Glass skin sounds beautiful, don’t you think? Just the sound reminds me of flawless, smooth skin something we all are looking to achieve. Glass skin is one of the many current trends on social media. Think of it as being “reflective”, just like glass. This popular trend may have started in the Korean beauty industry, but it has since made its way to North America and is growing in popularity. To really get the look the skin needs to be healthy, hydrated, glowing and radiant. Let’s explore how to achieve the glass skin look.
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Glass skin sounds beautiful, don’t you think? Just the sound reminds me of flawless, smooth skin something we all are looking to achieve. Glass skin is one of the many current trends on social media. Think of it as being “reflective”, just like glass. This popular trend may have started in the Korean beauty industry, but it has since made its way to North America and is growing in popularity. To really get the look the skin needs to be healthy, hydrated, glowing and radiant. Let’s explore how to achieve the glass skin look.
What is Glass Skin?
Ultimately, to achieve glass skin you need healthy skin! Healthy skin starts from the inside and makes its way out. We can do a lot to mask the outer layer of skin; however, working in the deepers layers of the skin will give you more natural beauty and is crucial in achieving this flawless look. A daily regimen infusing skin with vitamins, nutrients, and hydration is the start and essential to healthy skin. The glass skin look is skin that is plump, well-hydrated, and has a dewy appearance. When clients want this look it is important to discuss a synergistic and consistent home regimen, in addition to treatments and their lifestyle.
Lifestyle Support
A healthy lifestyle creates a healthy body and skin. Talk to clients about their sleep patterns, water intake, alcohol intake and their overall diet. Encourage clients to create a lifestyle that consists of lots of antioxidants from fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy proteins. Discuss reducing inflammation and purging toxins from the body by drinking plenty of water daily, fasting and/or being mindful of processed foods. Consider adding sliced ginger and lemon to water for gut support and to help increase consumption of water. While nobody has perfect skin, we can get closer and closer and the remarkable thing is our bodies are getting healthier too. Skin and body go hand in hand!
Let’s get our lymphatic moving and digestion working properly as well. Walking is very life giving. Pilates and other forms of exercise can be huge in the overall look of skin and body! In the treatment room, incorporate lymphatic drainage or skin fitness touches to increase circulation and improve many skin functions. After these conversation about lifestyle, we move into daily skin routines to for beautiful glass skin look!
Cleansing
Cleansing skin is the first step to healthy, glass skin. We know that many clients tend to under-cleanse and over-moisturize. This will only clog pores, create a rougher texture on the skin and age skin faster in the long run. Double cleansing the skin in the evening is a great place to start when it comes to achieving this look. The first cleanse should consist of an oil-based cleanser to help remove makeup and impurities from the day. Look for ingredients like organic grape seed oil to cleanse without over-drying the skin. Next, cleanse the skin with an active cleanser that contains either alpha or beta hydroxy acids to soften the texture, in addition to antioxidants to nourish and protect the skin.
In the morning, gently cleanse skin to remove bacteria and sweat that has formed on skin over night. It is important to find a cleanser that does not over-strip the skin. We want to maintain the lipid profile for hydration and health.
Increase Cellular Turnover
As you know, cellular turnover rates decrease due to natural aging along with many other contributing factors like environment or diet. We must increase cellular turnover for healthy skin cells, slowing aging and a smoother texture. We can achieve this with gentle surface exfoliation and building fibroblast resources for efficient mitosis. It is important to avoid over-exfoliating in your daily regimen, as this can breakdown the barrier and actually accelerate aging. A couple absolute favorite ingredients are; encapsulated retinal (vitamin a) and l-mandelic acid. L-mandelic acid gently loosens keratinocytes allowing cells to exfoliate or lift off naturally. Encapsulated retinal builds collagen and other amazing resources in the dermal layer of skin. These resources are vital for cellular turnover. Now once we have new skin cells coming to the surface, the skin is ready for nutrition!
