2025 is turning its attention to something softer, more radiant, and unquestionably more wearable: the “Glazed blush look”. Think of it as if your cheekbones were dipped in strawberry glaze and kissed by light. Not sticky, not shimmery, and definitely not glittery, this is dew done right. Glow isn’t about chunky shimmer anymore, it’s about skin, softness, and a bit of restraint. The 2025 glazed blush look aesthetic is all about intentional layering, hydration, and, yes, just a hint of luxury. Your cheeks should say, “I drink green juice and laugh at my ex’s texts,” not “I fell into a highlighter vat.”

So I’ve done the swatching, spritzing, and side-by-side tests so you don’t have to. Below is my definitive 2025 guide to achieving the glazed blush look, no sparkles, no disco ball effect, just sheer luminosity. Here’s exactly what to buy, as approved by BeautySpade.

#1. Let’s Not Glow From a Place of Dryness:

If your skin is parched, no amount of glow is going to look chic, it’ll look desperate. Dewy primers create that soft, buttery shine under your base, not on top of it like a grease slick. You can’t fake glow on dehydrated skin; it cracks, pills, or disappears into pores. A solid, nourishing moisturizer ensures every subsequent layer blends seamlessly and catches light in all the right ways. My top picks are….

• Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream – Yes, it’s a splurge. But this purple jar holds creamy, cushiony gold. It makes skin bouncy and plump, even if you were up till 3 a.m. watching reality TV.
• Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops – Still going strong in 2025, this cult-favorite doubles as both skincare and primer, creating a glass-skin base that holds makeup in place.
• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream – The drugstore MVP. Hyaluronic acid-rich and refreshingly lightweight, it sits well under makeup without greasiness.
• Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator – If you’re looking for a versatile, deeply hydrating moisturizer that supports a radiant complexion, Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator could be a valuable addition to your skincare routine.

#2. Luminous Hybrid Highlighters:

Any professional artist knows you can’t paint without prepping the skin. You want a product that melts into the skin rather than sitting on top of it. Hybrid highlighters think tint-meets-glow pigments offer that radiance and coverage without the sparkle. Some of my favourites are….

• E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter – A drugstore darling with luxury performance. It’s hydrating, gives a beautiful glow, and costs less than your morning matcha.
• Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter – Somewhere between a strobe cream and a tint. It’s magic. Apply it under makeup for that “I drink two liters of water and meditate every day” effect.
• MARS God’s Glow Illuminator – Affordable, yet provides similar quality to the above two. Our indian brands are excelling in every product lately.

#3. Foundation Should Not Look Like Wallpaper Paste:

What is the use of putting a full coverage foundation on top of your luminous skin? Heavy foundation ruins the glazed effect, it masks the glow. Instead, opt for sheer to light coverage base products such as skin tints or tinted serum foundations that even out tone while letting your real skin shine through. Here are my top choices….

• Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer – Feather-light and forgiving, with a natural finish that doesn’t settle into fine lines.
• Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint – Gives that soft-focus blur while still letting the radiance of your moisturizer and primer peek through.
• L’Oréal Paris infallible 24H Tinted Serum Foundation – Lightweight, hydrating, and radiant, everything we love in a base for under 1000.
  

#4. The Makeup Artist’s Secret Sauce: Strobe Creams

Ah, the unsung hero of the glazed blush look. A strobe cream provides the underlying dew-dripped skin that carries through every layer. Wear it alone or under makeup, it’s the cheat code for glow. Beautyspade suggests….

• MAC Strobe Cream – The OG. It’s never left my kit for a reason. It brings the light without the sparkle, and looks especially stunning mixed with foundation or tapped over blush.
• Faces Canada Strobe Cream -This strobe cream is a GAME CHANGER! It gives my skin a radiant, lit-from-within glow that lasts all day. The formula is lightweight, non-greasy, and absorbs quickly, making it perfect for everyday use.
• Kay Beauty Luminessence Strobe Cream – Kay Beauty has sometimes been a hit and miss for me. But this strobe cream is perfect for that subtle glow underneath your foundation. It gives a very sheer glow, and I think it’s perfect for summer.

#5. Stop Powder-Blushing Your Cheeks Into Dust:

This is where the glazed magic happens. Whenever I talk about blushes, my face automatically lights up. You want creamy textures that blend like a second skin and reflect light, rather than dry down flat. Try to use shades that mimic a natural flush, think rosé, berry, and peachy-pink work best. My personal favourites are these out of the multiples I have….

• Pixi By Petra On The Glow Blush– Still undefeated in the blendability department. Tap with fingers for that no-makeup makeup flush.
• Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick – Creamy, radiant, and comes with a brush on the other end. What more could you want?
• Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush – A budget-friendly gem that rivals high-end formulas in payoff and dew.

#6. Stay Away from Chunky Highlighters:

If your highlighter has glitter chunks, it’s not dew, it’s tragic. You’re not auditioning for an early-2000s music video. Anything that reflects light with visible particles, sparkles, or shimmer flecks should be politely escorted off your vanity. If you can see glitter on your finger or if it leaves fallout after two hours, it’s a no. When in doubt, go cream, not powder. Think of the glow coming from your skin, not on your skin. Here are the top recommendations….

• Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand
• Smashbox X Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter – C-Pop (My Personal Favourite)
• Nudestix Nudies Glow All Over Face Color Bronze & Glow
• Lakme Facelift MultiSlayer Highlighter Stick

Toss anything with obvious glitter, sparkles, or fallout, and stick with creamy, balm-like highlighters that melt into skin.

#7. Dewy, Hydrating Setting Sprays:

A good setting spray melts all your layers together and ensures your glow doesn’t fade by 4 p.m. Hydration-focused mists also keep the makeup looking fresh and bouncy throughout the day. Consider these top picks….

• Perenne Glow Booster Makeup Setting Spray – Part skincare, part setting spray, this mist grips makeup and infuses your skin with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.
• Caudalie Beauty Elixir – Part toner, part setting spray, part aromatherapy. It refreshes the skin and smells divine.
• e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray – Affordable and weightless, this mist never leaves droplets and keeps makeup intact while adding a veil of glow.
• Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist – A favorite of makeup artists. Yes, it’s a splurge, but one spritz is enough for a dewy wet finish.