How to Get Glass Skin? The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

THE SECRET TO GLASS SKIN

Social media is always giving us new skincare trends to obsess over, including the phenomenon known as glass skin. Originating in South Korea, the K-beauty trend has surged in popularity with its viral presence on virtually every screen. Glass skin is characterized by a complexion so smooth it appears nearly translucent—like a sheet of glass. Glass skin has nothing to do with heavy makeup, photo filters, or strategically placed highlighter and everything to do with how well you care for your complexion. It emphasizes a meticulous and multi-step skincare approach that prioritizes deep hydration, gentle exfoliation, and intense nourishment . Need some more clarity? Here’s everything you need to know about glass skin straight from our experts here at Origins, including how to get it.

WHAT IS GLASS SKIN?

The concept of glass skin may evoke thoughts of perfect, pore-less complexions, but ultimately, it revolves around the vitality of your individual skin. “The essence of glass skin is deeply rooted in the health and wellness of your skin. It underscores the significance of a well-cared for complexion,” explains Kimberly Cosentino, Director, Global Product Development. The luminous and translucent radiance associated with glass skin reflects consistency and commitment. Sure, your overall health, diet, and movement regiment effects your skin, but a good skincare routine is the cherry on top: By incorporating steps such as thorough cleansing, regular exfoliation, intense hydration, and diligent sun protection, you can put your skin in the path to glass. Here’s our step-by-step.

STEP 1: DOUBLE CLEANSE

Your Glass Skin routine starts with Double Cleansing. “Double cleansing aims to clean your skin as thoroughly as possible by using two types of cleansers to remove different kinds of impurities that accumulate on your face throughout the day,” says Cosentino. The two-step process includes an oil-based cleanser to dissolve dirt, oil, makeup, (among other impurities), followed by a water-based cleanser to rinse away any residue left behind. Often, oil-based cleansers can remove sunscreen, too. Double cleansing ensures skin is well-cleansed and prepped for its next step.

Our picks for an effective double cleanse:

Checks And Balances™ Milky Oil Cleanser + Makeup Melter is our innovative, oil-to-milk bi-phase transformative cleanser that helps remove makeup, oil, and other impurities without stripping or drying the skin—the perfect first step in a double cleanse.

Checks And Balances™ Frothy Face Wash is a great choice for all skin types. The formula balances both dry and oily zones and gives your skin the final clean sweep it needs—the ultimate purifier to complete your double cleanse.

STEP 2: EXFOLIATE

One of the most valuable steps to achieving glass skin is exfoliating. “Exfoliating two to three times a week helps remove dead skin cells that accumulate on skin’s surface to reveal fresh, healthy skin underneath,” says Cosentino. It also helps minimize the appearance of pores and helps subsequent products, like your serum and moisturizer, to work more effectively. There are two types of facial exfoliators to choose from: chemical exfoliators contain skin-friendly acids to loosen dead skin cells without physically rubbing, while granular exfoliators use a combination of particles to whisk buff away dullness—both help to enhance radiance—a hallmark of glass skin.

Our favorite exfoliator for glass skin:

GinZing™ Refreshing Scrub Cleanser is a 2-in-1 brightening scrub cleanser infused with a skin-energizing Panax Ginseng and Caffeine from Coffee Beans, and naturally derived Jojoba Beads, for a gentle yet effective exfoliation.

STEP 3: SKIN PREP

Prepping the skin after cleansing or exfoliating creates the ideal foundation for the rest of your products. Priming the skin with a lightweight layer of moisture helps add a dewy glow. Look for treatment lotions and toners that offer hydration and includes ingredients like water-binding Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin. If skin is sensitive, choose a product that soothes and boosts skin’s barrier with ingredients like Reishi Mushroom and Lactobacillus Ferment.

Our favorites for skin prep:

Mega-Mushroom™ Soothing Treatment Lotion is an Origins customer favorite for its soothing and barrier boosting benefits. Now with 10x more Reishi Mushroom, the watery lotion helps visibly calm skin while preparing the skin for the next steps in your skincare routine.

Mega-Mushroom™ Soothing Hydra Mist is a moisture-boosting micro-mist— made with ultra-hydrating Snow Mushroom—for visibly plumper, more luminous skin with just a spritz.

STEP 4: SERUM

Serum is the powerhouse of your glass skin routine. With a high concentration of targeted ingredients, serums zero in on specific skincare concerns—like wrinkles, loss of firmness, or uneven tone—to help you achieve your goal. Whether you're incorporating hyaluronic acid for hydration, vitamin C for brightening, or peptides for firming, face serums provide a customized step that sets you up for glass skin success.

