Many of us covet the glowy, radiant, glass-skin look that Koreans are purportedly known for. In my opinion, achieving beautiful glowy skin is possible through a multi-faceted approach ranging from skincare to aesthetic treatments to diet choices. Some of us are genetically blessed with good skin, while others are more prone to acne.

Here are some tips and treatments to try:

Glowy Skin Skincare

Always double-cleanse your skin every night even if you did not use any makeup during the day.

When we are out and about, we are exposed to dirt and debris that may clog our pores. Depending on what is most suitable for your skin, you may choose to use a cleansing milk, cleansing oil or micellar water. I personally use Bioderma’s Sensibio Micellar Solution as it does not irritate nor aggravate my sensitive, acne-prone skin, allowing you to achieve that clear glowy skin.

Cleanser. Choose an appropriate cleanser for your skin type.

A cleanser that may work well for your friend may not work well for you. Unfortunately, with skincare, sometimes trial and error is involved. For those with acne-prone skin, I highly recommend using a gentle cleanser that has AHA in it. 

Exfoliate 2-3x a week for Glowy Skin

Exfoliation is important as the build-up of dead skin cells will contribute to dull skin and acne formation. However, be careful not to overdo it as this may result in skin dryness and irritation, which will aggravate acne in those who are prone. Personally, I use Skin Inc’s Revival Peel 2-3x a week to improve skin texture and enhance the appearance of glowy skin. I would suggest exfoliating down to the neck and decolletage area as well.

Toner. Always tone after you cleanse.

This also helps to prep the skin for the next step in your skincare routine. For those with acne-prone skin, be careful not to use toners that are too rich or heavily-perfumed as this may possibly aggravate your acne, products containing salicyclic acid, witch hazel may be more beneficial instead. Take a look at the ingredient list. Some of us may not be able to tolerate alcohol in our toner if our skin is on the dry side. 

Serums to achieve Glowy Skin Appearance

Serums are my personal favourite as they deliver a concentrated amount of goodness to our skin. In our hot humid country, I have chosen to skip gel-based or cream-based moisturiser and am using a serum as moisturizer instead. When choosing serums, it is important to try and see what works for your skin. For a more detailed article on the following types of serums, please click here

• Vitamin C serum
• Pigmentation-corrector serums
• Hydrating serums
• Stem cell serums
• Overnight serums

Aesthetic treatments suited for Glowy Skin

Regular facial and laser treatments

Regular facials help to deep-cleanse, exfoliate dead skin cells and clear the dirt and debris in our pores. This results in brighter skin and helps to keep pimple formation at bay, giving the appearance of glowy skin. In addition, for those with comedones or active acne, extraction in the hands of a skilled professional is key to avoid/minimize the risk of PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) and scarring. I do not recommend individuals attempting to ‘burst’ their pimples if they are not trained to do so.

Lasers such as Q-Switch and Picosecond lasers help to stimulate the formation of collagen, even out skin tone, reduce the appearance of pores/scars/PIH, lighten/remove pigmentation, kill P. Acnes bacteria hence controlling/preventing outbreaks. Overall, it results in brighter, fairer and clearer glowy skin. 

It is important to note that lasers are not ideal as a one-time-off treatment. Lasers are ideally done at regular intervals and can be treated as a form of maintenance for our skin. 

Depending on the type of laser done, Q-switch and picosecond lasers at appropriate settings can be combined with facials on the same day. I would personally recommend facials first, followed by laser in the same sitting.

For a video on how picosecond laser is done, please click here.

Those with acne-prone skin or wanting a quick-fix for radiant skin can consider doing carbon-laser peel. The carbon particles bind to the debris in the pores which is then removed by the Q-switch/pico laser. 

Microlaser peel

Microlaser peel is done somewhat similar to a fractional laser. Typically, numbing cream will be applied by about 15-20 minutes. After removal of the numbing cream, the painless laser will be performed under 10 minutes. There will be mild erythema and multiple white microdots on the skin after (these microdots will generally not be obviously visible unless you look closely). For the next few days, the skin will feel dry and rough.  After about 5-6 days, your skin will be softer, smoother, more refined in texture and pores will be minimized. 

