Everything you need to know about glass skin and how to get it

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It's impossible to escape translucent skin on social media. Known as glass skin because a person's complexion is as luminous and clear as glass itself, this popular Korean and Japanese beauty trend has become the gold standard for folks looking to improve skin quality for aesthetic and health purposes.

It's not just for the 'Gram, though! Anyone can achieve the popular glass skin look with the proper routine. We talked to a few experts to understand the trend and how to get glass skin with some tried-and-true products. Here's what they recommend.

What is glass skin?

Glass skin is smooth skin with minimal pores and consistent textures. Kazuko Tatsumoto, general manager of Albion Garden in Venice, California, explains that this well-toned, radiant facial complexion is well hydrated, looks crystal clear, and is almost translucent. It's like your skin glows from within.

“Having glass skin isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a sign that your skin is at its healthiest,” says Pili Ani aesthetician Takako Shito. “When your skin is deeply hydrated, well-nourished, and properly cared for, it will naturally look smoother, more radiant, and resilient. The habits that create glass skin actually protect and strengthen your skin in the long run.”

How do you get glass skin?

While glass skin requires consistency, it's achievable with a few key steps. “Glass skin involves a comprehensive skincare routine focused on intense hydration, nourishment, and overall skin health," says Shito. "This typically includes steps like double cleansing, exfoliation, toning, applying essences and serums, moisturizing, and diligent sun protection."

Here are some of our favorite glass skin products for each step.

Cleansers

Bliss One & Done Daily Cream Facial Cleanser with Ceramides is a creamy cleanser that washes away makeup (and the day's difficulties) and refreshes and hydrates your skin. This cleanser includes ceramides, which help to promote a healthy skin barrier. Antioxidants and plant-based hydrators called saccharide isomerate help lock in hydration. Finally, licorice root extract helps soothe, brighten, and protect the skin from free radicals.

Buy now: Bliss One & Done Daily Cream Facial Cleanser with Ceramides

Pili Ani Cleansing Butter and Cleansing Oil provides a deep yet nourishing cleanse without stripping the skin of essential moisture, explains Shito. And because it features pili oil, it delivers powerful antioxidants that protect and nourish the skin, enhancing its natural glow. “The formula also contains Alteromonas ferment extract, which offers anti-pollution and antibacterial benefits, helping to purify the skin and prevent breakouts,” Shito adds.

Buy now: Pili Ani Cleansing Butter and Cleansing Oil

Exfoliators

A favorite of Glow Bar aestheticians and customers, the Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum helps skin prone to acne or unevenness. The serum leverages 8% mandelic acid to exfoliate, but also includes hydrating hyaluronic acid and panthenol, which helps to protect the skin.

Buy now: Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum

Peach & Lily, a mainstay in the glass skin conversation, offers a stunning Glass Skin Face Polisher that gently removes dead skin cells by blending enzyme powder, microcrystalline cellulose, rice bran, and cornstarch. To help with tone and texture, the formula uses salicylic acid and fruit extracts. Allantoin and green tea help to calm and soothe skin.

Buy now: Peach & Lily Glass Skin Face Polisher

►Related: Dermatologists share best skincare products, routines for every decade

Toners

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner's alcohol-free formula is gentle on skin. Emollients like squalane, apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, and vitamin E create a pH-balanced product to prepare your skin for your serum or moisturizer.

Buy now: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner

Pava Toner from Sweet July includes glycolic acid, papaya, and guava, which work together to remove dead skin cells and resurface your skin. The result is smooth, soft skin that is an ideal canvas for subsequent products that can help to clear and hydrate even further.

Buy now: Sweet July Skin Pava Toner

Essences and serums

Tatsumoto recommends Albion's nutrient-rich Flora Drip S to hydrate, refine, and enhance the skin’s natural radiance.

Buy now: Albion Flora Drip S

Image MD Restoring Power-C Serum is a potent, physician-formulated product. The high-performance vitamin C and ferulic acid serum, with 20% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, aims to restore, firm, and brighten the skin. This product is especially well-suited for folks looking to correct sun exposure.

Buy now: Image Skincare Image MD Restoring Power-C Serum

Murad Revitalixir Recovery Serum helps buff away stress lines and address under-eye circles and puffiness. The blend of neuropeptide, paracress, and cannabis sativa seed oil offers smoothing and softening qualities, while niacinamide improves texture and reduces stress.

Buy now: Murad Revitalixir Recovery Serum

►Related: Treat yourself: Try these 11 beauty products for an at-home spa day

Moisturizers

Mahina Evening Moisturizer works hard while you sleep. The formula blends organic, cold-pressed moringa, marula, prickly pear, and chia seed oils alongside coenzyme Q10 to soften skin, stimulate collagen production, fade fine lines, and replenish skin. All Leahlani products are made with local Hawaiian ingredients.

Buy now: Leahlani Mahina Evening Moisturizer

Good Molecules Hydrating Gel Moisturizer with Electrolytes is oil-free and, as the name suggests, packed with electrolytes that help with hydration while fading dark spots. We love it for its lightweight formula and its ability to reduce the appearance of blemishes.

Buy now: Good Molecules Hydrating Gel Moisturizer with Electrolytes

This overnight powerhouse Bio-Collagen Recovery Mask from Peace Out has vegan hydrolyzed collagen, a core peptide complex (a blend of five peptides), and a hyaluronic acid blend to hydrate your skin overnight. The mask soaks into your skin overnight, turns translucent, and leaves you with glass skin without lifting a finger.

Buy now: Peace Out Overnight Bio-Collagen Recovery Mask

Sun Protection

SPF 50 Clear Glow Sun Stick, a multi-purpose formula from Naked Sundays, is ideal for folks who travel frequently (but still want that glass skin look). The sun stick quickly absorbs into skin without leaving oily residue. It can be applied either under your makeup or entirely on its own.

Buy now: Naked Sundays SPF 50 Clear Glow Sun Stick

Dermalogica BioLumin-C Heat Aging Protector SPF 50 is a broad-spectrum moisturizer that fights heat aging while delivering powerful brightening benefits for radiant, resilient skin. It protects against environmental stressors while visibly improving skin tone and texture.

Buy now: Dermalogica BioLumin-C Heat Aging Protector SPF 50