fresh, youthful and healthy sheen, especially now that it’s springtime.
“When you are attempting to create the glazed skin look, I would say that one of the most important steps you can take is using good skincare,” says make-up artist Vincent Oquendo. “You have to make sure that your skin is hydrated and exfoliated.”
As a first step, gentle exfoliation is key to slough off dead skin cells, and create a smooth surface for ensuing shine to bounce off. Oquendo touts exfoliating wipes, such as Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Peel Pads, as easy options to keep in your make-up bag, as well as Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial mask, which he is “currently obsessed with”.
As well as having excellent genetics, Bieber achieves the look by layering her skincare, starting with exfoliation and following with hydrating serums and sheet masks (she multi-masks, where you apply different masks to different parts of the face), and she has previously discussed her obsession for barrier-boosting moisturisers to seal it all in, too.
A number of excellent hydrating skincare products have recently launched that promise to get you the right level of dewiness, while simultaneously nourishing the skin and keeping it in peak condition. A good all-rounder is Lancôme’s Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum, which blends hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, ferulic acid and niacinamide to illuminate the skin, while protecting it from external aggressors and improving its appearance over time.
Meanwhile, for those with mature skin, Revive’s new Targeted Skin Filler is expensive, but excellent at plumping, softening and filling in fine lines, for the kind of cushiony skin that dreams are made of.
The trick is to employ formulas – from essences to serums – that promise to deeply hydrate. After that, seal them in using an equally hydrating moisturiser. Top tip: Bieber always applies her serum to damp skin, so it “soaks in a little better”, as she previously revealed on Instagram.
To amp up dewiness in all the right places, melting a face oil into the high points of the face (namely the upper cheekbones), can help deliver a sumptuously healthy sheen in seconds. Of course, depending on your skin type and how well you get on with oils, make-up is also an option to create the same finish.
Important note: forget anything shimmery or pearlescent. Oquendo is a big fan of Kevyn Aucoin’s Glass Glow Face and Body Gloss: “It comes in a few different shades, so no matter your skin tone, it always gives an otherworldly shine,” he says. Other excellent glazing products to try include Chanel’s Baume Essentiel, and Glossier’s Future Dew.
The last thing to note is that glazed skin is all about clarity, so if you suffer from redness, blemishes or pigmentation, it’s a good idea to gently conceal them. “I would always follow skincare with a fuller coverage concealer on any blemishes or areas that need it,” says Oquendo. “And, if you need it, follow that with a luminosity-boosting tinted moisturiser.”