How To Get Glowing Skin Naturally

Easy and effective ways to achieve a natural glow without causing any harm to the skin

Medically reviewed by Dr. Vindhya L Veerula, MD, FAAD
Written by Shaheen Naser, MSc

Edited by Anjali Sayee, BTech

Fact-checked by Swathi E, MA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach • Nov 22, 2023

Image: Shutterstock

Perfectly smooth and glowing skin is every person’s dream. With a vast range of products promising glowing skin with little to no results, it’s no wonder people are turning to better alternatives. The good news is, there are some effective home remedies you can try to get glowing skin naturally. In this article, we explore some of the natural ingredients available in your pantry that can give you naturally glowing skin without much effort and good results. Read on to find out more!

In This Article

What Factors Affect Your Skin’s Glow?

A lot of factors affect your skin’s glow. They are:

1. Unhealthy Diet

An unhealthy diet can make your skin look dull. Consuming nutrient-rich foods and having a balanced diet is helpful in promoting the natural glow of your skin.

Pallavi, a blogger, addresses the importance of a healthy diet on her blog: “I strongly believe in ‘you are what you eat’. What goes inside you strongly reflects on your outside. So always stick to a diet that is healthy, organic, fresh, rich in minerals and antioxidants, and drink lots and lots of water as it flushes out all the oxidants and toxins generated in your body….For a healthy, glowing skin, you need to eat healthy (i).”

2. Lack Of Sleep

If you do not get enough sleep, it will show on your skin. Getting adequate rest and sleep at the end of the day can help rejuvenate your skin cells, thereby making you look naturally radiant.

3. Environmental Factors

Exposure to the harmful UV rays of the sun, dust, and pollution has a detrimental effect on your skin, making it look dull and aged.

A cross-sectional study interviewed a sample of 31,162 US adults from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey–Cancer Control Supplement and analyzed the data between August 16, 2016, to September 6, 2017 to determine the prevalence of sunburn and the use of sun protection. The study revealed that around 34.2% of the surveyed population experienced sunburn. It also found that the most common sun protection behavior among them was staying in the shade (37.1 %).

4. Lack Of Hydration

Dehydration decreases the flow of blood to your skin, which makes it look dull and pale and also cause signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines to appear. Staying hydrated makes your skin feel moisturized and supple.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes regular workout sessions, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep can help you manage the glow of your skin.

In the next section, we will discuss DIY skincare homemade face packs for an instant glow.

Natural Ways To Get Glowing Skin

1. Turmeric

Image: Shutterstock

Turmeric, which is an active ingredient in Ayurvedic skin care practices, contains curcumin, which has bioactive compounds that can help prevent facial photoagingⁱXPrematurely aging skin due to exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet light. Symptoms include fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation. (1). These compounds even out your skin tone and bring out its natural glow.

You Will Need

1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon of honey
1 teaspoon of milk or yogurt

What You Have To Do

Mix a teaspoon each of turmeric powder and milk and half a teaspoon of honey in a bowl to make a thick paste.
Apply this paste to your face and neck and leave it on for about 15-20 minutes.
Wash your face thoroughly with water.

How Often You Should Do This

You can use this remedy once a week.

2. Coconut Oil

Moisturizing coconut oil for naturally glowing skin

Image: Shutterstock

Lauric acid is a major component of coconut oil that possesses moisturizing properties (2). Thus, coconut oil can help prevent dry skin and promote an even skin tone.

You Will Need

1 teaspoon of coconut oil
1 teaspoon of honey
1 teaspoon of milk or yogurt

What You Have To Do

Mix a teaspoon each of coconut oil, honey, and yogurt in a bowl to form a thick paste.
Apply this paste to your face and neck and leave it on for 15 minutes.
Rinse your face thoroughly with water.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this two times a week.

Quick Tip

Avoid using coconut oil if you have oily or acne-prone skin as it can clog your pores and trigger breakouts.

3. Yogurt

Image: Shutterstock

Facial masks containing yogurt were found to improve the brightness, elasticity, and hydration of the skin (3).

