It didn’t happen overnight, but we’ve finally caught up to K-beauty’s superior skin-care practices—and everyone wants Korean glass skin these days. Erica Choi, licensed esthetician and founder of skin-care brand Superegg, thinks it’s a combination of the two factors. “Originating from Korea’s beauty culture, where the trend emphasizes hydration, radiance, and overall skin health, this aligns with the global shift towards skincare as a vital aspect of self-care and wellness,” she tells Vogue. “Overall, the glass-skin trend reflects a broader desire for natural-looking beauty and consumer practices prioritizing effortless beauty routines and a ‘high-maintenance to be low-maintenance’ mindset.”
Vogue’s Favorite Glass Skin Picks
With unprecedented accessibility—there’s no shortage of K-beauty-inspired skin-care products formulated to brighten, hydrate, and impart glowing skin ASAP—it’s easy for anyone to take up the approach. And while Choi points out that the glass-skin trend exploded in popularity due to social media, “ultimately becoming a global phenomenon,” the concept itself has ancient cultural ties. “South Koreans and skin care go back thousands of years to the time of the Three Kingdoms era (37–668 BC), when the ideology of beauty standards was coined young-yook-il-chi-sa-sang, meaning ‘within a beautiful body, rests a beautiful soul,’” board-certified dermatologist Christine Hall, MD explains.
In practice, Dr. Hall adds that a glass skin routine revolves around maximizing hydration in lightweight layers and soothing the skin barrier. “K-beauty revolves around nurturing [the skin] barrier–optimizing the hydration within and blocking out pollutants and environmental stressors,” the practitioner previously toldVogue. “The whole regime centers around maximizing hydration of the skin or ‘skin flooding’ with product after product aimed at restoring the skin barrier and locking in hydration—no matter what your skin-type is.”
That said, Choi explains that skin type, genetics, and environmental factors play a role in achieving the look; test-driving a glass-skin routine by adopting a tailored regimen, protecting the skin from environmental stressors, and caring for one’s unique skin type will improve your complexion over time.
Ahead, Choi and Hall take us through a step-by-step, skincare regimen showing how to get the glass skin look—plus the best products to shop loved by experts and editors alike.
In This Story
- What ingredients are essential for a glass-skin skin-care routine?
- How We Tested
- Meet the Experts
Start with a Double Cleanse
Dr. Hall says that double cleansing is the foundation of a glass-skin routine. “Sebum, the majority of makeup, and SPF are lipophilic, meaning that they dissolve in oil, while sweat, pollutants, and other impurities will be water-soluble,” she says. “So the only way to get a really deep clean and completely remove all of the buildup from the day is to a double cleanse by using an oil followed by a water-based cleanser.” Plus, she notes that foams or gels are water-soluble formulas that can wipe away remaining impurities or residue following your oil cleanse. From balms to low pH gel face washes and luxurious oils, anyone of these picks will give you an effective cleanse, without irritation.
Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil
To try for yourself, start with Anua’s cleansing oil, which blends heartleaf extract with sunflower, olive, jojoba, and moringa seed oils into a noncomedogenic elixir that wipes away makeup, blackheads, and impurities with ease. Plus, board-certified Mohs surgeon and dermatologist Whitney Hovenic, MD recommends it. “It contains heartleaf extract to calm inflammation and a blend of lightweight oils that help clear out excess sebum and buildup,” she said in our best cleansing oils guide.
Green Tea Real Fresh Foam Cleanser
“Infused with fermented green tea, the micro-bubbles cleanse deep into the pores, gently removing makeup and impurities,” founder and CEO of Landing International and K-Beauty World, Sarah Chung Park,previously toldVogue. While the formula boasts a high percentage of green tea extract, it also offers other soothing perks. Chamomile and snow mushroom extract offer both a hydrating and calming effect.
Gentle Cleansing Foam
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Christina Chung is a fan of this gentle cleanser, noting that it’s become a favorite for everyone in her family, from teens to elders. “Sulwhasoo products are generally ginseng-based and fabulous for sensitive skin types,” she previously toldVogue.
Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm
Featured in our Korean cleansers guide, this thorough, non-stripping cleanser is backed by board-certified dermatologist Alexandra Bowles, MD. The formula uses a blend of grape seed, madecassoside, and camellia sinensis seed oil to dissolve even the most budge-proof eye makeup—softening skin in the process. Plus, Dr. Althea’s formula features a twisting-cap packaging to avoid digging in the jar to scoop out product.
