Saie Dew Balm Review: A Gorgeous, Dewy Sheen

I can remember as far back as elementary school when my best friend and I would walk to the local pharmacy to scour the makeup aisles for product releases. Looking back, I can’t believe we were allowed to walk outside by ourselves, but it really was a different time. (As a side note, I’m in my early 30s—so it wasn’t even that long ago). Now, as a pharmacist and beauty enthusiast, I love researching new products but with one caveat: I'm often skeptical. Although, when I do find a product I love, I am forever loyal to the product and the brand.

That is exactly what happened with the clean beauty brand Saie and one of its latest products: Dew Balm. The brand launched with its first product, Mascara 101, and the Liquid Lip Balm shortly after. After loving both products, I continued to try more of their offerings and eventually found and fell in love with Dew Balm. It helps me look fresh and well-rested even when I am most definitely not (read: up all night with my baby). 

Below find everything you need to know about Saie Dew Balm's formula, price point, packaging, application, and efficacy.

Pros

• Long-lasting, dewy effect
• Packed with clean, nourishing ingredients
• Multi-use
• Fragrance-free
• Sustainable packaging

Cons

• Can be difficult to extract product
  

Bottom Line

Saie’s Dew Balm is a clean and minimal everyday dewy highlighter that will help you look fresh while nourishing your skin.

Saie Dew Balm in Rosy Gold $18.00

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The Science: Fully-researched formulations

When I first discovered Saie, I was most impressed by the brand’s commitment to educating consumers on the good and bad sides of beauty ingredients. The brand has devoted ample space on its website to break down potentially harmful ingredients. They explain each ingredient in terms of what it is, what it is often disguised as, and why they don’t use it. Saie also has a long list of ingredients you will never find in their formulations.

The Dew Balm in particular is “formulated with a medley of 100-percent natural and clean ingredients like jojoba esters, marshmallow root, and hyaluronic acid, as well as olive fruit and sunflower seed oil,” says Sarah Tallman, Saie’s product and innovation lead and chemist, who worked on creating the formulation. The balm’s “natural pearl shimmer comes straight from the base of the formula,” she adds.

Although Saie makeup looks great on, the products have beneficial effects on the skin as well. When I asked Tallman about the journey to development, she told me, “Dew Balm is a true hybrid product that treats the skin while creating a beautiful visual impact.” Saie wanted to create a dew sheen not just from pearls, which reflect light, but also from the natural oils and butters in the base of the formula. The Dew Balm hydrates, plumps, and nourishes the skin. There is no other product in my makeup bag that has a similar effect with skin-benefitting ingredients. 

About My Skin: Combination with under-eye circles

My skin is combination with minimal breakouts. So, I have oily skin in some areas of my face like my t-zone (forehead, nose, and chin), which is coincidentally where pimples reveal themselves in times of stress, and dry in other areas like my cheeks. The Dew Balm is especially helpful for dry skin because of the “high percentage of nourishing butter and oils,” explains Tallman. My main skin woe is under-eye circles from lack of sleep, which I've been trying to mitigate by increasing my water intake. I use the Summer Fridays Super Amino Gel Cleanser ($35) every morning and night and double cleanse at night with an oil cleanser. 

On most days, I have a minimal approach to makeup. When I do wear makeup, I like to create a simple, dewy look. I start with a priming moisturizer, followed by the Kosas Revealer Concealer ($28). I then apply Dew Balm in Rosy Gold to my cheekbones and eyelids. I end with some mascara and the Summer Fridays Lip Balm ($23). The whole routine takes less than five minutes and transforms my very tired mom-face into something a bit more refreshed. 

How to Apply: Start small and build from there

Begin by squeezing out a small amount of Dew Balm and rub it slightly between your fingertips or on the back of your hand to warm it up. You’ll notice that the consistency of the product is soft and smooth. Tap it onto your skin. I love that it doesn’t have a strong scent. When i’m doing my makeup, I don’t like multiple products (and scents) competing with each other and generally like to keep things simple. 

The product is multi-use, so you can apply it to your cheekbones, Cupid’s bow, brow bone, and eyelids. I like to start along my cheekbone and work my way up to just below my temple. The formula is buildable, so you can add more product for a more pronounced effect. My only complaint is that the packaging tube can be a little stiff, making the product difficult to get out—but once you get used to squeezing it out, the process isn’t too cumbersome. 

Between feeding my baby and getting my two toddlers ready in the morning, I don’t spend too much time getting ready. This product is exactly what I need for days when I can devote only minimal effort to makeup.

The Ingredients: Clean and innovative

I was originally drawn to Saie for its clean ingredients and chic packaging. Ingredients like marshmallow root extract help calm inflammation and redness and help with moisture retention. Fatty acids like jojoba esters as well as olive and sunflower seed oils create a smooth and rich finish while hydrating the skin. Hyaluronic acid helps the skin retain moisture. 

Sustainability: A priority for the company

The Dew Balm contains all sustainably-sourced ingredients and the tube is made out of 100 percent aluminum. Once you finish the product, you can recycle it with your other metals and cans. Although the cap is made of virgin plastic, the brand is working on alternatives for the future. You can also send your finished Saie products back to the company and they will recycle everything for you. 

The Results: A dewy appearance requiring minimal effort

With minimal effort, the Dew Balm creates a dewy look and helps illuminate the skin. It feels creamy between my fingertips and spreads out nicely as I tap it onto my face. I use it for an everyday subtle glow, especially on days when I don’t want to wear a lot of makeup. It feels like a less obvious way to highlight without creating an intense, glittery effect. The dewy effect is long-lasting and my skin feels plump and refreshed throughout the day. I’ve used the Dew Balm when staying home all day and when venturing outside for long walks in humid conditions—it felt comfortable on my skin regardless of the weather conditions. 

Some highlighters make my skin feel overly oily or create a slimy effect by the end of the day but I had no issues with this product. I personally prefer the Dew Balm on bare skin but it can also be worn over dewy or natural foundation (though the brand recommends not using it over matte-finish foundations). During the day, I apply a small amount for a minimal daytime natural finish. At night, I'm more generous with my application to achieve an intensified glow. 

The Value: Feels expensive, but isn’t

For a product with clean ingredients and immediate results that last all day, the Dew Balm is affordable and cost-effective. I consider it a mix of makeup and skincare, so you get more value for your money.

To put the price into perspective, other highlighters in the market retail for around $30 to $45, so you are getting a range of benefits for a comparatively low price point. I personally purchased the Dew Balm a few months ago and I still have plenty of product left. I love it so much that I placed another order to gift to my mom (she loves it too). 

Similar Products: You have options

• Rituel de Fille Rare Light Luminizer ($32): Available in six color-shifting shades, this cream highlighter will give you a deep, radiant glow. Like Dew Balm, it's formulated with clean ingredients, albeit at a steeper price point.
• Noto Hydra Highlighter Stick ($19): Products in stick form, like this highlighter by Noto, make for easy application. It boasts a laundry list of good-for-your-skin ingredients that work double-time to both highlight and hydrate skin. The downside? Its strong scent may be offputting for some.

Our Verdict: Add to cart

Saie’s Dew Balm stands out in the market as a highlighter with skin benefits, multiple uses, and an affordable price. The Dew Balm, along with a surplus of newborn cuddles, has been helping my skin look fresh, youthful, and illuminated.