The top trending concept -“The Glass Skin”. It was originally popularised in Korean culture. The term is used to describe the clear, flowless, and luminous skin with a healthy glow and even tone. The glass skin looks smooth, poreless, and radiant. It does not come just with the right skincare treatments, it is a combination of a healthy lifestyle, food, daily habits, and the right skincare routine.
It takes a longer period to achieve glass skin. A proper strategy for skin barrier repair, hydration, and nourishment is the key. Let's explore what it takes to achieve class skin.
Glass skin looks a little hard to achieve, but with a proper skincare routine and lifestyle changes, it is possible. How? Consistent hydration, consistent gentle exfoliation, and nourishing skin with layers. Here are the simple steps to get Korean glass skin, with a few expert tips, and product suggestions that work for most skin types.
1. Double cleans the skin:
During the day, we gather a lot many dirt and pollutants. Especially when you're wearing makeup and sunscreen, it needs a thorough cleansing. Cleansing face just once leaves stubborn makeup, dirt and excess oil on the skin.
You wanna check? Cleanse your face once, take Acne Wipes, and wipe your face with them. You will know how much dirt and makeup is still left over on your face when you cleanse your face only once. This leftover makeup and dirt clog skin pores and increase the chances of getting pimples.
First, start with a gentle cleanser. For ex. Micellar Water, a water-based cleanser, works best to remove all the impurities, waterproof makeup and excess sebum from the skin. And then, use face wash to double cleanse the skin to remove leftover dirt.
2. Exfoliation:
Our skin naturally sheds dead skin cells. And when we are wearing makeup, as well as when all the pollutants from the environment gather on the skin, it causes clogged pores and a rough skin texture. As a result, your skin is more prone to getting acne and pimples. When you exfoliate the skin regularly, it helps shed dead skin cells, giving you smooth and clear skin.
To exfoliate your skin gently, there are several products available in the market containing salicylic acid and glycolic acid. These ingredients help to brighten the skin tone and skin texture, exfoliate the skin gently, penetrate deep into the skin and remove impurities.
You can apply exfoliants depending on your skin type. If you have oily and acne-prone skin, you can apply exfoliating products every day. If you have a combination skin type, you can apply it 2 - 3 times a week, cos overdoing it can strip natural moisture from the skin. Remember, consistency is the key to getting glass skin.
3. Toner:
When you use cleansers and exfoliants, sometimes it can disturb the skin’s pH balance, causing irritation or dry skin. Toner brings back the pH level and hydrates the skin. The good quality toner also works as a primer, which helps to absorb other skincare products more effectively.
Go for a hydrating toner instead of an alcohol-based one. Choose ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, rose water, or botanical extracts. It keeps your skin hydrated and gives you a glass skin.
4. Essence:
Essence works the same as toner, but it is highly hydrating and gives an extra layer of moisture and supports skin regeneration. It improves skin elasticity, smoothens the skin, and gives a luminous look.
Essence-enriched ingredients are good to go for, such as niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and fermented extracts. It provides hydration, brightens skin tone, and improves skin barrier strength.
5. Serum:
Serums are highly concentrated formulations, and they address specific skin concerns. They are designed to target acne, pigmentation, fine lines, and uneven skin tone. It works beneath the skin surface to help you achieve glowing skin.
For different skin concerns, different serums are available in the market; choose the one specific to your skin needs, for ex. Vitamin C serum is used to get glowing skin and reduce dark spots, niacinamide brightens skin tone, and hyaluronic acid is used to get deep hydration. You can apply these serums in the morning and at night to get the glass skin.
6. Moisturisers:
The most essential part of the skincare journey is moisturisers. Apply moisturiser two times a day, in the morning and evening. To get the glass skin, your skin must be properly moisturised. In case of oily to combination skin type, go for water-based moisturisers and in case of dry skin to normal skin type, choose cream-based moisturisers.
Moisturisers should be the last step in the skincare routine (before sunscreen). Here is the routine you can follow.
Toner → Essence → Serum → Moisturizer → Sunscreen
7. Sunscreen:
Again, sunscreen is a must to protect your skin from UV rays and damage. Even after these many layers of other products, there is a high chance of getting your skin damaged without sunscreen. UV rays can undo it all. Sun exposure without sunscreen can cause pigmentation, skin dullness, dehydration, uneven skin tone, and loss of skin elasticity.
When choosing sunscreen, go for broad spectrum formula with SPF 30 to 50+. Apply it every two to three hours, depending on the sun exposure. Go for sunscreens that suit your skin and feel lightweight and non-greasy under makeup.
To get the glass skin, sunscreen is the most essential part of a skincare routine, cos it protects everything from toner to moisturiser, and prevents skin damage.
Remember this - No sunscreen = no lasting glass skin.
8. Food Habits and Lifestyle:
No matter how many skincare products you use, when your diet and lifestyle habits are poor, nothing works. Lifestyle and healthy eating habits are the foundation for getting glass skin. Internal nourishment is as important as an external skincare routine. So, how do you build a healthy habit?
The first rule is to keep yourself hydrated. Consume plenty of water and eat fruits that have high water content. For the diet, prioritise antioxidant-rich food such as leafy green veggies and healthy fats, which fight radicals and help to maintain skin elasticity.
Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep during the night, as this is the best time for the skin to repair. Irregular sleep cycles can lead to dullness, puffiness and a slower skin renewal process.
End words
Glass skin is not an easy and overnight process. It takes time and more than that, punctuality in skincare routine as well as lifestyle and dietary habits. It is not impossible to achieve, but with consistency and patience, you’ll gradually notice your skin becoming clearer, smoother, and more radiant day by day.