Rice Water Bright Foaming Facial Cleanser
Dr. Chung and her teenage daughter both love this cleanser. She previously explained that it’s particularly great for teens with active oil glands, as it deep cleanses their skin without causing irritation. The formula features ingredients like rice water extract and soapwort extract for clearer, brighter skin. Not to mention, it comes at a great price point.
Swipe on an Exfoliator
“Exfoliation is crucial for sloughing off dead skin cells and promoting cell turnover, which results in a smoother texture and brighter complexion,” says Choi. Just be sure to choose your exfoliant with care. “Using overly abrasive exfoliants can lead to irritation, breakouts, and potentially post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), setting back your skin-care progress.” Instead, reach for gentle exfoliating acids like PHAs, which, per Dr. Hall, “can achieve exfoliation but with less irritation.” Not to mention, liquid exfoliants come in many forms—from toner pads to essences—and we’ve rounded up six of our go-to formulas below.
Green Tea Enzyme 7% PHA Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Innisfree’s Green Tea toner is considered gentle because PHA exfoliates the skin more slowly than AHA/BHA counterparts. Plus, when paired with hyaluronic acid and green tea extract, board-certified dermatologist Claire Chang, MD noted the formula can simultaneously “hydrate, exfoliate, and soothe the skin,” making it work just as well for those with sensitive or dry skin types, who often shy away from heavy-duty exfoliants.
Bean essence
Mixsoon’s Bean Essence uses fermented plant-based ingredients such as soybean, barley, and pomegranate extracts to exfoliate and hydrate skin all at once. It’s a favorite of Vogue’s Kiana Murden too. “When paired with a handful of other fermented extracts, glycerin, and propanediol, you get a deeply nourishing, sticky essence that your skin will drink up. I don’t go a single week without using it,” she previously said.
AHA/BHA Treatment Toner
For those with congested skin, the CosRx toner offers a low concentration of just 0.1% glycolic acid to help “remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and reduce blemishes,” as Dr. Chang explained in our best Korean exfoliants guide. “After regular use, it can leave the skin glowing and radiant.” There’s also allantoin and panthenol to help soothe skin after exfoliation.
Zero Pore Pads
Plant extracts like cypress leaf and skullcap help balance oil and prevent future congestion, while willow bark extract and salicylic acid clear out dead skin and visibly tighten pores. Unlike many exfoliants, these toner pads also hydrate and soothe with hyaluronic acid, cica, and panthenol for a clearer, more comfortable complexion.
AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner
Combining three different actives (AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs) in one product without totally irritating the skin seems like an impossible task, yet Some by Mi has accomplished it with this toner. The combination of liquid exfoliants gently boosts cell turnover and remove clogged pores, while tea tree leaf water hydrate and soothes.
Madecassoside Cotton Facial Pads
Mediheal’s toner pads are best used after a breakout to help repair the skin and reduce scarring. The key ingredient madecassoside has been studied to reduce hyperpigmentation by inhibiting melanin synthesis. The product has various uses: gently wipe away traces of the day or as a mini sheet mask treatment.
Soothe Skin with Toners and Essences
According to Dr. Hall, toners and essences provide the first step in hydration and skin-barrier repair, which is essential to getting glass skin. Choi adds that these also “balance the skin’s pH levels, hydrate, and prepare the skin to absorb serums and moisturizers better.” From low pH water toners to milkier formulas packed with brightening ingredients like rice extract—consider these picks as formulas that set the canvas for a supple complexion.
Ginseng Essence Water
“Ginseng root water and niacinamide both repair, revitalize and brighten,” Dr. Chang previously told Vogue in our hydrating toners guide. “The essence absorbs easily into the skin and is ideal for layering skin-care products.” Plus, 2% niacinamide brightens and control sebum, while 0.5% beta hydroxy acid gently exfoliates.
SoonJung pH 5.5 Relief Toner
Keen on keeping your skin’s pH levels balanced? Pick up Etude’s SoonJung Relief Toner, which offers a pH of 5.5 to soothe, repair, and hydrate skin. Plus glycerin, panthenol, madecassoside, and camellia sinensis leaf extract only bolster these effects.