You Will Need

2 tablespoons of yogurt
1 tablespoon of honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice

What You Have To Do

Mix two tablespoons of yogurt with a tablespoon each of honey and lemon juice in a bowl.
Apply this paste to your face and neck and leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse your face thoroughly.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply this paste on your face and neck once a week.

Caution: Lemon can cause irritation in some skin types. Make sure to carry out a patch test before trying out this remedy.

Related: Benefits Of Yogurt Face Mask

4. Potato

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Potato juice has alkaline properties that exert an antiseptic action and make your skin glow. The pulp can help in sloughing off the dead skin cells (4).

You Will Need

2 tablespoons of potato juice
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
Honey (if you have dry skin)

What You Have To Do

Mix two tablespoons of potato juice and a tablespoon of lemon juice. If you have dry skin, you can add two to three drops of honey to this mixture.
Apply this to your face and neck and leave it on until it dries.
Rinse your face thoroughly.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply this paste two times a week.

Caution: Lemon can irritate some skin types. Make sure to carry out a patch test before trying out this remedy.

5. Aloe Vera

Image: Shutterstock

Aloe vera contains glucomannan, which stimulates collagen synthesis, and mucopolysaccharidesⁱXLong chains of sugar molecules that are present in the body, mostly in mucus and the fluid around the joints. , which possess hydrating properties (5). This keeps your skin moisturized and glowing.

You Will Need

1 cucumber
1 tablespoon of honey
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel

What You Have To Do

Blend a cucumber in a blender to get a thick paste.
Add the aloe vera gel and honey to this and mix well.
Apply the mask to your face and neck and leave it on for 20 minutes.
Rinse your face thoroughly.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this two times a week.

6. Lemon

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Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C or ascorbic acid. Vitamin C exhibits anti-pigmentary properties, thereby improving your complexion and imparting a natural glow (6).

You Will Need

1 lemon
Cotton pad

What You Have To Do

Squeeze the lemon juice into a bowl.
Apply this juice to your face with the help of a clean cotton pad.
Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse off with water.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this one to two times a week.

Caution: Lemon juice can cause a stinging sensation on your skin. Please do a patch test before trying this remedy.

7. Papaya

Image: Shutterstock

Carica papaya extracts can help boost the production of collagen in your skin and reduce the appearance of signs of aging, such as dull skin and wrinkles (7). It can also help remove dead skin cells, thereby making your skin look radiant.

You Will Need

1 ripe papaya
1 lemon

What You Have To Do

Cut the papaya and make a puree by blending it in a blender.
Squeeze the lemon juice into this puree.
Apply this paste on your face and leave it on for 10 minutes.
Rinse off with water.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this two times a week.

8. Cucumber

Image: Shutterstock

Cucumber is a rich source of bioactive compounds that moisturize the skin and inhibit tyrosinaseⁱXA group of enzymes that majorly contributes to the formation of melanin, a pigment present in human and animal skin. activity (8). This may reduce pigmentation and impart natural radiance to your skin.

You Will Need

1 cucumber
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel

What You Have To Do

Cut half a cucumber and blend it.
Add a tablespoon of aloe vera gel and blend it until you get a fine paste.
Apply this paste to your face and neck and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.
Rinse off with water.

How Often Should You Do This

You can use this face pack once a week.

9. Honey

Image: Shutterstock

Honey has emollient and humectant properties. It not only moisturizes and softens your skin but also delays the formation of wrinkles (9).

You Will Need

1 lemon
1 tablespoon honey

What You Have To Do

Squeeze the lemon to collect the juice.
Add a tablespoon of honey to this and mix well.
Apply it to your face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse with water.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this two times a week.

10. Green Tea

Image: Shutterstock

Green tea has antioxidant properties that can help restore the natural glow of your skin. It can also help protect the skin from the harmful sun rays (10).

