Natural glow: What other cosmetic brands don't tell you

People talk about glow everywhere. Everyone wants him. And there's lots of advice. From the Korean layering technique to shiny facial oils, which are particularly popular in natural cosmetics . But what hardly anyone reveals: All of these methods for more glow have their downsides. We question the methods for the “perfect glow” and tell you how you can get more glow without harming your skin. Of course, as always, we also pay particular attention to sensitive skin.

What is Glow?

Glow is synonymous with healthy skin. The word describes skin that is free of pimples, redness and other sores or dry patches. At least in theory. The skin glows as if you had just come from sports or yoga. That's why make-up trends like Yoga Skin and skin care goals like "Glass Skin" have emerged in recent years.

Why so many want the perfect glow

Behind this lies the desire for visually (almost) perfect skin that radiates health on the outside. Evolution has designed it so that we like it when our counterparts radiate health, because that represents fertility. That's why the natural healthy glow is so popular. There's nothing wrong with that - just perfectly optimized skin shouldn't be your goal. Healthy skin is not without texture, as we are led to believe thanks to photoshopping and filters on social media and in magazines. Every skin has its own individual size of pores. This is largely determined by genetics. If you have had acne, your skin may have a few more enlarged pores, scars, and texture. Rosacea skin is a little redder here and there or has a few bleeds and dilated vessels. In neurodermatitis, there is more dandruff in an acute attack. And hyperpigmentation also occurs on healthy and radiant skin. That's how it is - and we think it's a good thing. It makes us unique. True beauty always has something imperfect.

Natural glow or perfect glow? These are extreme differences. In this article, you'll get tips on how to get a healthy, natural glow without irritating your skin and working against your skin's health. Especially with sensitive skin, the skin barrier must not be irritated just to achieve a perfect optical result.

You may also be asking yourself these questions: How do I get a beautiful glow without irritating my skin? Which methods are suitable for sensitive skin? We answer these questions in this article.

But remember: Nobody looks fresh out of their skin every day and that's totally okay. However, a healthy natural glow is possible.

Glow: What methods are there?

There is no one glow miracle cure. Many roads lead to Rome. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses. We would like to shed light on these below.

Glow through peels

Perhaps you have already experienced that your skin becomes very smooth and even after a peeling. The old loose skin flakes are loosened and your skin reflects easily in the sun. Many interpret this as a glow. The new skin layer was previously protected from environmental influences. Peels work wonderfully when it comes to glow.

Nevertheless, you should be careful here. There are a few pitfalls when it comes to peeling . Because the skin flakes also have great benefits for your skin. Your skin protects itself from environmental irritants. Once a month she sheds the old used layer of skin. The older we get, the slower this process takes place. These loose flakes of skin that are still attached to the skin prevent the radiance a little. It's okay to remove these with a light exfoliant if you want to support the natural process. However, there are differences when it comes to peelings. Some help support the skin's natural desquamation process, while others can penetrate deeper and exfoliate the skin significantly more. You should never over-exfoliate sensitive skin. For sensitive skin, a pure, mild enzyme peeling is best suited, which only supports the natural peeling process. Enzyme peels are the mildest type of peel. You can do an enzyme peeling 1-2 times a week. In any case, you should stay away from mechanical peelings.

But even insensitive skin does not need to be peeled with highly concentrated, aggressive peelings just because it can tolerate it better than sensitive skin. Mechanical peelings can form micro-injuries that are entry points for germs and can lead to inflammation. Just because your skin is more resilient doesn't mean you should do everything. Even though excessive exfoliation is repeatedly shown on social media or in the media: With high-percentage acid peels, such as AHA, you can achieve a visually appealing result in the short term, but you risk your skin health in the long term if you overdo it. It is often recommended to use such acids daily. Some even use them twice a day. Even the strongest skin barrier will eventually break and give up. For example, after some time this can lead to perioral dermatitis .

An enzyme peeling is the mildest solution here and has a supportive effect without hurting. And there are a few other tricks that you can combine to shine.

Glow with facial oils

Facial oils also make the skin shimmer. An oil layer ensures that the light is reflected and skin cells are attached to the skin.

While some celebrate this look, this layer of fat is too much for others. Most use unprocessed vegetable oils for the glow. These are applied to moistened skin (ideally with a suitable moisturizer) or moisturized skin. Since unprocessed vegetable oils do not fully match the nature of the skin, they are not fully absorbed and usually leave a residue on the surface of the skin. This layer of fat then creates the beloved glow or the hated “greasy shine” - depending on skin type and preference.

