These Beauty Trends Are the Reason I’m Glowing Lately
I’ve always believed that beauty should feel good before it looks good. And lately? I’ve been feeling really good in my skin — like the kind of glow that doesn’t come from highlighter alone. Friends have noticed. Clients have asked. Even on the days where I’m running on caffeine and chaos, something’s shifted. And honestly, I owe it to a handful of beauty trends I didn’t expect to love.
Is it the summer glow? Is it the new rituals? The new makeup routine? It could be all of it — working together in that perfectly imperfect way. Whatever it is, it’s the first time in a while I’ve looked in the mirror and felt like, yes… this feels right.
Let me be clear: I’m not easily impressed. I’ve seen trends come and go — the ones that explode on TikTok, the ones that resurface from the '90s, and the ones that are just plain impractical unless you have an hour and zero humidity. But something about this recent wave of skin-first, glow-focused, effort-meets-ease beauty really hit different. Not because it’s perfect — but because it feels doable, and more importantly, real.
What I love most is that none of these trends ask you to become someone else. They’re more about amplifying what you already have — a little less coverage, a little more glow, fewer steps but better ones. They’re the kinds of things that make you look like you’ve had a facial, eight hours of sleep, and a green juice… even if you’ve had none of the above.
Over the past few months, I’ve been experimenting quietly. Adding new products in slowly, switching up my techniques, leaning into different textures and finishes. Some flopped. Some shocked me. And a few became non-negotiables in my daily routine. And that’s what I want to share with you in this post — what actually worked, why it made a difference, and how you can try it without needing to overhaul your whole beauty drawer.
Whether you're in a glow-up era, a getting-it-together era, or just looking for something fresh to try, these are the beauty shifts that helped me feel a little more like me again. I’m breaking down each trend, the products I’m using, and exactly how I’m applying them — no gatekeeping here.
Let’s get into the trends that brought my glow back — the kind that lasts longer than your morning coffee and doesn’t disappear the second you step into daylight.
Skin That Looks Like Skin (But Better)
This is the first shift that changed everything. Lately, I’ve ditched the heavy foundation. I don’t want to feel like I’m wearing a mask. I want my skin to look alive, not painted on. And for once, the trend cycle is finally catching up to that. Right now, the focus is all about lightweight coverage, real texture, and giving skin space to breathe. You can still wear makeup and have your skin show through. That’s the point.
I started paying more attention to how my skin actually feels when I’m getting ready. Not just how it looks in photos. And once I did that, my whole routine changed. I swapped full-coverage matte formulas for skin tints and light serums with pigment. I still love coverage, but I only use it where I need it. That alone makes everything look more natural. More modern. Less effort, more impact.
It’s not just about the product — it’s how you prep the skin. If your base isn’t hydrated, everything else will fight you. I’ve been layering skincare properly, focusing more on barrier support, light exfoliation, and water-based hydration. Think thin serums, lightweight moisturizers, and a primer that gives you grip without drying you out. When your skin feels plump, makeup doesn’t have to work as hard. And it shows.
One product I keep reaching for is the Live Tinted Hueguard Skin Tint SPF 50. It’s the perfect balance between skincare and coverage. It gives you that natural radiance, never looks cakey, and moves with your face. I’ve used it on myself, on brides, on camera — and it always performs. I’ll blend it with a damp sponge or even just fingers when I’m in a rush. The glow is real, but it never looks greasy. Just healthy, smooth, and slightly blurred in the best way.
The biggest shift here is mindset. For a long time, we were taught to cover. Blur everything out. Matte everything down. Now it’s more about revealing. Embracing texture instead of hiding it. I still want to look polished, but I don’t need to look poreless or filtered. I want dimension. I want warmth. I want to look like myself, just rested and hydrated and lit up.
This approach also lasts better throughout the day. Full coverage can melt off or crack when it’s hot. Skin tints and lightweight layers just melt in deeper. When I touch up, it’s minimal — maybe a blot, maybe a little concealer. That’s it. No heavy buildup. No mid-day regrets.
And the best part is that I feel like me. Not an Instagram version of me. Not a perfected version of me. Just me, with skin that looks like it’s been taken care of. That alone boosts confidence. And honestly, it feels good to finally wear makeup that works with your skin instead of fighting it.
Cream, Cream, Cream
I’m deep in my cream product era, but let’s be honest — I haven’t fully broken up with powders. I still use them. I just don’t rely on them the way I used to. The shift isn’t about throwing out everything that’s pressed or matte. It’s about using creams to build the base, bring in that skin-like finish, and then adding powders where and when they make sense. There’s room for both. I literally just did a whole powder bronzer tutorial — so if you haven’t seen that yet, go check it out. It’s still a staple in my kit.
But when I want something that melts into the skin, that looks like part of my face instead of sitting on top — that’s when creams come in. Cream blush, cream bronzer, cream highlighter — they’re what give my makeup that soft-focus, lit-from-within glow. It’s the finish that makes people ask what skincare I’m using when really, it’s just a good cream base layered the right way.
The difference is in the textures. Creams are more forgiving. They let you build slowly, blend with your fingers, and they don’t cling to dry patches or fine lines. You can warm them up on your hand, tap them onto the skin, and they melt in like second nature. And if your skin is already prepped right — with hydration, a glowy primer, maybe a light base — the way cream products sit on top is next-level.
