How to Get Glass Skin: Step-by-Step Guide for Glowing Skin
Korean beauty routines are famous worldwide. It's not only about technique but how they make simple ingredients work magically. Glass skin is a skincare trend inspired by Korean beauty (K-beauty), characterized by a clear, luminous, and smooth complexion that appears almost translucent. Achieving this look requires a consistent skincare routine, hydration, and a focus on overall skin health. Here's the ultimate step-by-step guide on how to get glass skin:
8 Steps for How to Get Glass Skin
Step 1: Double Cleanse
Always double cleanse as it removes makeup, dirt, and impurities without irritating your skin.
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Oil Cleanser: Start with a cleansing oil or balm to dissolve makeup and sunscreen.
- Water-Based Cleanser: Follow up with a gentle, hydrating cleanser to clean your skin thoroughly.
Step 2: Exfoliate once in a week
Mild exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, revealing a brighter complexion and improving product absorption.
- Use a chemical exfoliant with AHAs (like glycolic or lactic acid) or BHAs (like salicylic acid). Before using any actives on your skin, always do a patch test.
- Avoid harsh scrubs that can irritate the skin. Opt for mild scrubs that don't irritate the skin and not make the skin red.
Step 3: Tone
Toning helps in balancing the skin's pH and preps it for better absorption of subsequent products.
- Use a hydrating toner with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, rose water, or green tea. These help calm down the irritation, if any, and help maintain the skin's pH level.
- Pat the toner into your skin gently with your hands. Never rub any tissue or towel harshly on the skin, as it can damage the skin barrier and irritate it.
Step 4: Incorporate Essence into your skincare routine
Essence adds hydration and helps other products penetrate deeper into the skin.
- Always apply a lightweight essence containing fermented ingredients or hydrating agents like snail mucin.
- Gently pat it onto your skin. Please don't overdo it.
Step 5: Apply Serums
Serums are the best source of hydration and target specific skin concerns like dullness, fine lines, or acne.
- Use a Vitamin C serum in the morning for brightening and antioxidant protection. Start with a lower concentration and increase it gradually as it starts working for you.
- At night, use a serum with hyaluronic acid for hydration or niacinamide for brightening and calming. Make sure you choose the right active for your serum that goes with your skin type and doesn't negatively affect it.
Vitamin C serum picks
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Light Up Beauty Blaze Vitamin C Face Serum - The GOLD Standard Vitamin C serum boosts collagen, fades dark spots, and improves skin tone with a 12 Power Nutri Complex. Its non-sticky formula provides 6-8 hours of hydration and helps reduce acne spots and fine lines.
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Plum 15% Vitamin C Face Serum for Glowing Skin- This serum brightens skin with 15% Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, boosts collagen with Japanese Mandarin, and protects with Kakadu Plum. Betaine and Rose Extracts hydrate and soothe. Apply 2-3 drops on cleansed skin, then follow with SPF or moisturizer.
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Garnier Skin Naturals Bright Complete Vitamin C Booster- This face serum suits all skin types, brightens dull skin and reduces dark spots with regular use. Apply 3-4 drops twice a day after cleansing, followed by moisturizer. Enriched with lemon extracts and 30x the Vitamin C of Garnier's Bright Complete creams
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The Derma Co 10% Vitamin C Face Serum - This serum with 5% Niacinamide and 10% Vitamin C minimizes pores, accelerates cell regeneration, and reduces acne. It enhances complexion, lightens skin tone, and prevents fine lines and wrinkles with Ferulic Acid. Safe for all skin types, free from harmful ingredients, and delivers visible results in 3-6 weeks.
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Minimalist 10% Vitamin C Face Serum: This 10% Vitamin C serum brightens skin, reduces dullness and melanin production, and soothes Centella water. It's suitable for all skin types, free from harmful ingredients, and provides glowing, healthy skin.
Step 6: Lock in Moisture with a Lightweight Lotion, cream or Gel
The moisturizer keeps the skin hydrated and plump as it locks in moisture.
- Choose a moisturizer suitable for your skin type.
- Look for ingredients like ceramides, peptides, or aloe vera for a soothing effect.
How to Get Glass Skin with Lightweight Cream Top 5 Picks
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Light Up Beauty Daydream Rice Water Cream- Rice cream for the face with 75% Rice water complex, Gold Vitamin C, and Rose & Coconut water for dewy, glass-like skin. Helps with a luminous, glass-like appearance and plump and hydrated skin.