Microlaser peels can be done at 6-8weekly intervals if preferred or for skin rejuvenation 7-10 days before an important event.

For a video on what the treatment is like and the post-treatment diary and results, please click here.

Chemical peels for Glowy Skin

There are many formulations of chemical peels and this will vary from clinic to clinic. My personal favourite is the Modified Jessner’s Peel as it contains AHAs such as Citric Acid, Lactic Acid and Salicyclic Acid and includes pigmentation-correcting compounds like hydroquinone and Kojic acid — this combination helps to exfoliate dead skin cells and treats acne and pigmentation at the same time, revealing brighter and clearer skin. For those who are prone to comedone-formation and with active acne, I like TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peels effective. As everyone’s skin is different, some people may have skin peeling with certain acids and some may not. 

If you would like to know more about commonly used acids and their purposes, as well as the application of chemical peels and what to expect during and post-treatment, please click here.

Salmon PDRN Healer  婴儿针

Salmon PDRN healer is a polynucleotide (PN)/polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) injectable Skin-booster made from Salmon DNA. This South Korean product is an anti-aging treatment that helps to improve skin’s elasticity and tonicity, stimulate collagen, reduce inflammation and fine lines/wrinkles and improve hydration of the skin. 

For everything you need to know about Salmon PDRN, click here.

Rejuran + Hyaluronic Acid Skinboosters can be combined with other synergistic products to achieve better results in a single session.

Skinboosters (Hyaluronic Acid boosters) 水光针

Skinboosters are Hyaluronic Acid boosters injected into the skin to improve skin’s hydration, stimulate collagen production, accelerate healing and repair resulting in dewy, radiant and smoother skin. 

For the different types of skinboosters available, benefits of skinboosters and how the treatment is performed as well as the post-treatment diary/results, please click here.

Dual yellow laser

Dual yellow is a copper bromide laser emitting a mixture of 2 wavelengths (532nm [green light] and 577nm [yellow light]) that helps to kill acne bacteria, stimulate collagen, reduce redness and decrease skin sensitivity. It is clinically indicated for patients with acne, melasma and those prone to redness or have sensitive skin.

Lifestyle factors that promotes Glowy Skin

Hydration

Higher water input likely increases skin’s hydration

A lack of sufficient intake of water results in dehydration which may cause skin to appear more dull and fine lines to appear more prominent. In addition, for those with acne-prone skin, dehydration may trigger our sebum glands to produce more sebum in an attempt to maintain skin’s moisture levels hence resulting in more pimple formation.

The Health Promotion Board recommends a daily intake of 8-10 glasses, each 250mls a day.

Sleeping habits

The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours of sleep a night for adults. Lack of sleep triggers the release of the stress hormone Cortisol which increases inflammation in the skin and triggers flares in skin conditions like acne and eczema. In addition, during sleep, our body releases Human Growth Hormone, which is necessary for collagen production.

Stress

Studies have shown that higher stress levels correlate with increased acne severity. While stress is an external factor that is is difficult to control/eliminate, learning how to manage and react to stress would help in mitigating its effects.

Read more: The association between stress and acne among female medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Read more: The Impact of Pyschological Stress on Acne

Hygiene

There are some simple lifestyle adjustments we can make if we are prone to acne outbreaks

• Clean our mobile devices regularly, especially for those who spend time on phone calls daily
• Ensure our bedsheets are changed frequently, ideally once a week, as dirt/debris get transferred from our hair and face to our pillows/bed linens
• Always shower and wash your face before going to bed
• Make cleansing your face twice a day part of your daily routine

Dietary choices

Our diets may be a contributing factor for those with acne-prone skin. Everyone’s trigger is different, hence it is important to try to identify over time if there is a certain food that causes the nasty zits. 

American academy of dermatology suggests that a high glycemic diet and cow’s milk may lead to acne outbreaks, though however, products such as yoghurt and cheese have not found to aggravate acne.