Glass skin or glowing skin — what's the difference?

Glass skin and glowing skin are terms used interchangeably, but they are actually different. One is about texture, whilst the other refers to light — which will become clearer below.

What is glass skin?

Glass skin is smooth and catches the light, with no visible texture or dry patches.

Hydration is the key to achieving the glass skin look. Well-hydrated skin plumps up and looks smoother, softening fine lines and reducing the look of pores.

What is glowing skin?

Glowing skin is skin that looks like it's lit from within, with brightness across the whole face.

Your skin doesn't need to have the perfect texture to achieve the glowing skin look. You can have visible pores, a bit of unevenness and still look glowy.

Exfoliation is the key to achieving that glow — clearing away dull surface skin for a more even skin tone, and moisturising to bring suppleness to the skin.

Do I want glass skin or glowing skin?

Stand at a window in natural daylight with no makeup and turn your head slowly.

• If you see texture, flakiness, pores and see your foundation settling — you want glass skin.
• If your face looks tired, flat or grey even when texture looks fine — you want glowing skin.

Most people want a bit of both, but usually one annoys you more and is the one you should focus on.

A note on pore size:

• Pore size is largely genetic and no routine will completely remove it.
• Hydration helps to soften how pores look in the light.

Skincare routines

We've created a couple of simple skincare routines for both glass skin and glowing skin.

The two routines overlap, so you don't have to strictly follow all the products in one routine and can mix and match according to what your skin needs.

For example, try the glass skin routine for eight weeks and then reassess. If your skin texture settles down, move on to working on the brightness.

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Glass skin care routine

1. Cleanse without stripping — SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule Foam

A lightweight foam that washes off your makeup and sunscreen, without leaving that squeaky feeling. Centella Asiatica extract calms red or irritated skin, delivers quick hydration and supports the skin barrier.

2. Hydrate — ANUA PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum

Lightweight serum that does the heavy lifting — deeply hydrating and soothing, improving elasticity and giving skin a radiant, glass-like finish. Hyaluronic acid holds water in the upper layers of the skin, to plump it and minimise the look of fine lines.

3. Seal it in — medicube Collagen Jelly Cream

Locks in the water the serum has just delivered. A jelly texture rather than a rich balm, which will suit anyone who finds heavier creams sit on top of their skin.

4. Top up overnight — medicube Salmon DNA PDRN Pink Collagen Jelly Mask

Use once or twice a week to boost your skin's elasticity and give it deeper hydration, with the hydrolysed collagen. Salmon DNA supports the skin's barrier, with niacinamide to help even out skin tone and reduce the look of dullness.

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Glowing skin care routine

1. Cleanse the surface — Arencia Korean Rice Mochi Cleanser

Multi-tasking gentle rice face cleanser that removes daily makeup, purifies pores, exfoliates dead skin cells and removes impurities. Unique stretchy mochi texture that also doubles up as a quick wash-off clay mask.

2. Even out the tone — Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum

Propolis and niacinamide are the key ingredients that give your skin the glowy look. The serum calms troubled, acne-prone skin, helps settle active breakouts and helps balance excess oil. Also great for fading the look of dark spots, whilst delivering a natural dewy glow.

3. Lock in moisture — medicube Deep Vitamin C Golden Capsule

A capsule moisturiser with vitamin C and niacinamide, used to brighten dull skin and soften the look of dark spots and marks, whilst providing deep hydration.

4. The night-before mask — BIODANCE Bio-Collagen Deep Face Mask

The overnight hydrating mask people keep for special events, weddings and photos. Leave on for a few hours to give your skin a fuller and brighter look. It's a hydrogel sheet mask which deeply hydrates, refines the look of enlarged pores and helps smooth out uneven skin texture.

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All the products above can be found in our Korean skincare picks, along with many other great picks.