How to Do Glowy Base Makeup Without Looking Oily

I know I’m not the only one who’s tried to nail that glowy, radiant base makeup only to end up looking straight-up greasy. I’ve experimented, I’ve Googled, I’ve layered on every ‘illuminating’ product I could find, but alas!

Because here’s the thing: for me, glowy makeup isn’t about slathering on shimmer. It’s all about the base. I don’t need a glossy eyeshadow or a shimmery face. I don’t want anything neon or glittery!

I just want skin that looks healthy, radiant, and lit from within without a single fleck of visible shimmer. Usually, I focus more on eye or lip makeup and leave my skin in the background. But with this kind of look, I want to put the attention back on my skin!

So if you’re on the same page and want that natural-looking glow, here are some of my tried and true ways to create a glowy base makeup using different products depending on what you have at your disposal.

Glowy Base Makeup

1. Illuminate with Primer

First things first, start with an illuminating primer to give your skin a radiant base, especially if your base makeup products lean toward natural or matte. That said, illuminating primers can be anything from pearlescent to dewy.

When choosing one, go for a lightweight formula that blends easily and layers well. Heavier, silicone-based primers can blur too much and end up muting your natural radiance. Look for something fluid and sheer instead that feels more like skincare than makeup.

If you have oily skin and are worried about too much shine, apply the primer only on the high points of your face instead of all over.

2. Use a Skin Tint

If you have a radiant base but your foundation ends up covering everything up, try swapping it for a skin tint. Skin tints are much lighter than foundations and other base products like BB creams.

So they let more of your natural radiance show through, and whatever is underneath, it’s going to be visible. Plus, skin tints are much easier to experiment with. You can layer more products, like highlighter or blush, without looking heavily done or cakey.

A personal favorite of mine is Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Skin Tint. Because it has this skin-like finish, my skin looks radiant with just my skincare! I don’t have to go out of my way to layer a ton of products.

3. Apply Dewy Foundation

You don’t always need extra layers to get that glow. Sometimes, the right foundation can do it all. Dewy-finish foundations are designed to give your skin a radiant look that lasts all day, without having to pile on primers or highlighters.

And don’t worry. They’re not sparkly or greasy-looking. Most of them offer medium coverage with a natural, skin-like finish and just the right amount of luminosity.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation is a formula I can swear by and a favorite of mine for summer makeup. It gives a satisfying amount of coverage but still manages to keep your skin looking natural.

4. Use Radiant Concealer

We all use some amount of concealer under the eyes. And sometimes, we can drag it out toward the temples and blend it there, which kind of affects how the upper part of your face looks.

So to complete that glowy base makeup look, use a radiant finish concealer that will create the same dewy skin effect around the eyes too.

I absolutely love Tarte Shape Tape Radiant Concealer for this. It’s medium-coverage and gives my eye area that healthy, dewy, dare I say it, glass-skin look.

5. Try Liquid Bronzer

My current favorite method to fake naturally radiant skin is mixing a light coverage foundation with a liquid bronzer. It creates that sun-kissed look where nobody can tell if you’re wearing bronzer or a highlighter or if you really have good skincare.

I love mixing Clinique Even Better Makeup Foundation with Clinique Sun-Kissed Gelee Complexion Multitasker. It looks like I have the healthiest tan, and I’m wearing a tinted moisturizer. You don’t need these exact products, though.

You can mix any skin tint or sheer foundation with a bit of bronzing serum like the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops. The idea is to create a subtle warm radiance that comes with bronzer.

6. Use Very Little Powder

Now, this is the most important part. I think this is what sets oily makeup apart from glowy makeup. If you’re shining all over, it’s not going to look glowy but more sweaty.

On the other hand, you can’t just use a setting powder all over your face to reduce shine. It will ruin that glow. The trick is to use a tiny amount of setting powder to mattify strategic areas. Get it on the tip of your beauty blender and press it only on areas that are not supposed to shine.

7. Highlighter Is Optional

I usually skip highlighter when I’m going for a glowy base. With the right products layered underneath, my skin already has that natural radiance. And honestly, it looks more effortless this way.

But if you want a little extra sheen, go ahead and dab on a cream or powder highlighter. Just keep it focused on the high points of the cheeks. That’s where light hits naturally, so it enhances the glow without making your whole face look greasy.

The Finished Look

So there you have it: a realistic, no-nonsense tutorial on how to do glowy base makeup that looks healthy, not sweaty. This look also aligns with that clean girl, no-makeup makeup look.

As I said, this is to enhance skin makeup. But of course, you can always add more depending on your preference. Before you go, if you have oily skin or you’re not very used to this kind of makeup, keep a setting powder in your bag when you’re out and about.

Sometimes I get carried away with the glow, and a few hours later, I realize I’m shining a bit too hard. That’s when I dab a little powder and pull it back just enough.