But how do you get glass skin, making sure your glow looks transparent, not oily? Let’s break down the basics. You might even want to exfoliate the night before (“The process of achieving glass skin truly starts at night,” says makeup artist Elyse Frieri, store manager at clean beauty retailer Credo), so you can wake up to smoother skin. Whether you’re partial to a physical or chemical scrub, retinol serum, or glycolic acid peel, exfoliating your skin is key for achieving the glass skin look. Just be sure to follow with a rich hydrating cream or moisturizing mask (even a hyaluronic-acid-based sheet mask, if you’re exfoliating day-of) to prevent dryness and keep your skin looking plump. If you want to ensure an even cleaner canvas, makeup artist Jenny Patinkin recommends dermaplaning away peach fuzz for extra smoothness. Just once every three to four weeks is enough to achieve the smooth, reflective look you’re yearning for.
Now is not the time for thick creams; rather, opt for light moisturizers (just don’t rub it in too much; otherwise, you’ll lose the texture). “Focus on protection in the form of an antioxidant serum, oil, and SPF, but it’s important to limit anything too heavy,” Frieri agrees.
Vargas is partial to serums that offer a skin-plumping effect. “I like a hyaluronic gel serum to also make sure the skin isn’t too slick for makeup,” she says. Your skin will drink it all up, but it won’t make your face too slippery for a touch of blush later.
You should have enough slip to allow the tool to effortlessly glide across your skin, but be sure to stop once your products settle in; you never want to pull at the delicate skin on your face. (To see the ancient practice in action, check out our tutorial video.)
With setting powder, it’s a similar adventure: Only use enough product to set the areas you’ve concealed. A small eye shadow brush is best to really target those certain areas. (Pro tip: Frieri recommends spritzing a favorite toner on your brush before applying powder, as a damp brush can create a smoother, more even finish.)
In terms of application, you want to avoid dragging a brush across the skin, says Patinkin. Use a damp makeup sponge or your fingers to pat product in. Also be sure to keep your touch light; that way, you won’t disturb the skin or concealer underneath. Remember that rubbing in too much will mess with the final look—you want your skin to remain pillowy with just the right amount of shine, so let the products lay where they may.
As for the low points, either leave them alone or use the conceal and set method mentioned above to even out any discoloration.
While achieving glass skin is a minimal makeup look, the prepping actually starts the night before with a good exfoliation routine. “Makeup is magical and transformative, but there are two things it cannot hide: texture and dimension,” Frieri says. In other words, you can’t truly achieve glass skin with just makeup—it’s a holistic process that starts with taking care of your skin. With an emphasis on a smooth, poreless complexion, it’s no wonder glass skin has remained a top beauty ideal long past its inception. After all, healthy, youthful skin is always on-trend.
