Glass Skin: Tips, Tricks & Details You Need to Know

You know the saying: “People in a glass skin… shouldn’t throw anything. They get someone else to do it because they are fabulous.”

Before the global glass skin phenomenon, decades of skincare and cosmetic trends were attempting to match the aesthetic standards of plastic doll perfection - mattified, untouchable with anatomically unrealistic features, indestructible makeup, and a cold blank stare of a store mannequin contemplating its next meaningless pose. But this fell out of grace as the Korean glass skin trend brought back the delicate, clear, natural, minimalistic look of a well-taken-care-of, deeply hydrated, extremely clear, radiant, and poreless skin texture.

If you, too, were bitten by the almost-translucent bug of a glass skin trend, want to learn more on how to get glass skin naturally at home, how long it takes, and a step-by-step routine to achieve a barely-real flawless look, stick around.

What Is Glass Skin?

Opposed to a smoke-and-mirror plan of faking it with makeup, glass skin stands as a look and is a method of skincare that originated in South Korea. It describes an ideal complexion that is so smooth, clear, and intensely hydrated that it appears almost translucent and radiant from the inside. Glass skin is achieved through proper skincare based on deep, long-term skin hydration, proper exfoliation, and consistent nourishment. The goal is something like Mother Nature’s Photoshop - a naturally healthy, plump, and flawless skin free of visible pores and blemishes.

Is Getting Glass Skin Possible?

This is an interesting and heavily debated question, as we all come from different ethnic backgrounds and have different skin types. Will a glass skin work for everybody, or are we being naive when spoonfed the new it-thing?
 

Glass skin is possible for all. Some may have won a genetic lottery or have already adopted a lifestyle that supports clear and radiant skin. Still, it is possible for all. Glass skin may not look identical for everyone, nor will the glas skin products you need. However, the Korean glass skin routine always relies on the two most essential hinges: timely exfoliating of the already dead skin cells and some serious hydration and nourishment.

How Long Does It Take to Get Glass Skin?

On average, a glass skin routine may take a few weeks to several months to show noticeable results. Factors such as drinking enough water, choices you make on the plate, and stress levels also influence how quickly your skin improves.
 

We are all very impatient living in an instant world and want to know how long something will last before we begin. I sometimes think of lovers waiting for each other's letters for weeks, and that sort of makes me less impatient... for a (short) while. But if you're aiming for glass skin, you'll need to think more along the lines of a holistic skincare approach. This is not a quick fix like that highlighter smear. It means incorporating a well-structured glass skin skincare routine with a healthy lifestyle. Yes, we understand that you were hoping to avoid breaking a sweat, but - considering sweat gets rid of toxins and softens the skin - a good sweat session does wonders.

The time it takes to achieve glass skin will vary depending on your current skin condition, lifestyle, and consistency. You may not be far away, or you might have been abusing your skin for a while now, you may have been using the wrong skincare for your skin type, and now, it’s time to fix the damage first before we surpass the baseline. On the other hand, YOLO-lifestyle skin does not look the same as the skin of someone who takes care of themselves; plus, we can't account for your character and how willing you are to follow the routine daily. 

Steps to Get Glass Skin Naturally

Step 1: Dual Cleansing

A regular makeup remover may be enough for someone who barely wears makeup. But if you wear serious makeup daily, live in an urban area, or regularly wear SPF, double cleansing will do much better at removing makeup, heavier sunscreen, and the city grime that has lodged in your pores.

Start by using an oil-based cleanser to melt down and remove heavier foundations, waterproof makeup, and SPF. Then, follow up with a water-based cleanser that will flush it all away, go deep into the pores to remove stuck dirt, and really make your face fresh and clean.

Step 2: Gentle Exfoliant

Use a gentle exfoliant 2-3 times weekly to slough off the stubborn dead skin cells. If they remain put, they’ll seriously dull your luster and cover the new healthy, smooth, soft skin below. 

Avoid harsh mechanical scrubbing and opt for a gentle face brush or chemical exfoliants, such as AHAs (like glycolic or lactic acid) to gently exfoliate the surface or BHAs (like salicylic acid) for a deeper clean if you have oily or acne-prone skin.

Step 3: Toner

Sometimes, we go at our skin too vigorously, or the cleanser is still too harsh for us. Remember, your job is to cleanse the skin as well as you can while keeping your natural skin barrier as resilient as possible. The skin barrier is a natural skin protection from the elements, so please don’t strip it away. Make sure you restore balance by using a hydrating toner.

Toners help balance pH and add an initial boost of calming hydration. Look for toners containing glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or aloe vera to keep your skin feeling fresh and moisturized. Just be sure to avoid toners with alcohol or menthol—they can dry out your skin.

Step 4: Essence

An essence is a somewhat more concentrated step to deeply hydrate and boost skin elasticity profoundly.

Essences are usually very light but potent, packed with nutrients that hydrate your skin and help it maintain its elasticity. You can press them gently onto the skin with your hands or, ideally, a round, flat cotton pad and let them absorb, or you can spray them on as an essence mist—fast and practical.

