Glowing skin never goes out of style. While there are endless foundations promising radiance in a bottle, sometimes the easiest way to achieve that lit-from-within finish is to adapt what you already have. With a few simple mix-ins, you can transform your everyday base into a sheer, luminous formula that looks fresh, youthful and utterly natural.
Add a drop of facial oil
One of the quickest ways to soften the look of foundation is to mix in a little facial oil. Just a drop blended with your usual amount of base instantly creates a more fluid texture, giving skin a fresh, dewy sheen. Oils also help prevent foundation from clinging to dry patches, making this trick particularly useful in colder months.
If you have oily or combination skin, don’t worry – this doesn’t have to mean an extra-shiny T-zone. The key is using the tiniest amount and focusing the application where you want radiance, like the tops of the cheeks or across the forehead.
Blend with a creamy concealer
For those who prefer lighter coverage, mixing foundation with a cream concealer can be a game-changer. This creates a texture somewhere between a tinted moisturiser and a lightweight foundation, evening out tone without masking the natural look of your skin. It’s perfect for days when you want to look polished but not overly made up.
The trick here is balance – add just a touch of concealer to your base and buff it well with a brush or sponge. The result is a smoother, more natural finish that still covers redness and uneven tone.
Mix with your moisturiser
For a sheer, skin-like glow, combining your foundation with moisturiser is a classic hack. It’s essentially your own DIY version of a tinted moisturiser. The extra hydration makes foundation glide on more easily, while the reduced pigment means your real skin still shines through.
This method works beautifully for daytime wear, especially if you want a quick routine that leaves you looking fresh without the weight of full coverage. You can also adjust the ratio depending on your needs – more moisturiser for weekends, more foundation for the office.
Try liquid highlighter
If you love a more luminous look, mix a small amount of liquid highlighter into your foundation. Choose a shade close to your skin tone with a subtle pearlescent finish (nothing too glittery) and blend well before applying. This gives skin a radiant, candlelit glow that catches the light beautifully.
For an even softer effect, concentrate the glow-enhanced foundation on the high points of the face – cheekbones, temples and bridge of the nose – and use plain foundation elsewhere.
Consider a hydrating primer
Instead of applying primer underneath your base, try mixing a hydrating primer directly into your foundation. This creates a more lightweight texture and ensures your makeup lasts longer while still looking natural. Many primers contain light-reflecting particles that subtly boost radiance without obvious shimmer, making them an ideal mix-in for dull or tired skin.
Apply with the right tool
How you apply your custom mix matters almost as much as what you add. A dense brush will give a more polished finish, while a damp sponge helps sheer out the product even further. For the most natural effect, work the mixture into the skin in thin layers, adding more only where you need coverage.
If you’ve gone for an oil or moisturiser mix, a brush helps to distribute the texture evenly without streaks. For highlighter or primer mixes, a sponge is best for melting everything seamlessly into the skin.
Finish with strategic powder
While the glow is the goal, most people don’t want to look overly shiny. The trick is to set only the areas that need it – usually the T-zone – while leaving the rest of the face radiant. A finely milled translucent powder dusted lightly across the forehead, nose and chin will keep everything in place while preserving that natural luminosity on the cheeks.
The takeaway: Creating a natural glow isn’t about buying an entirely new foundation – it’s about making small tweaks to what you already use. A drop of oil, a dab of concealer, or a swirl of highlighter can completely change the finish, leaving you with skin that looks healthier, fresher and more radiant.
It’s all about experimenting to find the combination that works best for your complexion and your lifestyle. Once you’ve found your formula, you’ll never look at your foundation in the same way again.
First published by Woman & Home
Compiled by Jade McGee
