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“I love bright, clear, luminous, glowy, lit-from-within, moist, dewy dumpling skin,” says celebrity makeup artist Nam Vo. The “dewy dumpling” phenomenon Vo mentions was single-handedly created by her and is all about mimicking the oddly plump radiance of an actual dumpling.
Part of that hypnotizing ethereal glow Vo has is from knowing the tricks and techniques of being a professional makeup artist, but she’d argue perhaps the most important aspect of her radiance is great skincare.
Vo’s been obsessed with her facial routine since she was 12 years old, perfecting it through trial and error throughout the years. “I think that people, in general, should invest in making an effort to care for their skin, instead of buying makeup products that create the illusion of great skin,” she says. “It really is in taking care of your skin.”
And when your main job description is to be radiant, you’ve probably picked up interesting skincare tips. Even if you are not inundated with new products to test out like Vo is on the regular, she ensures there’s a skincare routine for you. “Whatever budget you’re working with, there are great products out there for all different skin types, ages, and budgets,” she says. We asked Vo to deluge her most dewy dumpling–approved tips, all in the name of glowing skin. Are you ready, dumpling?
If She Needs to Hydrate…
Step One
Start by steaming skin for 10 to 15 minutes over a steamer while gently massaging your face and muscles. This will open pores and skin, allowing products to work more effectively and deeper. No need to splurge on this, as Vo got hers from Amazon.
Step Two
Vo grabs a cleansing oil, usually Tulura Botanical Oil Cleanser, and a powder mask, like Odacite Skin Perfecting Beauty Mask, and mixes one part oil with one part powdered mask in a small dish. It will form a rough paste that can be brushed on with a clean makeup brush or your fingers. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and then wash off. The paste absorbs excess oil and exfoliates, allowing the next step to work more effectively.
Step Three
One of Vo’s favorite masks is the ultra-hydrating Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask. Let the thick, creamy mask sink into your skin for 20 minutes, and then wash it off with a wet washcloth.
Step Four
Lock in that dewy moisture with a fast-absorbing, gentle face oil. Vo likes the AmorePacific Botanical Radiance Oil and massages it in for one last bit of self-care love.
If She Needs Some Serious Exfoliation…
Step One
Grab that steamer again. Vo tries to steam about twice a week, and it’s perfect for this exfoliating routine especially. “When you get out of the shower and you’re freshly steamed, that’s the best time to do extractions,” says Vo. A steamer will mimic the skin-softening effect that comes from a hot shower, and it will allow products to absorb better into the skin.
Step Two
Just as with the hydrating routine above, Vo loves to use the one-to-one ratio of an oil-to-powder mask to prep for deeper exfoliation at step four. Let this mask sit for 10 to 15 minutes before washing it off.
Step Three
Vo takes advantage of her freshly softened pores and gently extracts blackheads from her nose and forehead. She likes to use a professional extractor tool by Tweezerman to remove any blemishes she sees.
Step Four
This is the step that Vo says she sees the most difference in her skin—exfoliation. “My day-to-day routine is less important than how much I exfoliate and stimulate my skin,” she says. She exfoliates once or twice a week and will rotate between a few peels, whether it be AmorePacific Treatment Enzyme Peel, Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial, or Natura Bisse Glyco Extreme Peel. Whichever product you choose, leave it on for the recommended amount of time and then wash off.
Step Five
Yet again, massage in a super-hydrating oil to seal in all your DIY facial efforts. Try Biossance 100% Squalane Oil, as it’s gentle and super hydrating.
If She Needs a Lift…
Vo swears by FaceGym, the London- and New York–based brand known for intensive, uplifting facial massages. Every two weeks (or sometimes even more), she gets The Game Face, which mixes massage and microcurrent techniques.
For an at-home treatment that mimics The Game Face, Vo uses the Pure Lift Face once or twice a week for 10 minutes, a tool that deeply activates and elevates facial muscles. “It’s really strong; it feels like you’re getting electrocuted,” she says.
She’ll also try to add in the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro, which harnesses the powers of LED lights to smooth wrinkles and kill zit-causing bacteria.
If you need to glow up, think about giving one of Vo’s go-to “dumpling” routines a try. What dew you think?
Read more clever skincare tips: The Skincare Ingredients That Finally Helped My Adult Acne Would You Stop Using All Your Skincare Products If It Meant Perfect Skin? Can Collagen Solve Your Skincare Woes and Health Issues?