A Step-By-Step Guide to K-Beauty Loved Glass Skin

 

Korean beauty practices have become a staple in makeup and skin care trends over the last few years. And if there’s one K-beauty trend that always seems to be flooding our Instagram and TikTok feeds, it’s the dewy, glazed look of glass skin. As the name suggests, glass skin is meant to resemble glass, meaning it’s all about skin that looks shiny, clean and baby-soft. It’s easy to love glass skin because this look is a common goal of all skin types: a hydrated and glowy complexion. 

K-beauty trends are often fabled for their lengthy, 10-step routines that give off a more-is-more approach to skin care. Don’t worry, you won’t need to use that many products to achieve this look, but it does mean you may have to make a few adjustments to your routine. Keep reading to see our step-by-step guide on how to get glass skin through your skincare and makeup routines.

Is Having Glass Skin Good?

Glass skin is often equated with having good, healthy skin. For the most part, using a skin care regimen full of hydrating ingredients is always a good way to improve the health of your skin. However, the glass skin trend can look different for everyone.

You can have glass-like skin while having blemishes, wrinkles, dark under-eyes and a plethora of other skin concerns that are heavily influenced by genetics. That’s just how skin is. If you’re looking for a “perfect complexion” glass look you’ll have to use makeup to achieve that. And if you’re looking for a dewy, natural look you should pack your skin care regimen with hydrating formulas. Read more on both of these glass skin techniques below. 

 

How to Get Glass Skin With Skin Care Products

The foundation of glass skin is always good skin care habits. Korean skin care favors double cleansing and layering lightweight, hydrating products to help create the appearance of glowing, dewy skin. Here’s how to get the glass skin trend with your skin care routine.

 

1. Double Cleanse

A fundamental part of Korean skin care is the double cleanse as it’s the basis for a solid skin care routine. The first cleanse is to remove any makeup and the second cleanse is to remove any dirt or impurities left on the skin.

To remove makeup, use a micellar water or makeup remover towelettes like the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes. The cleansing wipes are gentle enough for use whenever you need to remove makeup while the added vitamin E and vitamin C antioxidants boost radiance while gently exfoliating.

Next, look for a cleanser that can help brighten the appearance of your complexion. We like the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Daily Scrub Cleanser which doubles as a face scrub with the added micro-pearls and glycolic acid that gently buff skin to improve the texture for a more radiant finish. Wet your face and gently massage a small amount of the facial cleanser onto your face, then rinse it off thoroughly with lukewarm water and gently pat your skin dry with a washcloth.

2. Use an Exfoliating Toner

Glass skin can look and feel as smooth as, well, glass. This doesn’t mean your complexion has to have a perfectly smooth texture. Reminder, there’s nothing wrong with textured skin, however, some dry or flakiness can mean a buildup of dead skin. Exfoliating is a really important step to remove dead skin and unveil a smooth, glowing complexion. To rid skin of this for a glass-like complexion use a liquid exfoliator product like the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 5 % Glycolic Acid Peeling Toner. The glycolic acid and aloe vera work together to soothe and moisturize skin while increasing cell turnover for skin that looks glowy and renewed.

3. Reach for a Sheet Mask

Who says you can’t add a little pampering into your glass skin routine? Sheet masks are a great way to give your skin a nourishing treat while addressing your skin care concerns. For glass skin, choose one that helps boost moisture and lock in hydration.

Editor’s tip: When it’s time to remove the sheet mask, don’t wipe off excess product, instead, gently massage it into the skin for a final bit of hydration.

 

4. Apply a Hydrating Serum

Glass skin is all about a healthy-looking, dewy complexion, so hydrating your skin is an absolute must. After cleansing and toning, apply a facial serum to your damp skin. Hyaluronic acid is a hero in Korean skin care because it does such an exceptional job of drawing hydration to the skin.

Try the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, which absorbs quickly and gives skin a visibly plumped, youthful look. Apply a few drops onto your face and neck, then gently smooth over your skin in upward motions, being careful to avoid your eyes.

5. Layer on a Lightweight Moisturizer

You’ll want to layer a moisturizer on top of the serum to help to lock in moisture and give a radiant glow. Try a lightweight moisturizer like the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Micro Hyaluronic acid + Ceramides line-plumping water cream, which packs skin with nutrients without a greasy residue. This star moisturizer is formulated with hyaluronic acid and ceramides to plump, firm and hydrate the skin — the perfect addition for a glass resembling complexion. Apply it after serums to lock in moisture.

6. Always Finish with Sunscreen

You didn’t think we’d end a glass skin care regimen without  SPF did you? Sunscreen is a must for all skin types and every skin care routine, no matter the look you’re going for. To complete the dewy skin look add a broad-spectrum sunscreen that’ll leave behind a glowy finish, like the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion. This sunscreen melts into skin without leaving behind any ashy white cast or greasy texture — just radiance.

How to Get Glass Skin With Makeup

Skin care is the foundation to glass skin and makeup is the cherry on top. If you’re implementing a new skin care regimen to achieve glass skin, you’re going to want to pick makeup that will complement all of your efforts. Keep reading to see how you can use makeup to achieve glass skin.

1. Pick a Glowy Foundation

Glass skin would never be caught looking matte! To really ensure a glowing, glass-like final look, use a foundation that’s moisturizing and even dewy or radiant. A medium-coverage foundation is a great way to build up to your desired look without appearing cakey. Your best bet is using a foundation with a radiant finish, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation which applies smoothly and lasts 24 hours.

If you prefer something even more lightweight with a natural finish, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Radiant Serum Foundation with SPF 50. This foundation offers serum-like coverage thanks to vitamin B3 and a hydrating serum in the formula, for a more radiant finish that won’t settle into fine lines. 

2. Use Minimal Powder

We get it — sometimes powder is a must, especially if you have oily skin, but there’s a fine line between lightly mattifying the face and using too much powder that takes away the glass skin look. A good rule of thumb: save powder for essential areas like the t-zone or under-eye skin for better oil absorption and crease-free makeup. Go for a soft-focus, universal translucent powder that’ll work for all skin tones. 

3. Apply a Liquid Highlighter

Applying highlighter is like the icing on the cake for glass skin. To achieve glass skin with makeup, a liquid highlighter is always the way to go because it blends seamlessly into the complexion. Squeeze a liquid formula like the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer onto your fingertips and blend it into the skin. Pay close attention to your cheekbones and the tip of your nose for an all-over glow.

4. Add a Glowy Lip

Now that you’ve done all this work to achieve glass skin, you can’t have chapped lips. Go for something light and hydrating to complement your glass complexion, like the L’Oréal Paris Glow In Paradise Balm-in-Lipstick with Pomegranate Extract. This lightweight lipstick helps to hydrate your pout with the added pomegranate extract that improves the top layer of skin while offering a healthy glow.

Next: How to Get the Glowy, Dewy Skin You’ve Always Dreamed Of

Photographer: Nelson Huang, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Producer: Becca Solovay, Beauty Content Director: Shalwah Evans, Visual Designer: Sarah Duvivier, Wardrobe Stylist: Alexis Badiyi, Wardrobe Assistant: Jazmine Alzado, Makeup Artist: Jonet Williamson, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Digi Tech: Jacky Jiang, Photo Assistant: Tyler Andrews, Model: Erin Williams