That said, powders still show up in my routine, especially when I need more structure or staying power. If I want to lock things in or layer for extra definition, I’ll reach for a powder bronzer — and I’ll usually go in with a fluffy brush and a light hand so I’m not flattening the glow I already created with creams. It’s about the balance. Not wiping everything out with matte powder, but layering in a way that brings dimension back into the face.
Blush is where I’ve gone almost fully cream. I’m obsessed with how it lifts the face when I apply it high on the cheekbones and across the nose. I’ll even use the same blush on my lids to pull the look together — no need to overthink it. For highlighter, I stay away from anything too sparkly. I want that wet, glassy finish. The kind of glow that makes people wonder if you just left a facial, not if you're wearing highlighter.
Creams make the face feel alive. Powders add polish. I’m not choosing between the two — I’m just more intentional now. What I want is softness, dimension, and skin that looks like skin — whether it’s a cream blush or a powder bronzer. I’ll use whatever gives that. And if you’re curious how I layer the two, that powder bronzer tutorial walks you through exactly how I do it.
This trend isn’t about rules. It’s about being flexible. Using products in a way that enhances, not hides. Creams just happen to do that better — most of the time.
Brows, But Softer. Lashes, But Lighter.
Brows are finally having their calm era, and I’m here for it. I’ve stepped away from the overly sculpted look — the sharp lines, the heavy pomades, the concealer cutouts. That worked for a moment. But right now, I’m more into brows that look like… brows. Natural. Lightly groomed. Still shaped, but not forced. It makes the whole face feel softer and more balanced, especially when the rest of my makeup is more minimal.
I’m not pretending I don’t do anything to them — I definitely do. But it’s about enhancing what’s already there instead of redrawing the entire shape. I’ll brush them up, maybe fill in a sparse spot with a pencil or pen, and set them in place with a brow gel that has just enough hold. Nothing too crunchy. Nothing too shiny. I’m not trying to make them look laminated — just clean and effortless.
It’s not even about following a specific trend anymore. It’s about ease. I don’t want to spend 15 minutes perfecting brows that end up looking blocky or too severe. I want them to move with my face, match the softness of my skin, and look good in real life — not just in a zoomed-in photo. And the best part? It’s fast. I’m done with my brows in under two minutes. No overthinking, no sculpting, no harsh lines.
Same story with lashes. I used to go heavy — full glam, bold volume, layers of mascara, and a strip lash on top. It looked amazing for events or shoots, but it’s just not the energy I’m on right now. These days, I’m more focused on curl, separation, and that barely-there lift that opens the eyes without taking over the whole face. A good lash curler and one clean coat of lengthening mascara makes all the difference. Especially when the rest of my look is cream-based and skin-forward.
It’s funny how something as small as dialing down the brows and lashes shifts everything. It makes your base stand out more. It lets your natural features come forward instead of being overshadowed. And it just feels lighter. More wearable. Less like I’m performing, more like I’m enhancing.
Natural brows and soft lashes give the kind of glow that doesn’t scream for attention. It just works. Whether I’m wearing a full face or just tinted moisturizer and lip balm, this combo always pulls things together in the cleanest, most understated way. That balance is what I’m always chasing — and lately, this is what’s giving it to me.
Lip oils over matte lipsticks. Warm, peachy tones on eyes, cheeks, and lips all at once. Highlighter in the inner corners of the eyes — subtle but so good. Bronzers with a red undertone for that sun-baked vacation look. Water-based foundations that feel like skincare. Finger blending instead of brushes. Finishing your look with a setting mist instead of powder. these are all the things I'm loving this summer. I’ve tried it all, and every one of these little tweaks has played a part in why I’m glowing.
And beyond makeup — I’m talking beauty rituals. I’ve been icing my face in the mornings. Double-cleansing even when I’m exhausted. Putting my phone down at night instead of doomscrolling until 1 a.m. It’s all connected. The skin, the glow, the energy — none of it comes from just one thing. It’s the combination of small shifts that build into something that feels fresh again.
That’s the point of this post. It’s not a list of must-haves or rules you need to follow. It’s just where I’m at — what’s been working, what’s making me feel like myself, and what’s helping me show up in a way that feels aligned. Beauty doesn’t have to be complicated to be impactful. It just has to feel right for you.
I’m not chasing flawless anymore. I want glow, I want warmth, I want skin that looks like it’s been taken care of — not overdone. That’s what this whole phase has been about. Less performance, more presence. Makeup that moves with me instead of trying to hold me in place.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: beauty should feel good. If it doesn’t, it’s not doing its job. The glow you’re seeing? It’s not just product. It’s a reflection of how I’ve been taking care of myself lately. How I’ve edited my routine to support how I want to feel, not just how I want to look. And I think that shows up in the details — the creamy textures, the fresh brows, the softness in the lashes, the warm flush on my cheeks.
If you’ve been in a rut, overwhelmed by trends, or just not feeling inspired, I hope this gave you something new to try. You don’t need a haul to reset your glow. Sometimes, all it takes is rethinking how you’re using what you already have — and giving yourself permission to do it differently.
Your glow is yours. You get to define it. I’m just sharing what’s working for me — and right now, it’s working really well. For more beauty, makeup, and everything that doesn’t always make it to the blog, follow me over on Instagram and TikTok — that’s where I’m sharing tutorials, daily recs, real-time faves, and all the behind-the-scenes glow.
