When it comes to beauty, there are global trends that sooner or later enter our lives and our personal goals. And dewy skin is one of the looks that swept the Internet like a bonfire!

But it’s sometimes also a matter of cultural preference.

For example, Asians love glowy skin. While people in the Western would define dewy skin as one with much less glow and would probably say that what Asians are after is oily skin.

So there’s clearly a conundrum here. There’s a lot of confusion when it comes to glass skin vs oily skin, dewy vs matte, and the difference between dewy and oily skin.

So let me offer some answers.

What does dewy skin look like?

What does dewy skin look like

Model, courtesy of @jadecottee__ on Insta

As you can tell, “dewy” isn’t really a scientific term. It’s rather a word that is used to define skin that looks luminous and reflects light in a good way, without it appearing too oily or excessive.

It’s that glass skin that has the perfect glowy finish that makes you feel like you’re looking at a magazine cover rather than a real face. In short, dewy skin has quickly turned into a skin goal for a lot of girls around the world. And yes, social media has certainly helped.

If you have dewy skin this means that you have skin that is healthy, hydrated, and smooth. This look can be achieved both by using makeup or relying on a natural radiance as a result of proper skincare.

What are the signs of oily skin?

What does oily skin look like

Let’s face it. We all produce sebum, which is the body’s natural oil.

However, if your body produces too much sebum, this means that you’ll most likely have oily skin.

The sebum production levels depend on hormones that are responsible for oil production. People that suffer from hormonal imbalance or other hormonal-related problems often have oily skin problems.

What does this look like?

Well, in short, oily skin looks greasy, with noticeable pores and blemishes.

It’s worth noting that combination skin can sometimes be confused for oily. If you want to tell them apart, always look at the T-zone and the cheeks. If the oiliness appears only on the T-zone, the skin is combined. However, if the greasiness and shine are on the forehead, where you could also see breakouts, then this is surely oily skin.

If you’ve just discovered that you have oily skin, don’t stress! You can take control by choosing the skincare products that you use and working towards that nice dewy look.

What’s the difference between dewy skin and oily skin?

Is your skin oily? Or have you managed to get that desired dewy skin look that people are after? And what’s the difference after all? Where is that invisible border?

Although a lot of people use “oily” and “dewy” to describe greasy skin, the two are different.
What separates them from one another is the level of shine and the type of shine on the skin.

So yes, if you have glass skin that looks oily you could have either dewy or oily skin. And whether it’s one or the other comes down to two things – water and depth. Of course, you’ll always get some controversial opinions on the matter but I’m here to point out the popularly approved differences.

Oily skin shines with something like a flat sheen. You won’t notice any depth and the skin is rarely hydrated. The oily look is just an excess film on the top of the skin.

On the other hand, dewy skin is something completely different. It makes the skin look translucent, plump, and with a level of radiance. In other words, you can say that it is something like glowing skin that has been properly hydrated.

The main differences between the dewy and oily skin are:

  • Dewy skin has a sheen rather than shine;
  • Dewy skin looks very well hydrated while oily skin simply looks like it’s too much;
  • Oily skin usually goes hand in hand with clogged pores, whiteheads, or blackheads, while dewy skin looks smoother, plumper, and glowier.

If you speak to several people and ask them about their thoughts on dewy skin vs oily skin, you’ll notice that it’s mostly about opinion and personal perception.

But let’s dive deeper and see how we can tell the two apart in more detail.

Is my face dewy or oily?

So to sum up and help you find out whether your skin is dewy or oily, look out for the key areas that I mentioned above.

If the skin seems to have a gentle, healthy glow to it and the shine only appears on the T-zone and maybe just a tiny bit on the cheeks, congrats – you have dewy skin.

On the other hand, if the skin looks rather greasy, or dirty, you can spot clogged pores and breakouts, and it just doesn’t feel good, then you’re probably dealing with oily skin.

You can get rid of the oily look by using mattifying products or tweaking your skincare routine to make sure you are cleaning the skin well and taking away some of the sebum production.

How can I look dewy but not oily?

Do you want to enjoy that perfect dewy look in photographs and look fresh, well-hydrated, and have a nice balanced glow?

The truth is that you can achieve it by exfoliating. Rather than slapping a moisturizer or randomly applying a face oil, focus on exfoliation. What you want to get are a slight shimmer and a balanced glow, and avoid looking oily.

If you want to look dewy and not oily and have that youthful skin look, make sure that you’ve exfoliated and have removed the top layer of stratum corneum or dead skin cells.

And for a quick tip – never over-exfoliate as this can harm your skin’s top layer and lead to micro-cuts. Be very gentle, especially if you’re using a scrub or a tool for exfoliation. My advice is to use a glycolic wash or a retinoid-based product which will rid of the dead skin cells on the surface. Also, remember that moisturized skin takes a constant effort if you want to enjoy that natural-looking glow.

Is a dewy or matte look better for oily skin?

It’s only natural that if you have oily skin, you’re dreaming of a nice matte finish to your skin that you’ll feel comfortable in and want to show off to the world.

If your skin quickly becomes oily, perhaps a dewy look isn’t the best choice. There’s a thin line between the two and a risk of overstepping the boundaries and landing on oily land.

Whether dewy or matte looks better on oily skin is essentially a matter of perspective and preference.

While some people will look stunning with a matte look others will always prefer dewy skin.

Remember that using too much powder or a heavy foundation can have a completely opposite effect and make your skin look too dry, even cakey. This makes it harder to get a natural look as your skin will give away the fact that you’re wearing a ton of makeup. If you’re using such products on oily skin, there are also chances of clogging your pores even more and making the problem worse.

But the bottom line is that it’s a choice that you have to make for yourself. Don’t be afraid to test things and see what works best for your skin type.

Wrapping up

I hope I’ve managed to help you get the idea of the main differences between oily and dewy skin and how to achieve that natural dewy look that we’re all after. I’m sure that you have your own stories to share, no matter if your skin is oily or you’ve managed to get that perfect shine and radiant glow. You can leave a comment and share your thoughts on dewy and oily skin in the comment section below. Until next time!
Tags: oiliness
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