Dry skin often benefits from plant oils (when the oil is paired with moisture). Because dry skin lacks a lot of oil. And if a little too much oil ends up on the skin, it usually looks quite good because the oil smoothes the dry scales. You can imagine the effect of the oil as a blanket that presses the scales against the skin. This effect makes dry skin appear visually smoother.

However, if your dry skin is prone to pimples or redness, unprocessed vegetable oils are not the best solution. Some of the fatty acids build up your skin. However, the rest is fodder for acne bacteria. Because unprocessed vegetable oils are counterproductive for acne, rosacea and other skin diseases.

Combination skin and oily skin that is prone to pimples and underlays also have their problems with fatty oils. It is not yet completely clear why the high oleic acid content in plant oils causes such problems for combination and oily skin. It is repeatedly observed that too much oleic acid attacks the skin and is not an ideal solution for these skin types. And almost all unprocessed vegetable oil contains some oleic acid.

Tip: If you want to use unprocessed vegetable oils with combination skin , make sure that the linoleic acid content is high. Because linoleic acid works against inflammation. Oily and combination skin particularly benefit from this. But linoleic acid is also useful for skin diseases such as neurodermatitis and very dry skin. A lot of linoleic acid is contained in wild rose oil or hemp oil , for example. When it comes to linoleic acid, you should pay attention to these instructions. But these oils are also not suitable for acne or rosacea. You can get more tips for skin care for rosacea here.

Dry skin usually has fewer problems with oleic acid. Oils rich in oleic acid are a nice idea if you are not prone to breakouts. This means that dry skin types have a greater choice of unprocessed plant oils than oily skin and combination skin.

However, there are also fats that benefit all skin types: they are naturally obtained and processed. The portion that is suitable for the skin is taken from the vegetable fat. Other materials can be made from the rest.

Squalane, for example, is an ideal building block for every skin because it occurs in a very similar form in your skin. It integrates seamlessly into your skin and strengthens your skin barrier. There is no layer of fat floating on your skin. A fat that every skin can benefit from. Squalane can be obtained from plants.

The linoleic acid mentioned above can also be extracted as a pure substance.

We have created an ideal mixing ratio of oils from such skin-specific and well-tolerated oils. This is where our facial oil “ Human Glow ” came from. It's not a typical vegetable oil - and somehow it is. It contains all the good fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants that are found in conventional vegetable oils and are good for your skin. But without the negative properties of vegetable oils.

Glow through facial massages

The effect of massages is often underestimated. You stimulate your blood circulation and your body itself ensures radiant skin. And if you keep a few things in mind, a facial massage will be a relief for everyone. It's best to choose a facial oil that is also suitable for massage. A good massage oil spreads nicely on the skin and can be easily distributed so that you can easily massage your skin with your hands or a massage tool. If you have ever tried Gua Sha massages, you know how important the right oil is so that the stone can glide smoothly on the skin. If you have never heard of Gua Sha, now is the time to give it a chance. There are stones for beginners and massage stones for advanced users. It is often claimed that Gua Sha massages work like an anti-aging massage, but that is not the actual goal and the effect is also rather indirect. In fact, you may feel that wrinkles appear smoother after the massage. However, this effect is only short-term. But there is also a medium to long-term effect: the massage and light pressure with Gua Sha relaxes the muscles and loosens sticky fascia. When the tension is released, the entire facial expression becomes more relaxed and therefore smoother. The Gua Sha technique is particularly worthwhile if you grind at night.

Goodbye tense jaw muscles, tension headaches and eye pain.

Good to know: If you have rosacea, a Gua Sha massage on the cheeks can dilate the blood vessels. Therefore, avoid the cheeks or use a tool without edges, such as a jade roller or our new fair fascia figure made of ceramic , which is also suitable for sensitive skin.

Glow through moisture

Healthy skin needs moisture. A well-moisturized stratum corneum makes the skin more robust and also looks healthy and beautiful. You can think of it like a fresh grape compared to a dry raisin. The grape is filled with moisture, the surface is plump and radiant. The raisin lacks moisture. It is therefore wrinkled and the surface reflects less light. Of course, this is only intended to serve as an explanation. Our skin is not a grape or raisin.

A good amount of moisture, such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin, makes the skin fresh and radiant. Both hyaluronic acid and glycerin occur naturally in the skin.

But the dose is also crucial when it comes to moisture. You don't have to follow every questionable trend like “glass skin,” which involves making the skin resemble a reflective surface by moisturizing the stratum corneum in more than ten layers. Because too much hyaluronic acid, glycerin and the like cause the stratum corneum to swell, like bread that you dip in water. Over-moisturized skin can then lead to over-cared skin, a so-called perioral dermatitis. If you try to optimize your skin beyond a healthy level, the skin simply becomes dense. Moisture is important, but again, you don't have to overdo it. Every moisturizer contains glycerin or another moisturizing ingredient . That's good for a healthy skin care routine. If you like, you can also use a hyaluronic serum or something similar for a little glow and care.

