Luminous Like Water: How to Get Glass Skin (Ft. Miel)
- seon reverie
- Jul 5
- 7 min read
As you’re scrolling out and about during your nightly Pinterest surfs, you have probably come across it before. Right before your eyes, the kind of skin that looks like it’s been kissed by light, so dewy, glowy, and radiant. A complexion so smooth, hydrated, and luminous it almost looks translucent. Glass skin.
I remember when it first came around the internet. Everyone thought it was just another unrealistic asian beauty standard. Until they realized it wasn’t. Glass skin is a butterfly that takes time and consistency to catch, but with the right routine and mindset, it’ll be yours. Beyond serums and steps, there’s something deeper in the allure of glass skin: clarity, softness, and a kind of emotional stillness that reflects light from the inside out.
What Is Glass Skin, Really?
Glass skin isn’t about being poreless or perfect. It’s about achieving a healthy, hydrated, and balanced glow — like the surface of a still lake. It’s plump, dewy, hydrated skin that feels alive and awake. When you gently poke it, it’ll feel almost like a smooth boiled egg (strange but accurate comparison).
The fascination with luminous, translucent skin isn’t new in Korea—it’s rooted in centuries-old ideals of inner purity and outward radiance. In the Three Kingdoms era (37–668 AD), beauty was already seen as the reflection of a soul in harmony.
Fast forward to the 2010s, and this cultural legacy blossomed into modern-day K‑beauty. The term “glass skin” emerged around 2013 alongside other descriptors like chok‑chok (moist) and kkul‑gwang (honey glow)
By 2017, the phrase “glass skin” went viral—Instagram selfies, beauty blogs, and Korean influencers showcasing glassy, hydrated complexions captured global attention. Alicia Yoon of Peach & Lily describes it as “skin so healthy, even-toned, and plumped with hydration that it's almost translucent, like a shard of glass”
U.S. beauty editors and influencers embraced the concept: Snapchat tutorials, Instagram stories, and features in Vogue and Allure all proclaimed it the ultimate dewy goal . Glow Recipe, co‑founded by Sarah Lee and Christine Chang, turned glass skin into a household beauty philosophy and product line in 2018. Influencers and business owners like Hailey Bieber also rendered it to her own style, calling it "Glazed Donut Skin." The U.S. market responded with skyrocketing searches (+200% in 5 years) and hundreds of thousands of TikTok posts tagged #GlassSkin.
How to Achieve Glass Skin
Although the key to achieving such a look is all in the hydration, it is not about piling all your skincare on at once. Many people turned to “slugging”, the skincare trend of applying petroleum jelly all over your face before bedtime, as a method for glass skin. Even though many can attest of this working, it is not for everyone.
Another thing I’d like to say is that you do not strictly need Korean skincare for glass skin. American brands can do the same, and it is not about the country of origin but rather the ingredients in the products you are using! Korean skincare does an excellent job though, and if it is within your budget, I would definitely recommend.
Here are the proper steps for a clean glass skin look!
Step 1: Double Cleanse (Start with a Blank Canvas)
A clean face sets the stage for everything else to penetrate and perform.
Oil-based cleanser: Removes sunscreen, makeup, excess sebum, and pollution without stripping your skin.
Water-based cleanser: Sweeps away sweat and leftover residue. Look for gentle, low-pH formulas.
Go in with a gentle foaming cleaner or gel cleanser to wash off residue from the oil cleanser.
Step 2: Exfoliate (But Gently)
Exfoliation unveils your skin’s natural glow and clears buildup that dulls luminosity.
2–3x a week only. Choose a mild chemical exfoliant (like lactic acid or PHA) to smooth texture and help with clarity.
Avoid harsh scrubs. They can damage the skin barrier, which is the opposite of glass.
Step 3: Toner (The First Drink of Water)
Ingredients to look for: Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica, fermented extracts.
Go for hydrating toners. Think watery essences that soften and plump.
Apply and pat into skin to stimulate circulation and absorption.
Step 4: Essence (Hydration Layer Two)
Ingredients to look for: Snail mucin, rice ferment, ginseng water.
Essences are like liquid vitamins for your skin.
They penetrate deeply and prep your skin for serums.
Think of this as the soul of K-beauty routines.
Step 5: Serum (Target & Treat)
Ingredients to look for: Peptides, ceramides, panthenol, and propolis, hyraluronic acid, niacinamide.
Pick a serum based on your skin’s needs, but for glass skin, hydration and barrier support are key.
A niacinamide + hyaluronic acid combo works wonders for brightness and bounce.
Step 6: Moisturizer (Seal It All In)
Lightweight gel-creams work best for daytime; thicker creams can be layered at night.
Prioritize moisture-retaining ingredients like squalane, cica, and ceramides.
Optional Boosters:
Face mists: Keep skin moist throughout the day (look for humectant-based ones).
Sleeping packs / masks: Use 1–2x a week to wake up with extra luminosity.
Sheet masks: 2–3x a week, especially before events or to reset dull days.
