Let's be transparent about glass skin

This K-beauty trend first took off globally in 2017 and has since found itself in many makeup users’ dictionaries, from luxury fashion shoots to everyday wear. But 5 years on, how has glass skin cemented itself in our makeup routines, and is it truly a standard everyone can achieve?

So what exactly is ‘glass skin’? According to K-beauty store Peach & Lily owner and aesthetician Alicia Yoon, it’s the “idea of transparent and translucent skin.” A reason why people desire this glossy look is its connection to youth. Across the world, people have been obsessed with the idea of anti-aging for years. From magic serums and smoothing creams, to specific makeup techniques, it’s one of the biggest driving forces in the skincare industry. So when Korean makeup artist Ellie Choi dropped a photo of her crystal clear complexion - along with how she did it - no wonder we lapped it all up.

For glass skin, one of the main points is layering sources of moisture to truly get that luminous look, and this is apparently achievable for all skin types. For those with more texture on their skin, the first instinct is probably to try and get exfoliants and stripping cleansers to clear out your pores, and then a lengthy system of clay masks and thick creams. But many experts caution against frequent strong exfoliants for fear of damaging your skin barrier, actually leaving you prone to worse breakouts. A deeply hydrating routine with a gentle thorough cleanse and lightweight serums is a much healthier way to try and achieve better smoothness. 

Now that we have the exact steps to recreate glass skin for ourselves, we can get started. Right? As someone with eczema, I struggle with my skin. I’ve had plenty of rough patches fighting my skin, but also rare occasions where my skin wants to work with me, so keeping consistent for a trend like this seems too good to be true. But I’ve learnt to appreciate my skin, and figure out ways to minimise flare-ups. Although blemish-free, perfect skin is still the world's ideal, I think that it is more important to do skincare that is compatible with your lifestyle, budget and schedule. We’d all love to have glass complexions and 10-step routines throughout our entire lives, but for me, concentrating on what my skin actually needs at the moment is more important to me, whether that is a thick layer of moisturiser or a break from a mountain of skincare.