The Korean glass skin makeup is a trend that is not going anywhere anytime soon. True beauty enthusiasts might have got it all right, but for some of us, it’s an art that needs to be perfected. One of Korean culture’s biggest contributions to the world of beauty, the name pretty much is self-explanatory. Smooth skin with a dewy effect, near-invisible pores and a touch of illumination that’s almost reflective – just like glass.
As real glass skin requires drinking gallons of water, following your skincare routine, and pretty much time and patience, you can cheat the look with makeup. The right products and application techniques can certainly give this appearance.
Expert makeup artist Bhaavya Kapur shares exactly how to get the glass skin makeup right:
Step 1: Prime your skin well
Bhaavya starts the makeup routine with a dewy primer. A good primer helps to blur your pores, prep your skin and add an extra layer of hydration. It moisturises and smoothens the skin to give you a long-lasting dewy look.
Our recommendations: Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Primer; Colorbar Perfect Match Primer; Faces Canada Ultime Pro Perfecting Primer
Step 2: Conceal and Moisturise
Next up, she used a brightening concealer to illuminate the high points of the face followed by a tinted moisturiser for additional coverage while also hydrating skin and leaving a glowing finish.
Our recommendations: Type Beauty Inc Hybrid Concealer; ilana Soft Blue Cream Concealer + Foundation; Pixi Beauty H20 Skintint Cream; Lakmé Absolute Hydra Pro Tinted Moisturiser
Step 3: Apply a glow foundation
For glass skin makeup, Bhaavya picked a lightweight foundation to give the skin a natural-looking radiant finish. Remember, less is more in the glass skin trend, so use only a small amount of the foundation to add a light, seamless coverage to your skin. Bhaavya also stresses the point of using a stippling brush for a seamless, almost airbrushed-like finish. And then, a beauty blender for maximum coverage.
Our recommendations: L'Oreal True Match Foundation; M.A.C Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation; Clinique Even Better Glow Liquid Foundation
Step 4: Powder away
It's inevitable that you might have some makeup where you don't want it, but Bhaavya says you can simply erase it with a little setting powder and start your prep to finish off the glass skin makeup.
Our recommendations: Anastasia Beverly Hills Loose Setting Powder; SUGAR Cosmetics All Set To Go Translucent Powder
Step 5: Just a dash of eye makeup
Keep your eye makeup soft and simple to complement the Korean glass skin look. Add a light wash of light brown or champagne-toned eyeshadow on top of your lids. Bhaavya skipped the eyeliner and kajal and finished off the eyes with a few swipes of lengthening mascara to get soft and fluttery lashes.
Our recommendations: Kiro Beauty Longwear Brightening Eyeshadow Stick; ETUDE Play Color Eye Palette; Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Luxe Eyeshadow Quad
Step 6: Bring cheer to your cheeks
To complete the rest of your makeup, add some colour to your face by applying just a touch of blush to the apples of your cheeks. Bhaavya suggests going for a natural-looking blush for the glass-skin look. Even a minimal hint of highlighter can be flattering to add extra shine.
Our recommendations: Gush Beauty Stacked In Your Favour; Tsara Let It Glow; Simply Nam Velvet Cream Magic Blush
Step 7: Let your lips do the talking too
Bhaavya suggests creating soft lips by just outlining the lips with a liner and filling in the lips with a nude lip colour. For a glossy effect, you can go for a natural lip gloss.
Our recommendations: FAE Beauty Buildable Matte Lipstick; Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick; Chumbak Creamy Matte Lipstick
Lastly, use a makeup setting spray to set everything in place, and you are ready to rock the Korean glass skin makeup trend.