K-beauty or glass skin is the latest trend in the beauty industry.
But what does this exactly mean?
In this blog, we will unravel the facts about K-beauty and will share some tips to maintain glass skin.
The term Glass skin refers to a flawless skin that is smooth, even-toned, lustrous and appears like a glass surface. The Korean skin type is broadly classified as a glass skin texture. There is a specific skincare routine that one can follow to achieve glass skin to a great extent:
1. Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is a foremost step that one needs to take as it immediately reflects on the skin. A healthy lifestyle helps maintain healthy skin and combats skin concerns and issues. The major lifestyle changes that one needs to fix to achieve glass skin include:
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Sleeping Pattern: Sleep pattern needs to be fixed. At least 6 to 8 hours of sleep per day is ideal. Disturbed sleep patterns can worsen skin conditions like acne, dehydrated skin and ageing. Whereas properly rested skin looks hydrated, plump and supple.
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Diet: the concept of glass skin is based on hydrated, supple and healthy skin, which means one needs to have a proper diet, no ifs, ands, or buts - one has to eat right. One should consume a balanced diet including all kinds of colored fruits and vegetables. The idea of eating the rainbow is to assure that the body gets all kinds of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Drink at least 4L of water. This will help flush out the toxins from the body and keep it glowing.
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Smoking and Alcohol: This should be a big no-no! This reduces blood circulation in the body. If the blood circulation reduces, it will make the skin look tired, dull, fatigued due to a reduction in flushing out of toxins from the blood.
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Stay away from cramming down greasy food for every meal. Reduce the consumption of starchy food and junk food as this will increase the insulin-like growth factor which is the main cause of pigmentation.
2. Vitamins and Hormones
Vitamins and hormones play a vital role in keeping the body and skin healthy. Thus, we need to keep a check and maintain their healthy levels. Some of the important nutrients for our skin include Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, iron. If they drop beyond their ideal levels they can make the skin look sluggish and dull. Talking about hormones, the thyroid is a very important hormone that is linked to various skin concerns. Other than thyroid, PCOD can lead to hormonal fluctuation in the body which can cause skin problems like, acne, excessive hair, pigmentation, etc. which needs to be worked upon to achieve the K-Beauty. To maintain the vitamin levels supplements can be taken.
3. Skincare Routine
A right skincare routine is also required to maintain healthy skin and prevent any skin damage. Here is a screenshot of a glass skincare routine:
- Sunscreen: No matter what day is it - rain or shine, sunscreen is a must. Whether one is indoors or outdoors they need to apply sunscreen to guard the skin against UV radiations which is a culprit of ageing, pigmentation, and dullness. Opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen as per the skin type.
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Face wash: Choose the face wash as per the skin type.
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Night creams: Choose the night cream as per the concern. The ingredients of the night cream are based on the concerns that one is looking forward to treating like, pigmentation, fine lines, dullness, skin rejuvenation. Night creams based on vitamin A, Vitamin C, Retinol will be beneficial.
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Moisturize the skin well: depending on one’s skin type, moisturizer can be different, but there is a moisturizer for every skin type, so, even if the skin is oily do apply a moisturizer which suits the skin type to keep it hydrated.
4. Korean Skincare Routine
Once the concerns are treated one needs to follow a specific skincare routine to sustain the K-beauty. Let’s have a look at how Koreans maintain their glass skin:
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Double Cleansing: as the name suggests one has to cleanse the skin twice. Firstly with an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and pollutants and secondly a foaming cleanser as per the skin type to purify the skin and keep it refreshed and radiant.
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Never towel dry the face! Either air dry or pat dry using a soft cloth. Rubbing towels to dry the face can prove to be harsh for the skin and can cause irritation. Pat drying leaves the skin a little damp and helps it absorb active ingredients from the creams and serums readily. Also, one does not have to spend double time to moisten the skin or seal the moisture.
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Toning: We all need to know that toners do not close the pores but majorly balance the pH of the skin. Opt for non-alcoholic toners.
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Moisturizer: One needs a good hydrating moisturizer. Followed by sunscreen during the day. One can always consult a dermatologist to choose the right moisturizer and sunscreen as per the skin type.
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Exfoliation: It is recommended to exfoliate the skin but not more than once a week. One can opt for chemical exfoliators like glycolic acid and lactic acid or mechanical exfoliators like scrubs. In dermatology clinic physical exfoliation treatment options are also available which can be opted for; that is microdermabrasion which helps to remove the layer of dead skin cells using vacuum suction technology and reveal the fresh skin cells.
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Under-eye creams: it is advised to use under eye creams in the under-eye area regularly during the night. Even if the skin is oily under-eye skin tends to get dry, hence, it requires to be moisturized well. If there are any specific concerns that are to be addressed like pigmentation and fine lines then one can choose the under eye cream as per the concern after consulting a dermatologist.
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Night Serums: Night creams have ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, Retinol which are helpful in treating concerns like pigmentation, fine lines, blemishes, wrinkles, etc. Sleeping mask is also available that can be used once in a week to combat dehydration and dullness. They can be left overnight to improve the skin.
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Sheet Mask: Sheet masks are most loved by Koreans. They contain ingredients and concentrated serums that will hydrate the skin and add glow to the face. Sheet masks can be used twice a week. They are to be kept for about 20 mins to let serums penetrate the skin and add glow.
5. Skin treatments
If the skin has some stubborn concerns which cannot be treated with this skin regimen then there are some quick and efficacious treatments available at the dermatology clinics which will help to achieve the K-Beauty. Concerns like pigmentation can be improved using a combination of chemical peels and laser treatments like Instagram, divageneisis. Open pores and skin texture can be worked upon using collagen induction therapy, pixigenus, fine lines and other signs of ageing can be treated using instaregen, DNA Repair Therapy, etc. There are options available for hydration as well like hydrarevive, 365 oxyboost, etc. which will help improve the skin condition and keep it healthy and supple.
Those #glassskin photos on the feed may be all the motivation one needs to hop on this K-beauty trend, but it’s important to remember that there is no shortcut to achieving flawless, ethereal-looking skin. And if there’s one thing that Korean skincare has taught us, it’s that great skin goes beyond cult products or buzzworthy trends: It requires consistency and commitment to a skincare regimen. Before working upon getting the K-beauty, we need to work upon all skin imperfections like pigmentation, scars, uneven skin tone and texture. And while there is definitely no harm in trying out trends and discovering what works, keeping achievable goals and realistic expectations are just as important. “Skin condition isn’t the same thing as clothing silhouettes or makeup colors. It isn’t easy to change one’s skin type in the first place. So, focus on building a solid skincare routine that will help to “feel more comfortable and happy in your own skin” instead of fixating on fads or getting caught up in unattainable goals.
After all, when it comes down to it, the quest for a glass-like complexion is really just another way of striving for clear, healthy and youthful-looking skin.
Keep Healthy! Keep Glowing!