You Will Need

1 teaspoon green tea
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon chickpea flour

What You Have To Do

Make a fine paste of the ingredients with a few drops of water.
Apply the paste on your face and neck and leave it on for about 15 minutes.
Rinse with water.

How Often Should You Do This

You can do this once a week.

11. Saffron

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People around the world widely use saffron as a home remedy for glowing skin. It is moisturizing and also helps protect skin from harmful UV rays of the sun (11).

You Will Need

3-4 strands of saffron
¼ cup milk

What You Have To Do

Soak a few strands of saffron in milk.
After soaking for about 2 hours, strain the milk, and apply it to your face and neck.
Wash it off with water after 10-15 minutes.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this two times a week.

12. Orange Peel

Orange peel to get naturally glowing skin

Image: Shutterstock

Orange peel contains bioactive compounds, such as polyphenolsⁱXNaturally occurring compounds present in fruits and vegetables that help protect the body against cancers and cardiovascular diseases. , tanninsⁱXLoaded with anti-inflammatory properties, these yellow or brown-colored organic substances are present in plant tissues and bark. , and naturally occurring antioxidants. These compounds make it an effective skin-brightening face mask that fights the signs of aging, such as dullness of skin, and leaves the skin looking naturally brighter (12).

You Will Need

1 teaspoon orange peel powder
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon honey

What You Have To Do

Take a teaspoon of orange peel powder in a bowl and add turmeric powder and honey to this to make a fine paste.
Apply this paste to your face and leave it on for 5-10 minutes.
Rinse off with rose water or a mild cleanser.

How Often Should You Do This

You can do this remedy two times a week.

13. Almond Oil

Image: Shutterstock

Almond oil may reduce post-operative scars and improve the skin tone (13). It is rich in vitamin E, which may reduce inflammation, prevent cell damage, moisturize the skin, and slow down skin aging. All of this may contribute to glowing skin (14), (15), (16).

You Will Need

4 teaspoons of rose water
1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel
½ teaspoon of glycerine
½ teaspoon of almond oil

What You Have To Do

Mix all the ingredients in a clean and dry container.
Gently massage a small quantity of this mixture on your face before sleeping.

How Often Should You Do This

You can do this before bedtime daily.

This was a list of easy-to-follow home remedies to get naturally glowing skin.

In addition to these home remedies, following a well-balanced diet can go a really long way in maintaining the health of your skin. Include the following skin nourishing foods in your diet.

What Foods Should You Eat To Get Glowing Skin?

Green leafy vegetables, fruits, and vitamin C rich foods help promote healthy skin (17).
Yogurt and other probioticsⁱXA mixture of live bacteria and/or yeast that exist in the body and aids it in preserving a balanced microbial ecosystem. can help moisturize your skin.
Keeping yourself hydrated ensures that your skin is moisturized and supple (18).

Here are a few more tips to achieve the skin of your dreams.

The Dos and Don’ts To Get Glowing Skin

Dos

Use Natural Products: Using natural products like rose water, gram flour, etc. can help promote the natural glow of your skin.

Water intake for skin health: This is perhaps the most important and effective methods to maintain the natural glow of your skin. Drinking plenty of water and hydrating drinks can keep your skin looking healthy and glowing.

Apply Sunscreen: It is a must to follow sun protection tips. Applying sunscreen before stepping out in the sun helps protect your skin from the harsh UV rays and prevents suntan and sunburns.

Cardio Sessions: A great workout session never harmed anyone! Cardio sessions can help flush out toxins from your skin and leave it looking radiant, making it essential to exercise for healthy skin. It also helps in stress reduction for healthy skin.

Use A Facial Cleanser: It is essential to use a facial cleanser to remove dirt and grime from the pores in your skin. Make sure to use a product that suits your skin type to obtain the best results.

Exfoliate: Exfoliation is key to brighter looking skin. When you exfoliate your skin, you can use facial massage techniques to gently remove dead skin cells and the dirt that clog up your pores, resulting in clearer skin.

Did You Know?

Stress management activities like yoga, deep breathing, and meditation can rejuvenate you mentally and help your skin glow from within.

