Follow the Water Glow (Mul-Gwang; 물광) Trend – Dewy Skin Tips
What is Mul-Gwang (물광)?
Directly translating to ‘Water Glow’, this is a fun trend in Korean beauty. The original precursor to ‘glass skin’ it's something that people are returning to with the rise of Glow Ingredients in 2026. With exciting, synergistic products that bring out a deep shine to skin, people are re-embracing Mul-Gwang to have that dewy, wet shimmer.
So, it's time to enhance your glass skin goals to something dewier and deeper. Mul-Gwang aims for luminous and plump skin that has you looking like you’ve stepped out of the shower. It involves embracing your inner shine and combining products that give you deep hydration, as well as deep radiance. It’s the elevated form of the glass skin trend, that embraces the shine and has your skin achieving 100% moisture.
How to Get Started for a Mul-Gwang routine?
The first thing is to give yourself a really good base. Start with a great exfoliating cleanser, to help clear debris and impurities from your skin. This not only allows other products to soak in deeper, but will rapidly clear dry skin, excess sebum and vanish any dullness from your look. Exfoliation is amazing for dry skin, fine lines, oily skin and acne and really can revolutionize your look!
(1) Beauty of Joseon Apricot Blossom Peeling Gel
[Ideal for fine lines and dry/dull skin types]
(2) Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Tea-Trica Mild Peeling Gel
[Ideal for acne and sensitive skin types]
(3) Medicube Hypochlorous Acid Rice Peel Shot
[Ideal for build-up, blackheads and oily skin types]
Toners to Layer
The key cornerstone of Water Glow is layering your skincare products. Repeated layering helps build-up moisture and moisture, flooding skin cells with plumping ingredients (such as hyaluronic acid, collagen, peptides, sodium hyaluronate, ceramides). Start with a clean, clear base (ideally exfoliated to be smooth and ready for hydration). Apply a good layer of toner and gently tap with fingertips until absorbed. Repeat and repeat until skin feels glossy.
(1) TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner
[Ideal for fine lines and dry/dull skin types]
(2) Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Toning Toner
[Ideal for acne-prone and sensitive skin types]
(3) Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Toner
[Ideal for oily skin types]
Rich Serums to Glow
Looking to unlock your glow? Once you have a glossy, hydrated base from your toner – it's time to create a rich layer of serums that help infuse deep radiance. These products have been exploding in K-beauty this year; infused with kojic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide, glutathione, turmeric, pineapple and more! You want something that hydrates and something that helps you glow – ideally a clear, nourishing serum that absorbs well and brings out that deep shine to your skin.
(1) Biodance Radiant Vita Niacinamide Serum
[Ideal for dry skin and fine lines]
(2) Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide
[Ideal for acne-prone and sensitive skin types]
(3) Jumiso Niacinamide 20 Serum
[Ideal for oily skin types; gives deep radiance]
Moisturizers to Seal in The Shine
Finish your routine with a lightweight cream to help seal in your moisture and finish off your shine to keep the luminous glow set for your whole day. The ideal is something lightweight, creamy and perfectly balanced for your skin type. It should be a cap to your other products and never be too thick or occlusive, otherwise you’ll feel too overdone.
(1) Dr Reju-All Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Cream
[Ideal for fine lines and dry skin care for deep radiance]
(2) Purito Seoul Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream
[Ideal for acne-prone and sensitive skin types]
(3) Medicube Deep Vita C Capsule Cream
[Ideal for oily skin types and deep glow]
Embrace Water Glow
Keep your skin luscious and glowing all day with these techniques to keep cells plump, moist and bright. Layering is crucial and using ingredients that help keep hydration up (such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, collagen and boosting peptides). Embrace the shine with 물광.
Excited to embrace more of Korea's fabulous beauty trends to unlock flawless and fabulous looks? Check out our guide to the butter skin trends or our top pics for trending 2026 in K-Beauty:
