When it comes to the “glass skin” trend, online experts are pushing intensive hydration to give a plump, dewy look but I’m here to tell, you can’t hydrate your way to achieving glass skin. As a 35 year expert esthetician, I’ll share with you how to truly get skin that is smooth-as-glass that you will absolutely love.
What Exactly is “Glass Skin”?
Glass skin is a term that refers to skin that is incredibly smooth, clear, and radiant and reflects light – almost resembling a piece of glass. It is defined as skin that is deeply hydrated, plump, and glowing with a pore-less and flawless finish. Sounds incredible, right? Let’s touch on all things glass skin.
The 4 Essentials for Achieving Glass Skin
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- Smooth-as-glass texture (free of bumps and blemishes with minimized pores)
- Even-toned with minimal discoloration
- Glowing / Circulation (a naturally healthy glow from within)
- Moisture / Hydration (dewy, plump skin)
Let’s Touch on Texture
Clogged Pores
Clogged pores (known as “closed comedones”) appear as white-ish bumps on the skin. When you think of glass skin, the first thing that comes to mind is a smooth texture not bumpy. Clogged pores are not as round or firm as milia (mentioned below), but when left untreated, they tend to hang around for long periods of time.
Causes of clogged pores:
Oily skin, wrong products for your skin type, pore-clogging makeup (I’m looking at you, cream blushes and highlighters!), heavy sunscreens
Renée’s expert advice:
Receive manual extractions from an esthetician. This blockage in your pores WON’T go away on their own. Once you get them cleared out, the goal is to keep them clear with the following leave-on acid exfoliators.
Product recommendations:
BHA Clarifying Serum
Pore + Wrinkle Perfecting Serum
Milia
Milia are hard, tiny bumps on the skin that appear when keratin and hardened oil get trapped below the skin’s surface. Milia are round and, because of how they look, are sometimes described as tiny “pearls.” The hardened oil gives them an off-white color, and they appear most commonly around the eyes, nose, and cheeks.
Causes of milia:
Hyperkeratosis, heavy eye creams, smoking
Renée’s expert advice:
Receive manual extractions from an esthetician. Just like closed comedones, these don’t magically disappear. Find an esthetician who is skill in extractions for removal. Dermatologists can remove milia, too.
Product recommendations:
Overnight Eye Serum
Let’s Touch on Blemishes and Enlarged Pores
Blemishes
Blemishes can be in the form of whiteheads, pustules, or cysts. Acne can be very complicated but there are ways to prevent blemishes from forming and knowing what to do once they appear so you can achieve glass skin.
Causes of blemishes:
Hormones, incorrect products, dairy, many unknowns, a case of bad luck.
Renée’s expert advice:
See an experienced skincare professional who can help guide you to an action plan to give you results.
Product recommendations:
Anti Bump Solution
AHA/BHA Blemish Control Cleanser
Enlarged Pores
Enlarged pores are pores that have been physically stretched out by excess oil production or the loss of collagen. You most certainly can shrink these back to their original size. Otherwise, if your pores aren’t enlarged, their size is genetically determined, which means it’s impossible to make them any smaller than they’re meant to be. In this case, you can only minimize their appearance—not their actual size.
Causes of enlarged pores:
Excess oil production, hormones, age
Renée’s expert advice:
Regular use of physical and chemical exfoliants and retinol/retinoids
Product recommendations:
Pore + Wrinkle Perfecting Serum
Let’s Touch on Skin Growths
Skin Growths
Skin growths are bumps on the face, neck, and body. They are usually benign (non-cancerous) and often begin as small flat or rough bumps.That said, it’s very important to keep an eye out for anything new or changing. Always schedule regular skin checks with your dermatologist. When in doubt, always get it checked out.
At first, these growths might be mistaken for clogged pores or breakouts, but they will never come to a head and cannot be extracted since there is no oil in them. Treating them with harsh, breakout-focused products will only result in dry, irritated skin.
Causes of skin growths:
UV damage, age, genetics, hormones, oily skin
Renée’s expert advice:
See a dermatologist for a skin check and removal (Some estheticians have devices to help with removal, too.)
Product recommendations:
Advanced Resurfacing Serum (retinol), prescription retinoid
Let’s Touch on Discoloration
Discoloration
Discoloration is an overproduction of a pigment called melanin. Genetics, sun exposure, hormones and injury to the skin are the most common causes. Once the melanin factory turns on, it can be hard to calm fussy pigment cells back down. This is why it’s so frustrating because they can take months to go away – especially the deeper your skin tone is.
Causes of discoloration:
Sun exposure, heat, blemishes, pregnancy, aging, genetics
Renée’s expert advice:
Products that fade/brighten, physical and chemical exfoliation, use SPF (during all daylight hours every single day of the year!), add an extra layer of protection with foundation makeup
Product recommendations:
Vitamin C + E Treatment
Let’s Touch on Circulation
Under-Circulation
How to tell if the skin is under-circulated:
When your skin is makeup-free, take your thumb and forefinger and gently pull on the apples of your cheeks. Using light pressure, quickly pinch the skin five times.
If your skin becomes a little pink, it’s likely that it has proper circulation.
If your skin doesn’t become pink, it’s more than likely under-circulated, and you’ll want to boost circulation. If your skin becomes red, your skin is likely over-circulated, and you’ll want to keep it calm with soothing (not energizing) products.
Basically, to get the glowing skin you want, the goal is for your circulation to be right in the middle—not too much, not too little.
Causes of under-circulated skin:
Slow blood circulation, genetics, smoking, drug use
Renée’s expert advice:
Hang your head upside down, facial massage, exercise, use stimulating ingredients, restoring the skin barrier
Product recommendations:
Mint Renewal Cleanser
Let’s Touch on Moisture, Hydration and Light-Reflection
Moisture Loss
Causes of moisture loss in the skin:
Dryness (lack of oil), dehydration (lack of water), build up of dead skin, weather, topical prescriptions
Renée’s expert advice:
The “Golden Minute Rule”, gentle cleansers, water infusion sealed with barrier repairing masque, creme or lotion
Product recommendations:
Moisture Infusion Toner
Let’s Touch on Your Glass Skin Action Plan
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- Take the Skin Type Quiz
- Use products for your skin type
- Get glowing #thereneeway
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While “glass skin” is a trendy word and may go away, the goal of getting the skin to look smooth-as-glass will always be a desired look. I hope you enjoyed this post!
Celebrity Esthetician & Skincare Expert
As an esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience, and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skin care expert has created a real-world solution — products that are formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get exactly what it needs to look and feel its best. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives around the globe, her vast real-world knowledge and constant research are why Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin practitioner we know.”
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