The Perfect Skincare Routine to Achieve Dolphin Skin

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Not sure how to freshen up dull, dry skin? The dolphin skin trend, a fun take on the dewy skin look, pairs a hydrating skincare routine with a little glowy color. Here’s how to get it.

Key Takeaways

• Dolphin skin is a makeup-plus-skincare trend that combines hydrated, dewy skin with sheer pink color and highlighter.
• Start with gentle cleansing and moisturizer; a hyaluronic acid serum can add hydration.
• Exfoliate gently and not too often, especially if your skin is dry or sensitive.
• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day, even under a glowy primer.
• Persistent dry, itchy skin is worth a visit to a board-certified dermatologist.

Dolphin skin isn’t exactly the most appealing name for a skincare routine, but the strangely named trend has its roots in tried-and-true styles comparable to the dewy skin look, the “glass look,” “wet look,” and other beachy, sun-kissed looks. If you’re after a natural appearance with some added color and shine, dolphin skin may be the solution to your dull skin problems.

Who Can Wear the Dolphin Look?

Does the dolphin look only work for certain skin tones or types? No way. People of all backgrounds can enhance their unique beauty with this look because the shine of hydrated skin is universally beautiful!

You might still be thinking… Can I still achieve this look even if my skin is dry, oily, acne-prone, or sensitive?

Yes! You don’t need to have already flawless skin to embrace the dolphin skin look. Many of the skincare steps behind the look, like gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreen, are good for your skin anyway. And the plus side of dolphin skin, unlike its predecessor, glass skin—is that it involves a fun, final step—the application of color! Think tinted blushes and glowing highlights.

The Beauty Comes from Within

So, you’ve finally decided to try this trend! How do you get started?

First, remember that skincare starts from within. Are you eating a balanced diet? Are you drinking enough water to stay hydrated? Do you avoid overindulging in alcohol, sugar, and tobacco? Are you sleeping enough? Do you have ways to help manage your stress? I know what you’re thinking… “Have you been talking to my doctor?!”

Not to get all lecture-y here, but your health directly affects your skin! You can get dewy, reflective skin from applying products, but to truly love the skin you’re in, start with the basics. Try to include antioxidant-rich foods in your diet, like blueberries, avocados, sweet potatoes, and kale. Antioxidants help counter unstable molecules called “free radicals,” which is good for your overall health and may benefit your skin too.

Drinking enough water keeps your whole body hydrated, though water alone won’t fix dry skin; that’s where moisturizer comes in. If your daily water intake isn’t up to par yet, there’s no need to start chugging the entire amount at once! It’s helpful to drink your water throughout the day to achieve optimal hydration and balance those bathroom breaks. You may even want to cut off the water a couple of hours before bed, so you are not up all night running to the bathroom! No point in being uber-hydrated but sleep-deprived. Sleep is vital for healthy, beautiful, glowing skin too!

Topical Steps to Tropical Skin

So, what’s the trick to the skincare routine that prepares your face for that sleek sheen?

Double cleansing is an excellent place to start! First, you’ve got to skin prep! You’ll want to use an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser. The idea is to thoroughly remove the makeup, dirt, and anything else that’s hanging out in your pores. Choose gentle formulas so your skin doesn’t feel stripped, and it will be ready to transform to dolphin status. Most drug store skincare lines offer an oil cleanser, like Neutrogena and Palmer’s. Sephora, MAC, and Ulta carry many different brands for your skincare if you need a higher-end oil cleanser!

After using the oil cleanser, lather and apply the water-based cleanser immediately after. La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane has a good one for dry skin, and all the major skincare lines carry one – just walk down the skincare aisle at Target!

All Things Scrubs

Another essential step to ensuring you have fresh skin is to exfoliate. Try a manual exfoliant, such as a vibrating facial brush or a grainy scrub, or opt for a chemical exfoliator. If you have dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin, manual exfoliants may be too irritating, so a mild chemical exfoliant might work better for you.

Harsh scrubbing can irritate the skin, so go gently either way. Glycolic acid is a popular chemical exfoliant that can smooth texture and help with clogged pores, but it can sting sensitive skin, so start slowly and patch test. Acids can also make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so don’t skip sunscreen. Botanic Tree carries a highly rated glycolic acid exfoliant. Follow with moisturizer, since exfoliating can be drying, and don’t exfoliate more often than your skin can handle.

And for the record, you do not want to use a scrub meant for your body on your face. It’s worthwhile to invest in a wash formulated for facial skin because even though these scrubs are great for your body, they are far too rough for regular use on your face.

Serums and Moisturizers

A hyaluronic acid serum is a hydrating option to use after washing your face. Best skincare practices involve the daily use of a high-quality moisturizer and sunscreen. Many face moisturizers have sunscreen mixed in; look for broad-spectrum protection with SPF 30 or higher. Even on cloudy days or when you’re near a window, UVA rays can reach your skin. Some people skip moisturizer and sunscreen when they wear primer, but primer doesn’t hydrate like a good moisturizer, and unless it’s labeled with SPF, it doesn’t protect your face from UV rays. Don’t skip this step!

Prime Time

You’ve got your face clean and moisturized; now get ready to sparkle! Pick a primer that further moisturizes and creates a glow that is iconic to the dolphin skin look. Most popular makeup lines include an effective illuminating primer. Consider NYX’s Born to Glow Illuminating Primer (Update, October 2026: this primer is no longer listed on NYX’s U.S. site and shows as unavailable at Macy’s, so it may be discontinued) for an affordable option. Next, apply the primer to your whole face, especially if you plan to add foundation afterward.

Foundation

Now that your face is primed, it’s time to start applying foundation for that glowy skin. We can’t stress this enough: find a foundation shade that closely matches your skin tone so that the glow of this look appears natural. You can add highlighting drops to the foundation to create even more dewiness. Check out Bare Minerals, Dior to test out your options!

Time to Shine!

The most fun part of the dolphin skin routine is adding color. The application of color is what sets dolphin skin apart from the glass look. Highlight your cheekbones, the bridge and tip of your nose, and your temples. Pink is regularly associated with a colorful, healthy-looking glow. While cream blushes and highlighting powders are widely available, we love the beautiful gel-like sheer pink blush from Iconic London. Many dolphin skin enthusiasts adore it, available in several colors.

If you want to go all out, add a natural-looking pink-tinted lip gloss. There’s nothing matte about this look; it’s about the wet skin shine and sheer glow!

Getting that Insta Glow

If you are ready to show off your look on Instagram (and why not? You mastered it!), just remember that your shine may not photograph as dewy gorgeous as you see it in the mirror. You might need to add more shine to the picture, change your lighting or angle, or even (gasp) use a filter! You’ll be blessing your feed no matter what decision you make.

Keep your skin hydrated and protected, and show off the shimmer and shine of the dolphin skin look! If your skin stays dry, flaky, or itchy despite a good routine, see a board-certified dermatologist, since persistent dryness can be a sign of a skin condition like eczema.

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology – How to safely exfoliate at home
• American Academy of Dermatology – Sunscreen FAQs
• American Academy of Dermatology – Dermatologists’ top tips for relieving dry skin