Achieve Dewy Skin With These Hydration & Oil Control Tips

Who doesn’t want radiant, dewy skin that looks so healthy it’s practically luminous? Dewy skin is so popular because it not only looks flattering and glowy, but also conveys that your complexion is hydrated and healthy at every age. While many trends aren’t here for the long haul, dewy skin isn’t going anywhere. (Good thing it’s easy to achieve.) Keep reading to learn how to get dewy skin ASAP.

What Is Dewy Skin?

Dewy skin describes a smooth, hydrated-looking complexion with a soft, light-reflective glow. The finish can come from skincare, makeup, or a combination of both. Beauty trends tend to boomerang: matte skin is beloved, then dewy skin takes over (though both finishes are always in style). Dewy skin has gone beyond a trend, though, and is now a forever movement because it looks so natural and flattering. While the words ‘glass skin’, ‘mirror skin’, and ‘glazed donut skin’ may be more temporary, they are all based on the main idea of dewy skin.

Dewy Skin vs. Oily Skin: What’s the Difference?

There is a fine line between dewy skin and a too-shiny appearance. Dewy skin looks radiant, but not overly greasy. Dewy skin is for all skin types, but oily and combination skin might require a few additional products that manage oil in certain parts of the face. Lean into products that reduce oil throughout the day and then use oil blotting papers if needed, too, which help absorb oil without pulling moisture from the skin.

Qualities of Dewy Skin

Dewy skin does have many iterations, but, in general, it has a few qualities that make it identifiable.

• Hydration

Dewy skin always looks hydrated, plump, and youthful-looking (no matter your age).

• Radiance

Dewy skincare imparts almost a translucent, natural glow that makes skin look flawless and healthy. It can almost appear to reflect light, but also that you’re naturally glowing, too.

• Healthy Glow

Smooth, clear, natural, and glistening are all words that describe dewy skin, with the baseline being healthy-looking skin. The look is not only about glowy skin, but skin that glows because it’s so healthy.

How to Get Dewy Skin

The benefit of achieving dewy skin? You’ll not only look radiant, but your skin will be healthier too because dewy-looking skin is all about pampering with smart tips, tricks, and products. Here’s our advice for achieving dewy skin.

• Exfoliate

Dead skin buildup can make the complexion look dull or uneven, so gentle exfoliation can help smooth the skin’s surface and improve radiance. Plus, once you remove the layers of dead skin cells, the rest of your skincare can penetrate the skin even better, making all of your skincare products work more effectively. Determine whether you prefer physical exfoliation or chemical exfoliation; both are great, it simply depends on your skin’s needs and your personal preference. Then, exfoliate as frequently as your skin enjoys (or the product packaging recommends); as with all things skincare, consistency is key.

• Manage Excess Oil If Needed

The line between dewy skin and oily skin is fine, so if you have oily or combination skin, manage excess oil production with skincare products clinically proven to reduce and control oil. These are likely cleansers and exfoliators, serums, and moisturizers that reduce oil production over time. Also, if excess oil crops up mid-day, rely on oil blotting sheets and/or powder to tap down shine.

• Layer Hydration

What is dewy skin without hydration? The basis of the dewy skin movement is moisture. However, this is accomplished not through just a single product, but rather layers of hydrating skincare. This means starting with a juicy essence (perhaps even two or more layers of pressing it into the skin), then a hydrating serum, followed by a radiance-enhancing moisturizer, and finally a pearlescent sunscreen. Layering hydrating products can help create a plump, dewy finish, especially when skin feels dry or dehydrated.

• Apply Radiant Moisturizers

Dewy skin is moisturized skin. But not just any moisturizer is good enough for your dewy goals. Choose a moisturizer that boasts a radiant finish, rather than matte. This helps to not just hydrate the skin, but also give you a shortcut to instantly dewy-looking skin. Beyond just the finish though, seek out a moisturizer that has notable hydrating ingredients, like squalane, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid.

• Opt for Glowy Sunscreens

Since daily sunscreen is a must, choose a sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum coverage and mimics radiance with a pearlescent finish versus matte. This will help to continue your glowy goals while also protecting the skin from harmful UV rays. Thankfully, modern sunscreen formulas (finally!) include clever ingredients that help to actually improve skin while wearing. This can help with your long-term goals of achieving naturally radiant and dewy skin.

