How to Actually Get Glass Skin – a Science-based Guide
Glass skin is the latest ideal for skincare goals, boating a healthy, hydrated look. Is the glass skin look achievable or is it all down to genetics? Let’s find out.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about glass skin, including how to get it, the benefits of maintaining a healthy skin barrier, and much more today. Find out whether or not every skin type can get glass skin, or if it’s just for a lucky few.
What is Glass Skin
Glass skin is that dewy, even skin tone, that is smooth, hydrated, and most importantly healthy. Skin appears, well, like glass. A flawless base with small, unnoticeable pores characterizes this skin look. It is all about a plump, moist look.
This is not just a trend, but a way to get the best from your skin barrier. To achieve such a look, it is important to layer beneficial products well. According to some, this may include different cleansers, toners, essences, serums, moisturizers, and more. Do you need a 12-step skincare routine or is there an easier way to get a healthy skin look? Is it even possible to get glass skin in the first place? Absolutely, and here is a guide.
Some may be blessed with genetics contributing to smaller-looking pores and dewy healthy skin. For others, there are some common skincare ingredients and techniques that you can use to create a similar effect. Best of all, these ingredients, tips, and techniques are good for the health of the skin barrier. Even though skincare does not have a one-size-fits-all routine, there are certain basic steps we can all take to achieve glass skin.
Glass Skin Routine Basics
Your first step to achieving glass skin is not going to be a 12-step skincare routine. Skincare routines that are too complex may actually lead to more sensitivity or skin issues due to the overuse of active skincare ingredients. Keep it simple. Check out these basics on what a skincare routine for glass skin should consist of.
1. Use a Double Cleanse Method with Good Cleansers
It’s important for us to find a good cleansing oil or balm, and then follow it up with a water-based cleanser. This is because the oil or balm will do a good job of removing any dirt, oil, sunblock, or makeup while the water-based cleanser will finish cleaning off the skin completely. Use a cleanser that is pH-balanced and gentle. Don’t use body wash or hand soap as these products are not formulated for the sensitive skin of the face. Even if a cleanser is something you wash off, you should still find products that have ingredients that help support skin health.
2. Moisturize and Look for These Ingredients
After you cleanse, you may notice that your skin feels a bit tight or dry. This is normal since cleansing does strip the skin of its natural oils. You’re going to want to use a moisturizer, and this is a rule for everyone, even individuals with oily skin. In fact, if your skin does not have adequate hydration, it may produce more oil to overcompensate. Look for a moisturizer that suits your skin needs. Good moisturizers tend to have ceramides, hydrating fatty acids, or oils like jojoba or rosehip.
3. Sunscreen
Sunscreen is one of the most important steps for glass skin. Without it, the sun’s rays hit the surface of the skin and cause dark spots, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, collagen loss, DNA damage, and more skin issues. You need to apply SPF 30 or more and reapply every 2 hours if you are sweating or going outside. Even when it is not sunny, you need to be using some form of SPF. About 80% of sun rays can penetrate through clouds and reach the skin.
4. Exfoliate Twice a Week
Exfoliating is the act of using a skincare ingredient to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin barrier. This can help reveal smoother, softer skin. It can even help reduce the appearance of pores since it helps to clear out any gunk trapped inside them. Start exfoliating once a week, and increase it to twice a week if it suits your skin type. Personally, I can get away with using a gentle BHA on my T-Zone almost every night.
Tips and Techniques to Follow
Here are some tips you can do and techniques you can follow in order to further promote your glass skin journey. Again, this is something everyone can start doing to help improve the health of their skin.
1. Stop Touching Your Face
Think of all the things you touch throughout the day. Your phone, your laptop, your steering wheel, random doors outside, handrails, etc. There are so many bacteria, pathogens, and germs on all those surfaces. Then imagine touching your face. Gross. Try to avoid touching your face in order to avoid any transfer of these pathogens onto the surface of your skin. These bacteria and germs can infect pores and cause more breakouts, so try to avoid this at all costs. If you want, train yourself to not do this. Every time you touch your face, give yourself a little slap on the thigh or do a burpee. Find a small punishment to get rid of this habit.
2. Don’t Pull Aggressively
The face of the skin is sensitive and fragile. When you are cleansing, try not to scrub out your face way too harshly. The same goes for when you are exfoliating. You don’t want to rub at your skin. You want to gently use the product and carefully spread it on your skin evenly.
3. Eat Better and Consume Healthy Oils
At the end of the day, you are what you eat. Eating a diet full of healthy fats like avocado oil, nuts, and other sources of omega-3s is a good way to help support the health of the skin barrier. Eat meals full of fruits and vegetables in order to increase the antioxidants in your body and boost the amount of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients available for your system. Your cells are made up of all the food you consume, so make sure the food you consume serves you.
Skincare Ingredients to Look Out For
In general, some skincare ingredients can be beneficial for everyone, no matter the skin type. This includes something like jojoba. A full guide on this oil can be found here, but generally, this is an oil that is almost identical to the oil produced by the body. This means it can pair well with any skin type and can boost the health of the skin with ease. An ingredient like caffeine can be helpful for the under-eye area, as it can help plump and improve circulation. Skin ingredients like retinoids and vitamin C can be a good way to even skin tone with ease. AHAs and BHAs are exfoliating acids that have good potential in improving skin health. Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and Centella asiatica are hydrating ingredients that promote a balanced skin barrier.
Dark spot serums usually contain vitamin C, niacinamide, kojic acid, tranexamic acid, turmeric extract, or azelaic acid. Retinol can also be an option as it can increase new skin by increasing cell turnover and boosting collagen production. For a complete guide to skincare ingredients, backed by science, check out this article here.
With Skin Types
Anyone, no matter the skin type, can have glass skin. Depending on your skin type, you are going to want to look for certain skin care products and ingredients. Cleansers should be foaming, serums should include ingredients like niacinamide to help balance the oil your skin produces, and you should be using lightweight moisturizers and SPF with a gel-like consistency.
If you have dry skin, you’re going to want to look for products with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and oils to help preserve the hydration of the skin. Look for cream-based cleansers, choose serums with more hydrating fatty acids and dimethicones, and look for a cream moisturizer. You can even finish it off with a facial oil to fully lock in hydration.
If you have combination skin, you can use products for oily skin in areas that produce more oil, and products for dry skin in areas that are a bit more dry. Some ingredients, like niacinamide, jojoba, and ceramides work very well for combination skin since they are a good option for both dry and oily areas.
The Takeaway
As stated before, skincare is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Experiment with different products, concentrations, and frequency of use. Through trial and error, find a routine that works for you. There are some basics that everyone can follow, including skincare ingredients, tips, and techniques that everyone should follow. Glass skin is definitely achievable and within reach.
Remember that health comes from within. Eat nutrient-dense meals, exercise when you can, at least 3 times a week, and take care of your mental health. Daily habits become the building blocks for emotional, mental, and physical health. Take care of your gut health too! Learn everything you need to know about gut microbiota today for free here.
