“Cream Skin” Is The Latest Korean Beauty Obsession

Looking back at 2019, one beauty trend in particular continued to reign supreme on Instagram and Pinterest, and dominated new skin-care launches: glass skin. Shine-free, entirely matte skin finally took a back seat. Instead, we became obsessed with the ultra-glowy craze — which hails from the world's unofficial skin-care capital, South Korea — mixing oils, serums, moisturizers, and exfoliators to create skin so dewy and radiant it boasted nearly transparent, mirror-like shine.

But with 2020 just around the corner, it seems there is another Korean skin-care movement to get on board with. "Cream skin," as it's called, requires a lot less effort to obtain than its glassy predecessor — and a lot less time, for that matter, so you can master it ahead of the new year.

Soko Glam co-founder Charlotte Cho recently explained to StyleCaster that cream skin is both a concept and a look that can be achieved by ditching the lengthy 10-step routine and opting for just one product with a much lighter, milkier consistency. Cho pinpoints a featherweight lotion that is a hybrid of a toner and a moisturizer as the product everyone in Korea is going mad for. The result is a complexion that is still dewy, but not blindingly so; instead, skin is super soft, moisturized, and supple.

The big buzz around cream skin is mainly down to how easy it is to achieve, according to Korean skin-care experts. "Glass skin is more focused on a skin-care routine, offering a transparent, clear, and luminous complexion using several products," says Beauty Flash founder Lisa de-la-Plain. "Cream skin is a little gentler and combines the softening and absorption powers of a toner with the hydration and benefits of a moisturizer." It's also inspired by the new trend of paring down your skin-care routine and products. "Nowadays, no one has time to follow a big routine or the need to carry around countless products," says de-la-Plain. "Instead, consumers want on-the-go products that combine traditional skin-care steps without sacrificing the results."

Ahead, the products you need to get cream skin for yourself — including the one that started it all.