As you will no doubt have noticed, “glass” skin – that is, a complexion with a smooth, glazed sort of sheen – has been fashionable for ages. Until now, however, it has only come as the result of a meticulous, umpteen-step Korean skincare routine. But the new glass skin moisturisers attempt to mimic the look in one simple application.
Erborian’s Glow Moisturiser (from £9, all skin types) is a Goldilocks’s porridge sort of face cream. Not too heavy, not too light, just dewy enough without looking oily, and with lasting hydration that never becomes wet. I must advise the glimmer-avoidant that it does have a smidge of pearlescence, but I find that flattering.
Mac’s Faceglass Hydrating Skin Gloss (£30) is, as you might expect from an artistry brand, a more definite “look”. I’ve rarely changed my mind about a product so quickly. On first application, I found the cloudy gel sticky and stiff, but seconds later it behaved very differently – smooth, spreadable and silky, with a lasting, glitter-free reflection. It gives true – not just cosmetic – skin hydration, thanks to a heavy load of glycerin and squalane, and while it has a strong fruity scent, it doesn’t have that jammy teenage lipgloss finish. Makeup goes over it nicely, and the more I experimented, the more versatile I found it. This is more than an-all over moisturiser – it can be applied locally to cheekbones, brow bones and lips, and its thickness prevents unwanted migration to other areas.
One of this summer’s most impressive launches is Rhode’s “luminizing” Highlight Milk (£28), a liquid moisturiser I use often as a last layer before sunscreen. Unlike the bestselling colourless original, Glazing Milk, this version is tinted (there are four shades that between them cover everyone). The two are otherwise identical – soothing, milky moisture with a glazed-doughnut sort of finish. I love shade 02 so much I’ve been dispensing with foundation altogether.
I’ve recommended it before, but it bears repeating: L’Oreal Paris’s Revitalift Filler Glass Skin Face Moisturiser (£17.99, but frequently on offer) gives a subtle glassy sheen for those who don’t want to overcommit. It’s a milky serum that hydrates, plumps and leaves just enough dewiness so you look vital and healthy without ever seeming sweaty or sticky. I find a matte-ish makeup over the top looks more natural and effortless for it, and even dry skin stays lubricated. It’s a terrific – but oddly overlooked – buy.
