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8 Products That Instantly Make You Look Lit-From-Within

That incandescent, backlit glow.

Written by Marissa Oliva

Dec. 1, 2022

Allow us to shed some light on what lit-from-within skin is. Lit-from-within skin is skin that looks like it’s bathed in permanent incandescent backlighting: It’s soft and diffused and beautifully radiant. Unlike other skin “trends,” it’s not achieved with highlighter or lots of makeup: It’s the direct result of a healthy complexion, skin that’s so hydrated and supple, it glows from the inside out. Layering products like moisturizing milky toners, rich, nourishing creams, and — fine — maybe the tiniest bit of a creamy blush, do the trick to get your skin looking luminous every time. Ahead, our 8 can’t live withouts from Ulta Beauty for looking lit-from-within.

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover

This thick balm transforms into a nourishing, silky cleansing oil as you massage it in, melting away makeup and grime and leaving your complexion clean and lightly moisturized. Because it’s free of soaps and harsh surfactants, you’ll experience none of the tight, itchy aftereffects you can get from some other cleansers.

Kylie Skin Vanilla Milk Toner

Stripping toners? You don’t know them thanks to this hydrating drink for your skin. The alcohol-free formula is like lotion in liquid form, driving antioxidant-rich, conditioning ingredients like squalene, avocado, and jojoba oils deep into skin’s layers. Sweep it on with a cotton pad after cleansing for that bouncy, fresh look and to prep your skin for your serum and moisturizers.

Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum

The skin’s moisture barrier (AKA its outermost layer) protects against water and moisture loss and prevents pollution and irritants from entering — and therefore it should be protected at all costs. Support it with this blend of ceramides and lipids that fortify your complexion with moisture instantly and over time.

IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Anti-Aging Hydrating Moisturizer

Enrobe skin in a veil of supple nourishment with this rich, buttery face cream. Infused with line-smoothing peptides and moisture replenishing ceramides, just a tiny dollop plumps up lines, smoothes texture, and dials up radiance.

The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Regenerative Oil

A lightweight oil will seal in all the moisture you just layered on into your complexion, and this one won’t leave you overly greasy or shiny — just candlelit. If you’re oily or acne-prone, press a couple of drops into key areas like the tops of cheeks and the bridge of your nose, avoiding the T-zone.

Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop'lit All-Over Glow Enhancer

These sheer drops make getting a glaze-y glow so easy it feels like cheating. With hydrating, brightening, and pore-shrinking ingredients like prickly pear extract, vitamin E, and sodium hyaluronate, plus finely-milled luminizers, they’ll imbue your skin with a gorgeously otherworldly luminosity. Just mix a couple of drops into your moisturizer, sunscreen, or foundation.

Tarte Shape Tape Ultra Creamy Concealer

All you need is a dot or two of this balmy concealer to neutralize any under-eye discoloration around the eyes or the rest of the face for a more even-toned complexion. The ultra-creamy version of the iconic classic formula, it features a built-in eye cream so it won’t crease or dry out on you.

Morphe Blush Balm Soft-Focus Cream Blush

For the finish, apply a subtle pinch of color that looks more like a natural flush than a cheek color. The blurring properties in this formula help it melt into skin so it looks like you’re actually blushing. Pick a petal pink (try Audacious Apricot) for light to medium skin tones and raspberry — go with Mighty Mauve — for dark to deep.

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