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If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and asked yourself, “Why is my skin not glassy enough?” you aren’t alone.
We’ve all been through the cycle of piling on expensive moisturizers and “dewy” foundations, only to find that the radiance we’re chasing feels dull or uneven underneath.
According to skincare expert June July (@jihoon_suh), the reason you’re stuck in a “glow-less” cycle isn’t your moisturizer, it’s your skin’s foundation.
“It honestly boils down to two simple steps,” he explains. ” Exfoliate and brighten. “
“Think of your skin as a bumpy wall. No matter how much paint you pour over it, it will never look as smooth and bright. You need to polish the wall first, then go over it with fresh paint.”
If you’re ready to “switch on” your glow, here is the professional breakdown of the Kiehl’s duo Jihoon uses to clear the path to clarity.
Reason 1: You’re Painting Over a “Bumpy Wall”
Before you can brighten, you have to smooth.
The first move in any glass-skin routine is a high-quality exfoliant to address the texture and congestion that block light from reflecting off your face.
Jihoon’s go-to is the Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Triple Acid Peel .

“You have to go in with a good exfoliant first… which will help improve your skin texture and smoothness,” he says.
While chemical peels can sometimes feel intimidating, this formula is uniquely gentle, hence good for daily use, too.
It contains copper gluconate, an ingredient Jihoon highlights because it “soothes skin to minimize skin discomfort.”
Fun fact: Jihoon points out that this specific ingredient is actually what gives the formula its signature “natural blue color.”

Reason 2: Your Brightener Isn’t Reaching the Skin
“Now, once you’ve gently exfoliated your skin, this is the best time to go in with a brightening solution,” Jihoon advises.
By removing the dead skin cells first, your treatments can actually penetrate instead of sitting on the surface.
He recommends following up with the Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution , which “visibly reduces dark spots or improves skin tone and overall skin clarity in just one week.”

The power of this solution lies in two hero ingredients:
- Activated C: A potent form of Vitamin C that “corrects the appearance of dark spots and discoloration.”
- Proxylane: A powerhouse molecule that “strengthens the skin barrier,” ensuring your glow comes from a place of health.
“Try including these two steps in your routine, and switch on your glass skin using the Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Duo,” he encourages.
Shop the Duo:

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