Published: December 30, 2023
The concept of glass skin entered the mainstream skincare world quite a few years ago, thanks to its rising popularity on social media. While many refer to it as a trend, glass skin has, in actuality, been a beauty ideal in Korea and other parts of Asia for generations.
So, what exactly is it?
Glass skin is skin that looks impeccably luminous, pore-less, and crystal clear, just like a piece of glass. It’s radiant and beautifully glowy, showcasing the epitome of health.
Based on that description alone, many assume that glass skin is unachievable for them, but this isn’t the case. No matter the skin concerns you may be struggling with, glass skin is attainable for all, so long as you use the right products and care for your skin in a certain way. A basic skincare routine isn’t enough to create this look – instead, you’ll need a slightly longer routine that focuses on hydration, and, at the same time, you’ll also need to make healthy lifestyle choices.
Ready to get started? Read on as Avinichi talks you through the steps involved in achieving glass skin.
Double Cleanse Your Skin
With glass skin originating from Korea, it should come as no surprise that the first step to achieving this look involves another K-beauty trend; double cleansing. A double cleanse enables you to clean your skin so much more thoroughly than a single cleanse, which is vital for glass skin. Any impurities allowed to linger on your skin’s surface will only detract from the glossy glow that you’re seeking.
With that said, keep in mind that K-beauty is all about treating the skin gently and kindly. Harsh foaming cleansers packed with sulfates and other drying ingredients are a big no-no. Instead, you need to go with gentle formulas for both of the cleansers that you use.
New to double cleansing? Start by washing your face with an oil-based cleanser. If you have oily skin, look for a formula that uses non-comedogenic oils to prevent clogging your pores. Next up comes a water-based cleanser, such as the super-moisturizing Noni Mousse Cleanser from Avinichi. By using these two types of cleanser, you’ll be able to effectively remove both oil-based and water-based impurities from your skin, giving you a clean slate onto which you can apply the rest of your skincare products.
Exfoliate
A double cleanse works well to clear away impurities from your skin’s surface, but, if you want glass skin, you’ll need to cleanse on a deeper level, which is where exfoliation comes in.
This isn’t a step that you need to be following each day as over-exfoliation will only irritate your skin. However, depending on your skin type, you should most definitely be exfoliating between 1-3 times a week. This will ensure that your pores are clear of dead skin cells, excess sebum, and other impurities. Not only will this immediately give your complexion a smoother and brighter finish, but it will also allow the rest of your skincare products to penetrate your skin without having to fight past any obstacles.
Just like when choosing cleansers, gentle exfoliating formulas are a must. Glass skin isn’t achieved by furiously scrubbing your skin with harsh abrasives. Instead, look for mild exfoliating acids, such as the mandelic acid in the Avinichi Noni Polishing Peel. With this formula also infused with several hydrating ingredients and antioxidants, it’s the perfect addition to a K-beauty-inspired routine!
Hydrate With a Toner
When it comes to glass skin, hydration is everything. Every single step in your skincare routine should provide some form of hydration, beginning with your toner. While many in the Western world view toning as an optional extra, this is a non-negotiable step in K-beauty regimens. After all, not only do toners hydrate, but they also balance out the pH level on the skin’s surface while prepping the skin to feel more receptive to any other skincare products that you apply.
With that said, not all toners are suitable for the glass skin look. Many are too astringent, which will only dehydrate your skin at a time when you’re trying to provide as much hydration as possible.
So, look for a toner that’s packed with plenty of hydrating compounds, just like the Avinichi Noni Pore Purifying Toner. Take a look at its ingredient list and you’ll see that the first few ingredients are all moisture-rich, confirming this product’s incredible hydrating capabilities. The fact that it also contains witch hazel extract is a big bonus. Not only does this ingredient offer powerful antioxidants, but it has also been proven to make the pores look smaller while reducing the feeling of inflammation in the skin.
Flood Your Skin With a Hydrating Serum
Hydrated skin cells have a bright and dewy glow to them, which is what you need for glass skin. That’s why the next step in this routine is all about hydration too; applying a hydrating serum.
