Dull, dry and uneven? These 5 brighteners perk up even the most problematic skin.  

Just glow for it. Ready, set, glow. Get up and glow.

You get the picture. Women want their glow and they want it now.

It’s no big shocker that one of the most sought-after beauty ideals among women is fresh-faced radiance.

And can you blame us? Luminous skin is associated with good health, attractiveness and youth. Of course, out of the hundreds of skincare brands on the market, nearly all of them have at least one or more glow-promoting oils, serums or lotions in their collections.

Therein lies the problem: out of the vast skincare marketplace, how do you pick a winning glow-getter? The marketing messages can be overwhelming and, with new products hitting the shelves every single day, it’s hard to know what to trust.

So the question remains, what actually works? What does it take to cultivate a hydrated glow?

To find out, I went back to the source: nature. Plant-based ingredients are becoming mandatory shopping criteria for the modern woman for countless reasons. Equally important is product simplicity. Because beauty should be easy to understand and straightforward to achieve.

Fortunately, it doesn’t get much simpler than the five impressive brighteners I uncovered. Here are the top tried-and-true botanicals that can save your skin naturally, while imparting that million dollar glow.

Jojoba Oil

As the saying goes, not all oils are created equal. In other words, it may be time to swap the coconut oil in favor of a more multitasking glow potion: jojoba oil. This moisturizer is rich in complexion-loving vitamins (A, E and D), plus antioxidants and fatty acids. As a wax ester, jojoba oil can reach deep below the top layer of skin for maximum hydration.

Thanks to its ability to clear away bacteria without compromising the skin barrier, jojoba is a universally skin-friendly elixir. In fact, it possesses similar properties to our skin's own sebum and can bring our natural oil production back into balance. Too much oil? Jojoba can help with that. Too little? Jojoba helps to ramp up oil production. This balancing act goes a long way toward ending the vicious cycle of breakouts — and all the dullness that comes with it.

In a nutshell, jojoba’s antibacterial, hypoallergenic and anti-inflammatory properties are a big plus for all skin types.

Turmeric Essential Oil

Acne and hyperpigmentation can be one of the biggest threats to a healthy glow. When you get these conditions under control, you’ll be well on your way to brighter skin. One extract that can aid the journey is turmeric essential oil.

You’ve probably heard of turmeric and it’s extensive health-promoting profile. Turmeric — the yellow spice commonly used in cooking — has been valued since ancient times as a wellness agent with powerful benefits. Turmeric oil is derived from the same ancient plant. Turmeric essential oil holds an equally impressive resume, with skin benefits that come courtesy of its vitamins, phenols and alkaloids.

Like jojoba, turmeric essential oil is a masterful skin multitasker. Turmeric oil can support skin lightening, a more even skin tone and brightness. These illuminating benefits are likely the result of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial compounds working together to repair and revitalize your skin.

Rosehip Seed Oil

Rosehip seed oil is a pressed oil derived from the small fruit of the rose. Rosehip oil has plenty of skincare perks, one of which is its brightening capability.

Here’s how rosehip oil delivers a one-two punch of radiance. First off, it’s packed with vitamin A, which helps lighten brown spots caused by sun exposure. Vitamin A also promotes skin cell turnover, a process that sheds pigmented, damaged and rough surface cells, thereby paving the way for healthier cells (and a fresh-faced appearance) to emerge.

Secondly, Vitamin C aids in the brightening department by inhibiting melanin production in the skin. This action helps to fade discoloration, even out skin tone and rev up radiance.

Rosehip oil is generally beneficial for all skin types, including blemish-prone skin.

Geranium Oil

When it comes to a more radiant complexion, ingredients that increase cell turnover without irritation and purify pores are some of your biggest skincare allies. Used by ancient Egyptians for promoting beautiful skin, geranium oil can remove dead skin cells, an action that gives tired complexions a jolt of energy.

Geranium oil is taken from the stems, leaves and flowers of the geranium plant. Since it’s considered antibacterial, non-irritating and generally non-sensitizing, geranium oil may be one of the best oils for a range of skin types. Bottom line: people with dry skin and those with congested, oily skin can benefit from applying this oil on a consistent basis.

Raspberry Seed Oil

Cold-pressed raspberry seeds produce an oil that’s teeming with skin-quenching vitamins and nutrients. They include vitamins A, C and E, as well as essential fatty acids like linoleic, alpha-linolenic and oleic acids. And that’s just the short list.

So far I’ve talked a lot about blemishes and dryness as the major glow diminishers. But they aren’t the only culprits. Pollution also poses a very real threat to your skin’s brightness. Thanks to vitamin E and A, raspberry seed oil protects against environmental dangers by neutralizing free radicals. This is the formal term for damage-causing particles produced by things like smoke and pesticides. The result of raspberry seed oil’s defense mechanism is skin that appears healthier and hydrated.

Raspberry seed oil is also an amazing skin regulator, helping to bring all skin types into a healthy balance. It’s known to be high in a plant-based omega 3 fatty acid called linolenic acid, which may calm symptoms associated with inflammatory skin conditions and regulate the skin’s natural oils. Topically applying raspberry seed oil may help to balance sebum production and oiliness that’s often associated with blemish-prone skin.

The Ultimate Glow Tip

Skincare technology and lab-made ingredients are great. But sometimes plant-based boosters with track records going back centuries can be a very compelling reason to go green. The five botanical oils presented in this article are prime examples of skincare standouts that have stood the test of time.

Ready to discover how you can use all of these amazing ingredients every day? One new product that solves the dullness dilemma and lives up to their claims is called True Glow. It contains all of the brighteners reviewed here, making it so potent that even notoriously challenging skin has a good chance at glowing up.

True Glow is a cruelty-free serum that creates a lovely luminous effect with every application. As with all botanical-based products, you should be aware of the quality of what you purchase and always buy from credible, well-sourced companies. That’s what makes 2BETRUE so golden: they always use cold-pressed oils from organic plants, and products are manufactured in wind-powered facilities in the USA.

In the ultimate show of girl power, all 2BETRUE products are made in a women-owned and operated facility.

As an important side note, True Glow is free from:

- Gluten

- Mineral oil

- Parabens

- Phthalates

- Sulfates

- Synthetic Fragrance

Isn’t it good to know that, when it comes to skincare, you have options that deliver serious glow in a safe, reliable and natural way?