The Secret to Glowing Skin, Road Tested By Us

While highlighters are the traditional go to for glowing skin, other products such as serums, face oils and exfoliators can also provide an added shine.

It’s hard pressed to find a cheekbone that isn’t doused in shimmering highlights right now. Highlighter has become a staple in any beauty routine, normally used in conjunction with contouring to create a chiselled, dewy look.

Highlighters have become popular because not only do they enhance the features of the face, the glow makes skin look healthy and youthful.

But there’s more than to achieving skin than just a great highlighter. The team at Bondi Beauty road tested a number of different products to crack the secret to glowing skin.

Serum:

Sand & Sky Australian Emu Apple Dreamy Glow Drops, RRP$74.90

When Australian brand Sand & Sky first launched their hero product, the pink Australian clay mask, the result was a 17,000-strong waitlist.

Now, their new Australian Emu Apple Dreamy Glow Drops continue to add to the hype.

Sand & Sky the secret to glowing skin
My skin was left feeling plump and hydrated, and there was an added glow that meant I didn’t have to apply an extra highlighter.

 With a light, fruity fragrance, this serum is perfect for achieving that natural glow that can only come from a good skincare routine.

Packed full of antioxidants, oils, and five types of Hyaluronic Acid, this helps to defeat dryness, rejuvenate and brighten dull skin and protect from daily pollutants.

After applying day and night, my skin felt visibly smoother, with an added plumpness. The added glow was clear when using this serum under moisturizer in my morning beauty routine, the light catching my face without having to apply any extra highlighters.

The natural glow is thanks to the inclusion of Kakadu Plum, the world’s richest source of Vitamin C, which helps to brighten the skin and break down pigmentation.

Australian Emu Apple also adds a shine. Sourced from the Australian outback, it’s being heralded as a new “super” ingredient, a vitamin-C and antioxidant rich plant that helps to nourish and brighten the skin, support collagen production and protect against free radicals.

Sand & Sky secret to glowing skin
The lightweight, water-like texture can be clearly seen in this photo.

The texture of the serum is super lightweight, almost like water. This means application can often be tricky, with the product often running off the face. However, this is combated by the quick absorption of the product, blending seamlessly into the skin.

The easiest way I found to apply this was to massage the serum into the skin in sections at a time – first to the forehead, then the cheeks and finally the neck.

This reduced any run off of the product, while giving me the time to truly massage the product into every pore and fine line.

Serum:

Mary Grace Bulgarian Rose Otto Essential Face Elixir, RRP $40

If handpicked rose petals sourced from Central Bulgaria’s 300-year-old Valley of the Roses tickles your fancy, this is the serum for you.

 In the Valley of the Roses, rose petals are picked each morning to maximise their oil content, before being heated in large vats of water to release their natural oils.

Mary Grace the secret to glowing skin
Rose petals picked from Bulgaria make this serum one to remember

Australian brand Mary Grace uses this rosehip oil in their Bulgarian Rose Otto Face Elixir.

A delicate blend of wheat germ, jojoba oil, vitamin C, sweet almond oil and vitamins C & E combines, along with the roses, to create a serum that replenishes and nourishes the skin.

This is a product that provides a natural glow from the plethora of potent ingredients. I found the best results when using this after cleansing each morning and night, applying before the final moisturizer goes on. My skin had a natural shine while feeling soft and nourished.

Exfoliator:

Designer Brands Glow Glittering Sugar Scrub, RRP$ 14.99

Glowing skin would be nothing without a powerful exfoliator.

Enter the Designer Brands Glow Glittering Sugar Scrub. With the texture of brown sugar, this exfoliator helps to buff away dead skin cells and eliminate dry skin to reveal a glowing base.

Designer Brands the secret to glowing skin
The best smelling exfoliator I’ve come across, no joke.

This has got to be one of the most addicting scents of any exfoliator. Smelling like vanilla, sandalwood and cake batter, this is seriously a product you want on your skin.

I loved noticing the aroma lingering on my skin throughout the day, reminding me of the little TLC I had applied early in the day.

Infused with a micro shimmer giving the skin a glowing property, the scrub is enriched with botanicals for ultimate benefits.

While there was a slight sparkle, the ultimate glow here came from the removal of dead skin – my skin was soft, supple and prepped.

Grapeseed oil helps to prevent breakouts by balancing the skin, Liquorice Root Extract helps reduce pigmentation, Orchid Extract boosts the skin with vitamins such as calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc, while Willow Herb extract provides anti-inflammatory properties. 

Highlighter:

RAWW Cosmetics Acai berry Glow Illuminator, RRP$29.99  

It would be wrong to pen an article on glowing skin and not include a traditional highlighter, a must have in the arsenal of any beauty routine. This Acai Berry Glow highlighter from RAWW Cosmetics is a great natural, vegan friendly option.

A stand out feature of this highlighter is the dual ended design; with one end a wind-up illuminator stick, the other end an integrated buffing brush.

RAWW cosmetics the secret to glowing skin
A creamy highlighter is made easier with the integrated buffing brush

An incredibly creamy texture makes this easy to apply and build up to the desired highlight, with the included brush allowing for easy smoothing and buffing.

It’s also good for the skin’s health, too. Coconut oil, pomegranate oil and macadamia oil all help to nourish the skin from the inside out.

Fruity acai berry and chia seed help to protect the skin and fight free radicals.

For the ultimate glow, apply the illuminating stick to the cheekbones in a liberal motion – there’s no scare of using too much product here, as the brush can simply blend the product into the skin to create a natural look.

This illuminator can also be used on the collarbones for a dainty touch.

Zoe Bradbury

Zoe is a self-confessed health and fitness fanatic. She loves working out and being active, almost as much as she loves going out for brunch and eating avo toast. If she’s not in the gym, you’ll usually find her online shopping, buying something she definitely does not need, or updating her Pinterest board with travel and adventure ideas for the future. Her other loves include dark chocolate, coffee and cats, all enjoyed while watching bad (or really good?) reality TV

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