How to Get that Vacation Glow AT HOME

No beach vacay? No problem! You can still get that vacation glow from the comfort of your own home — no beach, sun, or sea needed!

If you’ve seen all your friends and loved ones coming back from vacation looking wonderfully dewy and glowing, you’re probably secretly green with envy. Chill, babe. You can still get a dewy summer glow even if you haven’t had the time or money to go on holiday.

Here’s how to get a vacation glow at home with a few simple skincare products.

Buff Away the Dullness

First things first, you want a clean, fresh canvas on which you can slather your brightening skincare products. The best way to do that is with gentle exfoliation. Look for skincare products formulated with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid or lactic acid. These exfoliating acids lift dead skin cells and excess sebum, revealing your natural glow while prepping the base for all other skincare products so that they can penetrate deeper into the skin. Exfoliation is one of the best ways to achieve glowing skin in a flash.

Our favorite exfoliator for the job is Rainbow’s Glow Serum. It’s powered by glycolic acid and bakuchiol, which work in tandem to resurface and spur cell turnover. Together they can help to diminish discoloration, smooth out fine lines, and boost skin’s brightness.

Quench Dryness

Dry skin isn’t glowing skin. That’s because dry skin doesn’t reflect light as easily as moisturized skin. The key to upping your skin’s glow is hydration. Opt for a lightweight moisturizer cream or serum infused with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and coconut oil, which deeply moisturize skin. These hydrating ingredients will give your skin that dewy post-vacation glow you’re secretly craving.

Our favorite moisturizer for the job is Rainbow’s Hydrate Serum. It’s fortified with hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant that attracts and seals in moisture to keep skin smooth, soft, and glowing all day long. For best results, apply twice a day, morning and night.

Brighten Up with a Mask

The right face mask can work wonders for your skin. Ideally, you want a brightening treatment infused with vitamin C. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that naturally illuminates skin tone, while treating hyperpigmentation and fending off free radicals. You’ll find vitamin C in many different skincare products, ranging from cleansers to lotions to serums. It’s definitely worth including in your daily skincare routine to get that vacay glow asap. Another great thing about vitamin C is that it pairs well with sunscreen, enhancing your SPF’s protection.

Our favorite brightening mask is Rainbow’s Smooth Mask. It’s formulated with a glow-enhancing blend of vitamin C and vegan collagen, which work in tandem to brighten, plump out fine lines, and improve skin texture. For best results, use 2-3 times per week.

Freeze Your Face

Okay, so not literally, but there is a fun beauty hack that involves running an ice cube across your face and neck to tighten and brighten skin in an instant. The cold from the ice will constrict the blood vessels and spur circulation, giving skin a healthy glow while quelling puffiness and providing a temporary tightening effect. After a few minutes of doing this, you’ll almost be able to feel those vacation vibes once you see your complexion.

If you don’t like the sound of the ice cube, try taking a short cold shower or applying a cold compress to your skin. These will have the same effects.

Fake it Till You Make it

Dreaming of that summer glow you can only get from spending hours on the beach? Try the fake it until you make it method. For starters, there’s always self-tanner, and that’s a great and healthy way to get tanned without exposing your skin to harmful UV rays. Self-tanning works best after cleansing, exfoliating, and shaving the skin. You can maintain your summer-y glow by moisturizing regularly, as this will help to seal in the pigment and prevent skin from flaking away.

Not a fan of fake tan? Try bronzer instead. With a few makeup products, you can easily achieve a temporary holiday glow without going through the lengthy process of self-tanning. The best products for the job are bronzer and highlighter. They’ll make your skin look tanned and glowing in minutes! Just make sure you don’t overdo it with the bronzing. Only bronze certain areas of your skin, like your cheekbones, sides of the nose, and sides of the forehead to keep it looking natural — and believable.

Get Shimmery

Another fun way to get that vacation glow at home is by slathering your skin in body shimmer. There are plenty of formulas available to help you achieve a nice, healthy glow. Most of the time, these formulas come as body oils specked with shimmer. Apply to your cheekbones, cupid’s bow, cleavage, and thighs — and you’ll look like you just stepped off the plane from Miami.

Just be careful not to apply too much shimmer. You want that beachy glow, not a disco ball glow. Start by applying a small amount, and then gradually increase until you get the level of glow you seek.

Not all of us have the time or money to go on holiday. Luckily, you don’t need to go on vacation to get that dreamy summer glow. With a few good skincare products and a little self-tanner, there’s no reason why you can’t look like you just came back from a two week vacation in Jamaica. That said, if you want to maintain your glow, you will need to be consistent with your routine.

We also recommend wearing sunscreen every day to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, which can contribute to premature aging (i.e. fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, sagging). Make sure you apply it before leaving the house and every two hours after that while you’re outside.