Rice Toner
Michelle Lee, K-Beauty World CMO and former Allure EIC, considers this toner an oldie but a goodie. “Milky toners have been around for many years in Korea, but they had a real moment in the U.S. this past year,” Lee said in our Korean toners guide. “I still love this one for hydrating and gentle brightening.” Note, though, it’s a bi-phase formula, so it requires a good shake before applying.
Heartleaf Calming Toner Skin Booster
Another calming heartleaf toner, this pick’s hero ingredient isongside to cool skin inflammation while the soybean extract helps prevent fine lines, making this toner a versatile option for all skin types
Milk Skin Toner
This milky rice toner also includes niacinamide for oil control, acne fighting, and brightening. Meanwhile, ceramides add extra hydration. Plus, its cosigned by beauty industry veteran and founder and CEO of Landing International, Sarah Chung Park. “It’s a rich, creamy toner that deeply nourishes, soothes irritation, and strengthens the skin barrier,” she previously toldVogue.
Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner
Non-comedogenic, and super hydrating, the star this formula is a highly concentrated fermented black rice. Don’t be fooled by it’s water-like consistency—this toner is packed with botanicals to ensure thoroughly moisturized and soft skin.
Hydrate With a Lightweight Serum
Serums and ampoules (a.k.a., serums with a higher concentration and thicker texture) are a no-brainer next step in a well-rounded glass-skin routine. Often housed in sleek, dropper-topped bottles, these elixirs deliver targeted hydrating ingredients deep into the dermis, precisely where they’re needed most. The result? Skin with bounce, and a lit-from-within glowy look.
First Care Activating Serum VI
A favorite of Vogue’s Kiana Murden, Sulwhasoo’s Activating Serum is a best seller for its multipurpose formula. For starters, it’s rich in fermented ginseng for skin barrier support, collagen boosting, and anti-inflammatory support. Plus, a vitamin C derivative offers antioxidant protection.
Dive In Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Deep Hydration
Oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Maryam Zamani, MDpreviously said that she likes hyaluronic acid serums that include barrier-supportive ingredients in their formula. Take Torriden’s hydrating serum, for example. Beyond multi-weight hyaluronic acid, panthenol and allantoin offer additional skin-soothing benefits.
Ceramic Milk Ampoule
This milky ampoule leaves behind a non-sticky, high-gloss finish. The secret lies in its ingredients: moisturizing squalene provides deep hydration, white bran extract helps protect the skin, and a nourishing milk complex.
Noni Energy Ampoule
Powered by noni fruit and seed oil, this formula calms and nourishes while panthenol locks in moisture and reinforces your skin barrier. Bonus: vegan fermented collagen helps visibly firm and plump for that bouncy glow.
Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide
Vogue’s beauty editor at large Arden Fanning Andrews refers to this pick as “one of the best face serums she has ever tried.” The serum offers the best of both worlds—powerful hydrants with brightening actives. The star ingredient, 60% propolis extract, gives it a honey-like consistency add moisture, while niacinamide and BHA reduce excess sebum.
Retinol Super Bounce Serum
Those in search of a Korean approach to retinol needn’t look any further than this pick—a formula both Choi and board-certified dermatologist Dr. David Kim love. Powered by the encapsulated retinol, granactive retinoid, and bio-seletinoid, the formula somehow remains gentle. To wit, Cho said this is “highly effective, smoothing fine lines while keeping skin plump and hydrated” without irritation.
Apply a Daily Moisturizers
“Korean moisturizers are so innovative and thoughtful,” Michelle Park, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, previously told Vogue, noting their use of natural, holistic ingredients to enhance skin benefits while addressing a range of concerns. Think of moisturizer as the final step in skin hydration. “It is the thickest formulation—skin care in general should be applied from your thinnest formulation up to your thickest—and will help to seal in all that you have applied to your skin so far,” says Dr. Hall. “Look to ingredients like ceramides and fatty acids for ultimate hydration and cica and ectoin to calm and soothe the skin.” From lightweight gel creams, to whipped textured thicker consistencies—you can’t go wrong with any of these Korean moisturizers.
ATOBarrier365 Cream
Dr. Chang previously described Aestura’s face cream as her skin’s safety net. “It’s rich in barrier-boosting ceramides and hyaluronic acid that allow the formula to penetrate deep into the skin and stay within the barrier for longer, delivering up to 120 hours of moisture,” she said in our hyaluronic acid skin-care guide. “It is uniquely designed for sensitive skin, making it great for those with rosacea or eczema.”
