Glass Skin Routine for Indian Skin: Korean Skincare Tips

Glass skin refers to smooth, naturally glowing, clear skin, similar to spotless, shiny glass. While it originated in Korea as part of the K-beauty standards of flawless skin, it has become a popular skincare routine across the world.

However, the glass skin routine is specifically designed for the climate and environmental conditions in Korea, which automatically makes it not suitable for Indian skin. This is because Indian skin is mostly exposed to humidity, pollution, and heat, and therefore needs a slightly modified, practical approach.

In this blog, we discuss the Korean glass skin routine tailored for Indian skin and how you can gain maximum benefits with the right ingredients and skincare practices.

What Is Glass Skin?

Glass skin is a popular term used to define clear, flawless, radiant, hydrated, naturally plump skin, similar to how light is reflected off clean glass. Although it is widely popular for giving that perfect, glowing skin, the key focus is that it helps restore healthy and well-moisturized skin.

Here are some of the key characteristics that set the Korean glass skin apart from the rest: intense hydration, visible clarity, and supple, soft skin with even texture. However, there are various myths associated with glass skin.

To begin with, many consider the glass skin routine to support skin lightening and whitening. The reality is that it promotes a stronger skin barrier for complete moisture lock and provides deep nourishment.

Why Indians Need a Modified Approach

The glass skin routine is specifically designed to address the needs of the skin within the environment and climatic conditions in Korea. To reap its maximum benefits for Indian skin, a modified approach is necessary. Here are the various factors to be considered:

• Pollution: Indian cities are highly polluted, which affects the skin barrier, resulting in uneven texture, dullness, and inflammation.
• Hot & humid climate: The hot and humid weather can lead to excess oil and sweat build-up, causing clogged pores, acne, and breakouts.
• Melanin-rich skin concerns: As melanin is high in Indian skin, concerns such as pigmentation, tanning, and dark spots require specific care to achieve glass skin.
• Need for lightweight, non-greasy formulas: This is crucial given the humid Indian climate and sensitive skin types that react to heavy skincare formulas.

Step-by-Step Glass Skin Routine for Indians

Here are the various steps to be followed in your glass skincare routine as per the Indian skin type and climate conditions:

1. Double Cleansing (oil cleanser + gentle foam)

This is meant to eliminate all the impurities, sweat, pollution, and makeup without stripping the skin of its natural oils. Ensure to use a lightweight cleanser with gentle, non-comedogenic ingredients.

How to use: Apply a small amount of cleanser at night and follow up with a massage using gentle foam for 20-30 seconds.

2. Hydrating Toner

It helps replenish the skin and maintain the skin’s moisture lost after cleansing, and prepares the skin for better absorption. An ideal choice would be toners with rice extract, panthenol, cica, or glycerin.

How to use: Take 4-5 drops of the toner and apply it to damp skin.

3. Essence

This is another key step in the Indian formula for glass skin, as it helps in intense hydration and prepares the skin by giving a plump, dewy look, without heaviness.

How to use: Apply a small amount of Essence onto the skin by pressing gently. Ensure to use every morning and night, consistently, for maximum results.

4. Serum (based on skin)

Serums are made of concentrated ingredients to address many of the common Indian skin care concerns, such as pigmentation, dullness, dehydration, dryness, and so on. Choose serums with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, and niacinamide.

How to use: Once you apply Essence, take 2-3 drops of serum and massage across your face so that the ingredients are well absorbed into your skin. For best results, use Vitamin C in the morning and niacinamide or hyaluronic acid at night.

5. Lightweight Moisturizer

It helps lock in the moisture from earlier steps and does not leave a greasy residue, making it suitable for India’s humid climate. Ideally, gel creams with ceramides, aloe vera, propanediol, etc, are suitable.

How to use: Gently apply a thin layer over your face and neck for maximised absorption and for creating a moisturised base for makeup.