Hadasei-3 and Tatcha’s Approach to Dewy Skin

Tatcha has a long passion and expertise in dewy skin, and part of that is due to our secret ingredient, a complex so important to the brand that it’s the base of nearly every Tatcha skincare product. Meet Hadasei-3, the proprietary, fermented complex that blends time-honored ingredients with advanced scientific techniques to create a formula that plumps skin, supports the barrier, and minimizes visible signs of aging. Crafted with a proprietary yeast and double-fermented rice, along with algae and green tea, Hadasei-3 is rich in lactic acid, amino acids, antioxidants, and nutrients that support healthy-looking skin. Thanks to Hadasei-3, Tatcha’s skincare delivers nourishing and hydrating benefits from the very first step, allowing the formulas to deliver nutrients deep into the skin for visible transformation (and noticeable dewiness).

Tatcha Products for a Dewy Look

Over time, the goal is to have skin look naturally dewy and radiant and there are a few products that will help you get there instantly and also improve the health of your skin long-term. Depending on your skin type and routine, several types of products can help hydrate skin or create a more radiant finish. Not all are necessary; take what might be a fit for you and leave behind the products that aren’t ideal for your skin.

An Oil-Controlling Cleanser

For oily or combination skin The Matcha Foam Cleanse is one option for managing excess oil without leaving skin feeling stripped. The ultra-fine foam, thanks to a unique gel-to-foam texture, deeply decongests pores, reduces oil, and visibly calms skin without stripping it. While many foaming cleansers rely on harsh ingredients, the Matcha Foam Cleanse tackles oiliness with a gentle touch, supporting the microbiome and soothing skin. The cleanser offers clarifying and oil-controlling benefits thanks to prebiotic inulin and pore-refining green clay, and is rich in antioxidants and redness-reduction thanks to ceremonial-grade matcha (sourced from Kyoto).

Physical Exfoliants for a Healthy-Looking Radiance

For those who prefer a physical exfoliant over a chemical exfoliant, consider The Rice Polish, a water-activated powder that transforms into a soft, cloudy foam with just a few drops of water. The water-activated formula gently exfoliates to help smooth skin and restore the look of radiance. The other wonderful thing about The Rice Polish is that there’s a formula just for you, thanks to the many different types of Rice Polishes, including Gentle, Calming, and Deep, so you can find the polish that best suits your skin type.

A Liquid Exfoliant for Instantly Smoother Skin

If you prefer a chemical exfoliant, try The Texture Tonic after cleansing. The liquid exfoliating treatment removes dead skin cells and resurfaces dull skin with fruit AHAs, niacinamide, and Japanese mugwort. After just a single use, skin is softer, more radiant, supple*, and moisturized.** Also, The Texture Tonic simultaneously minimizes excessive oil and visibly tightens the appearance of pores (hello, dewy skin!).

*Based on a clinical study of 40 panelists.

**Based on a bio-instrumentation study of 33 panelists over 8 hours.

A Face Mask for Instant Hydration

While skincare is about consistency, a face mask can provide a quick boost of moisture and radiance. Flood skin with instant moisture with The Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask. This unique coconut biocellulose sheet mask is clinically proven to boost moisturization levels by over 240 percent* and immediately improve the look of suppleness, plumpness, radiance, and firmness.**

*Based on a bio-instrumentation study of 40 panelists.
**Based on a clinical study of 40 panelists.

An Essence for Long-Term Hydration and Glow

Essences have long been one of the most important parts of a skincare routine in Asia. They’ve thankfully made their way stateside, thanks in part to Tatcha’s beloved Essence. Composed solely of Hadasei-3, The Essence adds a hydrating step between cleansing or exfoliating and your serum or moisturizer. In clinical studies, it was shown to improve skin moisture levels by up to 621 percent in a single use* and actually improves the performance of other skincare products that follow.

*Based on a bio-instrumentation study on 30 panelists.

A Plumping Serum

The Dewy Serum is a hydrating serum formulated with hyaluronic acid to leave skin looking plump and bouncy while supporting radiance and texture over time.

A Moisturizer for Dewy Skin

For a richer dewy moisturizer, consider The Dewy Skin Cream. What is dewy skin without the cream that put dewiness on the map? This rich, decadent cream seals in moisture, improves barrier function*, and instantly plumps.** Designed to hydrate dry skin, this moisturizer contains hyaluronic acid, red algae, and squalane for the ultimate hydrating experience.

