It’s been a few years since Korean skin care first landed on our radars (also known as our Twitter and Instagram feeds), but the beauty world’s collective fascination for all things K-beauty shows no signs of slowing down. Korean skin care is known for its groundbreaking formulations, surprising ingredients and flatlay-ready packaging. It got us obsessed with sheet masks, introduced us to bee venom and snail mucin and even prompted us to google words like “chok-chok,” “ampoule” and “essence.” And thanks to makeup artist Ellie Choi’s now-viral skin care routine—and accompanying selfie showcasing her impeccably smooth, translucent skin—another term has been added to the ever-expanding K-beauty lexicon: glass skin.
What Is Glass Skin?
“Glass skin is a term for exceptionally smooth, even-toned and lustrous skin that’s so flawless it has the appearance of glass,” says skin care blogger and K-beauty expert Jude Chao. “It’s simply a clear and elegant way of describing a certain type of enviable complexion,” she adds. Like its predecessors “honey” and “dewy” skin, glass skin aims for an intensely moisturized skin that gives off an almost transparent complexion and a “very youthful, lit-from-within glow,” adds K-beauty and skin care blogger Sheryll Donerson.
The Glass Skin Regimen
While some skin care trends are focused on particular products that promise instant visible results, achieving glass skin requires a multi-dimensional approach, says Chao. “The surface of the skin must be extremely smooth, without bumps or rough texture. Directly beneath the surface, there should be a large amount of water in order to create the moist and lustrous appearance that catches and reflects light. Finally, the skin should look plump and firm,” Chao explains. Read more