Sound Renewal Serum Cream
Licensed esthetician and founder of skin-care brand Superegg, Erica Choi previously emphasized that gentle exfoliation and deep hydration are crucial pillars for glass skin. With that in mind, her brand’s serum cream features a formula packed with PHAs and balanced by soothing panthenol and squalane—a perfect concoction for hydrating and brightening skin all at once.
345 Relief Cream
Ultra-soothing and ideal for sensitive or acne-prone skin, Dr. Althea’s 345 Relief Cream brings together a calming trio—niacinamide, resveratrol, and a blend of botanical extracts—to help fend off breakouts and reduce irritation. The texture leans more toward ointment than traditional cream, making it especially well-suited as a nighttime treatment, a slugging step, or even worn solo on no-makeup days. That said, it may not be the best match for layering under foundation, as its ointment-like texture can interfere with makeup wear.
Oat In Calming Gel Cream
This gel cream manages to feel featherlight while delivering serious hydration. Formulated with oat seed water, panthenol, and squalane, it works to soothe and replenish even the most reactive, rosacea-prone skin. The fast-absorbing, fragrance-free formula melts in instantly—offering calming relief without any trace of greasiness or weight. Ciarlo swears by it when trying to calm her own flare ups: “A lot of moisturizers aimed at soothing rosacea contain pore clogging ingredients like shea, which my acne-prone skin can’t risk—not this one!”
Imperial Youth Cream
Lee included the Whoo’s Imperial Youth face cream in her Vogue beauty board wishlist. The formula features 30-year-old wild ginseng extract, alongside ceramides, squalane, and botanical extracts to boost skin elasticity. That said, the texture here is rich, so it’s best used as a night cream rather than layered under makeup during the day.
Finish off with a Daily Sunscreen
A luminous, plump complexion is nothing with sun protection. Of all the Korean beauty innovations that have captured the U.S. market, its sunscreens arguably hold the top spot in terms of popularity. Korean SPF formulas consistently raise the bar, known for their cutting-edge formulations that feel lighter, blend more seamlessly. “We know that 90% of all visible aging is directly attributable to the sun’s UV rays, and so the best anti-aging tip I could give to anyone is to wear SPF every day,” Dr. Hall instructs. Choi adds that “sunscreen is nonnegotiable for preventing sun damage, pigmentation, and premature aging, preserving the skin’s clarity and radiance.” Any of the below formulas offer weightless texture sans white cast.
Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen
Dr. Park previously described Round Lab’s sunscreen as a “smooth moisturizing texture [that] so feels very neutral on the skin.” Powered by chemical agents, this provides apt UV protection while hyaluronic acid improves hydration levels, niacinamide quells inflammation, and allantoin keeps skin soothed.
Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen
If the name is any indication, CosRx’s serum sunscreen is incredibly lightweight despite its heavy-duty sun protection. Plus, Dr. Chang cosigns this pick for its soothing formula that features aloe and niacinamide. Even better, this SPF absorbs quickly and leaves no white cast.
Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum UV
SKIN1004’s serum sunscreen has earned a devoted following, ranking as the third best-selling SPF on YesStyle and racking over 34,000 rave reviews. Its formula is packed with calming oat extract, panthenol, and tigergrass, while soybean and rice work to brighten your complexion. The sunscreen itself is completely transparent, absorbs quickly, and sits comfortably under makeup without pilling.
Everything You Need to Know
What ingredients are essential for a glass-skin skin-care routine?
“A glass-skin routine focuses on hydrating, brightening, and nourishing the skin for a smooth, radiant complexion,” says Choi. “Essential ingredients include hyaluronic acid, which hydrates and plumps the skin; niacinamide, which improves texture and reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines; and vitamin C, which brightens and evens skin tone. Gentle chemical exfoliants reveal smoother skin, while ceramides strengthen the skin barrier and lock in moisture. Peptides support collagen production for firmer, more elastic skin, and centella asiatica soothes and calms the skin, promoting clarity.”
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and K-beauty founders—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to K-beauty products for glass skin, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, finish, and the skin care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
- Erica Choi is a licensed esthetician and founder of Superegg.
- Christine Hall is a London-based general practitioner in medical aesthetics at the Taktouk Clinic.
Source: www.vogue.com
