Whether you’ve been following Korean beauty trends for a while, or you just love staying up to date with social media sensations, you’ve probably heard about “glass skin.”
As the name implies, “glass skin” refers to smooth, flawless, and hydrated skin that is almost reflective because of how lustrous it is. Popularized globally in the past decade, Korean beauty emphasizes hydration and healthy skin — and that’s exactly what you need if you want to achieve glass skin.
Korean beauty icons Alicia Yoon and Ellie Choi are credited with catapulting glass skin into fame in the US. Yoon, the founder of Peach & Lily, explains that achieving glass skin is done from within. In other words, a healthy lifestyle is just as necessary as a good skincare routine. And no, you can’t get bouncy skin just by using glass skin makeup or a magical glass skin treatment.
If you’re committed to getting flawless skin, you’ll find out which products you need and how to use them in this article.
Glass skin products you’ll need
The 10-step Korean skincare regimen has been popular for some time now, so you’ll be familiar with most items on this list:
- Oil cleanser
- Foam cleanser
- Exfoliator
- Toner
- Essence
- Serum or face oil
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
- Sheet mask
Glass skin routine: A step-by-step guide
Here’s a quick look at all the steps in our glass skincare routine:
- Double-cleanse
- Exfoliate
- Tone
- Use an essence
- Add a serum or face oil
- Apply moisturizer
- Protect your skin from UV rays
- Find the right sheet mask
Now, let’s break down what each step means.
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Double-cleanse
Cleansing is crucial to skincare because it gives you a clear and absorbent canvas on which you’ll apply the rest of your products. Not cleansing enough is one of the common skincare mistakes that could stop you from getting glass-like skin.
Korean skincare requires you to cleanse not once but twice. The first cleanser you use should be an oil-based one because it’s best for rubbing away makeup, sunscreen, and pollutants from the skin. The second cleanse will involve a foaming cleanser or a water-based wash that gently removes all remaining impurities. Double-cleansing is a great way to get rid of acne and fight premature aging because it unclogs your pores.
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Exfoliate
Dead skin cells and blackheads won’t be washed away by cleansing alone. That’s why it’s important to invest in an exfoliant. Whether you use a physical or chemical exfoliator, it’s important to remember that exfoliating shouldn’t be done every day. Twice or thrice a week is enough. Cleansing and exfoliating are important steps in correcting uneven skin tone.
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Use a toner
Toners are used to bring back the right pH balance to your skin. Resetting your skin’s pH is necessary for prepping your skin to absorb the next products you’ll be applying. Unlike traditional toners, Korean toners are formulated to be hydrating, too. So, they also add a base level of hydration.
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Choose an essence
Speaking of hydration, using an essence increases your skin’s moisture retention. An essence is a thin, water-based “cousin” of the serum. Just like its cousin, it delivers extra hydration and moisture. Plus, it helps reduce redness and pigmentation.
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Add a serum or face oil
Serums with vitamins or hyaluronic acid are best if you want ave glass-like complexion. Hyaluronic acid is known for bringing out the skin’s natural glow. Don’t worry about using serum if you have oily skin because some formulations work for all skin types. Meanwhile, facial oil is more lightweight but also loaded with helpful antioxidants that delay the appearance of signs of aging.
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Apply moisturizer
Look for a moisturizer that gives you a burst of moisture, resulting in a smooth and plump complexion. You can also choose an antioxidant-rich moisturizer because, with the amount of damaging free radicals around us, we need all the help we can get.
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Protect your skin from UV rays
UV rays are the number one reason for a lot of our skin damage and woes. Sunscreen is the secret to skin that looks young and healthy throughout the years. Choose a sunscreen with SPF 50 that is light and water-based. You don’t need to sacrifice your comfort for sun protection.
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Find the right sheet mask
Sheet masks were all the rage when K-beauty took off. But how do you choose the best one for your skin? The short answer is to look at the label and ingredients. Sheet masks that work to hydrate the skin are good to use at least once a week. Sheet maks with honey can calm inflammation, so you might want to use that if you’ve had an acne breakout.
Key points
Dreaming of flawless, glass skin? Invest in your overall health and wellness just as much as you invest in quality skincare products. And to recap our 8-step glass skincare routine: double-cleanse, exfoliate, tone, add essence, use serum, moisturize, apply sunscreen, and get a good sheet mask.
