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Healthy Glass Skin: Your Guide to Achieving Flawless Skin without Compromising Skin Health
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Time to read 9 min
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Time to read 9 min
Dr Meder explains the new glass skin trend and shares tips on how to achieve the coveted flawless complexion whilst keeping skin healthy and not breaking the bank.
Skincare trends come and go, but the glass skin phenomenon continues to captivate skincare lovers, reshaping the ever-evolving standards of beauty. So, what exactly is glass skin? Originally a K-Beauty trend, it was embraced by skincare enthusiasts seeking that coveted dewy, glowy, and flawless complexion—akin to a freshly cut piece of glass.
Achieving the glass skin look involves various techniques, most notably the multi-layering of moisturizing products with different textures. Healthy lifestyle habits can also be helpful, like getting enough sleep, eating a nutritious diverse diet, keeping your alcohol intake to a minimum, managing stress, and staying well hydrated.
But let’s take a step back and explore glass skin from a dermatological perspective. Why isn’t everyone’s skin naturally flawless?
The optical properties of our skin are primarily defined by its surface texture and the structure of its underlying layers. Surprisingly, even the deepest layers of skin influence our visual perception. Factors such as collagen fiber arrangement, oxygen levels in red blood cells, and fat cell distribution all contribute to how we perceive the skin's appearance.
The skin's surface interacts with visible light through a combination of absorption, scattering, and reflection, all influenced by its unique optical characteristics.
When visible light strikes the skin, a portion of it is reflected back into the environment. Approximately 4% to 7% of the visible light is reflected, regardless of the skin's pigmentation or structure5. The amount of light reflected is influenced by factors such as the angle of incidence; for instance, at angles close to normal, about 5% of light is reflected from the corneal layer, while the remaining 95% penetrates deeper into the epidermis.
Scattering plays a significant role in how light interacts with the skin. There are two types of scattering that occur within the skin layers:
These scattering processes contribute to how light is diffused within the skin, affecting its overall appearance.
Skin contains chromophores—molecules that absorb specific wavelengths of light—which can influence color perception. For example, melanin absorbs certain wavelengths, which can lead to pigmentation changes in response to light exposure. This absorption can cause uneven skin tones or hyperpigmentation when excessive.
The interplay between reflection, absorption, and scattering determines how we perceive skin color and texture. The skin's partly translucent nature allows for complex interactions with visible light, making it essential for maintaining a healthy appearance.
The structure of the skin significantly influences the appearance as the amount of light reflected from its surface is different, due to several key factors, including the skin's composition, texture, and the presence of various skin elements.
Skin consists of three layers: the epidermis, dermis, and subcutis. Each layer has distinct properties that affect how light interacts with the skin.
The epidermis, being the outermost layer, is primarily responsible for initial light reflection. It contains cells called keratinocytes, which contribute to the skin's texture and can scatter light.
The presence of pigment melanin in the epidermis plays a crucial role in absorbing certain wavelengths of light, particularly at shorter wavelengths (blue and UV light), which can reduce the amount of light that is reflected back.
The presence of sebum, an oily substance produced by sebaceous glands, can smooth the skin's surface. This smoothing effect increases the amount of light reflected due to a higher refractive index at the air-sebum interface. When the skin is well-hydrated and has a healthy layer of sebum, it appears shinier and reflects more light compared to dry or flaky skin.
The hydration level of the skin significantly impacts its reflectivity, primarily through changes in its structural properties and surface characteristics. Here’s how hydration influences skin reflectivity:
When the skin is well-hydrated, it appears smoother due to the plumping effect of water within the stratum corneum. This smooth surface enhances light reflection, making the skin look shinier and more radiant. Conversely, dehydrated skin can appear rough and flaky, leading to increased diffuse reflection rather than specular reflection, which diminishes overall brightness.
Hydration affects the refractive index of the skin. A hydrated skin surface, particularly with a thin layer of sebum, creates a higher refractive index at the interface, which increases the amount of light reflected back. The presence of sebum smooths out irregularities on the skin's surface, further enhancing this effect.
The water content in the skin also influences its absorption and scattering properties. Hydrated skin has a higher capacity to scatter light due to the presence of water-filled spaces between cells, which can enhance diffuse reflection. In contrast, dehydrated skin may absorb more light due to increased roughness and decreased scattering efficiency.
Hydration is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the skin barrier. Well-hydrated skin retains its elasticity and firmness, which contributes to better light reflection. Dehydrated skin tends to lose elasticity, leading to sagging and wrinkles that can disrupt how light interacts with its surface.
Increased hydration helps fill in fine lines and wrinkles temporarily, making them less noticeable. This reduction in visible imperfections allows for a more uniform surface that reflects light more evenly, enhancing the overall appearance of brightness and health.
To achieve your glass skin look, you need to maximize the skin's reflective properties, ensuring that light reflects off the surface rather than being absorbed or scattered by skin elements. Here are five tips to help you create a radiant, glass-like complexion:
Exfoliation is key to creating a smooth canvas on the skin's surface, allowing for even reflection of visible light and contributing to an overall healthy appearance.
When choosing an exfoliator, be cautious: avoid potentially irritating products and harsh ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids, alcohol, or abrasive particles. Instead, opt for a gentle, microbiome-friendly formula that helps restore the skin barrier while removing excess keratin and dead cells.
Regular exfoliation reduces pore size, promotes healthy skin renewal, and evens out skin tone.
Meder Advice: Try Enzy-Peel Double Action Mask.
