How to Get Glass Skin: Our Guide to the Korean Skincare Trend

As skincare enthusiasts, we at Rank & Style couldn’t wait to get the scoop on glass skin the moment it started dominating the Korean beauty scene in 2017. The term Glass refers to a complexion that’s so clear, bright, and smooth it looks almost translucent. But don’t mistake it for a waxy or stiff finish—true glass skin is plump, hydrated, and luminous. Unlike some beauty trends that require layers of makeup, this one is all about giving your skin exactly what it needs to glow from within.

The best part? You don’t have to be a K-pop star to achieve it. With the right routine and a few game-changing products, anyone can get that glossy, dewy look—no filters required.

What Is Glass Skin?

No filter tricks here! Korean glass skin is skin that's hydrated, radiant, and glowing. The trend gets its name from skin whose texture is as smooth and flawless as glass. We love that glassy skin isn’t about masking your complexion with heavy makeup—it’s about enhancing your natural glow.

This Korean beauty trend is all about nourishing your skin to the point that it radiates. Rather than masking pores and imperfections, it focuses on refining and enhancing your complexion through smart skincare practices. 

There are no hacks or illusions here. To get glassy skin, you must first create healthy skin with a consistent skincare routine. It's done with hydration, exfoliation, and nourishment.

K-Beauty Trends

While glassy skin seems like a new beauty trend after exploding on social media, it's actually rooted in the Korean beauty market's long-standing tradition of creating healthy-looking, radiant skin through proper skincare routines and nutrition. However, the term "glass" skin emerged in Seoul more recently among beauty insiders who wanted a word to encapsulate the Korean appreciation for flawless skin.

How to Get Glass Skin

The truth is that we're all in different places with our skincare journeys. However, there is a standard Korean skincare routine for achieving glassy skin that we can all follow for smooth-as-glass skin. It relies heavily on cleansing to create a pristine foundation before layering on products that hydrate and firm skin.

Here's how to get glass skin:

1. Double Cleanse: Don't sleep in your makeup! The first step is a thorough cleanse to remove makeup, sunscreen, and surface debris. Start with an oil-based cleanser to break down impurities, then follow up with a water-based cleanser to ensure your skin is completely clean and prepped for the next steps.
2. Tone: A gentle toner is essential for minimizing pores.
3. Exfoliate: Always slough away old skin to get smooth "baby" skin.
4. Add Essence: Lightweight, water-based serums and moisturizers hydrate the skin and boost absorption to give you that bright, glowing look.
5. Treat: Eye creams and spot serums with hyaluronic acid, fatty acids, vitamins, peptides, and minerals smooth out targeted areas.
6. Moisturize: Get skin "sealed" and plump with a good moisturizer.
7. Protect: Daily SPF is key for keeping skin blemish-free and dewy for a lifetime.

Key Ingredients to Look for in Glass Skin Products

Achieving glass skin isn’t about piling on heavy, oily products—it’s about using the right ingredients to hydrate, brighten, and smooth your complexion for a naturally dewy glow. 

Below are the powerhouse ingredients that make all the difference:

• Hyaluronic Acid (HA): As a natural substance that helps lubricate and cushion our skin, eyes, and joints, HA boosts hydration and elasticity when applied topically. In skincare, HA is vital for plump, nourished skin via a fortified skin barrier.
• Vitamin C: As the ultimate brightening agent, vitamin C makes skin luminous while balancing skin tone. It also boosts collagen and fights free radicals for firmer, younger skin over time.
• Niacinamide: A form of vitamin B3, niacinamide is a wrinkle-fighting "super agent" that helps fill in the skin barrier with ceramides and fatty acids. It locks water into skin to fight dryness and redness.
• Aloe Vera: The ultimate skin tamer, aloe vera gently soothes and hydrates.
• Peptides: Peptides improve skin elasticity to create that signature supple look of glassy skin.
• Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs): Found naturally in sugarcane and fruits, AHAs exfoliate intensively.

How to Play Up Glass Skin With Makeup

Once you've nailed the glass skin look with your skincare routine, it’s time to amplify that radiant glow with a few makeup tricks. These tips will help you enhance your dewy complexion and give your skin a flawless, high-shine finish without hiding it under heavy layers. 

Here’s how to take your glass skin to the next level:

• Use a skin perfector: If you’ve ever struggled with heavy foundation that emphasizes blemishes, you’ll love how a K-beauty skincare routine creates a smooth, even base. For a glass skin look, skip the full-coverage foundation and reach for a skin perfector instead. These translucent, glow-boosting bases hydrate while balancing skin tone, minimizing pores, and softening fine lines.
• Choose a dewy foundation: For foundation, ditch the matte you've been wearing in favor of a base with something called radiant effect. These foundations actually give your natural skin a shimmery, dewy finish instead of painting over it.
• Use highlighter: Highlighter brings out the high-gloss look of healthy skin. When achieving the glass look, go for highlighters with pearlescent qualities in shades of pink, peach, rose gold, and gold. Remember that "beach glow" isn't the goal.
• Use setting spray: If you usually set with powder, switch to a setting spray to avoid dampening the glossy look with a matte finish.
• Hydrate lips: A dry, chapped lip dims a glass look. Avoid leaving lips bare or filling them in with a drying matte lipstick. Go with tinted or translucent balms or lip oils for all-over shine.