How to Get Glass Skin: From Serums to Supplements

What is the Secret of Korean Glass Skin?

One of the best k-beauty trends to come out of Korea is "glass skin". Rather than heavily covered, makeuped skin, glass skin is all about natural skin health and beauty. In short, glass skin is healthy skin. Glass skin is beyond just shiny or dewy skin, it is perfectly hydrated, luminous, clear, seemingly poreless, and smooth, just like glass. If you need help visualizing it, it's also called honey skin, bouncy skin, and see-through skin. We recommend that you check out the #glassskin hashtag on Instagram for more glassy-selfie inspiration!

So how is this flawless, glowing skin made possible? What's the secret? The "secret" doesn't lie in any highlighter or celebrity skincare routine. There are a lotof factors that go into making your skin look so healthy that it glows! The secret lies in balancing topical skincare with your diet.You have to heal and nourish your skin from all angles. 

Many of us have heard that the skin is the largest organ in the human body, but a lot of people don't understand the impact of this. Not only do we have to protect it from outside pollutants, chemicals, and UV rays, we have to nourish it from the inside out. Diets high in sugar, oil, and processed foods can lead to inflammation which is one of the biggest causes of aging, including those pesky fine lines and wrinkles. These foods rarely nourish the skin enough to produce the collagen and elastin needed to keep the skin firm and bouncy. Oily and carb-heavy foods can also cause acne breakout. You can use as many cleansers as you want, but simply getting rid of surface-level face oil won't cut it for this Korean beauty trend.

That said, once you start feeding your skin the things it needs to thrive, you can improve your results with the right balance of skincare products. We'll include some step-by-step guides below including the types of products you should use depending on your skin concern, but in general, here are some things to keep in mind.

• Use a daily hydrating cleanser(or two) to remove impurities and reveal healthy, fresh skin below. It's like Windex for your glass skin!
• Gentle toners are a must for all skin types.Don't let the harsh, alcohol-laden toners of the past scare you away -- there are great hydrating toners that will aid every skin type.
• Don't over-exfoliate. It might be tempting to want to wipe away all the dead skin cells that can dull your glow, but harsh exfoliants can cause more harm than good. Remember, we want to eliminate inflammation at all costs!
• Don't ditch the SPF!Sunscreen is a must-have all year long, no matter your skin type. Use it every day and remove it before bed to avoid breakouts.
• DO try a collagen supplement. Collagen is a building block for the skin. Without it, your skin would look more like well-worn leather than glass. We'll recommend some supplements below, but if you want to protect your wallet, don't fall for skin lotions and creams that contain collagen. The molecules are too large to penetrate the skin barrier. Thus, the secret to upping your collagen intake has to start from the inside out with a dietary collagen supplement.
• Get your beauty sleep. Plain and simple, good quality sleep allows your body to relax and reset. Without it, every organ (including the skin) can become worn down.
• Hydration is everything!We don't just mean hydrating lotions and cleansers, hydrating your body by drinking plenty of water naturally hydrates the skin and helps to manage face oil production.

What To Eat For Glowing Glass Skin

Let's start out with diet, shall we?

No surprise here, if you aren't already eating lots of fruits and veggies, what are you waiting for?! Fruits like blueberries, strawberries as well as veggies like soybeans, peppers, broccoli, and carrots are antioxidant rich and can help protect your body from damaging free radicals. Leafy greens and nuts are also packed with nutrients to help nourish the entire body.

The skin barrier can also be strengthened to help your skin retain moisture! Foods rich in healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids are your best bet to nourish and protect the skin. Try avocado and vegan omega-3 supplements for skin and planet-happy diet. Fatty fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, and tuna also contain omega-3s and other nutrients.

Last but certainly not least, your "secret weapon" in your glass skin arsenal should be collagen. Since collagen is hard to come by in foods (chicken cartilage, anyone?) collagen peptide supplements are the most efficient way to increase collagen production within the body. Amandean Marine Collagen Powderis sustainably sourced from wild-caught fish, making it a great option for pescatarians and anyone looking for a sustainable swap for traditional bovine collagen. For a no-fuss drink that your skin will love, try adding a scoop of collagen to green tea!

Glass Skin for Every Skin Type

For Combination Skin

1. Double cleanse with a cleansing oil AND a fragrance-free cleanser with hyaluronic acid.The first cleanser gets rid of impurities and makeup without stripping the skin, while the second cleanser nourishes and removes excess oil.
2. Use a toner that balances skin pH and contains AHAs rather than alcohol or witch hazel which can be drying.
3. Apply an antioxidant-rich hydrating serum or oil. Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide are your friends here.
4. Apply a moisturiser with SPF.Light moisturizers with a minimum of SPF 30 will help hydrate and protect the skin from UV damage.
5. Use a face mask 2 or 3 times a week.Manuka honey, aloe vera, and hemp are all great options.

For Acne-Prone & Oily Skin

1. Double cleanse with a cleansing oil AND a fragrance-free cleanser with hyaluronic acid. Don't be afraid of oil-cleansers. Try a hydrophilic oil (one that has been combined with water) and follow up with a gel cleanser to rid the skin of impurities and makeup without stripping it and telling your skin to produce even more oil to make up for it.
2. Use an oil-reducing toner.Toner with salicylic oil can exfoliate gently throughout the day, reduce pore size, and eliminate blackheads.
3. Apply a serum with hyaluronic acid. Serums can seem like another scary addition to your skincare regimen, but they're great for improving skin texture and hydration. A gentle blend of hyaluronic acid and soothing botanicals is ideal.
4. Apply a lightweight moisturiser with SPF.Light moisturizers with a minimum of SPF 30 will help hydrate and protect the skin from UV damage.
5. Use a facial mist throughout the day to improve skin hydration and avoid overproduction of oil.

For Dry Skin

1. Double cleanse with a cleansing oil AND a fragrance-free cleanser with hyaluronic acid. Since hydration is key to achieving glass skin, it's important to use gentle moisturizers that won't strip the skin. The first cleanser gets rid of impurities and makeup without stripping the skin, while the second cleanser nourishes and tidies up.
2. Use a toner with green tea to encourage moisture retention and restore the skin's pH levels.
3. Apply a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and vitamin E.
4. Apply a moisturiser with SPF.Light moisturizers with vitamin C and a minimum of SPF 30 will help hydrate and protect the skin from UV damage.
5. Use a hydrating face mask 2 or 3 times a week.Rose, mineral water, and avocado are all great options and can be applied to reusable sheet masks.

For Uneven Skin Tone

1. Double cleanse with a cleansing oil AND a fragrance-free cleanser. Exfoliating to reveal fresh, new skin is crucial for evening skin tone, but we don't want to overdo it. First, use a gentle oil cleanser to de-gunk your pores and remove makeup. Then, use a nourishing and exfoliating cleanser with salicylic acid and botanicals like lavender oil to gently exfoliate.
2. Use a toner with vitamin C and licorice root to hydrate and encourage skin cell turnover.
3. Apply a serum with bakuchiol and niacinamideto brighten skin and fade discoloration.
4. Apply a moisturiser with SPF.Preventing sun exposure or limiting its damage is extremely important for fading and preventing hyperpigmentation. Use your favorite moisturizer with a minimum of SPF 30 to hydrate and protect the skin.
5. Use a chemical peel 1 or 2 times a week.Chemical exfoliants like phytic acid accelerate cell turnover and even skin tone. If you have sensitive skin, consider speaking to a dermatologist before adding this to your skincare regimen.

Do you have questions about improving your skin nutrition from the inside out? Contact the collagen experts at Amandean with any questions you may have or check out our blogand recipe page for more inspiration!