How To Get Glass Skin, According To K-beauty Experts
You may have noticed influencers and beauty gurus on beauty-tok zooming close on their poreless cheeks and promoting their latest serum for glass-like skin. This look’s recent cultural popularity shouldn’t fool you.
Due to Korean beauty culture, glass skin has been around for years. Alicia Yoon, founder of Korean beauty business Peach and Lily, popularized it in the US by teaching customers about Korean beauty and skin health.
There are various ways to obtain glass skin, but we asked dermatologists and makeup artists how to achieve it using skincare and makeup.
Glass skin?
“Glass skin is a Korean beauty skincare trend that reflects smooth, clear, ‘glowy’ and pore-less skin,” says board-certified dermatologist and MOHS surgeon Tiffany Libby, MD. The immaculate, reflective skin appears like glass.
Glass skin, like dewy and bouncy skin, is ultra-moisturized. To achieve this, Dr. Libby recommends nurturing your skin’s moisture barrier. “Many of the steps centered around achieving ‘glass skin’ are basically healthy skin habits that increase skin cell turnover to improve brightness and luminosity and optimize skin hydration to minimize lines,” she explains.
How to Get Glass Skin With skincare
Follow these professional tips to enhance your skincare routine for dewy, shiny skin.
1. Double Cleanse
Start with Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Oil ($16; ulta.com), says Dr. Libby. Follow with a nourishing face cleanser like Grown Alchemist Gentle Facial Cleanser ($42; credobeauty.com) to remove grime, oil, and makeup and clean your palette.
2. Peel chemically
After cleansing, New York City board-certified dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, MD, recommends a toner or exfoliating pad. This breaks skin cell connections and sloughs them off. YSE Glycolic acid and PHAs in Your Favorite Ex Exfoliating Pads ($72 for 45; ysebeauty.com) gently resurface without irritation.
3. Use Hydrating Serum
Drs. Nussbaum and Libby prescribe hydrating serum next. Dr. Nussbaum recommends niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Peach and Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum ($39; ulta.com) plumps and brightens and smooths using a peptide combination.
4. Moistener seal
Apply a moisturizer to finish. Water will be sealed in, keeping your skin bouncy longer. Japanese purple rice and hyaluronic acid in Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream Plumping and Hydrating Moisturizer ($70; sephora.com) improve luminosity. Light and airy texture makes application easy.
5. Use SPF.
Dr. Libby says an SPF 30 or higher protects your skin from UV radiation and “prevents skin damage which can lead to dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles, and photoaging”—the most crucial skincare step. We like Tula Ultimate Sun Serum SPF 50 ($42; ulta.com) since it absorbs without leaving a white cast.
Get Glass Skin With Makeup
This look starts with skincare, but we asked two expert makeup artists how to achieve sparkling cheeks all day.
1. Skincare prep
Eddie Duyos, a professional makeup artist, stresses that preparation and setting are key to this look. Before applying makeup, shorten the procedures above if you’re short on time.
2. Prime your base
Primer makes cosmetics attach to a smooth, sticky surface. To eliminate cakeiness, makeup artist Carly Giglio recommends applying BareMinerals Prime Time Hydrate and Glow Primer ($28; bareminerals.com) in small layers.
3. Top with light foundation
Overlay primed skin with a moisturizing or glowy solution to solidify your glow. Duyos recommends creams or liquids. He explains, “Intentional placement of shine and satin finishes are key.” Focus on the face’s high points, says Giglio. E.l.f. For a glow, blend Halo Glow Liquid Filter Glow Booster ($14; target.com) into your foundation or wear it alone. Pro tip: Apply complexion products with fingertips or a damp sponge (we adore Beautyblender Original Beautyblender Makeup Sponge ($20; sephora.com) for a skin-like finish.
4. Apply setting spray and highlighter.
A radiant glow requires highlighter. Use on cheekbones and nose to raise. Apply a setting spray to finish. Duyos adores MAKE UP FOR EVER Mist & Fix 24HR Hydrating Setting Spray ($33; makeupforever.com). He continues, “It will not only elongate the wear of your makeup, but will also increase hydration, giving your complexion a super healthy glow for the perfect glass skin effect.”
