The Ultimate Guide to Getting Glass Skin

Glass skin has finally come stateside. The trend is based not just on how glowy skin looks, but also on the overall health of skin, too. We explain and give you the cheatsheet on how to get glass skin.

Korean and Japanese beauty are often referenced as being years ahead of trends compared to the Western world. Game-changing trends like BB and CC creams, snail mucin, and double cleansing originated in Asia and were later popularized worldwide. One such trend that is finally becoming big in the U.S. after years of popularity in Korea and Japan? Glass skin — a movement focused not just on achieving a glow, but also on overall skin health, too. Keep reading to understand this trend, how to get glass skin, and the best glass skin products to get you glowing in mere minutes.

What Is Glass Skin?

First coined in Korea, glass skin refers to skin that is so luminous, translucent, and radiant that it almost looks like a crystal-clear pane of glass. This dewy skin trend is less focused on specific steps or ingredients and more about hydrating and nurturing the face so that the glow comes naturally from healthy skin. However, a few glow-enhancing formulas, like pearlescent primers, can also be used to achieve skin so radiant, it almost appears to reflect light.

The Difference Between Glass Skin and Oily Skin

It’s easy to confuse glass skin with oily skin, but glass skin is more focused on looking dewy, not greasy. This means skin that is so deeply hydrated and healthy-looking that it radiates an ethereal glow. However, for those with overactive sebaceous glands, glass skin can quickly look excessively oily. The trick to achieving glass skin, even for oily skin types, is balancing skincare formulas and then managing oil production throughout the day (more on that below).

How To Achieve Glass Skin

How do you get glass skin? Similar to the ‘skin flooding’ trend, a glass skin routine is all about hydration — albeit perhaps in a method you haven’t tried before. Drenching skin in layers of moisture, from essences and serums to moisturizers and facial oils, can give skin that lit-from-within radiance. Going hand-in-hand with hydration are exfoliation and sun protection, but the throughline with all of these glass skin products is practicing gentleness. Approaching skin with gentle techniques and products is a hallmark of glass skin, all in the name of keeping inflammation, irritation, and redness at bay.

Building A Glass Skin Ritual

While there is no set glass skin ritual, there are a few techniques that ensure dewy skin. Here are five tips for how to achieve glass skin.

1. Double Cleanse

Skin is definitely not glowing if you’re not cleansing it properly. There’s no better way to cleanse than double cleansing, also known as the Kyoto Cleanse (named after the geisha beauty rituals that inspired it). The two-step process provides unparalleled results, thanks to the one-two punch of cleansers. The first step involves an oil or balm cleanser, which dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and stubborn debris. Then, once the face has been cleared of sunscreen, makeup, and more, skin can be cleansed, which is where step two comes into play: a cleanser. While there are many types of cleansers, a glass skin cleanser is both gentle and addresses skin’s overall needs. That could mean using a gel cleanser that balances skin (important for oily skin), a soothing cleanser that calms irritation, or a cream cleanser that adds hydration back to the skin.

2. Exfoliate

One factor that prevents you from achieving glass skin is dead skin cells, which can leave skin looking dull and lifeless. Gently buff away these dead skin cells with exfoliation. This can be through a physical exfoliant, like in the form of our favorite face polish, or a chemical exfoliant, like an exfoliating toner. Be careful, though: too much exfoliation can backfire and cause dehydration, irritation, and a compromised skin barrier. Start slow, likely once a week, then exfoliate more frequently if your skin handles it well.

3. Layer Your Hydration

The trademark of glass skin is layering hydrating formulas. This means using an essence, dewy serum, glowy moisturizer, and a juicy facial oil — all to help lock in moisture and keep skin looking plump and feeling resilient. There is one Japanese beauty–beloved technique you could use, too (particularly in cold, dry winter): layering an essence. Splash a palmful of essence into your hand and press gently into the face and neck. Then…do it again (and again, if it helps skin feel nice and hydrated). This liquid layering technique can really take your glow and moisture levels to the next level, e.g. glass skin. Then seal it all in with a dewy serum (if using), a moisturizer, and a face oil (if you’d like).

4. Make Sure Your Sunscreen Glows, Too

Don’t skip the sunscreen, which not only keeps your skin healthy and safe now, but will ensure glowing and radiant skin years from now. However, your sunscreen can also add to your glow if you use a formula with a pearlescent gleam. Look for a formula that touts safety (broad spectrum coverage and at least SPF 35) and radiance (ideally with clinical results that prove skin radiance) for a glass skin glow.

5. Lean Into the Skinification of Makeup

A major aspect of glass skin is the appearance of natural radiance, meaning makeup (if you choose to wear it) doesn’t look noticeable or cakey. One way to get makeup looking natural and feeling natural is to lean into another Japanese skin trend: the skinification of makeup. This means skincare ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and squalane, are present in the makeup formula in significant amounts, so the finish is natural and glowy. This can also be accomplished by using makeup primers that give skin a pearlescent glow — aka glass skin.

