Every person has the right to feel comfortable in their own skin. There’s no objective definition of beauty, and just because a person has lighter or darker skin does not make them uglier or prettier than someone with a different skin tone.
But there’s no denying that some people feel more confident when they enhance their skin tone to look brighter or darker. One popular trend I’ve noticed is many people trying to achieve something known as a “porcelain complexion.”
Contrary to what a lot of people think, porcelain skin isn’t necessarily referring to a skin color or skin tone. Many people think that it is exclusive to people with fair skin trying to get as white as they naturally can, but really, it’s not.
So, what really is a porcelain skin tone, how different is it from other skin tones, and how can people achieve natural-looking porcelain skin? Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is Porcelain Skin?
When someone has porcelain skin, it can mean one of two things.
First, it can refer to someone with smooth, flawless, blemish-free, and even-toned skin. Porcelain, in this case, refers to actual ceramic porcelain. After ceramic clay is heated and cooled into porcelain, it has a perfect, flawless, and translucent quality to it.
In this case, it doesn’t matter if you have light or dark skin. If you have perfect, flawless skin, you have porcelain skin regardless of complexion.
Second is the definition of porcelain skin used by some beauty bloggers and beauty brands. Porcelain skin, in this case, refers to the translucent white color of ceramic porcelain after it’s cooled down.
This means that it can be someone with very light skin with more pink than yellow undertones so that their skin is much lighter.
Porcelain Skin vs. Fair Skin
Some people tend to mix up the terms “porcelain skin” and “fair skin” together. If you’re talking about complexion, fair and porcelain skin are both towards the lighter end of skin tones. But someone with fair skin doesn’t necessarily have flawless skin, so this generally refers to skin tone.
But porcelain skin and fair skin are different in terms of color. Fair-skinned people have a light or pale complexion with a more yellow than pink base. While it’s light-skinned, it’s a much warmer pale skin compared to porcelain skin, which has more pink than yellow tones so gives a more translucent white look.
Porcelain Skin vs. Other Skin Tones
With regards to the first definition of porcelain skin, a person can have porcelain skin if it has no flaws and is smooth and even-toned, regardless of whether they have fair, tanned, or dark skin. People with flawless skins are often compared to porcelain dolls, as these dolls are made with flawless and even-colored skin, though the skin color can vary.
In terms of complexion, porcelain skin is the whitest type of skin. Fair skin has a warmer tone than porcelain skin as it has more yellow than pink undertones, giving it a slightly darker complexion. Porcelain skin, on the other hand, is an almost translucent white with more pink undertones.
Asian men and women and those with Asian ancestry have a higher chance of achieving naturally porcelain skin (both in terms of complexion and flawlessness). In East and Southeast Asia, men and women see lighter skin as an indicator of beauty.
This isn’t because of the need to look more western, as some westerners believe, but has been instilled in countries like China, Japan, and Korea as far as 2333 B.C. This is because of the belief that tan skin was associated with people working in fields under the sun while whiter skin is associated with prestige in their cultures.
How to Achieve Porcelain Skin Through Makeup
Some people are blessed with having naturally flawless porcelain skin. If you want to achieve naturally flawless and light skin, here are some things you can do.
Use Foundation and Concealer
If you’re thinking of porcelain skin in terms of complexion have a light beige to ivory skin, it can be possible to use foundation or concealer to get white porcelain skin. Simply choose a foundation two or three shades lighter than your skin and apply it to your face and neck. Use the right concealer colors before and after applying foundation.
If you use anything lighter, it may look unnatural, especially if it’s a light coverage foundation. And even if you use a full-coverage foundation, it will be obvious you’re using the wrong color when it’s much lighter than your neck or arms.
But if you’re only thinking about the flawless porcelain skin, simply get foundation of your natural color and concealers. Use green concealers to cancel out any redness and an appropriate concealer to cancel out dark spots. If uneven skin tone is your problem, you can use a light coverage foundation to even it out. But if you have uneven skin tone and a few acne scars and flaws, you might need to use a full-coverage foundation and more concealer.
Porcelain Skin Treatments
If facemasks and other beauty products aren’t effective in achieving porcelain skin, many spas and beauty salons may offer more intensive treatments to either lighten your skin or remove all the blemishes and discolored spots on your face.
This can be as common as facials, but it can also include whitening serums, exfoliation, and other treatments.
How to Get Porcelain Skin Naturally
For natural porcelain skin, it’s impossible to get lasting natural results to get porcelain-white skin if your skin is naturally darker. But regardless of your skin tone, it is possible for everyone to achieve flawless, blemish-free skin through various natural ways.
Practice Good Skincare
Many Asian men and women can achieve flawless porcelain skin because their beauty business is a blend of both skincare and cosmetics. If you have healthy, glowing skin already, there’s no need to use heavy makeup to temporarily give your skin the appearance of flawless porcelain.
If skin conditions like acne, clogged pores, and dry skin are preventing you from achieving flawless skin, consider creating a skincare routine to treat these conditions. You can improve your skin’s health by following steps like:
- Moisturize your skin daily.
- Always remove your makeup before going to bed with a makeup remover like micellar water and a clean cotton pad, or use a safe alternative makeup remover like jojoba oil.
- Wash your face daily with a mild cleanser.
- If you have a certain skin condition that makes you prone to breakouts, use the appropriate skincare medication to treat it.
- Use cosmetic products that match your skin type (normal, dry, oily, or combination).
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet and avoid sugar-filled and oily foods. Unhealthy foods filled with sugar can trigger hormones that result in increased oil production on your skin. When you have too much oil, your skin is prone to clogging, acne, and other effects that can cause your skin to get blemishes.
Avoid drinking softdrinks, preserved juices, and other drinks filled with sugars and preservatives. Try developing a habit of drinking water. This can help flush out harmful toxins in your body that can trigger excess oil production. It can also help keep your skin moist and avoid the effects of drying.
Consult with Your Dermatologist
Photo by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels
If you have a serious skin condition, your dermatologist may know the most effective medicine or skincare product that can treat it. They can also recommend which products are effective for skincare and which ones may cause breakouts.
Avoid Sun Exposure
Many people who want to avoid getting darker skin try to stay away from the sunlight. Those who want to achieve lighter skin will find themselves getting a tan if they stay out in the sun for too long.
If you have to go outdoors, use an umbrella or stay under the shade. You can also opt to wear hats and clothing that covers your skin to avoid tanning. For your morning skincare routine, add sunblock with around SPF 30, especially if you plan on going outdoors for a long time.
Keep Your Face Clean
Practice clean habits to protect your face from developing blemishes. These include:
- Regularly changing your pillowcases. Dead skin cells, bacteria, and other debris on your pillows can cause dirt buildup when you lay down on your pillows, causing pimples.
- Avoid touching your face too many times with unwashed hands. If your hair constantly gets in your face, consider tying it back to avoid brushing it aside too many times.
- Make sure your glasses are free of oils whenever you put it in. Wipe it with a clean cloth to remove all the oils. If you wear glasses, wash your face at least twice a day to reduce the oil buildup near your nose.
- If you have acne or pimples, avoid scratching or popping them, as they can leave scars. Left undisturbed, these can go away with minimal scarring.
Porcelain skin can refer to two things: the flawlessness of the skin regardless of complexion, or a skin color resembling that of translucent white porcelain. While some people can achieve this naturally, it’s still possible to get this look through various means.