Korean glass skin refers to a popular skin care trend in Korea, characterized by a clear, smooth and glowing complexion that looks like glass, but achieving glass skin involves a combination of skincare practices and makeup techniques including double cleansing with toner, exfoliation, hydration. These include ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin followed by a lightweight essence or serum that targets specific skin concerns, a sheet mask, moisturizer and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day, even on cloudy days. Certain makeup techniques can also be used to achieve a glass skin effect or go for a natural look by opting for a natural flush on your cheeks with a cream blush and choose lip tints or balms that provide a sheer and glossy finish.
However, consistency is key when it comes to skincare so, stick to a regular routine and give your skin some time to adapt to the products you use as everyone’s skin is unique and results may vary. It’s important to choose products and techniques that suit your skin type and address your specific concerns so adjust your skin care routine as needed and consult a dermatologist if you have any underlying skin problems.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Ridham Vats Bharadwaj, Co-Founder, Rio Herbs India shared, “According to skin care professionals, your daily skin care routine should include washing, toning and moisturizing. However, many of us mistakenly believe that toner is only for washing the skin, which is essentially a decent facial cleanser.” The main goal of this product is to balance the pH level of each skin and remove even the smallest particles of dirt or makeup from your face. Clearing up this myth by informing her, she added, “Toners come in different types to suit all skin types and are easily available in the market. Knowing your skin type will help you choose the right toner for you.”
What is toner?
Before highlighting the main categories of toners for the most popular skin types, Ridham Vats Bharadwaj explained, “A toner is simply a water-based formulation that quickly replenishes a specific skin type. A high-quality toner, sometimes called a tonic, removes any impurities from your skin. It has the benefit of balancing the skin’s pH.”
Types of Toner
According to Ridham Vats Bharadwaj, “At a basic level, there are mainly three types of toners that are created using science to accommodate different skin types: normal, dry, oily and combo. In order to choose the best toner, it is important to be knowledgeable about several types of toners.” She elaborated:
- A toner that hydrates dry skin – Hydrating toners are the most basic toners on the market and are suitable for practically all skin types. However, moisturizing toners for dry skin are much sought after these days because they contain glycerin or hyaluronic acid, which essentially raises the pH level of the skin. A great example of a moisturizing toner for the face is the rose toner.
- Exfoliating toners for normal, combination and oily skin – This category of toner contains fruit enzymes or hydroxy acids, which enhance the skin cleansing process. Commonly referred to as a pore clarifying toner, it gently removes dead cells from the first layer of skin. Since it is an oil-controlling tonic, it works magic on people with oily skin. However, it can have similar effects on combination and normal skin. It removes the dullness and flakiness of the skin, thus, giving it a natural glow.
- Treatment Toner to solve targeted skin problems – These toners are used to solve skin problems. Due to the many plant extracts like chamomile and antioxidants, treatment toners are formulated to tackle skin problems like aging wrinkles, fine lines, acne, blemishes, excess oil, etc.
He suggested, “Now that you know the benefits of a high-quality toner, we advise you to start looking for the best toner for your skin. You should purchase a toner after your skin type is determined by your dermatologist. Otherwise, you may end up with red spots, itching, or are at risk of developing skin problems such as irritation. So follow your doctor’s advice, treat yourself well and start taking care of your skin right away to achieve glassy skin!