Nutrient-rich Serums
Skin nutrition is our next daily step. Vitamins, antioxidants and peptides all bring life to dull skin! In the mornings, apply serums that contain l-glutathione, resveratrol and d-alpha tocopherol to increase protection against free radicals.
To brighten skin, look for l-ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate or Ascophyllum nodosum, a form of seaweed that works on creating a more even, luminous skin. In the evenings, introduce clients to peptides, including Matrixyl 3000 and Matrixyl Synthe’ 6, which reduce fine lines, fill in wrinkles, and freeze wrinkle formation.
Epidermal growth factors are essential for strengthening new cells, boosting collagen synthesis and revealing a firmer, healthier complexion. As we feed the skin morning and night, our skin will become the best it can be!
Hydration
Nourishing hydration plays a key part for both healthy and glass looking skin. Every skin needs hydration, even those who are oily still need to maintain a healthy barrier function. Start by applying a hydrating spritz that contains l-sodium hyaluronate, plus heavy water derived from deep within the sea. These ingredients work together to attract, bind and hold moisture in the epidermis.
Introduce clients to lipid-based hydrators that contain ingredients like organic macadamia nut oil, which has a similar lipid profile to the natural lipids in the skin. Other key ingredients are omega-essential fatty acids, that assist in creating a protective, hydrating barrier, organic grape seed or avocado oils are also excellent options to hydrate tissue, contributing to the glass skin look.
Cream-based hydrators are great options as well. Look for creams that contain hyaluronic acid, peptides, growth factors, pumpkin seed oil to create a healthy, dewy glow. Make sure to apply hydration both morning and evening.
Finishing Step
Glass skin requires the finishing touch of healthy, hydrating makeup, which adds to a flawless, luminescent-looking complexion! Mineral-based formulas that contain healthy ingredients is key. Many makeup options are inferior to our daily skin care routines. Mineral options with ingredients like oleic and linoleic acids, olive fruit oil and d-alpha tocopherol work together to increase hydration, reduce transepidermal water loss, lubricate, firm, and smooth the skin. In addition to hydration and coverage, you will want to continue to boost antioxidant protection, as the skin is exposed to UV rays.
Treatment Room
Monthly corrective facials will enhance and accelerate! You must do your everyday routine but adding in monthly treatments will keep you on track and seeing the results you are looking for even faster.
A Glass Skin Daily Regimen
Let’s break down what a daily regimen would look like for normal, photo-aging skin.
AM REGIMEN
Step 1. Cleanse with nourishing, oil-based cleanser and remove with warm water and soft cloth. Pat the skin dry.
Step 2. Spritz with a hydrating mist that contains l-sodium hyaluronate and let it absorb into the skin.
Step 3. Build and strengthen with a nourishing-rich serum that contains antioxidants to protect tissue. Gently massage into the skin and let it absorb.
Step 4. Hydrate skin by mixing a few drops of a lipid-based serum into an ultra-rich hydrator and gently massage into the skin.
Step 5. Apply a mineral-based hydrating crème foundation and powder using a hydrating application technique. Dispense 1-2 pumps of hydrating crème foundation and mix with a mineral powder. Spritz the foundation brush with a hydrating mist and blend the foundation. Apply in a circular motion to the skin allowing it to absorb. Spritz with hydrating mist again to set minerals.
PM REGIMEN
Step 1. Cleanse with nourishing, oil-based cleanser and remove with warm water and soft cloth. Pat the skin dry. •
Step 2. Cleanse again with an AHA or BHA active cleanser. Work in for several minutes, remove with warm water and soft cloth. Pat the skin dry.
Step 3. Spritz with a hydrating mist and let it absorb into the skin.
Step 4. Exfoliate by first applying a nightly corrective serum containing l-mandelic acid, followed by a serum containing encapsulated retinal. Let each product absorb into the skin.
Step 5. Hydrate skin by massaging several drops of a lipid-based serum into the skin. Create a customized, Glass Skin regimen for your clients and reveal a healthier, luminous complexion!
