Glass Skin is one of the most sought-after skin goals in South Korea, and it has carried over to western shores on the K-Beauty wave. Glass skin is bright, smooth, nearly reflective and translucent (like glass), and blemish-free. Many a beauty seeker will spend untold amounts of money in search of the perfect glass skin effect, but the truth is that it’s all in the technique. It starts with a dedicated skincare routine (for day and night) and patience in each layer from the thinnest (watery) formulas to the most (creamy) dense.

The long game involves two things: nutrition and very specific skin care, especially at night. We’ll leave the first up to the discretion of the individual (although lots of water, dark leafy greens and anti-oxidant rich foods certainly won’t hurt). The second requires careful attention to which products and rituals best suit your skin. Layering is best for skin at night because there’s less a chance of it being disturbed by environmental factors. Plus, the skin renews and repairs itself while we sleep so it’s the best time to feed it the most potent ingredients. No matter what kind of skin you have, it’s always a good idea to avoid drying cleansers and harsh physical scrubs, and instead opt for soothing cleansers and chemical exfoliation. One of our favorite cleansers is from Glycelene. The Black Neroli Aromatic Cleansing Ritual doesn’t just clean the skin in a gentle and effective way, the scent is virtually transformative.  Neroli helps to reduce inflammation and repair the skin, and is anti-microbial to address acne or blemish prone skin. Just a couple of pumps produces a rich fragrant lather that rinses clean without leaving your skin feeling stripped or dried out. Follow with Sulwhasoo White Ginseng Exfoliating Gel. White Ginseng helps break up dead skin cells and add a brightening effect, and a blend of Korean herbs targets inflammation and hyper-pigmentation. The formula also contains Walnut shells to break up larger dead skin cells, but they are so finely milled that you run little risk of tearing or damaging the skin in any way. As always with any exfoliator, do not apply pressure in any way while using it.

The next step is hydration. Keep in mind that more layers do not equal more effective skin care. Some people can only handle two or three layers, while other skin types can handle as many as ten. The best results happen when you use products that harmoniously mesh with one another.  You can do that by using products from a single brand, although there’s still no guarantee of absolute harmony. We suggest starting slow, with just a few layers, to see how much your skin can handle. Give products a chance to settle between each layer and remember that less is more: using more product does not make it more effective. Traditional layering dictates that an essence goes first, but our favorite first layer is actually a gel moisturizer from BioClarity. The Restore hydrator absorbs quickly and immediately plumps the skin and preps it for additional layers. Placing this formula directly on clean skin (instead of between layers of other skincare) ensures maximum penetration of ingredients like chlorophyll, which is key to soothe and protect vulnerable new skin cells. After that, feel free to keep things ‘green’ with a thin layer of “b” oil from The Ordinary. This new formula is the latest addition from the skincare company that believes you don’t have to pay a ton of money for effective skincare. “B” Oil is based in Squalane (a highly absorbent moisturizer typically derived from olives or sugar), and contains a long list of healing oils including Argan, Borage and Rose Hip. 1-2 drops is more than enough to get the job done.

You can easily stop layering here, but if you’re ready to go even further, a good night moisturizer is the perfect way to seal the deal. Choosing the perfect night cream has a lot to do with understanding your skin type. If you’re acne prone or have sensitive skin, a gel-based cream might be your best bet. If your skin is severely dehydrated, a rich formula with healing nut butters is a good choice. A gel-based moisturizer may not get any better than Naruko Illuminating Gel Cream. Key ingredients include Arbutin to combat hyper-pigmentation, Hyaluronic Acid to plump and hydrate skin, and Retinol to combat fine lines and wrinkles. For a more hydrating experience, we are huge fans of Perricone MD Essential FX moisturizer. This formula contains a nourishing mix of chia seed, flax seed and macadamia nut oils, plus a dose of Glutathione to brighten dull and uneven skin tones.

Some dedicated beauty practitioners continue layering with an overnight sleeping mask to seal everything in, and some go even further with a strong mist of setting spray (yes, the setting spray normally used to seal makeup). If you’ve given each layer enough time to settle, there’s less need to seal it all. Giving the layers a chance to absorb also keeps you from lying stiffly on your back for an undetermined amount of time (rather than risk all that skincare absorbing into the pillow).

No matter what you choose to layer with, be patient with the process. It takes about two weeks for any skincare routine to really take effect, but with care you can be well on your way to achieving gorgeous, blemish free, ‘glass’ skin.