For a true red-carpet glass skin effect, layer your moisturizers to create plumping and water-filling effects. Maximizing the skin's water-holding capacity transforms its appearance into a dewy glow.
However, be careful not to over-moisturize the surface, as this can lead to a waxy look if water is primarily retained in the outer keratinous layer. The best approach is to use ingredients that work at different skin depths: smaller molecules like Sodium Hyaluronate penetrate deeply, while larger molecules such as Hyaluronic Acid, Carrageenan, and Aloe Vera Juice create a protective layer on the surface, maintaining hydration and plumping fine lines.
Meder Advice: Hydra-Fill Active Serum and Hydra-Fill Deep Hydration Mask.
Redness and irritation can make your skin appear fatigued and inflamed. If you’re prone to redness, consider using anti-inflammatory calming products to reduce sensitivity.
Lightweight gel-like textures are preferable for sensitive or irritated skin over heavy creams or emulsions. Look for moisturizing products containing calming plant extracts like Centella Asiatica, Green Tea, Blueberry, Malva Sylvestris, and Red Grape. Recent advancements in cosmetic science have introduced anti-inflammatory peptides such as Skinasensyl and Calmosensine that work wonders for calming sensitive skin.
If you have rosacea or experience hormonal redness, consider incorporating rosacea-targeted skincare into your routine.
Meder Advice: Red-Apax Active Serum and Red-Apax Mask.
Your skin's microbiome is crucial for overall health. Billions of friendly bacteria form a natural shield that protects against infections, maintains immune response, and controls inflammation.
A balanced microbiome also regulates sebum production, keeping the skin smooth and controlling acidity—both vital for skin health. Environmental factors like UV exposure and air pollution can disrupt this balance. Additionally, harsh or antibacterial skincare can damage the delicate microbiome balance. Intense treatments like retinol or hydroxy acids may also disturb it.
Avoid ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and alcohol that harm beneficial microorganisms. Instead, choose microbiome-friendly skincare enriched with probiotics or prebiotics to restore balance and achieve glowing skin.
Meder Advice: Derma-Fill Prebiotic Moisturizer.
Healthy sleep is essential for flawless skin since most healing and regenerating processes occur overnight. Deep sleep is particularly important as it activates collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis. Even one sleepless night can significantly affect your skin's color evenness and reflective properties; sleep-deprived skin often appears tired and pale due to reduced oxygenation and lymphatic drainage.
If you're struggling with sleep issues, consider seeking professional help. Practicing good sleep hygiene—maintaining a regular schedule, having light dinners, and incorporating short walks or stretches before bed—can be beneficial.
You might also explore a circadian skincare routine to help restore your skin’s natural rhythms.
Meder Advice: Circa-Night Cream.
Achieve radiant glass skin effect with our new Meder Holiday Glass Skin Set, designed to provide everything you need for a flawless, dewy complexion.
This set features gentle probiotic exfoliation, intense multi-dimensional hydration, and protective prebiotic moisturization — all working together to create a stunning appearance in just 30 minutes.
Also available in mini doses for only $29.99
Our face exfoliator combines gentle probiotic exfoliation with the effective peeling action of micronized opal particles, offering a dual-action approach for renewed and rejuvenated skin.
Unlike traditional fruit acid-based exfoliators, Enzy-Peel's probiotic enzyme formulation selectively targets dead skin cells, minimizing irritation and making it suitable for even the most sensitive skin types. Enriched with nourishing shea butter, it provides hydration and soothing benefits during the exfoliation process.
As a microbiome-friendly product, Enzy-Peel deeply cleanses the skin, leaving it incredibly smooth, soft, and glowing.
This multi-award-winning sheet mask is infused with a potent dose of active hyaluronic acid gel that instantly replenishes dry skin, banishing signs of fatigue and dryness for a revitalized complexion. It restores the skin barrier and promotes deep hydration, plumping fine lines while evening out skin tone for a radiant glow. Favored by celebrities and makeup artists alike, Hydra-Fill creates a "glass skin" effect by sealing in moisture for long-lasting hydration. Experience super-soft, smooth, and luminous skin after just one use!
This lightweight gel moisturizer caters to all genders and skin types, including sensitive skin. Its translucent formula helps create that coveted "glass skin" look by enhancing texture, plumping fine lines, and minimizing the appearance of pores. Acting as a microbiome-friendly shield against air pollution, Derma-Fill provides essential protection throughout the day. Enriched with hyaluronic acid, it delivers instant hydration while enhancing the skin's water-holding capacity. Ideal as a universal primer for flawless makeup application—even on dry or irritated skin—this oil-free and hypoallergenic formula is perfect for anyone seeking lightweight yet effective hydration.
Enzy-Peel Mask: Apply a generous amount to clean, slightly damp skin after showering when your bathroom is warm and steamy. Spread evenly over your face and neck, allowing it to sit for 5-10 minutes. For enhanced exfoliation, gently massage with warm water in circular motions before rinsing off.
Hydra-Fill Mask: Remove the mask from its sachet and unfold it carefully. Place it over your face, securing it around your ears and chin. Leave on for 20 minutes before removing it and gently massaging any remaining gel into your skin.
Derma-Fill Moisturizer: Apply to your face and neck, massaging gently until fully absorbed.
Congratulations! Your skin now looks flawless!
To maintain optimal skin health, we recommend following a Meder skincare routine tailored to your individual needs. Consult our Meder Quiz for personalized recommendations.