Did you know the term “Glowing Appearance” in skincare isn’t always healthy? Glowing or shiny skin occurs for numerous reasons. It could mean your skin is dewy, properly hydrated, and thriving in its healthiest state. Or, your skin is just shiny due to excessive oil production and is about to get into serious trouble. While these two skin conditions may appear similar, the difference lies in how the skin feels. Does the skin look balanced & supple, or does it feel sticky, greasy, or uneven? These and many more are what we’ll be covering in this blog post.

For the purpose of this blog, we’ll be referring to both conditions, “Good Glow and Bad Glow”. Join us as we deeply dissect the difference between these two conditions, what triggers them, and how you can avoid the bad glow & choose the healthy glow for your skin. Don’t forget to get in touch with our experts should you encounter any questions at the end of this blog.

So, let’s get into it!

What Does Good Glow Mean In Skincare?

Good glow in skincare simply refers to a well-hydrated, radiant skin that has a fully functioning barrier and is performing in its healthiest state. In terms of appearance, it looks plumped and luminous, not just oily. Light evenly reflects off the high points of the face, such as the cheekbones and the nose bridge. At this stage, the skin feels soft, smooth, and supple since it’s consistently subjected to a quality skincare routine.

The amazing thing about healthy, glowing skin is that its appearance lasts throughout the day without breaking down makeup or becoming sticky. Of course, the skin has a well-balanced oil production, and since the barrier is still intact, it’s hardly vulnerable to external irritants. 

Now you may ask, what causes a good glow in skin? Ultimately, a healthy, glowing skin is characterized by sufficient moisture levels, even complexion, and a strong barrier. These can be achieved through consistent, gentle exfoliation, adoption of nourishing skincare formulas, and usage of formulas that specifically fit your skin type. As you already know, what suits an individual with a dry skin type may trigger pore congestion in someone with oily skin. That’s why we always recommend seeking guidance from a licensed skincare expert before trying a new product.

What Does Bad Glow Mean in Skincare? 

Bad glow in skincare majorly entails a greasy and oily skin. It’s usually triggered by an overactive sebaceous gland, which produces too much oil, giving the skin a falsely shiny look. At this state, the excess oil sitting on the skin’s surface mixes with dead skin cells, bacteria & dirt, leading to pore congestion and ultimately acne breakouts. Unfortunately, most people easily mistake this condition for healthy, glowing skin, but this is why we’re here. We’d love to help you identify the difference so you can quickly make the necessary change on time.  

In terms of appearance, an unhealthy glow might give an excessively oily & shiny look across the face, while concentrating mostly around the T-zone. It feels greasy, sticky, and slick when touched, unlike a healthy glow that feels smooth. At this stage, the skin is highly susceptible to breakouts or other skin problems in the near future.

As we’ve earlier stated, an overactive sebaceous gland is the major cause of an unhealthy glow in skincare. It can be triggered by stress, dehydration, or a compromised skin barrier due to a poor skincare lifestyle. Once these factors are present, the skin may try to overcompensate by secreting too much oil. Hence, leading to issues such as clogged pores, open pores, acne breakouts, rapid makeup breakdown, etc. 

4 Step Routine to Ensure a Healthy Glow

Since the wrong approach in skincare can trigger an unhealthy glow in the skin,

here’s a possible 5-step routine you can adopt if you want to maintain a healthy glow. 

Step 1 – Focus On Gentle Cleansing

Over-cleansing or using harsh soaps can strip your skin of its natural oil, causing the skin to overcompensate by producing too much oil. Not just that, you could also be risking disrupting your microbiome, compromising your skin barrier, and triggering cycles of irritation. 

To avoid these issues, we recommend using gentle cleansers like Bleach Cream Soap, enriched with Aloe Vera for deep soothing. This nourishing soap doesn’t just remove dirt and impurities; it also balances your skin pH to 5.5 while prepping it to deeply absorb other skincare products applied on it. 

Step 2 – Treat Based on Your Skin Concern

This step depends on what you’re specifically looking to achieve. Assuming you’re looking to maintain an even skin tone with a well-balanced skin barrier for that healthy glow, consider nourishing formulas like Blanco Cream. This 3-in-1 formula brightens dull skin and smooths rough texture while unifying your skin tone for the perfect look. And the interesting part is, it contains no hydroquinone, making it safe for long-term use.

For severe pigmentation & aging problems, try exploring our Adi-Bleach-Shoval at night. These formulas are designed for your skin’s total rejuvenation. They address unwanted marks while giving you that even, youthful appearance you desire. Now, if you’re struggling with dryness, consider exploring a hydrating serum like our Hyaluronic Serum. This deeply delivers sufficient amounts of moisture needed to keep your skin plump, soft, and supple. 

Step 3 – Moisturize To Lock-In Hydration

Never skip this step if you want to maintain that dewy look that is common with healthy, glowing skin. Aside from locking hydration, moisturizing daily helps to strengthen your skin barrier to keep dryness, itchiness, and flaking at bay. It also reduces the appearance of fine lines, regulates oil production, and slows aging signs.

For this step, consider humectant moisturizers like our Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer. This is excellent for individuals struggling with dehydrated skin. While Collagen Moisturizer is another amazing choice if you’re looking to maintain a youthful appearance 

Step 4 – Apply Sunscreen for UV Protection

Unlike the preceding steps, this is only needed for your morning routine. Using broad-spectrum sunscreen like our Sunblock SPF 50 that blocks both UVA & UVB rays will help protect your skin from sun damage or sunburn. Additionally, quality SPF formulas maintain your skin barrier since UV rays are known to weaken the outermost layer of the skin. 

Want to look twice younger than your age? Never skip sunscreen in your daily routine. Damaging free radicals from the sun can speed up your skin’s aging process, triggering premature aging signs. And most of all, daily usage of good sunscreen can reduce your chances of developing skin cancer in the long term. 

Add-on – Exfoliate to Renew the Skin

The above mentioned steps won’t be complete without proper exfoliation. For this blog, we recommend exfoliating 1 to 2 times a week to remove dead skin cells and promote your skin’s turnover cycle. While carrying out this step, ensure to only use gentle exfoliators like our Peeling Gommage that won't negatively impact your skin barrier. 

Conclusion

Now that we’ve established the difference between good and bad glow, we’d love to reiterate that the major difference between them lies in how the skin feels. Healthy, glowing skin will always remain soft, supple, and smooth, while unhealthy radiance reflects excessive oiliness with a sticky or greasy feeling. A good glow is characterized by a functional barrier supported by adequate hydration, while a bad glow is prone to breakouts due to pore congestion.

Finally, please note that this blog post is only for educational purposes, and the routine listed only forms the basics or an example of what a quality skincare routine should look like. However, if you’re looking for a personalized skin regimen that suits your specific skin type and deeply addresses your unique skin concerns, kindly book our FREE consultation to connect with our licensed experts one-on-one. We’re waiting!