Everyone’s Talking About ‘Glass Skin,’ But How Do You Get the Look? I Asked an Expert
Once reserved for K-beauty insiders and skincare obsessives, glass skin has officially gone mainstream. The ultra-hydrated, glowy complexion—so smooth and reflective it looks almost translucent—has become one of the most-requested makeup looks of the moment. But despite what social media filters suggest, glass skin isn’t about shine or heavy highlighter. It starts with skin that’s genuinely healthy.
We spoke with Alicia Yoon, Founder and CEO of Peach & Lily and K-Beauty expert, about the trend. Her brand helped pioneer the glass skin movement by bringing the trend from Korea in the US back in 2018. “Glass skin is not a filtered look or a makeup look,” says Alicia. “It’s about achieving skin that’s so healthy and hydrated that there’s luminosity, smoothness, and clarity from within.” Ahead, Alicia helps us break down what glass skin really is, how to prep your skin properly for that glassy look, and the best skincare and makeup products to achieve a glowy, frosted finish without looking oily.
Alicia Yoon, Founder and CEO of Peach & Lily
After struggling to find effective skincare that wouldn’t irritate her sensitive, eczema-prone skin, Peach & Lily Founder & CEO, Alicia Yoon, partnered with leading chemists, researchers, and cell biologists to create groundbreaking formulas that deliver transformative results while remaining gentle on even the most sensitive skin.
What is glass skin?
Glass skin originated in Korean beauty culture, where skincare has long been treated as a holistic, preventative practice rather than a quick fix. At its core, glass skin is an outcome of consistently caring for your skin barrier, hydration levels, and overall skin health.
“Glass skin is fundamentally about pursuing healthy skin,” Alicia explains. “It’s the result of treating your skin with ingredients that respect how skin functions as an organ.” Rather than relying on makeup to fake glow, K-beauty philosophies emphasize gentle cleansing, layering hydration, nourishing the skin with targeted actives, and protecting it from environmental stressors. When the skin barrier is calm, hydrated, and balanced, light reflects naturally off the surface, creating that coveted glassy finish.
“It’s about achieving skin that’s so healthy and hydrated that there’s luminosity, smoothness, and clarity from within.”
How to prep your skin for the glassy look
If glass skin makeup is the goal, skincare prep is non-negotiable. Think all things hydration, loads of SPF, and careful consideration when priming your skin.
Focus on hydration first
“For any seamless makeup look, prepping skin with hydration goes a long way for that second-skin smooth finish,” says Alicia. Lightweight, layerable hydration helps makeup glide on evenly and prevents products from clinging to dry patches. Start with a hydrating serum that supports brightness and barrier health, like the cult-favorite Glass Skin Refining Serum from Peach & Lily, which layers niacinamide and hyaluronic acid for smoothness and clarity. Milky essences, such as Rhode’s Glazing Milk, are another easy step to flood skin with lightweight moisture before makeup.
Avoid over-exfoliating
Using too many actives or exfoliating too often can compromise the skin barrier, leading to redness, texture, and dullness—everything you don’t want for glass skin. A slow and steady routine when it comes to exfoliation tends to deliver better results. If exfoliating is a key part of your routine, opt for gentler formulas a few times a week instead of daily resurfacing. A mandelic acid serum like Versed Skin Refine can help smooth texture without stripping the skin.
Don’t skip SPF
Of course, we all know we should be wearing SPF on our faces every single day. For glass skin, SPF is crucial. Daily SPF helps prevent UV damage, uneven tone, and barrier breakdown, allowing skin to stay clear, smooth, and luminous over time. Lightweight formulas like Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen or SUNPLUS Solar Balance Lotion protect without pilling under makeup or adding heaviness, which means your glow stays intentional, not greasy.
Prime with skincare, not silicone
Instead of heavy primers, opt for hydrating mists, serums, or milky essences that keep skin supple while enhancing makeup wear. Your products will glide on and your skin will feel a little lighter. Try a fine mist like the Glass Skin Veil Mist, which can be spritzed on before foundation to create that subtle, lit-from-within slip.
The best products for a glass skin makeup look
Achieving glass skin makeup requires a mix of skincare and glow-enhancing makeup. These picks, including highlighters, balms, and skin tints, deliver radiance without crossing into greasy territory.
Start with a sheer, radiant base
Full-coverage, matte foundations can flatten the complexion, which works against the glass effect. Instead, reach for breathable bases that even tone while maintaining natural reflectivity. Serum-like formulas such as Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint or Saie’s Slip Tint deliver coverage with a hydrated finish. Maybelline’s Dream Fresh BB cream (my go-to since high school) delivers light coverage with a touch of sheen that feels fresh and skinlike all day. The goal is skin that looks perfected, but still like your skin.
Layer cream, not powder
It’s no coincidence that cream products are having a moment. Powder products can dull shine and absorb the very glow you’re trying to create, while creams layer seamlessly and add light back into the skin. For cheeks and high points of the face, opt for creamy, balmy formulas that melt into the skin.
The Peach & Lily Glass Skin Luminizing Stick adds a subtle, glassy spotlight when tapped onto cheekbones or under foundation for a lit-from-within effect. Westman Atelier’s Lit Up Highlight Stick and Merit’s Day Glow Highlighting Balm offer similar sheen without chunky sparkle. Even Jones Road’s Miracle Balm can double as a complexion enhancer, pressed onto cheeks or lids for a dewy wash of radiance.
Add a glossy eye moment
To lean into the “frosted” element of the trend, incorporate light-reflective cream shadows. Pearlescent or satin-finish eye products create dimension without looking heavy, and are subtle enough for everyday wear. Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick is my go-to, specifically in champagne or rose tones. The easy-to-use stick makes applying eye shadow a breeze, lasts all day, and gives the eyes a bit more life than a typical powder eyeshadow. For a true glossy-lid effect, Danessa Myricks Beauty’s Colorfix Glaze adds a glass-like shine that catches the light beautifully.
Finish strategically
Glass skin makeup doesn’t require an all-over glow. Instead, when your makeup is almost done, concentrate luminosity where light would naturally hit: tops of cheekbones, brow bones, the bridge of the nose, and even the cupid’s bow. If needed, lightly set only areas prone to creasing—for me, that’s my undereyes and T-zone—while leaving the perimeter of the face untouched. The result should feel hydrated, smooth, and reflective.
At its core, glass skin makeup is less about perfection and more about radiance. When skin is properly prepped and makeup is layered thoughtfully, the glow looks intentional, not oily. The result is fresh, polished, and subtly frosted in all the right places.
Meaghan Moore, Contributing Writer
Meaghan is a Chicago-based writer who covers fashion trends, celebrity style, beauty news, and lifestyle.
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