My skin used to look so dull last year. Seriously dull. I tried everything from expensive creams to random YouTube hacks. Nothing worked. Then my cousin sister got married in Delhi and I did her makeup. Her friend from Seoul kept asking about my skincare routine. I had to admit I did not have one. She looked shocked. She said "You need the glass skin makeup look, didi. Start today."
So I did. And now I am going to tell you exactly what she told me.
The glass skin makeup look is trending everywhere right now. You must have seen those reels where girls have skin that looks like actual glass. Shiny. Smooth. No pores visible. That look started in Korea but now everyone wants it. Including you, probably.
Here is the thing though. You cannot just buy products and hope for the best. I learned that the hard way. There is a proper way to do this. A step-by-step method that actually works.
Let me break it down for you properly.
So glass skin makeup look means exactly what it sounds like. Your face should look like a clean piece of glass. Light should bounce off it. Not sparkly like disco ball. Just soft shine like when you put oil on clean metal.
I used to think this was impossible for normal people like us. The models on Instagram must use filters right? Wrong. My cousin's friend proved me wrong. She showed me her bare face and it honestly looked like she had highlighter on already.
The secret is not in the makeup. Well, partly makeup. But mostly skin.
See normal makeup tries to cover things. Foundation hides spots. Powder stops oil. But glass skin does the opposite. It shows your skin off. That means your skin has to be good first.
Before any makeup touches your face, you gotta fix your skin situation. This is where most people mess up including me for years.
I used to wash my face with whatever soap was in the bathroom. Bad idea. Very bad idea. My skin felt tight after washing. That tight feeling means you stripped all the good stuff off.
Here is what actually works.
Wash with something gentle. Not hot water. Hot water is the enemy I swear. Use warm water like you would use to make tea for a baby. Not too hot not too cold.
Then toner. I never used toner before because I thought it was useless. Waste of money. But actually it preps your skin for everything else. Put it on and wait thirty seconds. Your skin should feel cool and damp.
Serum time. This is important guys. Get one with hyaluronic acid. Big word I know. But it just means it holds water in your skin. The Korean Beauty Association did a survey and found this is the number one ingredient there. Everyone uses it.
Moisturizer after serum. Lock it all in. I use thick one at night light one in morning.
Sunscreen. Please please please do not skip this. I skipped it for one beach trip and my skin looked horrible for months after. Not worth it.
Drink water throughout the day. Eat fruits that have water. Sleep minimum seven hours. No shortcuts.
I followed this for three weeks before I even touched makeup. By week two my mother asked if I was doing something different. That felt good.
Okay so after your skin is ready, now comes the korean glass skin makeup routine. This is the part everyone asks me about.
Start with primer. But not any primer. Has to be hydrating one. The ones that say matte or oil control? Avoid those completely. They kill the glow before it starts. Put primer on and wait one minute until it feels slightly sticky.
Next I use tinted moisturizer. Not foundation. Foundation is too heavy. BB cream also works. Put small dots on forehead, both cheeks, nose, chin. Blend with fingers. Your fingers are warm and that helps everything melt in.
I learned to blend in small circles going up. Not down. Upwards always.
Concealer only where you need. Under eyes. On any red spots. Use your ring finger to tap. Ring finger has weakest pressure so you wont rub too hard. Tapping not rubbing.
Cream blush on apples of cheeks. I used powder blush for years and wondered why my makeup looked fake. Cream blush disappears into skin. Looks like you are actually glowing from inside.
Now the fun part. Liquid highlighter. Tiny tiny drop. Like really tiny. Tap on cheekbones, your nose bridge and above lips. Keep tapping until it looks wet not sparkly. If you see glitter particles you used wrong product.
Lip gloss at the end. Clear one or pink tint. Shiny lips are must.
Let me write the glass skin makeup look step by step in simple order so you can save this.
This takes me about ten minutes now. When I started, it took twenty five. You will get faster.
You do not need to spend lakhs on this. I use drugstore products mostly.
For primer look for words like dewy or glowing on the bottle. Skip anything that says matte.
Base makeup should be BB cream or skin tint. Not thick foundation. It should feel watery not pasty.
Liquid highlighter beats powder highlighter any day. Powder sits on top and looks fake. Liquid disappears into skin.
Cream blush stays longer on dewy skin. Powder gets cakey.
If you want specific brand names you can come to our studio and try stuff. We help clients figure out what works for their skin. Visit our Contact Us page and book time with us.
I messed up a lot when I started. Let me save you the trouble.
First mistake was using too much powder. I thought I had to set everything. No. Powder kills the glass effect. If you absolutely must use powder, only on nose and chin. Light dusting. Tap off extra from brush first.
Second mistake was rubbing hard. Rubbing moves products around and creates streaks. Patting is better. Gentle patting.
Third mistake skipping moisturizer because I have oily skin. I thought oil was bad. Actually skin produces more oil when it is dry. So moisturizer helps control oil. Weird but true.
Fourth mistake stopping at my jaw. The glow should go down to neck and chest. Blend everything down so no line shows.
Fifth mistake thick layers. Thin layers let light pass through and bounce back. Thick layers look like mask.
Yes but you have to adjust.
For oily skin use water based everything. Gel moisturizer instead of cream. Blot during day if needed. I have oily skin and blotting papers save me.
For dry skin extra serum layer. Mix face oil drop into foundation.
For older skin this is actually better than matte makeup. The glow softens fine lines. Matte makeup sits in wrinkles and makes them look deeper. A survey found 78 percent women over 45 prefer glowing makeup.
For men yes it works too. Skin is skin. We get male clients asking for this before weddings.
Setting spray made for glow. Hold far away. Spray X then T. Let dry by itself. Do not fan.
Blotting papers in bag always. If oily press gently. Do not wipe. Wiping removes makeup. Pressing lifts oil only.
Touch up highlighter midday. Tiny dot on cheekbones. Finger tap.
Water bottle carry everywhere. Hydrated skin stays plump.
No touching face. Your fingers transfer oil. If you must touch use tissue.
I want to tell you something real.
Three years ago my skin was so bad I stopped taking photos. I would see friends posting selfies and feel sad. I tried everything. Those expensive products from Instagram ads. Homemade face packs from YouTube. Nothing worked.
Then at my cousin's wedding I met this girl from Seoul. She did not speak much Hindi but we managed. She kept looking at my face while I did her makeup. I thought something was wrong. Like maybe I did a bad job.
After wedding she came to me and said "Your skin is crying for water." I did not understand. She used Google translate. "Too much products. Too much rubbing. Stop everything. Start simple."
She wrote down a routine on a piece of paper. Wash. Tone. Serum. Moisturizer. Sunscreen. That was it. No fancy steps.
I followed that paper for one month. By third week my skin looked different. My husband noticed before I did. He said "Your face is shining." Not in a mean way. In a nice way.
That paper is still in my bathroom drawer. I look at it sometimes to remind myself that simple works.
Now I teach this to everyone who comes to our studio. Not because I am an expert. Because I was exactly where you are. Frustrated. Confused. Wasting money. Check out my makeup cost .
You have all the steps now. The glass skin makeup look is not complicated. It just needs patience and gentle hands.
Gather your products. Set aside ten minutes. Follow steps in order. Look in mirror and smile at your glowing face.
Remember what Mina told me that day in Delhi. Be patient. Be gentle. Thin layers win. Simple works.
If you get stuck or want help we are here. Book session with us. Let us create your glow together. I would love to see your before and after. For any other detail visit anumakeover
Your glass skin is waiting. Go get it.