The Best Formulas for Achieving Glass Skin

Gentle, hydrating, and radiance-enhancing — welcome to the best glass skin products. Here is everything you’ll need to achieve dewy and glowy skin, but no need to use each and every one of these formulas. The glass skin routine is also about customizing it to your specific needs and skin type.

• Cleanse

First and foremost, cleanse properly. Invest time and effort into formulas that not only feel good but gently get to work making skin look healthier. We’re big fans of the double cleanse, and here are the two formulas you’ll need to accomplish it at home. (That said, in the morning, you can just use a single cleanser or even splash the face with water.)

-Cleansing Step One: Oil or Balm Cleanser

For this first step, use any cleansing balm or oil that dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and stubborn debris. Choose a cleanser that is specifically designed to break down waterproof makeup, like the Camellia Cleansing Oil, which is crafted with Japanese camellia oil (a featherweight botanical oil prized in Asia for its superb moisturizing activity). Or try the Indigo Cleansing Balm, a buttery soft texture that is designed to calm sensitive and sensitized skin with skin-soothing Japanese indigo (while still melting even the most stubborn waterproof makeup).

-Cleansing Step Two: Cleanser

Customize your cleanser based on your skin type. While, yes, you do wash away a cleanser, it still sets the tone (metaphorically and literally) and preps skin for the next steps.

For a creamy cleanser that whips into a rich foam to soften and hydrate skin, try The Rice Wash. Those looking to control oil while also purifying pores will love The Matcha Cleanse, which has a refreshing gel texture that lathers into a satisfying clarifying foam. This will help balance oil production throughout the day, too — helping skin look fresh and glass-like rather than just excessively oily.

• Exfoliate

After cleansing, incorporate exfoliation into your routine. (For frequency, consult package instructions.) This can be either chemical or physical exfoliation, just as long as it helps to unclog pores and rid the skin of dead skin cells.

-Physical Exfoliant

The Rice Polish is a water-activated powder that transforms into a delightful cloudy foam with just a few drops of water. The formula is unlike anything else — gently exfoliating for smoother skin, restoring radiance, and nourishing silky soft skin. The other wonderful thing about The Rice Polish? There is a formula just for you, thanks to the many different types of Rice Polishes – including Gentle, Calming, and Deep – so you can find the polish that best suits your skin type.

-Chemical Exfoliant

If you prefer a chemical exfoliant, try The Texture Tonic after cleansing. The liquid exfoliating treatment removes dead skin cells and resurfaces dull skin with fruit AHAs, niacinamide, and Japanese mugwort. After just a single use, skin is softer, more radiant (hello glass skin!), supple*, and moisturized**. Also, The Texture Tonic simultaneously minimizes excessive oil and visibly tightens the appearance of pores. (A perfect option for oily-prone and combination skin.)

*Based on a clinical study of 40 panelists.

**Based on a bio-instrumentation study of 33 panelists over 8 hours.

• Plump

Drenching the skin in multiple layers and types of hydration is the best shortcut to glass skin. Try layering on an essence, then The Dewy Serum, and a radiance-enhancing moisturizer for impossibly glowy skin.

-Essence

Your secret weapon for glass skin is an essence, which not only instantly hydrates and improves the softness and suppleness of skin, but also improves the performance of other skincare in your glass skin ritual. Help skin feel and look instantly hydrated and more plump with The Essence. In clinical studies, The Essence has proven to add over 621 percent more hydration to the skin instantly.* Plus, 100 percent of panelists showed an improvement in skin radiance in just one week — glass skin approved!** Using it both morning and night after cleansing (or exfoliating) will also help products applied afterwards work more effectively.

*Based on a bio-instrumentation study on 30 panelists.

**Based on an expert grading study on 30 panelists.

-Dewy Serums

Incorporating a nourishing serum, like a hyaluronic acid-boosted formula, into your daily morning and evening routine can help skin look and feel more dewy. One serum that will put you in the fast lane to glass skin? The Dewy Serum, which instantly floods skin with hydration from hyaluronic acid, squalane, and collagen peptides. It also smooths texture for a radiant glow and visibly improves elasticity for bouncier-looking skin. An expert-level tip for a next-level glow? Apply the serum while skin is still moist from The Essence — or add a few drops of The Essence with a few pumps of The Dewy Serum in the palm of your hand, rub palms together and press into the skin. This helps the serum absorb deeply and more effectively.

Need to take your hydration to go? Try The Serum Stick, which instantly hydrates, blurs, and improves skin radiance while you’re out and about.

-Hydrating Moisturizers

You can’t have glass skin without finding the right moisturizer for your skin type. Also, layering it directly after your hydrating serum (or if keeping things minimal, after The Essence and/or cleansing) will help lock in moisture.