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Plum 2% Niacinamide & Rice Water Gel Cream- Power packed with the brightening 2% Niacinamide, hydrating Rice Water & sebum regulating Matmarine. With this niacinamide moisturizer, you can experience lightweight, non-greasy hydration and brighter-looking skin.
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Faceshop Rice & Ceramide Moisturizing Cream- Infused with rice extracts, rice bran oil, and ceramide that helps moisturize skin. Fast-absorbing cream for deep penetration and hydration of the skin. Moisturizing cream that prevents early signs of aging. Paraben-free moisturizing cream for safe use.
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Asaya Peptide Moisturizer For Face: The 7-Peptide Complex boosts collagen, firms skin, and reduces wrinkles, while Rice EGF and Squalane hydrate and brighten. Enriched with niacinamide and vitamin C, it refines pores and strengthens the skin barrier, making it ideal for Indian skin.
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PILGRIM Korean White Lotus Face Cream with SPF 50- White Lotus Day Cream with SPF50 reduces spots, hydrates, controls sebum, and protects from the sun. Toxin-free, cruelty-free, and suitable for all skin types, it provides sheer coverage. Apply 10 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every 3-4 hours.
Step 7: Seal with a Rich Moisturizer or Sleeping Mask
Maintains hydration overnight for dewy, glass-like skin.
- At night, opt for a thicker moisturizer or a sleeping mask to deeply nourish your skin.
Moisturizer picks
- Light Up Beauty Wave moisturizer- This day cream provides 72-hour hydration, shrinks pores and brightens dark spots with 5% Vegan Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, and 2% Niacinamide. It hydrates, combats acne, and balances sebum for sensitive skin, lasting 6-8 hours.
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Dot & Key Ceramides Moisturizer with Hyaluronic: This hydrating face cream with ceramides and hyaluronic acid moisturizes, strengthens the skin barrier, and smoothens uneven texture. It balances the microbiome, soothes irritation with Japanese Rice Water, and is perfect for dry skin.
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Dr Sheth's Ceramide & Vitamin C Oil - Free Moisturizer- This cream deeply hydrates with Ceramide Complex, fades dark spots and brightens skin with Vitamin C, and strengthens the skin barrier with Ceramides and Ashwagandha, restoring and de-stressing the skin.
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Cetaphil Moisturising Cream for Face & Body: This rich, non-greasy cream provides intense, long-lasting hydration for dry, sensitive skin. Its unique formula attracts water and prevents moisture loss, offering quick absorption without irritation. Fragrance-free and mild, it's perfect for very dry skin.
- Aqualogica's Lightweight Moisturizer For Face - Illuminate+ Oil-Free Moisturizer brightens skin with Wild Berries, Alpha Arbutin, and Hyaluronic Acid, fading dark spots and pigmentation. It deeply hydrates without greasiness, leaving a lightweight, radiant finish. Ideal for oily, combination, or sensitive skin.
Step 8: Protect with Sunscreen (Daytime)
Prevents sun damage, which can cause pigmentation and dullness.
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
- Reapply every 2–3 hours if you're outdoors.
Top 3 Sunscreen picks
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Light Up Beauty Gold Rush sunscreen- SPF 60+ sunscreen brightens skin with Vitamin C, targets pigmentation, and strengthens the skin barrier with Ceramide Complex. It offers full UV, pollution, and blue light protection, absorbs in 3 seconds, and lasts 6-8 hours with no white cast.
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Garnier Super UV Invisible Serum Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++- It offers 99% protection against sun damage with SPF 50+ and Vitamin C. Its lightweight, non-greasy formula absorbs quickly, leaving no white cast, and is suitable for all skin types.
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DOT & KEY Vitamin C + E Super Bright Sunscreen SpF 50- This SPF 50 PA+++ sunscreen boosts glow and prevents tanning with Triple Vitamin C and Sicilian Blood Orange. It offers protection from UV, UVA, UVB, and blue light, with a water-light, non-sticky formula that leaves no white cast, suitable for all skin types.
Lifestyle Tips for Glass Skin
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Stay Hydrated: Drink at least eight glasses of water daily.
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Eat Skin-Friendly Foods: Focus on fruits, vegetables, and omega-3-rich foods like salmon and flaxseeds.
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Get Enough Sleep: Aim for 7–8 hours of quality sleep to allow your skin to repair.
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Manage Stress: Practice mindfulness or yoga to reduce stress-related skin issues.
- Avoid Harsh Products: Stick to gentle, hydrating products that don't strip your skin barrier.
Consistency Is Key
Achieving glass skin takes time and dedication. Stick to this routine on how to get glass skin consistently, and you'll begin to see noticeable improvements in your skin's texture, clarity, and glow.