14 Of The Best Products For Glowing, Glass Skin
It’s been a skincare trend for a while but the appetite for glass skin shows no signs of slowing down. Hardly surprising when you consider that glass skin is a byword for the kind of complexion we all dream of. “The glass skin concept refers to clear, luminous, intensely hydrated, and smooth skin,” says aesthetic doctor, Dr Wassim Taktouk for SkinCeuticals. “The idea is to achieve a flawless appearance that looks almost like glass.” While that might sound like a virtually impossible goal (after all, pores, blemishes and texture is the very normal reality for almost all of us) there are ways – and products – you can try to help you get there. Read on for everything you need to know about glass skin and the best products to help you achieve it.
Medicube’s Collagen Night Wrapping mask has become a Korean skincare staple.
Vogue’s pick of the best products for glass skin at a glance:
- Best for boosting collagen: Sarah Chapman C2 Power 2 Face Serum, £115
- Best for smoother skin: SkinCeuticals P-Tiox, £130
- Best for improving plumpness: Byoma Phyto-Mucin Glow Serum, £14.99
- Best for a more even tone: Medik8 Clarity Peptides, £24
- Best for improving dullness: Charlotte Tilbury Crystal Skin Magic Elixir, £27
In this article:
1/14Best for a more even tone: Medik8 Clarity Peptides
Why it’s Vogue-approved: If you’re after skin that looks polished and more refined, niacinamide is a good ingredient to have on your radar. Containing a hefty 10 per cent dose of niacimanide, alongside other actives like hyaluronic acid and N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG), the formula works hard to even out skin tone, calm down redness and rebalance sebum production so that skin is glassy but not greasy. It also contains a Crystalide* peptide to enhance skin cell renewal and boost luminosity.
Formula: serum
Ingredients: niacimanide, N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG), Crystalide* peptide, zinc PCA
2/14Best for smoother skin: SkinCeuticals P-Tiox
Why it’s Vogue-approved: While nothing can compare to the results of anti-wrinkle injections, this clinically proven serum comes close and is a good option for those who don’t want to take the leap to injectables. Formulated with peptides chosen for their ability to reduce the appearance of contraction lines that cause wrinkles, it gives skin a smoother, less creased appearance. It’s also loaded with plenty of active ingredients like niacinamide for that glass-skin effect, all of which help to improve tone and texture, reduce dark spots and increase clarity.
Formula: serum
Ingredients: hexapeptide, dipeptide, 5% PHA, 5% niacinamide and laminaria extract
3/14Best for better brightness: Sculpted by Aimee LiquidGlo Brightening Essence
Why it’s Vogue-approved: Formulated in South Korea, this essence is an essential addition to your skincare routine if you’re looking to up the ante on radiance. The blend includes niacinamide, fermented actives and lactic, glycolic and hyaluronic acids, all of which help to refine skin’s tone, boost brightness, refine pores and increase hydration.
Formula: essence
Ingredients: niacinamide, fermented actives and lactic, glycolic and hyaluronic acids
4/14Best for overhauling stressed skin: LOYA Supercorrect Serum
Why it’s Vogue-approved: Stressed skin can often manifest as dull, dry and uneven toned skin, in other words, a world away from a glowing, glassy sheen. To address this and get skin back to looking its best, this formula uses a trio of targeted actives that aim to reduce melanin production by 26 per cent over eight weeks and reinstate clarity. The rest of the lightweight serum comprises a copper tripeptide and the brand’s signature Microbloom™ – SH technology, patent-pending biotechnology powered by peptides and antioxidant-rich flower extracts.
Formula: serum
Ingredients: lipophilic vitamin C, plant-derived ethyl linoleate, liposomal niacinamide-vitamin C complex, Microbloom™-SH and Japanese Ume Extract, copper tripeptide, HappyFeelBoost™
5/14Best for improving plumpness: Byoma Phyto-Mucin Glow Serum
Why it’s Vogue-approved: If you’ve heard the hype surrounding snail mucin as the latest must-try ingredient, but feel a little squeamish about the reality of putting snail slime on your face, try this. While it uses the same premise as snail mucin, this formula uses mucin derived from hardy plant sources instead and helps to deliver deep moisturisation to the skin, as well as keep its barrier strong and healthy.
Formula: serum
Ingredients: peptides, phyto mucin, panthenol, barrier lipid complex
6/14Best for healthier skin: Dr Sam’s Flawless Vitamin C NAD+ Serum
Why it’s Vogue-approved: Using a powerhouse duo of brightening vitamin C and NAD+ boosting actives to enhance cellular energy, promote DNA repair and stimulate collagen synthesis, this smart serum formula offers both repair and protection against free radicals and aggressors like blue light and pollution. The result is skin that’s fresher, more even in tone and texture and plumper.
Formula: serum
Ingredients: 15 per cent vitamin C complex, five per cent sunflower shoot extract, two per cent ectoin
7/14Best for an instant glass skin finish: Glossier Future Dew Facial Oil-Serum Hybrid
Why it’s Vogue-approved: Dullness is definitely not part of the glass-skin remit, so banish all signs of fatigue with this peppy oil-serum hybrid. Containing a host of hydrating, moisturising actives, like evening primrose and rosehip oils and sugarcane, squalane as well as light-reflecting minerals, it infuses skin with a healthy brightness that mimics that glassy sheen finish. It can also be mixed with your foundation or used in lieu of your primer for an ultra glowy base.
Formula: oil-serum
Ingredients: mineral pigments, jojoba, grape seed, evening primrose, rosehip oils and sugarcane squalane
8/14Best for minimising pores: Dr Barbara Sturm Glow Drops
Why it’s Vogue-approved: Poreless skin may be unattainable but this serum, infused with plant extracts, aims to help refine the appearance of enlarged pores and improve imperfections. As well as giving skin a better glow it also helps to reduce blemishes and soften and smooth skin so that a glassy sheen is more achievable.
Formula: serum
Ingredients: mineral pigments, polygonum bistorta root extract, wild rose extract
