Beauty Trend Alert: Glass Skin

We can always trust TikTok to keep us up to date on all that’s going on in the skincare and beauty world. One of the biggest beauty trends at the moment is "glass skin," a term used to describe skin that looks so clear and smooth that it appears almost translucent, like glass! This trend originated in Korea and has since taken the beauty world by storm, with people all over the globe striving to achieve the perfect glass skin look. Today we’ll discuss how to achieve that perfect glassy glow, so you’re up to date with the beauty game...

Glass skin: The origins

The term “glass skin” arose in the west, lent to us by the Korean skincare and beauty world, over 5 years ago, however, it has recently re-exploded all over our social media feeds. Glass skin was originally popularised in 2017 by Korean makeup artist Ellie Choi, who tweeted about her glass skin and caused the trend to gain traction. Glass skin has now become a significant beauty standard in Korea, due to its hyperreal opalescent qualities.

So, how can I achieve glass skin?

When it comes to glass skin, it all starts with a proper skincare routine. To achieve this desirable look, you'll need to focus on keeping your skin clean, hydrated, and nourished. This means using a gentle cleanser, applying a toner to help balance your skin's pH, and using a variety of serums and moisturizers to target specific skin concerns.

One key product to help you achieve glass skin is a facial essence. Facial essences are lightweight, watery products that are applied after toner and before serum. They help to hydrate and nourish the skin and are often formulated with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and botanical extracts to help improve the overall health and appearance of the skin.

Another important aspect of achieving glass skin is exfoliation. By regularly exfoliating your skin, you can help to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, revealing smoother, brighter skin. You can use a physical exfoliator, like a scrub or a loofah, or a chemical exfoliator, like an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) product. Just be sure to follow the instructions on the product and be gentle when exfoliating, as over-exfoliating can actually damage your skin.

In addition to a proper skincare routine, there are also a few makeup tips you can follow to help you achieve the glass skin look. For starters, opt for lightweight, water-based foundations and concealers that won't cake or crease. Use a setting spray to help set your makeup and give your skin a dewy, hydrated finish. And don't forget to highlight! By applying a highlighter to the high points of your face, you can help give your skin a radiant, glowing appearance.

There is certainly an art to achieving this luminous look, involving a careful combination of quality skincare and minimal makeup tricks. As a long-time cult follower of the dewy skin trend, I find glass skin to be that extra, more sophisticated step, that gives a radiant glow like nothing else. Give it a try and see what you think!