If you have very dry or mature skin, try the intensely rich, hydrating Ageless Enriching Renewal Cream, which nourishes the skin with botanical extracts. Those with dry skin will love The Dewy Skin Cream, which has hyaluronic acid, red algae, and squalane to visibly plump and seal in moisture. If your skin falls between dry and combination, test out The Silk Cream, which toes the line between deeply hydrating and balancing skin, thanks to its rich yet weightless gel-cream formula, featuring silk extract. If skin is sensitive (or sensitized), you’ll love The Indigo Calming Cream, which features colloidal oatmeal and Japanese indigo to visibly reduce redness and itchiness while also providing lasting hydration. Oily skin can be tough to hydrate – taking glass skin to greasy skin in moments – but thanks to The Water Cream, skin is balanced and pores are refined with the refreshing gel-cream texture. If you want a shortcut to instantly more glassy, dewy skin, try The Dewy Milk Moisturizer, which balances with a lightweight, creamy texture and gives skin a bouncy, radiant glow.

• Protect

If we’re going to take inspiration from Asian beauty trends, we must also follow their most steadfast rule: always wear sunscreen. No matter where you live, your skin type, or what trend you're following, daily sunscreen is an absolute must. Finding a sunscreen you enjoy using is vital – whether it is mineral or chemical-based doesn’t matter. But since we’re talking about glass skin, discovering a formula that also leaves skin with a radiant cast is ideal.

-Glow-Enhancing Sunscreen

Consider The Silk Sunscreen, which features superior protection with broad-spectrum SPF 50, yet has a weightless feel and a sheer, radiant finish. (Hi again, glass skin.) It also has powerhouse ingredients, including niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, and a patented zinc oxide that is proven to be over two times more effective at protecting against free radicals than standard zinc oxide. So not only will it immediately give skin a glow and instantly hydrate, but it will also help skin look healthier over time and more visibly even-toned. In clinical studies, 90 percent of participants showed an improvement in skin radiance in just two weeks.*

*Based on an expert grader study on 40 panelists.

• Glow

Now that you’ve got a glass skin routine in place, it’s time for a few extra formulas that will take your glow to the next glass skin level. While they aren’t necessary, they are useful and, in some cases, will allow skin to look glowy (and not greasy) all day long.

-Glowy Facial Oil

If you could bottle up radiance, it would look like the Gold Camellia Beauty Oil. The Japanese camellia oil formula not only locks in moisture (apply it after a moisturizer or even in place of a moisturizer) but imparts a radiant gleam on the skin, thanks to the hydration, but also the 23 karat gold flakes. This useful multitasker can also be used on the body and hair, too.

-Pearlescent Primers

Beauty aficionados in Japan and Korea have long embraced makeup primers. Even if they are going without makeup, they’ll still apply a primer for a flawless, dewy skin look. That’s because many of their primers enhance skin with a blurred finish and pearlescent tint — radiance without heavy makeup.

For those with oily or combination skin, try the Liquid Silk Canvas, a light-as-silk primer that feels weightless on the skin, gliding on seamlessly to help makeup look more flawless and last longer. The oil-free formula leaves a soft-focus finish that diminishes the appearance of pores and fine lines, while also enhancing skin with a slight pink pearlescent hue. In clinical studies, 100 percent of users demonstrated an improvement in skin texture, tone, radiance, and the appearance of pores in just seven days, and 98 percent demonstrated an improvement in the appearance of fine lines after two weeks.*

For dry and combination skin, The Silk Canvas is for you. The rich balm has a unique velvety soft feel on the skin, but also impressively leaves behind a flattering, blurred, soft-focus finish, which instantly diminishes the look of pores and fine lines. Plus, the flattering, pearlescent formula leaves skin with a healthy glow, making it ideal for the glass skin look, too. In consumer studies, 100 percent of subjects agreed that the satin finish primer made their skin feel soft, fresh, more even-toned, younger, and healthier after two weeks of use.**

*Based on once-daily use in a clinical study of 40 women.

**Based on a consumer study of 20 women.

-Blotting Papers

Above, we talked about the importance of managing oil throughout the day for those with oily and combination skin, and this is exactly why blotting papers were created. Japan has been singing the praises of abaca leaf papers for centuries. Centuries ago, in Kyoto, gold artisans used the soft, strong, and absorbent paper to protect their gold leaf. Geishas later discovered the papers were brilliant at wicking away traces of oil without stripping moisture from the skin or disturbing their intricate makeup. Our wonderfully absorbent and strong Aburatorigami Blotting Papers absorb excess oil, without irritating skin or disturbing makeup.

Skin that looks and feels so radiant, dewy, and glowy that it appears to shine like a flawless pane of glass? We highly approve, especially because the trend is focused on supporting the overall health of skin, with a gentle and thoughtful approach. All that’s left for you to do now is get glowing.