Discover the ultimate Korean skincare routine to achieve glass skin—hydrated, smooth, and glowing. Follow this step-by-step guide with the best products (budget & high-end) for a radiant, lit-from-within glow.
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Let’s be honest—who wouldn’t want skin that’s so smooth and radiant it looks like glass? If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling through social media ( like I have), wishing for that glowing complexion that seems almost otherworldly, well I’ve got some good news: it’s not just about good genes; it’s a technique—and you can totally get there too! This isn’t just about clever makeup hacks or a super complicated routine. Achieving glass skin is more of a lifestyle choice, a daily ritual, and a mindset. It’s all about deep hydration, using the right products in layers, and tapping into some skincare magic that leaves you looking fresh, glowing, and flawless—whether you’re wearing makeup or not. And the coolest part? It’s something everyone can achieve, no matter your skin type, tone, or budget.
So, what’s the deal with glass skin?
Originating from South Korea’s beauty playbook glass skin is all about achieving that super hydrated, silky-smooth, and radiant look that’s so clear it resembles glass.
But here’s the thing: It’s not about caking on highlighter or drowning yourself in oils. It’s about deep, strategic hydration that allows light to bounce off your skin naturally.
Now, if you are like me you might be thinking: “I have dry/oily/acne-prone skin… this won’t work for me! Not true! Glass skin isn’t about having “flawless” skin; it’s about nurturing healthy, balanced skin.
Here’s EXACTLY how you can achieve it, step by step, with the best game-changing products ((including some that won’t break the bank)!
The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Glass Skin (With the Right Products!)
Step 1: Double Cleansing—One Wash Just Won’t Cut It
Your journey to glowing skin begins with a clean slate.
The Korean double-cleansing technique guarantees that every trace of dirt, makeup, and sunscreen is wiped away, helping to avoid clogged pores and breakouts while letting your skincare products soak in properly. This method is suitable for all skin types—whether you have oily skin that needs a thorough cleanse, dry skin that needs a gentle touch, or sensitive skin that thrives on a non-stripping routine. By cleansing effectively, you set the stage for hydrated, healthy, and glowing skin.
First Cleanse (Oil-Based Cleanser): This dissolves SPF, excess sebum, and makeup without stripping your skin, making it perfect for all skin types, including dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin. By gently breaking down impurities, it ensures a deep yet nourishing cleanse, helping to maintain your skin’s natural moisture balance while prepping it for the rest of your skincare routine.
- High-End: Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm → Effortlessly melts away even the most stubborn makeup, while deeply nourishing and hydrating your skin. Formulated with botanical extracts, it helps maintain moisture balance, making it ideal for all skin types—including dry, sensitive, and combination skin. Its lightweight texture transforms into a silky oil upon application, ensuring a gentle yet effective cleanse without clogging pores or stripping essential moisture.
- Budget: The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Oil → Wallet-friendly and packed with brightening rice water, making it ideal for all skin types, including dry, oily, and combination skin. It effectively removes impurities while maintaining hydration, ensuring a refreshed and radiant complexion without leaving a greasy residue.
Second Cleanse (Water-Based Cleanser): This step is all about getting rid of any leftover dirt, sweat, and impurities that your oil cleanser might have missed, giving you a truly clean slate. It also helps balance your skin’s pH and gets it ready to soak up the next layers of skincare. This step is essential for every skin type—whether you have oily skin that needs a thorough cleanse without drying it out, dry skin that craves a gentle, hydrating wash, or sensitive skin that benefits from calming, non-stripping products. Using the right water-based cleanser will leave your skin feeling refreshed, soft, and primed for all that hydration to come.
- High-End: COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser → This gentle, non-drying cleanser is perfect for keeping your skin’s pH balanced. It works well for all skin types, including sensitive, oily, and combination skin, effectively removing impurities while preserving your skin’s moisture barrier. Its low pH formula helps avoid irritation and keeps your skin healthy, making it a fantastic option for both morning and nighttime cleansing.
- Budget: CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser → Recommended by dermatologists, this cleanser is suitable for all skin types, including dry, oily, sensitive, and combination skin. Its gentle, non-foaming formula effectively cleans away dirt and excess oil without stripping your skin’s natural moisture barrier, making it perfect for keeping your skin hydrated and balanced in any skincare routine.
PRO TIP: Spend at least 60 seconds massaging your cleanser to really let the ingredients work their magic on impurities!
Step 2: Exfoliate (But Gently!)—Because Dull Skin is a No-Go
You’re aiming for that silky, glowing skin that catches the light just right, and the key is exfoliation. Forget those rough scrubs—K-beauty focuses on gentle, skin-friendly exfoliants that refresh your skin without causing harm.
Chemical Exfoliant: It goes beyond scrubs by breaking down dead skin cells, clearing out pores, and boosting cell renewal for a smoother, glowing skin.
- High-End: Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner → This toner works wonders by clearing out pores and giving your skin a nice glow through gentle exfoliation. It’s perfect for those with oily, acne-prone, or combination skin, as it controls excess oil while keeping your skin hydrated.
- Budget: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution → A wallet-friendly option that really delivers on smoothing your skin. It’s ideal for normal, oily, and combination skin types, helping to gently exfoliate, brighten, and enhance your skin’s texture over time.
PRO TIP: Stick to using it 2–3 times a week to avoid overdoing it and to keep your skin barrier in check.