*Based on a clinical study of 36 panelists & a bio-instrumentation study of 30 panelists.

**Based on a clinical study of 36 panelists.

A Lightweight Moisturizer for Dewy Skin

Looking for a dewy skin moisturizer, but in a more lightweight formula than The Dewy Skin Cream? The Dewy Milk Moisturizer was created just for you. This milky moisturizer deeply hydrates while balancing excess oil and boosting radiance for bouncy, supple skin with a lasting dewy glow. The Dewy Milk Moisturizer contains a clever blend of tried-and-true staples (including zinc hyaluronate and prebiotic green tea), alongside Japanese botanicals (like Japanese purple rice), for a moisturizer that supports the skin barrier and balances oil while still enhancing the skin’s natural radiance.

A Shortcut to Dewy Skin

Some skincare can be finicky, but The Luminous Dewy Skin Mist couldn’t be easier to use. Spritz this hydrating mist, formulated with hyaluronic acid, algae, and squalane, for an instant dewy glow. This refreshing mist provides instant hydration, antioxidant protection, and luminosity. It can be used at the start or end of the day, or mid-day for an instant glow pick-me-up.

A Radiance-Enhancing Sunscreen

Finding a sunscreen you enjoy is important, but a sunscreen that gives a radiant finish, provides superior protection, and is boosted with ingredients that improve your skin over time? Well, that’s dewy skin-approved. The Silk Sunscreen features broad-spectrum SPF 50, has a weightless feel, a sheer, radiant finish, and has powerhouse ingredients (including niacinamide and hyaluronic acid). The clever formula not only will immediately give skin a glow (and instantly hydrate), but it will also help skin look healthier over time. In clinical studies, 90 percent of participants showed an improvement in skin radiance in just two weeks.*

*Based on an expert grader study on 40 panelists.

A Nourishing Facial Oil

A facial oil, like the Gold Camellia Beauty Oil (packed with a glamorous amount of 23K gold leaf for added radiance), can not only add a healthy dose of hydration, but it also gives skin a dewy finish. Think of it as a shortcut to glowing skin. Dab it on skin after a moisturizer (and before sunscreen during the day). Bonus points if you add a dash of The Essence with a few drops of a facial oil to help it absorb even better.

An Excess Oil-Removing Tool

Tatcha is very passionate about Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers; after all, it was our very first product. Blotting papers are perfect for dewy skin because they help absorb excess oil throughout the day, without irritating skin or disturbing makeup. Japan has been singing the praises of abaca leaf papers for centuries, when gold artisans used the soft, strong, and absorbent paper to protect their gold leaf. Geishas later discovered the papers were brilliant at wicking away traces of oil without stripping moisture from the skin or disturbing their intricate makeup.

For a complete morning and evening regimen, see our step-by-step Dewy Skin Routine.

Non-Skincare Tips for Dewy Skin

Dewy, glowing skin isn’t possible without a healthy lifestyle, too. Here are a few ideas to consider when trying to achieve your healthiest skin yet.

• Beauty Sleep

Prioritizing sleep isn’t just a gimmicky concept and beauty sleep isn’t just a phrase. There are many benefits of sleep for your skin; it’s clinically proven to improve the look and health of your skin, plus skin rebuilds its collagen as you sleep, which helps visibly plump skin and gives skin a more youthful appearance. Need another reason to get enough sleep? Skin can look dull, drier, and more stressed with a continuous lack of sleep.

• Go Beyond Sunscreen

Beyond sleep, the most important thing we can do for the look and health of our skin is sun protection. That means daily sunscreen, of course, but that also includes wearing clothing with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor), a wide-brimmed hat (or even a parasol!), and sunglasses with UV filters to keep your eyes safe when spending extended periods of time in the sun. Also be mindful of the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM, when UV light is usually at its harshest.

• Live a Thoughtful Life

Easier said than done, but managing stress and eating a healthy diet impact not only how you feel, but the overall health of your body, including your skin. Stress directly affects the skin, leading to transepidermal water loss and dry skin, so managing and reducing stress can actually benefit your skin. You can even practice mindfulness during your skincare routine! Speaking of well-being, limiting tobacco and alcohol use are also two things that have a direct impact on how your skin looks (and your health, of course).