This is how you get perfect “glass skin” with Korean makeup

Glass skin has in recent years become a buzzword in K-beauty and skincare, a trend that spread from South Korea to the Western world about half a decade ago. K-pop stars and beauty gurus showcased a fantastically dewy complexion that seemed impossible to achieve, making everyone suddenly want the coveted “glass skin.” But what does glass skin really mean? In short, it refers to skin that is crystal clear, even, pore-free, and radiant—almost transparently glowing like glass. In this blog, I will guide you on how to achieve the perfect glass skin look at home with the help of the right skincare and makeup products.

What is "glass skin"?

The term glass skin comes from the Korean beauty world and refers to skin that looks flawless, hydrated, and light-reflective, as if covered in a fine shimmer or as smooth as glass. The idea is that the skin should be so healthy and hydrated that it literally glows with radiance. It’s not about an oily or sweaty shine, but a healthy glow. The glass skin trend mainly focuses on multi-step skincare routines (a specialty in Korean skincare) to build up a long-lasting radiance. At the same time, one can enhance and cheat the look with makeup, more on that shortly.

The foundationfor maximum glow is skincare 

To succeed with the glass skin look, skincare is essential. Your first glow should not come from makeup, but from the layers of moisture and nourishment you provide your skin beneath the makeup. A well-hydrated skin gives the “glow” that is required, with the right preparation you can make practically any foundation look dewy and radiant. Conversely, if the skin is not sufficiently hydrated under the makeup, it will “eat up” your foundation throughout the day, resulting in the base cracking or looking cakey. The skin should not have to rely on makeup for what a good skincare routine should provide. In other words, the more care you give your skin in advance, the better the makeup will sit and look.

So how do you lay the foundation with skincare?

Start by thoroughly cleansing your face, preferably through double cleansing in the Korean way (oil/balm first, then water-based cleanser) to ensure a clean and soft canvas. Then, 1–3 times a week, you can do a gentle exfoliation (e.g., with AHA or BHA acid) to remove dead skin cells that make the skin look dull. An occasional chemical peel promotes the glassy glow by eliminating unevenness and dull, dead skin cells on the surface. After peeling, focus on maximum hydration. First, apply a toner or a light hydrating serum that quickly infuses moisture into the skin. In K-beauty, they talk about layering moisture, for example, the famous “7-skin method” where toner or essence is patted in repeatedly to achieve dewy, plump skin. You don't need to overdo it, but the point is to add several thin layers of moisture.

Then continue with a serum, preferably a moisturizing serum with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin that bind moisture in the skin. A serum with niacinamide can also be worth its weight in gold, as it improves skin texture (makes pores appear smaller) and adds radiance. Before your moisturizer, you can add a few drops of facial oil for extra glow, oil acts as a protective layer and provides immediate radiance, and it's actually okay to apply oil before cream, despite the old myth that it must be the other way around. Then finish with a rich face cream that "locks in" all previous steps. In the morning, you should also apply sunscreen as the last step in skincare, sunscreen preserves the skin's quality and radiance in the long term, even if it may give a little extra shine at the moment. Now you have skin that is saturated with moisture and nourishment, and your complexion feels firm, bouncy, and soft! A perfect starting point for makeup.

Base Makeup with Radiance

When the skin is properly prepared with skincare, your base makeup will lay much nicer and blend with the skin. Start by applying a primer that helps makeup adhere and keeps everything in place longer. Preferably choose a moisturizing or radiance-giving primer that evens out the skin surface and gives a dewy finish. The primer subtly fills in fine lines and pores and ensures that your foundation doesn't slide around. If you have a really good skincare base, you can sometimes skip primer, but if you want the look to last from morning to evening, it's a good extra step.

The next step is foundation, but think light and radiance-enhancing. Opt for a liquid foundation (or cushion foundation/BB-cream) with a dewy finish, meaning one that adds radiance instead of being completely matte. Choose a shade that matches your skin tone exactly, as the "your skin but better" feeling is important for glass skin. Apply your foundation in thin layers, it can be convenient to use a damp makeup sponge and dab foundation from the center of the face outward. Start with very little product and work it well into the skin for a seamless, natural base. If more coverage is needed, build up only locally where needed (for example, around the nose or on any blemishes) instead of applying a thick layer everywhere. This way, your skin shines through in the areas where it is at its best, the key to making it look like you almost have no foundation at all.

After that, you can dab on a little concealer under the eyes or on spot areas, but even here "less is more" applies. Use a lightweight concealer with a natural finish and work it in thoroughly so that it blends with the rest of the base. To maintain maximum glow, you should avoid heavy powder products all over the face. Only set where it is really needed, for example in The T-zone if you easily get shiny around the nose, forehead, and chin. Use a transparent setting powder in a very small amount and gently press it in with a small brush or puff where you want to reduce the shine. Let the rest of the face remain unpowdered to maintain the fresh glow. Thanks to your solid skincare prep, most foundations will glide on like a dröm and look “glowy” without much setting powder.

Creamy products for a natural glow

The secret behind a believable glass skin-look with makeup is to use cream and liquid products instead of powdery ones. This way, the makeup mimics the skin's own moisture and glow, and the result doesn't look made-up but more like natural skin. In fact, the best way to achieve a “fake” glow that lasts is to choose cream products that mimic hydrated skin. Cream formulas in bronzer, blush, and highlighter, for example, add extra moisture to the skin that powdery products don't. Additionally, they blend nicely with the base without leaving powdery traces.

Start by giving the face a bit of color and life. A dab of blush makes you look healthy and fresh, and for glass skin, a cream blush is preferred. Cream blush melts into the skin and your foundation, making it look like the blush comes from within. The result is a healthy, dewy flush on the cheeks. Apply the blush with your fingertips or a sponge by gently working it into the apple of the cheek and blending out towards the temple. The color should peek through the skin's glow, not sit as a powdery layer on top. The same goes for bronzer if you want to give the face warmth and subtle definition, choose a cream bronzer or liquid bronzer and blend it along the temples, under the cheekbones, and jawline for a discreet sun-kissed tone.

No glass skin-look is complete without highlighter, the shimmer that catches the light and gives that glossy “wet look” effect. To maintain the illusion of natural glass-like glow, opt for a liquid or creamy highlighter. Preferably choose a highlighter with a transparent base (i.e., not a chalky metallic highlighter) so that your skin tone shines through and it looks like your own skin that has a glow. Gently pat the highlighter on the tops of the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, cupid's bow, under the highest point of the brow, and maybe a little on the chin tip. Cream highlighters lay as a fine wet shimmer and give maximum glow effect, perfect for glass skin! 

Final touch for lasting glow

When base, color, and glow are in place, we want everything to stay nice all day without losing its glow. Powder minimally as mentioned, instead rely on the moisture and creams you've applied. Then finish with a setting spray to fix the makeup. Preferably choose a “dewy” setting spray, meaning a mist designed to provide extra moisture and glow as a finish. Hold the spray a bit away from the face and spray in an X and T pattern so that the entire face gets an even, thin layer. This step also melts all layers of makeup together and removes any powderiness, while locking in the moisture so the result is a dewy, lasting look. During the day, you can refresh the glow by spraying a little face mist now and then. Avoid adding more powder unless absolutely necessary, it's better to gently blot away excess shine with oil paper and maintain the “Glow from within” effect.

There is nothing fresher and more radiant than glass skin. With the right combination of skincare and makeup products, you can enhance your beauty with a plump, illuminated complexion that truly looks like glass. So boost your skin with moisture, bring out your most luminous makeup favorites, and let your skin shine like never before! ✨