Skip to content
NEXT IN SKIN What’s next in Korean & Japanese skincare.

Glow

5 products

Glow is the least technical word in skincare and one of the more achievable goals, because what people mean by it comes down to three measurable things. Light reflects evenly off a smooth surface, so texture matters. Hydrated skin is plumper and scatters light more softly, so water content matters. And even tone reads as radiance, so pigment matters. Nothing about glow requires a product with glow in its name.The fastest lever is hydration. Humectants such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, snail mucin and beta-glucan, sealed with a moisturizer, change how skin looks within days. Next comes surface smoothness, where a gentle exfoliating routine used two or three times a week removes the dulling layer of loose cells; more often than that is where irritation and a duller look begin. Then comes tone, where niacinamide, vitamin C, tranexamic acid and azelaic acid work slowly over weeks, and where daily sunscreen protects the result.Brands sell glow with dewy finishes and light-reflecting particles, which are cosmetic effects rather than skin changes. There is nothing wrong with them, but it is worth knowing which part of a product is skincare and which part is the equivalent of a highlighter.A realistic plan is unglamorous: hydrate consistently, exfoliate modestly, treat tone with one active rather than three, sleep and drink water, and wear sunscreen. Skin that is stripped, over-exfoliated or inflamed will not glow regardless of what is layered on top of it.Two easy additions: the Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide and the numbuzin No.5 Glutathione Vitamin Dark Spot Cream.