You too can glow

Glass skin isn't just for the poreless, thanks to savvy skincare and insider advice from the pros

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For those old enough to remember a time when shine was something to be subjugated with astringent toners and powders the consistency of cement dust, there is at least the vague feeling that our collective obsession with reflective skin is a trend rather than dogma.

Where once a complexion free from pustules defined “good skin”, today, hyper-smooth, hairless, poreless, AI-perfect faces with a megawatt shine are the ultimate beauty currency. The hashtag #glassskin has amassed billions of views across social media, cementing its status as one of modern beauty’s most enduring trends, but this pursuit of a mirror-like complexion is not all it's cracked up to be.

For those with dry, oily or blemish-prone skin, it can feel like an exclusive club in which only the genetically blessed members are privy to highlighters and luminisers that take glow to the next level. True radiance takes more than a swoosh of highlighter, but according to our dermatology experts, with the right skincare and guidance, everyone gets to shine.

PREGNANCY GLOW

Not everyone experiences that fabled pregnancy “glow”, yet it’s also a time when radiance-boosters like retinol are off-limits. “During pregnancy, certain actives, including all vitamin A derivatives [such as retinol and tretinoin], as well as salicylic acid, should be avoided due to potential risks to the foetus,” says Dr Ophelia Veraitch.