Three customer favorite serums here at Origins:

Plantscription™ Multi-Powered Youth Serum is our #1 serum to help rejuvenate your look. Peptides help support skin’s natural collagen and relax the appearance of expression lines, while Anogeissus helps maintain skin’s youthful bounce.

Mega-Mushroom™ Restorative Skin Concentrate is a multi-action, comforting concentrate that rapidly soothes irritated-looking skin and supports a compromised skin barrier. It’s the perfect pick for sensitive skin that needs extra care.

GinZing™ Into the Glow Brightening Serum is a multi-action brightening serum that visibly brightens dull skin in one shot. Infused with Vitamin C plus a 5% Retexturizing Complex, the formula noticeably smooths skin and reduces the look of pores over time.

STEP 5: EYE CREAM

Since the eye area is prone to issues like puffiness, dark circles and fine lines, an eye cream is an essential step in any glass skin routine. Regular use of an eye cream can help create a bright, youthful and well-rested appearance, contributing to the overall clarity and radiance of your complexion.

Our picks for a revitalized under-eye:

GinZing™ Eye Cream is a one-two punch against dark circles and puffiness. The formula, featuring Vitamin C and Niacinamide, helps brighten, visibly reduces dark circles—instantly and over time—while it hydrates, and minimizes the look of puffiness.

Plantscription™ Wrinkle Correction Eye Cream is an ultra-hydrating, velvety soft eye cream with Encapsulated Retinol to noticeably improve the look of fine under eye lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines.

STEP 6: MOISTURIZE

Regular moisturizing, both morning and night, is without question the most critical step in your glass skin routine. “Moisturized skin appears smooth, radiant and dewy, which is the essence of glass skin,” says Cosentino. Your moisturizer serves as the final essential layer, sealing in the hydration helps support all the beneficial ingredients applied in previous steps, and even strengthens your skin’s barrier over time. Choosing the right moisturizer for your skin type is as important as this step itself—it helps achieve that radiant hydration that glass skin is all about.

Our picks for daily hydration:

GinZing™ Energizing Gel Cream is our favorite moisturizer for oily skin. The gel-cream formula absorbs quickly and delivers 72-hour hydration. Vitamin C helps brighten while Niacinamide helps improve skin’s moisture barrier and minimize the appearance of pores over time.

Plantscription™ Lifting + Firming Cream is an excellent choice for normal to dry skin experiencing signs of aging. It delivers velvety hydration for increased radiance and helps smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

STEP 7: SPF

Don’t let the sun sabotage your progress. Sun protection is a non-negotiable step in your glass skin routine, and SPF is your best defense against the skin-damaging effects of UV rays. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day (yes, even when it’s cloudy). A moisturizer with SPF makes that initial daily defense a no-brainer.

Our picks for daily protection:

A Perfect World™ SPF 40 Age Defense Moisturizer infuses skin with healthy hydration, plus antioxident protection from environmental aggressors and SPF protection against UV rays.

GinZing™ SPF 40 Energy-Boosting Tinted Moisturizer hydrates and energizes skin as it protects from skin-damaging UV rays for a healthy, vibrant, perfected look.

BONUS STEP: FACE MASK

Think of a face mask as a bonus step—like an additional boost of nourishment after you’ve cleansed the skin. Choose one that targets a specific concern, like acne -prone skin, uneven tone, or added hydration for an enhanced luminosity.

A fan-favorite at Origins:
GinZing™ Glow Boosting Mask is a hydrating gel mask with Vitamin C and encapsulated Mineral Optics. It delivers a surge of moisture to skin, plus an instant, healthy-looking glow and increased brightness over time.

HOW TO MAINTAIN GLASS SKIN

Staying tried and true to your glass skin routine is paramount to a highly reflective complexion, but also important is your overall well-being. Here are a few helpful tips:

Raise your glass: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps flush out what our bodies don’t need, which can affect the health of your skin.
Sleep tight: Quality sleep is essential for skin regeneration and renewal. Aim for seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep every night.
Get moving: Regular physical activity promotes blood circulation, which can result in a healthier, more radiant complexion.

LET’S REFLECT

The ethereal, reflective nature of glass skin sure makes it seem impossible to achieve. But with the right skincare products, a soft, smooth, reflective complexion is an attainable goal. What’s important to remember is consistency—with any skincare routine, you get what you put in. Also important: be sure to remind yourself that glass skin isn’t about flawless perfection, but rather revealing your best possible skin.