In the realm of the skincare world, the “flawless skin look” is often sought after for. However, there has been an unsettled debate between these glass and oily skin.

Sometimes, I would just stare in my mirror and wonder, “Am I rocking that glass skin look or is it really just the archnemesis? My oily skin?”

The struggle is real girlies… And I hope I will be able to break this down for you today. 

Glass skin 

Born in the heart of Seoul, this term paints a picture of smooth skin with a translucent, hydrated, even skin tone – mimicking the look of glass. This type of skin is sought after by many famous Korean idols. To achieve this look, your skin needs to be fully plump and deeply hydrated. Many Koreans would have a glass skin skincare routine – putting on layers of toners, essences,serums ; while others would approach it with a more simplistic approach – using natural methods. 

Oily skin

Known as a doppelgänger of its glorified cousin, this skin type is often found when excess sebum is produced by overdriving sebaceous glands on the skin. Though it gives the skin a “natural sheen”, it aint all good.

Since the skin is more oily, individuals are more vulnerable towards clogging pores, creating the perfect breeding ground for acne inducing bacteria. 

The skin is often made to look greasy rather than dewy. 

It often makes makeup application harder, as products will often melt away. 

The causes of this are different for everyone – from environmental to hormonal changes. Ultimately, we need to balance oil production without stripping away all natural oils from the skin

Comparisons of Oily skin VS Glass skin: 

My Personal journey

When I first started my glass skin journey, my pores were enlarged, my skin was breaking out, my makeup was constantly dissolving off the surface of my face (Yuck!). But after a lot of trial and error, I found a routine that worked for me.

I focused on gentle, hydrating layers rather than heavy creams. I became best friends with my BHA toner and niacinamide serum. And most importantly, I learned to be patient. Glass skin doesn’t happen overnight, especially when you’re starting with oily skin.

Now, do I have perfect glass skin? Not fully, but its doing a lot better and I do have to admit getting my skin complimented quite a bit. 

Tips for transforming your oily skin to glass skin

1. Don’t skimp on Moisturiser – remember how oily skin needs hydration too? Upon using a lightweight, oil free moisturizer, my skin did get less oily 
2. Niacinamide – this is a game changer for regulating sebum production and minimising pore sizes 
3. Use clay masks – I’d recommend using a clay mask once a week, just to suck out that extra oil and reduce pore sizes. Recently, I have been using the Aprili skin carotene pore clay mask and it has does wonders for my skin
4. Chemical exfoliants – AHAs and BHAs can help with unclogging pores 
5. Don’t over cleanse – We dont want to strip away the surface of our skin. It can potentially take away the lipids on the surface and harm the skin barrier. In factt, you can be more prone to breakouts irritation and skin redness. Just stick to your morning and night routine. 
6. Blotting paper – it never hurts to have some blotting paper on standby. Right? Just whip out the paper whenever your skin is feeling more greasy, especially on a hot summer day. 

At the end of the day, irregardless what skin type you are, we hope you enjoy and embrace your skin. Hope your skin can shine bright like a diamond!