Few beauty ideas from Seoul have travelled as far as 'glass skin', a shorthand for a complexion that looks smooth, hydrated and softly reflective. In editorial and retail conversations, it has come to stand for a skin-first approach in which makeup supports the skin rather than covering it.
The practical method is layering. Thin applications of essence, lotion and moisturizer are pressed in rather than rubbed, giving the base a cushion that keeps makeup from looking dry. Base products are then used sparingly, often only in the center of the face, so that natural texture and light still show through.
Color tends to stay close to the skin: cream blushes and tinted balms in peach, rose or coral are dabbed with fingertips and built gradually. A little shimmer on the lid or a touch of highlighter on the high points adds to the lit-from-within effect without a heavy finish.
Glass skin is about hydration, comfort and sheen, not about changing one's natural skin tone, and it works across a wide range of complexions. As always, this is an editorial category for organizing looks, not a description of how people in South Korea look or what they prefer.