glass skin Dr Alexis Granite

What Is Glass Skin?

Glass skin is no transient trend, the Korean-inspired translucent, smooth, glowing appearance has been making waves in the beauty industry for at least half a decade.

But whilst the term might be becoming commonplace, how to achieve that dewy, practically-perfect complexion isn’t always clear.

Below I provide a guide on everything glass skin, from what it is, to how to achieve it, to my expert opinion on the right routine and product recommendations.

What Is Glass Skin?

First seen via K-beauty experts, glass skin is a complexion with an almost-impossibly smooth finish – a face that appears poreless, and as luminous as a piece of glass.

How to achieve it varies greatly depending on your source and skin type – but what remains consistent is the route to getting glass skin: a complex routine of multiple cleansers, exfoliators, serums, essences and moisturisers. In short, layering is king when it comes to delivering glass skin.

How To Get Glass Skin

As I cover above, there is no one-size-fits-all route to getting glass skin. A quick search on “how to get glass skin,” “glass skin products” or “glass skin routine” uncovers an overwhelming degree of results, each with a vastly different approach.

But what does remain clear is that achieving the appearance of glass skin isn’t an overnight process: you need to commit to a consistent routine over the course of a number of weeks to deliver long-lasting luminosity, allowing your skin to absorb and adjust to the active ingredients you are applying.

Glass Skin Routine

If you’re ready to commit, I have outlined the can’t miss steps to getting glass skin below, with a few optional extras:

Double Cleanse: First, remove make up and sunscreen with an oil-based cleanser or micellar water, followed by a hydrating cleanser that will gently remove any lingering impurities.

Exfoliate: Doubling down on the removal of dead skin cells is imperative to glass skin: gentle exfoliation with a chemical scrub like an AHA or BHA will improve skin texture and enhance product absorption.

Sheet Mask (Optional): As an added extra when you have the opportunity, supplement your glass skin routine with a hydrating sheet mask, making sure to massage in any remaining moisture once removed.

Essence: Water-based and rich in actives, an essence will hydrate and nourish, whilst preparing the skin to ensure that the products applied after it are well absorbed.

Serum: This step is the cornerstone of glass skin. Make sure you’re searching out a serum that is rich in hydrating hyaluronic acid, brightening vitamin C, protective antioxidants or all-powerful peptides – or, ideally, a product that delivers on all four.

Moisturise: Make sure you’re not mattifying the moisture you’ve already achieved: look for a highly hydrating lotion with ingredients such as ceramides and panthenol to really up the ante on skin-perfecting.

Face Oil (Optional): Adding an emollient or occlusive layer via a non-comedogenic face oil will lock in moisture, and leave a dewy finish.

Sun Protection: To give your glass skin the best chance of lasting, sun protection is an unmissable final step.

Glass Skin Product Recommendations

These are my go-to glass skin products and treatments:

CeraVe’s Micellar Cleansing Water with Niacinamide & Ceramides attracts just the makeup, excess sebum and daily grime from your skin, rather than removing the oils from your skin and drying it out.
Tatcha The Dewy Serum is rich in hyaluronic acid and squalane, and also gently exfoliates with mild AHAs.
Augustinus Bader The Cream is action-packed with peptides, as well as vitamins A and C.
Mesoestetic Melan 130 Pigment Control SPF is a super-high factor protection perfect for all skin types, but also suitable for those with pigmentation.
Moxi laser is a great treatment for tackling pigmentation, improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of pores – perfect for achieving glass skin.

Discover deeper dermatological insights on the beauty trends everyone’s talking about, via my journal.