It’s pretty easy to tell how hydrating a serum is from a quick glance at its ingredient list. Ideally, you want to see plenty of humectants. These are ingredients that bind moisture to the skin, making them capable of providing instant hydration. Some of the best humectants around are:
- Sodium hyaluronate or hyaluronic acid
- Glycerin
- Peptides
- Allantoin
- Certain plant extracts, such as reishi mushroom extract
You’ll find all of those ingredients in the Avinichi Hydrating Antioxidant Serum, which is in our Phyto Thermal Collection. In addition to flooding the skin with moisture, this serum is also loaded with multiple antioxidants. These take a little longer to work but, once they kick into action, they’ll give your skin a brighter and healthier-looking finish.
Apply an Eye Cream
In order to pull off the glass skin look, your entire face needs to look flawless, including your eye area. While your eye area can, and should, be included in all of the steps that we’ve shared so far, it’s important to note that the skin surrounding the eyes is much thinner and more fragile than the skin anywhere else on the face. For this reason, it needs some extra TLC if you want it to look smooth and fresh, which is why an eye cream should be the next product that you apply.
Since you want to illuminate the look of your skin, look for an eye cream that will help with this quest, such as the Avinichi Dark Circle Eye Perfecting Cream. Not only will it lighten the look of circles and shadows under your eyes, but it will also de-puff your complexion while softening the appearance of crow’s feet and any other eye wrinkles you may be sporting. Of course, in keeping with K-beauty, this formula is also wonderfully hydrating, enabling it to plump up the look of your skin to give it a youthful glow.
Layer on a Moisturizer
A moisturizer is a key part of any skincare routine, but it becomes even more important if you’re aiming for glass skin. Why? Because not only will a moisturizer provide an extra splash of hydration, but it will also lock in all of the products that you’ve already applied, thanks to its occlusive properties. This then prevents those products from evaporating away, which is exactly what would have happened without a moisturizer to seal them in. Instead, the moisturizer will push them down into your skin, encouraging them to work to their full potential.
Since this glass skin routine can be followed day and night, pick a moisturizer that corresponds with the time of day. A high-quality day cream, like the Noni Morning Glow, will give your skin all that it needs to feel protected against environmental damage throughout the day. Meanwhile, a dedicated night cream, like the Noni Night Repair Cream, will leave your skin cells feeling supported as they regenerate overnight. K-beauty is all about figuring out your skin’s needs and then meeting them, which is why it’s so helpful to tailor your moisturizer to your skin’s different requirements at each time of day.
Protect With SPF
If you’re following this routine at night, you can stop at the moisturizer. However, during the day, your skin will need sun protection. This is something that K-beauty aficionados take very seriously. Not only do they apply topical sun protection, but many also carry parasols around on sunny days to provide an extra barrier between their skin and the UV rays that surround them.
This may sound over the top to some, but you’ll struggle to achieve glass skin if your face is showing signs of sun damage. This can manifest as everything from dullness to wrinkles to dark spots, none of which are cohesive with the glass skin look.
Protecting your skin from the sun will go a long way in preventing this. Meanwhile, all of the other products that we’ve shared will help to repair the look of any existing signs of sun damage on your face.
Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Even if you follow the best skincare routine that the world has to offer, you won’t be able to achieve glass skin unless you couple this with healthy lifestyle choices. An unhealthy lifestyle will quickly detract from your skin’s glassy glow, no matter how good your skincare products may be!
Start by assessing your diet. Healthy fats, which can be found in oily fish, nuts, and avocados, boost the skin barrier. This makes it easier for your skin to retain moisture, which, as you know, is vital for glass skin. Fresh fruits and vegetables are vital too. These contain the antioxidants that your skin needs to retain a fresh, youthful, and healthy complexion.
Of course, plenty of water is a must as well. Your skin needs to be hydrated from within if you want it to glow on the outside.
Sufficient sleep is important too, as is regular exercise and knowing how to de-stress. All of this will keep your skin looking happy and healthy.
Achieve Glass Skin With Avinichi
The skincare routine and lifestyle habits that we’ve shared above will go a long way in helping you to achieve glass skin. However, don’t expect instant results. You’ll need to follow this routine twice a day for at least a few weeks before you start to see some improvements in your complexion. The longer you commit to it for, the better your results will be and the glassier your skin will look!
Click here to enhance your skincare routine with more bestselling products from Avinichi.