What’s all the buzz about “glass skin”?! Smooth, lustrous, flawless. Those descriptors are definitely #skingoals, aren’t they? In fact, “glass skin” is a K-beauty term, used to describe a complexion as smooth, lustrous and flawless as glass. Recently, glass skin has gone viral as the holy grail of facial aesthetics, achieving a perfect liquid highlighter glow, without, you know, actually using highlighter. Even makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes, the expert of utilizing skincare to “shine in all the right places”, touts this highlighter-free glow.
So how do you achieve glass skin? The key to achieving glass skin is a combination of deep cleansing, gentle exfoliation and hydration, hydration, hydration. The surface must be smooth and poreless, with a hefty amount of water underneath to create the dewy lustrous-ness that will make skin look plump and firm while reflecting light.
Bad news: this ain’t no easy (or overnight) task. But if you’ve been through our Skin 101 series, this isn’t your first rodeo. (If you haven’t, go check it out. We’ll be here when you get back.) If you already have a personalized skincare routine, it’s simple to make certain tweaks to your existing routine in order to go next level.
Cleanse: Double cleansing is practically a must to get that first level of smooth, pore-less skin. Your skin is constantly in contact with environmental pollutants, not to mention contaminants left behind from makeup and product residue. Use an oil cleanser like the Black Sugar Perfect Cleansing Oil to dissolve and gently wipe away anything on your skin you don’t want. Follow that up with a deep pore cleanse with a product like Egg White Perfect Pore Cleansing Foam, which uses the tightening power of albumin in eggs to extract detritus in pores and minimize their appearance.
Exfoliate: To keep skin poreless and smooth, exfoliation is key to removing the dead skin cells to reveal the healthy skin underneath. Instead of going for something that has a lot of harsh acids or retinol, which could cause skin issues such as redness and dryness after prolonged or excessive use, pick an exfoliator, such as Black Sugar Mask Wash Off or Black Sugar Perfect Splash Mask. It’s gentler and its nourishing ingredients will treat your skin better in the long run.
Toner: It’s the first line of hydration in the glass skin process, so don’t skimp! It balances your skin’s pH and preps skin to soak in the additional levels of hydration you are going to add. There’s even a routine that advocates applying up to seven layers of just toner, to start! Using a product like Tomato Brightening Toner accomplishes multiple goals at once; while priming your skin, it will also work to brighten your skin and lessen unevenness. We’ll leave it up to you how many layers of tomatoe-y goodness your skin needs.
Essence: Think of essence as the younger sibling of serum. They still target skin concerns like hyperpigmentation and blotchiness like serums, but they’re formulated to deliver massive moisture. Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Essence harnesses the power of royal honey to double hydrate: it infuses moisture into the skin, then forms a barrier to lock it in.
Serum: Maybe the seasons are changing, or something’s got your hormones out of whack, but skin needs a little extra help sometimes. Serums provide that extra boost that your skin needs once in a while. Using serum is like calling in your own Special Weapons and Tactics team against redness, dryness, and a myriad of other skin conditions and Black Sugar Perfect First Serum The Essential is the best GLAM team in the biz.
Moisturizer: Did you know that the safety glass in your car’s windshield is actually multi-layered? It’s two pieces of glass that sandwich a thin layer of flexible clear plastic film. That’s exactly what you’re aiming for here: multiple layers of hydration. It helps to use a lightweight moisturizer, like Lettuce & Cucumber Watery Emulsion, which won’t feel as heavy after multiple applications. Or try a denser application, like the Royal Honey Propolis Enrich Cream, which creates a moisture barrier so hydration gets locked in.
Protect: Last but not least, finish off with SPF! Just like keeping your windows spotless and clear, we need to do the same for our skin. SPF will help protect skin and prevent dark spots & signs of aging! Don't forget to reapply throughout the day to make sure you're skin is protected all day long. We recommend an SPF with a lightweight or watery texture that you can pat into the skin for an additional layer of protection and leaves a natural healthy glow.
Don’t get overwhelmed by all the steps and products. The best skin care routine is the one you actually do. One day of doing all the steps with all the products won’t result in overnight success. Build your routine step by step, layer by layer. A consistent routine will build towards the overall health of your skin; achieving glass skin is just multiple applications within that routine. Whether you get to glass skin or not, taking small steps towards healthy, beautiful skin is the goal!
Tell us your tips & tricks to achieving glass skin. If you’ve tried the routine, snap a photo on Instagram and tag us @skinfood_us!