Don’ts

Don’t Use Multiple Cosmetic Products: You may get carried away and buy a lot of cosmetic products. These products are formulated with chemicals and can prove detrimental to your skin. Continuous usage can lead to loss of the natural radiance of your skin.

Don’t Use Chemical Face Packs: Today, the market is flooded with a host of chemically formulated face packs. Regular use of these products can be harmful to your skin.

Don’t Touch Your Face Excessively: Your hands carry a large number of bacteria. Touching your face frequently to pick on blackheads or whiteheads can transfer the bacteria to your face. This, in turn, leads to acne and skin irritation.

Don’t Smoke: Regular smoking also has an adverse effect on your skin. It can cause dullness of skin and give it an aged appearance.

Don’t Wash Your Face Often: While washing your face for cleansing is a good step to maintain healthy skin, excessive cleansing can strip it of its natural moisture and oils. This can make your skin look dull and dry.

Infographic: 5 Natural Ways To Get Glowing Skin

We all dream of having glowing skin and depend on various products to achieve it. However, a few homemade face packs can do the trick. You can prepare these packs with easily available ingredients like turmeric, yogurt, aloe vera, cucumber, and green tea. Check out the below infographic for more information.

5 natural ways to get glowing skin (infographic)

Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now.

Download Infographic

Many people dream of having clear and glowing skin. Many of us depend on various chemical-laden products for this. But simply using an instant glow face pack at home can give visible results without costing a whole lot. These face packs can be made with simple ingredients. They can be prepared with ingredients like turmeric, coconut oil, yogurt, potato, aloe vera, lemon, honey, papaya, cucumber, and green tea. Besides using these face packs, you must also follow a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and maintain adequate hydration to boost your skin’s glow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I moisturize my face overnight?

Before going to bed, you must wash your face with a cleanser and follow it up with a moisturizer. Leave it on overnight and repeat every night. If you have oily skin, make sure not to use oil-based moisturizers.

How can I maintain a natural glow in summer and winter?

Remember to stay hydrated. Make sure that you keep your skin moisturized by maintaining a strict skin care regimen, which includes facial cleansing, natural skin exfoliation methods, and moisturization. You can also use the above remedies for a natural skin care routine.

Which is the best facial for glowing skin?

You can use a fruit face pack once every 10-15 days. This can help replenish the natural moisture in your skin and impart a healthy glow.

How does exercise help your skin glow?

Regular work out sessions increase the flow of blood to your skin. This helps replenish skin cells and nourishes them, imparting a natural glow to your skin.

What is the best breakfast for glowing skin?

As discussed above, consuming foods rich in vitamin C may help get glowing skin. Therefore, consuming yogurt, green tea, and fruits like strawberries, kiwi, and oranges for breakfast will help you attain glowing skin.

How can coffee make your skin glow?

Coffee is one of the potent antioxidant-rich foods containing polyphenols, which can reduce oxidative stress and keep your skin healthy by reducing pigmentation and wrinkles (19). Moreover, using coffee grounds for scrubbing can also clear the skin and keep it glowing.

Does fasting make skin glow?

Though there are not enough studies to support this claim, intermittent fasting is believed to trigger a self-cleaning process where new cells replace the old and damaged cells. Thus, it may make the skin glow.

How to get instant glowing skin in 10 minutes?

Combine an instant glow homemade face pack with a good session of scrubbing beforehand. It helps clean your skin effectively and adds an instant glow.

Key Takeaways

DIY homemade face packs can be a healthy alternative to attain refreshed, glowing skin.
Positive lifestyle routines such as a healthy diet, proper sleep, sun protection, moisturization, and hydration are essential for skin care.
You can prepare face packs from kitchen ingredients, such as turmeric, coconut oil, yogurt, vegetables, and fruits.
Carriers such as rose water, gram flour, honey, lemon, and milk give a natural glow to the skin.
It is advisable to reduce the usage of chemical formulations to prevent the loss of the skin’s natural radiance.