Step 5: Serums

Serums are a great way to target specific skin concerns. They are usually much more concentrated than other skincare products.

When looking for glass skin serums, your best bet is to find ones that brighten and hydrate, such as serums with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and niacinamide, to keep your skin looking glowing and even.

Step 6: Moisturizer

A moisturizer seals in all the hydration you’ve applied. In this case, make sure it’s lightweight unless you have very dry skin and know that something heavier works for you.

A nourishing moisturizer with ingredients like ceramides, squalane, and peptides to keep your skin smooth and strong. Gel moisturizers are great for oily skin, while cream-based ones are perfect for dry skin.

Step 7: SPF

There is rarely damage so serious and severe as the one caused by cumulative photoaging, so a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ should be the final step if you’re gonna step outside once you’re done with your skincare routine.

If you are doing an evening skincare routine. In that case, you can skip sunscreen, but in all other situations, even if you’re going to be in the shade, behind a window, or riding in a car, protect your skin from UV damage to prevent collagen decay, pigmentation, and premature aging.

5 Extra Tips for Glass Skin

There are always those who are ready to learn more about a topic of interest and go all out, hitting the problem like an octopus holding a grudge from all sides. These seem to be the people who get results faster in skincare, business, and life in general. So here are some extra tips that will help you achieve your glass skin goals faster. They will complement your skincare routine and accumulate over time to make a significant difference.

Face Masks 1-2 Times/Week

There is no better investment when padding a glass skin routine than getting more moisture. It is not enough until it seems like too much. The world is rough on the skin; the pollution, AC, and drying heating systems all deteriorate and dehydrate the skin cells. 

So, to combat these, go get yourself a nice, juicy hydrogel mask, such as FAQ™ Glass Skin Collagen Face Mask, 1-2 times a week. These masks are packed with goodies like collagen, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin and will definitely make a lasting difference in a few months.

GET FAQ™ Glass Skin Masks

Drink Plenty of Water

As much moisture as you can pack on the surface is a great idea, but hydrating from within is an even better idea. The topical application of hydration in glass skin is topped only by ingesting enough hydrating foods and liquids. Sort of like wearing shapewear to trim your waist versus physically losing those few pounds. An amply hydrated body is the real deal, and far from being just good for your skin, it is necessary for an infinite number of bodily processes to run smoothly and efficiently and to flush out the unavoidable toxins of contemporary life.  This is THE glowing skincare tip.

Eat Skin-Nourishing Foods

No amount of skincare and outside interventions will give you the perfect glass skin if your body is devoid of crucial nutrients. Skin is the body's largest organ and needs:

• Vitamin C from citrus fruits, bell peppers, and strawberries
• Vitamin E from nuts, seeds, and leafy greens, 
• Vitamin A, found in foods like sweet potatoes, carrots, and spinach
• Probiotics are in foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi because a healthy gut is closely linked to healthy skin by managing inflammation. 
• Healthy fats include omega-3 fatty acids in salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds.

Use a Humidifier

Especially during the winter, when heating systems evaporate all of the natural moisture from the air, the outside air is cold and dry. You know how much a humidifier helps you if you're sick by keeping the mucus membranes from overdrying.

For skincare in cold months, use a humidifier while you sleep to keep the moisture levels in your room at optimal levels. The skin goes into repair mode while you sleep, making nighttime the best opportunity for rejuvenation. Plus, adequate moisture will reduce fine lines and irritation and support the skin’s natural barrier, reducing the chances of eczema or psoriasis.

Do Facial Yoga

Just like regular exercise helps you not feel like a loose bag of jelly on a vibrating plate, facial exercises can help tone and lift the face, enhance blood flow, tighten muscles, and boost overall skin health. 

Practice face yoga to reduce tension (especially on the forehead, jaw, and around the eyes) and get rid of that worried, perpetually angry look that makes you look older and tired. Face yoga also stimulates blood flow to the skin, giving those skin cells some juicy new oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood.

Conclusion

From the cold, unapproachable faces of the heavy makeup era and unapproachable heroine chic faces, thanks to Korean skincare influences, we've returned back to a natural, clean beauty but this time supported by a scientifically backed skincare industry. There is always a chance you can achieve a glass-face vibe with tons of makeup and a proficiency-level highlighter game. Still, this will demand the observer of your perfect self not to get close enough to notice the clever fabrication you’ve created through light, shadow, and texture.

Chasing real glass skin is about a whole constellation of healthy lifestyle habits and being consistent with skincare that nourishes, hydrates, and exfoliates. We need some quality info, a few basic skincare investments, and a handful of consistency and patience (and a few top-notch hydrogel masks), and we can all get closer to the glass skin ideal, regardless of skin type or genetic luck of the draw. We hope you've found some valuable crystal clear info today. Stay curious, stay beautiful, and enjoy living in your glass skin (and have someone throw a random thing only if absolutely necessary).