Caring for SkinMay 1, 2026

The Best Moisturizers for Glowing Skin, Based on Your Skin Type

In This Article

Summary

Glowing skin is thephysical reflection of a healthy, balanced complexion that radiates from within.
Some moisturizers are focused on a glowy finish, providing you with instant dewy radiance.
However, even fewer of these glow-focused formulas also improve the health and feel of your skin long-term.
We uncovered several glowing moisturizers, including The Dewy Milk Moisturizer and The Dewy Skin Cream, that support your long-term skin goals, while also giving you plump, dewy skin.

Glowing skin is trending — and for good reason, it signifies health, natural radiance, and a youthful appearance. While it can take time to achieve it naturally, some moisturizers help you mimic glowing skin instantly.

We are used to shopping for moisturizers designed for dry skin, combination skin, oily skin, mature skin, and sensitive skin. But what about moisturizers that focus on glowing skin? While it’s not a skin type, moisturizers focused on the finish they provide can help you in numerous ways (hello, instantly radiant skin).

We uncover the best moisturizer for glowing skin, ingredients to look for, and how to best apply these glowing moisturizers.

What Is Glowing Skin?

Glowing skin is defined by its underlying health rather than a cosmetic finish. It is characterized by a natural radiance coming from within, which is the direct result of maintaining a balanced, hydrated, and healthy skin barrier.

Ingredients for Glowing Skin

While many moisturizers are geared towards skin type (making it easy to find a formula that’s right for you), some have an intentional glowing appearance, helping you mimic radiance instantly, while also focusing on the overall health of skin long-term.

When looking at moisturizers, consider seeking out formulas featuring these notable ingredients:

Prebiotics

With the meteoric rise of skin barrier health and repair, prebiotic skincare is finally taking center stage. But what are prebiotics in skincare, and why are they linked with glowing skin? A prebiotic is basically food for the beneficial bacteria on the face, which keep the skin’s microbiome thriving. Skincare formulas that include prebiotics can mean less redness and inflammation, and more naturally radiant skin.

Antioxidants

The most common and celebrated antioxidants are vitamin C and vitamin E, niacinamide, retinol, and gentler retinol alternatives. These are linked to healthy, glowing skin because antioxidants can minimize and quell oxidative stress, which is associated with accelerated aging, irritation, redness, and inflammation. In both of Tatcha’s famed dewy moisturizers – The Dewy Milk Moisturizer and The Dewy Skin Cream – Japanese purple rice, which is rich in antioxidants, helps protect the skin from free radicals.

Hydrating Superheroes

Glowing skin is hydrated skin. Ensure your moisturizer includes a notable hydrating ingredient, like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and/or squalane. These products flood the skin with moisture, helping to give a naturally glowing and healthy-looking complexion — both instantly and supporting the health of skin over time.

Best Moisturizer for Glowing Skin

First and foremost, determine your skin type. Now that’s solidified, uncover the ideal dewy formulation that’s right for you.

Best Glowing Moisturizer for Dry Skin

Dry skin isn’t always synonymous with a glowing appearance. However, The Dewy Skin Cream counteracts that outdated notion. This rich, decadent cream seals in moisture, improves barrier function, and instantly plumps the skin. Designed to hydrate dry skin, this moisturizer contains hyaluronic acid, red algae, and squalane for the ultimate hydrating experience. And, as the name implies, the formula is intentionally designed to leave a glowy, radiant finish on the skin.

Best Glowing Moisturizer for Oily Skin

Hydrating oily skin? No easy task. Hydrating oily skin and leaving a glowy, dewy finish? Nearly impossible to perfect. But The Dewy Milk Moisturizer achieves this wondrous outcome. This lightweight, milky moisturizer hydrates while balancing excess oil and boosting radiance for bouncy, supple skin with a lasting dewy glow. The Dewy Milk Moisturizer contains an innovative blend of tried-and-true ingredients, including zinc hyaluronate, prebiotic green tea, and Japanese purple rice, for a moisturizer that supports the skin barrier and balances oil while still enhancing the skin’s natural radiance.

Best Glowing Moisturizer for Combination Skin

If your combination skin errs on the side of oily, try The Dewy Milk Moisturizer. If there are more elements of dryness than oiliness for your combo skin, consider The Dewy Skin Cream. However, you might find you need to alternate between both options at times, depending on the climate, hormones, and personal preferences. You can even mix and match both, dabbing The Dewy Skin Cream on drier sections of the face and The Dewy Milk Moisturizer on oilier sections. Or, if you prefer to stick with just one formula, you can absorb excess oil with our beloved Aburatorigami Blotting Papers, which soak up oil, yet won’t irritate, alter the skin’s natural moisture level, or disturb makeup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are glowy moisturizers suitable for acne-prone or breakout-prone skin types?

Those with acne-prone skin are right to question the ingredients in their formulas, especially when a product provides a dewy finish, which traditionally might trigger a reaction. However, Tatcha's moisturizers are non-comedogenic, meaning they do not clog pores. While the Dewy Milk Moisturizer provides a glowy finish, it's designed with oily and blemish-prone skin in mind.

How long does it typically take to see a noticeable glowing improvement after starting a new moisturizer?

The wonderful thing about a moisturizer that imparts a dewy finish is the instant results. In clinical studies, Tatcha's Dewy Milk Moisturizer provided an instant all-day dewy glow,* and after a week of use, 100 percent of participants showed an improvement in their dewy skin finish.** *Based on a clinical study of 30 participants. **Based on a clinical study of 39 participants.

Should I apply a glowing moisturizer both morning and night, or reserve glowy formulas for daytime use?

This is a wonderful question! It is also a matter of personal preference. Many formulas have a glowy finish that also imparts radiance-enhancing ingredients that work over time to naturally make skin more glowy and healthy-looking, so applying the formula twice a day is a smart idea. Some users love the long-term benefits and lightweight feel of a glowing moisturizer, like The Dewy Milk Moisturizer, and use it morning and night. Others might crave a tad more moisture in the evening, preferring to reach for a slightly richer and decadent formula, like The Dewy Skin Cream.

Will a glowing moisturizer make my skin look too shiny in hot, humid climates?

This is possible if the moisturizer has a richer feel to it and the individual's skin is more oily-prone. However, if you are using Tatcha's Dewy Milk Moisturizer, it was created for oily skin and has a lightweight texture that can stand up to humid climates. However, stack the (skincare) deck in your favor by adding a few other timeless classics in your daily skincare routine, like Aburatorigami Blotting Papers to absorb oil during the day and The Matcha Cleanse to control skin's natural oil production immediately and over time.*** ***Based on a bio-instrumentation study of 40 panelists.