It seems as though just about every beauty guru, beauty obsessive and skincare-aholic has a newly founded love for K-beauty, and really, we’re not surprised at all. The affordable price tags and quirky, fun packaging is tempting for everyone, and who doesn’t want juicy, glowy-looking skin all year round?
Koreans are all about the glow, but the most recent fixation is to have a complexion that looks almost translucent; like a shard of glass, if you will! Sounds good, right? As with all K-beauty routines though, you have to put the work in – skin that looks as good and healthy as theirs doesn’t come easy. So, for insanely smooth and glossy skin, just keep scrolling…
Exfoliate your skin with an acid
After double-cleansing to rid your skin of makeup, dirt and impurities, the first step of the glass skin routine is a chemical exfoliant. In particular, AHA-based exfoliators, as they are hydrating as well as being the most effective type of acid. They help to refine the skin’s texture by sloughing away any dead skin cells, and are great at smoothing fine lines, boosting cell turnover, diminish signs of aging caused by sun damage, and, well…give you skin as good as any baby’s. Sort of.
Hydrate, hydrate & hydrate again
Essences are sort of the signature step of any given Korean skincare routine and so they’re used as the first layer of hydration in the glass skin process. Properly and thoroughly hydrated skin is a result of layering and the application of thin layers, which is why essences hydrate the skin so well as they are a sort of lightweight watery serum-toner hybrid.
If you have a little more time, we’d suggest swapping your essence for a sheet mask to further treat and penetrate your skin. Hydrating products are best applied on slightly damp skin (think of your skin as a sponge), so a hydrating mist should be your next step here to prep for the richer and more emollient products that will follow.
Next, in the quest for glass skin, is a hydrating serum; a hyaluronic acid-based serum will work best here as it hydrates but also allows the skin to retain moisture itself. To seal in all the above products and to further hydrate the skin, a lightweight moisturising cream, gel or sleeping pack/mask should be the last step in your glass skin routine.
Do you love this trend, or are all the never-ending trends getting a bit too much for you?
Jess Hall