Step 3: Hydration Layering—The REAL Secret to Glass Skin
Glass skin is all about layering hydration. The goal? To soak your skin in moisture with several light layers, giving it that bouncy, dewy glow that looks like it’s shining from within. This method not only keeps your skin hydrated for longer but also strengthens your skin barrier and boosts natural radiance without any heavy or greasy feel. No matter if your skin is dry, oily, or a mix, layering hydration helps keep moisture balanced for a consistently glowing complexion.
Essence (The Game Changer!): This lightweight, nutrient-packed liquid dives deep into hydration, helps other products absorb better, and fortifies the skin barrier. It smooths out skin texture, amps up radiance, and sets the stage for maximum moisture retention.
- High-End: SK-II Facial Treatment Essence → Loaded with fermented goodness (Pitera™) that refines texture, evens out skin tone, and boosts elasticity. Perfect for all skin types, especially those that are dry, dull, or showing signs of aging, it delivers deep hydration, enhances skin renewal, and gives a youthful glow, the one we all want.
- Budget: Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence → Super hydrating and improves skin elasticity. Great for all skin types, including dry, sensitive, and combination skin, it calms irritation, aids healing, and leaves a plump, dewy finish without any greasy residue.
Serum (The Hydration Hit): Look for hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to give your skin that plump and bright look. Hyaluronic acid is great at pulling in and holding onto moisture, which helps keep your skin looking plump, smooth, and super hydrated. On the flip side, niacinamide helps brighten your skin, evens out your tone, cuts down on redness, and boosts your skin’s barrier. When you combine these two, you’ve got an awesome team for achieving a radiant, healthy glow. They work together to fight dryness, dullness, and aging signs while ensuring your skin stays nicely hydrated, no matter your skin type.
- High-End: COSRX Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Power Essence → Provides intense hydration and a dewy bounce. Perfect for dry, dehydrated, and combination skin, it deeply replenishes moisture, enhances elasticity, and helps keep a youthful, plump complexion. Its lightweight formula absorbs quickly without any stickiness, making it a great choice for oily skin types needing hydration without the shine.
- Budget: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 → Affordable and super effective for deep hydration. Suitable for all skin types, including dry, oily, and sensitive skin, this lightweight formula absorbs fast, replenishes moisture, and helps maintain a plump look.
PRO TIP: Pat in each layer gently with your fingertips instead of rubbing—this helps absorption without irritation.
Step 4: Lock It in With the Right Moisturizer
A light but super hydrating moisturizer is key to keep in all that moisture goodness, helping to strengthen your skin barrier for lasting hydration. This step keeps your skin feeling soft, plump, and shielded from daily environmental stress. No matter if your skin is dry, oily, combination, or sensitive, the right moisturizer will keep dehydration at bay and boost that sought-after radiant glow, the most importnat thing it won’t be blocking pores or feeling too heavy.
- High-End: Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream → This cream delivers long-lasting hydration and a silky, glowing finish. It’s perfect for dry, normal, and combination skin, as its rich formula nourishes deeply and fortifies the skin barrier while giving you that natural light glow. Infused with antioxidant-rich Japanese purple rice, it fights off environmental factors, making it a great pick for anyone wanting to maintain hydration and combat dryness and dullness over time.
- Budget: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream → Packed with hyaluronic acid, this non-greasy gel cream is all about hydration. It’s great for oily, combination, and normal skin types, absorbing quickly without clogging pores. The hyaluronic acid works to draw in and hold moisture, keeping your skin looking plump, smooth, and refreshed all day long. Ideal for those who want deep hydration without any heavy or greasy residue.
Pro Tip: If you’ve got oily skin, go for a gel-based moisturizer like Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Gel Cream. It’s super light, hydrates your skin without blocking your pores, and helps keep that excess oil in check. Plus, it gives you lasting moisture while keeping your skin looking fresh and not greasy. Perfect for anyone wanting a smooth, balanced, and naturally dewy look without feeling weighed down.
Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen – Because the Sun is NOT Your Friend (Sorry!)
You can do all the right steps, but if you skip SPF, you’re undoing everything. UV rays speed up aging, create dark spots, and break down collagen, which can lead to early wrinkles and sagging skin. Even when it’s cloudy or if you’re inside, those sneaky UVA rays can still get through windows and harm your skin. Using sunscreen every day isn’t just about protection; it’s the key to keeping your skin looking healthy, youthful, and radiant for a long time.
- High-End: Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics SPF 50+ → This sunscreen is super lightweight, doesn’t leave a white cast, and provides deep hydration, making it perfect for dry, combination, and sensitive skin types. Packed with probiotics and rice extract, it nourishes your skin while offering broad-spectrum protection, so you can keep your skin glowing and healthy throughout the day.
- Budget: Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ → This budget-friendly sunscreen is lightweight and hydrating, suitable for all skin types, including oily, combination, and sensitive skin. Its water-based formula absorbs quickly and won’t leave you feeling greasy, making it a great choice for anyone looking for effective sun protection with a light, breathable feel.
PRO TIP: Don’t forget to reapply every 2 hours, especially if you’re out and about! Sunscreen can wear off due to sweat, oil, and environmental factors, which can leave your skin at risk for UV damage. Regularly reapplying helps protect against premature aging, dark spots, and sunburn, keeping your skin looking fresh and radiant all day.
Final Thoughts
Picture this: you wake up, glance in the mirror, and see skin that’s hydrated, smooth, and glowing—no makeup required. That’s the magic of glass skin. It’s not about being flawless; it’s all about feeling vibrant, refreshed, and confident in your own skin. It’s a blend of self-care, self-love, and pure skin joy.