Liz’s Glass Skin Secret: Dermaplaning
Everyone’s routine looks a little different — and sometimes, it’s the lesser-known steps that make all the difference. For me, one of those was dermaplaning.
Removing peach fuzz and that layer of dull, dead skin gave me that dewy boiled egg feel — the kind where your skin catches light like silk and your products melt in like water. After dermaplaning, my skincare didn’t just sit on the surface. It sank in. Every serum, every drop of essence felt like it was actually doing something.
If you’re struggling to see results from your routine or your glow feels stuck beneath the surface, this might be the step that unlocks it.
The Psychology of Glow: What’s Beneath the Skin
You can follow every step. Layer every serum. Drink your water. But if your body is living in survival mode…your glow will not stick girl.
Because the truth is, skin doesn’t just react to products. It reacts to you. Your thoughts, your hormones, your stress, your sleep, your softness.
Cortisol: The Glow Stealer
Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone. It’s meant to help you survive. But in today’s constant-alert world, it’s often chronically elevated. And that matters more than we think when it comes to skin.
When cortisol stays high:
Your skin produces more oil → clogged pores, inflammation
Your collagen breaks down → less plumpness and bounce
Healing slows → dark spots linger, redness flares
The skin barrier weakens → hydration can’t stay in
The Diet-Skin Connection
No one’s saying you can’t enjoy your favorite foods. But when your daily diet is packed with ultra-processed sugars, fried snacks, or refined carbs, the skin starts to show it.
Here’s how it plays out:
High sugar spikes insulin → triggers excess oil and breakouts
Inflammatory oils (like seed oils in fast food) can disrupt skin balance
Dairy and gluten (for some) can increase inflammation or hormonal acne
Processed foods → oxidative stress, dullness, and flare-up.
Emotional Stillness = Skin Stillness
When the mind is calm, the skin follows. When your nervous system feels safe, your hormones balance, digestion improves, and your skin barrier begins to heal.
That’s why real glass skin isn’t just about skincare — it’s about self-regulation. Sleep, breath, movement, and mental peace all nourish the skin from the inside out.
Simple Glow-Supporting Practices:
Prioritize 8–9 hours of sleep (yes, it’s that powerful)
Eat the rainbow: greens, berries, avocados, omega-3s
Take mindful breaks — just 10 minutes of silence can reset cortisol
Cut back on screen time before bed
Try herbal teas like spearmint, chamomile, or holy basil
Journaling or affirmations before skincare → tell your skin “you’re safe here”
Introducing Our Seon Muse: Miel (@nikcorsx)
So yes, glass skin is achievable… and I’ve brought a girl who can attest to that.
With her beautifully radiant glow, she’s accumulated a loyal following of over 1,700 aspiring girlies on TikTok, with a total of 93.8k likes (and counting). From honest product reviews to cozy Get-Ready-With-Me’s, she never gatekeeps and doesn’t shy away from giving you the real product scoop.
Miel is that girl — the one you go to when you’re stuck in a skincare or makeup rut. She’s warm, transparent, and she walks her talk — which is why she’s today’s Seon Muse.
In her own words, here is Miel’s journey toward glass skin, and her personal product recommendations to achieve it.
A Hello From Our Seon Muse: Miel
Hello! I am Miel. My full name is Danica Miel Vizcayno, and I reside here in the Philippines as a small UGC creator — and also a student 💕.
Glass Skin Takes Patience, Not Perfection
My experience with achieving glass skin — and the challenges I had to put up with — is really about being patient. Patience is a virtue, especially with our skin. You have to wait for the results.
And I don’t mean putting on a 10-step skincare routine every morning just to get glass skin. Because in reality? That will just ruin your skin. What matters more is creating a 3–4 step skincare routine using products that you actually love or that have worked for you personally.
My Top Products (Tried and True )
I’ve probably tried over 100+ skincare products, and these are the ones that truly helped me achieve and maintain my glow:
SKIN1004 Ampoules
Every color variation has worked for me, especially the calming one. It really helped with my stubborn fungal acne over the past few months. The results might take time, but trust me — it’s so worth it.
CELLFUSION C Cooling Sunscreen
As someone with oily skin, this sunscreen helped me a lot! Whether I’m going out or just staying at home — especially in the hot weather here in the Philippines — this sunscreen really holds it down.
SOMEBYMI Green Toner Pads
Toner pads aren’t usually my thing, but these are the exception. They’re literally my holy grail. Since I love doing makeup, skin prep is always a must — and these pads are lifesavers, especially when I’m on the go.
PURITO Centella Cream (Green One)
If you have oily and acne-prone skin, this will really help you. It’s gentle, calming, and makes a huge difference for barrier repair.
Conclusion
Glass skin may start with skincare, but it ends in something deeper. Away of treating yourself. With softness. With stillness. With care.
It’s not about filters or perfection. It’s about building rituals that restore you. Skin that glows is skin that feels safe, nourished, and loved…not just by products, but by the energy behind every step.
Let it take time. Let it be personal. Let that glassy skin reflect who you are becoming.
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