6. Sunscreen (mandatory)

A good-quality sunscreen protects the skin from pigmentation, dullness, and tanning from sun exposure and harmful UV rays. For maximum benefits, choose a sunscreen with SPF 30-50 and PA++++.

How to use: Take a small amount of sunscreen and apply it evenly on your face and neck to ensure even and effective coverage.

7. Weekly Exfoliation

It clears out the impurities, dead skin cells, and clogged pores to reveal a smoother, youthful, and glowing skin. Exfoliants containing salicylic acid, mandelic acid, AHAs, and BHAs make a safe and reliable choice for gentle exfoliation.

How to use: Apply a thin layer of exfoliant on your face, gently, and let the active ingredients soak deep into your skin. Use once every week at night.

8. Weekly Sheet Masking

Sheet masks are a quick, reliable, and easy way to deliver hydrating ingredients to your skin for naturally plump, soft, and radiant skin. Korean sheet masks with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, peptides, aloe vera, and rice water are ideal for Indian weather.

How to use: For best results, wear a sheet mask at night, once or twice a week. Keep the mask on for 15 minutes. Once removed, gently pat your skin so the leftover serum sinks in.

Recommended Ingredients for Indian Skin

To achieve the best results of a glass skin routine customised for Indian skin, the right ingredients are crucial. Here are some of the top natural components with strong hydrating properties and other key nutrients to facilitate natural-looking glass skin.

• Hyaluronic Acid: It helps keep the skin moisturized so that it looks plump and hydrated in the humid climate. Its lightweight texture gives a non-greasy effect.
• Niacinamide: It effectively strengthens the skin barrier, supports oil control, and reduces pigmentation from sun exposure.
• Snail mucin: Its strong healing properties deliver deep hydration and promote skin repair, address uneven skin texture, and acne marks without heaviness (patch test recommended for sensitive skin).
• Ceramides: They are known to strengthen the skin barrier to protect against moisture loss, humidity, and pollution, for smooth, soft, resilient skin.
• Green tea: With powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, green tea protects the skin from pollution, environmental stressors, and excess oil.
• Centella: Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce irritation, redness, and heal the skin barrier, making it highly effective for sensitive acne-prone skin.
• Vitamin C (gentle formulations): The Vitamin C derivatives address pigmentation and promote naturally soft, radiant skin without irritation.

Mistakes Indians Must Avoid

While the right ingredients can help you achieve naturally shiny, radiant glass skin, consistency is equally important. Here are some mistakes Indians should avoid:

• Over-layering products: Applying multiple products or heavy creams can clog pores, leading to acne and irritated skin, especially in the humid climate of India.
• Skipping sunscreen: Without a proper sunscreen, the skin becomes more prone to not just tanning but dark spots and dullness as well.
• Using harsh scrubs: Rough physical scrubs can damage the skin barrier and create micro-tears, making the skin more sensitive to inflammation.
• Mixing too many actives: Sometimes, multiple strong ingredients when blended together can irritate the skin further and cause redness, peeling, and breakouts.

Before–After Expectations

Achieving glass skin is a gradual process, wherein any visible changes take around 4-8 weeks to appear. It is important to understand that a glass skin care routine is designed to facilitate a healthy, youthful glow instead of an unrealistic mirror-like radiance.

With consistent practice of the glass skin care routine, modified to meet Indian skin requirements, expect smooth, even, and clear skin. Note that the results may vary as per skin type and tone.

Conclusion

Glass skin in the Indian climate requires strict consistency and a modified routine that is suitable for your skin needs and lifestyle, as well as the humid climate. For this reason, the right ingredients are crucial as they support healthier, brighter, and hydrated skin over time.

The Mirabelle Korean skincare line offers sheet masks, serums, gel-based moisturizers, and sunscreens to support your journey of achieving healthy, glass-like skin. Made using active Korean ingredients and a dermatology-tested formula, we ensure that your skincare routine has everything you need at luxury quality and affordable prices.

Explore Mirabelle’s Korean skincare range designed for Indian skin concerns.