How To Get The J-Lo Glow: Six Simple Steps To Her Radiant Skin

Despite what you might assume, achieving Jennifer Lopez-levels of glowing skin isn't impossible for those of us without an on-call glam squad. According to celebrity make-up artist Ariel Tejada, who created one of her recent glowy looks and regularly works with everyone from Chrissy Teigen to Ashley Graham and the Kardashian/Jenners, a natural-looking glow can be achieved yourself in just six simple steps.

Take note...

Step one: Don't forget your skincare

“When I look at J-Lo, I think of how she exhibits youth, sex appeal and confidence - and all of that can come from having skin that looks good. Without prepping your skin well, you can be prone to breakouts, wrinkles and discolouration, while hydrated skin looks and feels supple and youthful. Skincare is the key step for flawless make-up.

"First of all, don’t only remove make-up with a wipe. You need to use a good cleanser and then exfoliate your skin a couple of times a week to make sure you’re getting rid of dead skin cells and keeping your skin super clean. I have a very strict routine that includes a cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser and eye cream, but it’s vital that everyone at least cleanses well and uses a hydrating moisturiser. I'd recommend La Mer's Cool Gel Cream."

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Step two: Choose a light foundation

"The biggest mistake people make with their make-up is wearing too much foundation. At my masterclasses, people are so surprised when they see me do make-up, as I never use that much. You want to use a lighter foundation, so the prep work you’ve done with your skin can shine through. That way it photographs so flawlessly but it’s not caked on. I like Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk as it has a medium coverage and you can create really pretty glowy skin with it. Nars' Sheer Glow Foundation is also great for a glowing skin look.”

Step three: Layer powder and liquid illuminators

"My trick for radiant skin is to use a liquid illuminator with a powder highlighter over the top, as it actually looks more natural. I love the Iconic London Liquid Illuminator and I am obsessed with Marc Jacobs' Dew Drops Coconut Gel. Kylie Cosmetics' Ultra Glow is amazing for glowing skin too. Make sure you use a good setting spray to blend your liquids and powders together though.” Bazaar recommends Cover FX's Illuminating Setting Spray.

"Another option, is to use a dab of the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream. I put it on the back of my hand and then apply a little onto the high points of the face - it's a good trick for a really pretty and natural highlight.”

Related article: BAZAAR Beauty Awards 2018: The Best Face Bases For A Flawless Complexion

Step four: Mind your blemishes

"Avoid applying illuminators on your blemishes as you want to keep your spots as flat and matte as possible to avoid drawing attention to them. Instead, use a thin amount of coverage over them. A lot of the time when people are breaking out, and I used to do this to hide my own acne, they try to apply way too much make-up because they think you need a lot to cover it. In reality, using concealer strategically to spot-conceal your blemishes is the trick."

Step five: Banish your fear of powder 

"People often skip powder in case it makes their skin look less natural, but it can actually be more forgiving than liquid formulas, especially on camera. I would start with powdering the T-zone and then move on to other areas if necessary, using a translucent loose powder. I love Laura Mercier’s Setting Powder or Huda Beauty’s Easy Bake Loose Powder. Then, I'd apply a bronzer to the edges of your face like a halo. My favourite is Tom Ford's Bronzing Powder in Gold Dust and I also like KKW Beauty's Powder Contour & Highlight Kit."

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Step six: Embrace Instagram

"'Instagram make-up' had a moment where everything was super-defined and exaggerated, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. There are some things, like the brows and harsh contour, that can look too intense in real life, but if you think about it, we are all Instagram users and any make-up look that gets uploaded is technically an 'Instagram look' to be inspired by. A lot of the looks are actually really approachable and even Kylie, Kim and Kendall bring such a different vibe to their make-up on Instagram, which I hope is reflected in my own work with them."

Get more advice on how to achieve perfect, glowing skin at the Makeup By Ariel London Masterclass, Saturday 8th December 2018, from £410

This article originally appeared on Harper's Bazaar UK.