Glow through make-up

Many people probably think of glowy foundation or highliter first when they think of glow. As you saw above, you can do a lot with the right skin care. So you can see makeup as the icing on the cake if you like.

When it comes to glow and makeup, it all depends on your preferences. If you simply want to make stress disappear and appear more awake, minimalist and natural glow products are your first choice. You can easily add some products to your skin care routine or apply them directly to your creamed face. They should be light and never rest too prominently on your facial skin. The shimmer particles contained should also be very fine and natural. There are big differences. In the best case, the products are also skin-care. Your skin benefits from this. By the way: You should follow the same principle when covering pimples. Instead of drying products, use something that can also reduce inflammation while covering.

If you want more glow and glitter: look for a highlither. These products are available in very natural or more shimmery versions. Depending on your style and situation, you can make your choice here. A skin-care product is also recommended here.

But make-up can also put too much strain on the skin: many products contain essential oils . If your skin is prone to pimples or acne, pay particular attention to the oils and fats used. Even with rosacea and very sensitive skin, highlighters with unprocessed plant oils can increase redness or cause inflammatory reactions. A glow product with coconut oil can also be counterproductive for very sensitive skin because it can lead to reactions and breakouts.

Your path to a natural glow

In summary, here is the best tip for you for your healthy glow. As you have noticed, none of the above methods are a panacea. You will achieve the greatest success with a good combination of different methods. This way you don't put any pressure on yourself or your skin and you can avoid the disadvantages. This way you won't overtax your skin and will instead benefit from a strengthened skin barrier. This means your skin can shine not only from the outside but also from the inside.

Build a healthy, well-thought-out skin care routine

Before you think about special treatments: Have a solid skin care routine with good basics. A proper skin care routine consists of mild cleansing that doesn't strip your skin of too much oil. Otherwise, that would just mean that you have to do a lot again to keep your skin glowing healthily. We continue with a cream for your skin type. Choose a light cream for oily and combination skin and a richer cream for dry skin. The most important thing is a sunscreen that you tolerate well and that works in the respective season. In our sun protection guide for sensitive skin you will find lots of tips on how to find the right sunscreen for you, when you need sunscreen and how much.

Depending on the current situation, you can add one or two products to your basics. This way you can care for your skin very closely to your current skin condition and will always be able to give your skin what it needs.

Good to know: Did you know that your skin flakes better and more neatly if you apply cream regularly? Your skin gets the oil and moisture it needs depending on your skin type and condition. Not too much and not too little and can carry out their natural tasks better without being stressed from the outside by weather etc.

Moisture in moderation

You can layer an additional moisturizing product, such as a serum, under your cream to additionally moisturize your skin. Nothing more is necessary.

Facial oil depending on skin type

If you can tolerate plant oils, you can apply a small amount to your face to increase the glow. But don't overdo it. If you don't tolerate oils well, are prone to breakouts, or have rosacea, then don't use unprocessed vegetable oil or oil blends. With a well-tolerated facial oil, such as Human Glow (serum oil) or Save The Ocean ( squalane ), which corresponds to the properties of the skin, a natural facial oil can still work.

Enzyme peeling: 1-2 times a week if necessary

If your skin is very dry or prone to calluses, you can help your skin naturally exfoliate with a mild enzyme peeling . Important: 1-2 times a week is enough and if you think your skin doesn't need it right now, that's okay too. An enzyme peeling is totally sufficient. You don't need stronger peels. You may not get more glow overnight, but in the long term it is the healthier option.

Important: Peeling is not a must, just a way to support your skin. Above all, make sure that your basics are right and that you regularly give your skin moisture and oil through your skin care routine.

Facial massages for a natural glow

You shouldn't underestimate facial massages. They relax your muscles, making your facial expressions calmer and more relaxed. Your blood circulation is stimulated so that your skin can regenerate well. With the right oil for your skin and a nice tool, you can make your skin glow.

Glow make-up for stressed skin

With make-up you can make your face look fresher and more awake. Depending on how you like your glow, you can go from natural and minimalist to more visible shimmer and glitter highlighters. Tip: Make sure that your glow product is also skin-care and suits your skin condition and skin type.

Conclusion

As you can see: the right combination makes the perfect mix to get a healthy and natural glow. Either method on its own would be overwhelming for long-term skin health - especially if your skin is sensitive. But in the right dosage, everything contributes to a healthy, natural glow.