A full summer has come and almost gone, but thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of us probably still have canceled travel tickets and unfulfilled vacation plans. If you can remember back to your last summertime vacation (I have to think super-hard), one of the best things about going on vacation—aside from the good memories and Instagram shots—is the post-vacation ~glow~ you have once you return home.
That bronzed, dewy complexion is always a good look on anyone and one of the best ways to show off your vacation to your friends. In reality, your quarantine skin may be looking dull and pasty, but your lack of travel doesn’t mean your skin has to show it. You can still impart that post-vacation glow without stepping outside your house—with a little help from our fave skincare and makeup products, of course. (Added bonus: You won’t have to expose yourself to a single UV ray.) We tapped some of the best makeup artists, dermatologists, and tanning experts to round up some expert glow guidelines to give your skin that natural warmth and a whole lot of radiance.
1. First, lightly exfoliate
Exfoliation is a quick fix to curing skin that just looks a little blah. Layers of dead skin is what makes your face appear dull, so you’ll want to lightly exfoliate every few days to maintain a bright complexion. “I like to give myself a ‘mini peel,’ which is essential for when you don’t have access to in-office treatments,” says Marnie Bussbaum, MD, board-certified dermatologist in NYC. “I apply two to three drops of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Serum ($40; amazon.com) and massage into my skin. The ingredients, which include glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, and micro-exfoliating lipo-hydroxy acid, are great for all skin types to slough off dead cells and reveal fresh skin.”