A Review Of Glow Recipe’s 4 Bestselling Skincare Products

I’m a huge fan of K-Beauty, and one brand that’s been on my radar for years is Glow Recipe. Since the launch of the cult-favourite Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask in 2017, co-founders Sarah Lee and Christine Chang have developed and expanded the K-Beauty-inspired skincare line, featuring ingredients derived from effective superfruits such as watermelon, blueberry, pineapple, papaya and more. The cruelty-free brand finally launched in Singapore last month, and proudly offers a range of easy-to-use skincare essentials, all formulated with clean and natural ingredients of the highest quality, without any parabens, sulphates or phthalates.

Recently, I was able to test out 4 of their bestsellers — the Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask, Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer, Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser and Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist.

First Impressions

I’d be lying if I said packaging doesn’t play a role in having a particular product in my collection, and Glow Recipe certainly does not disappoint. We see brightly coloured, minimalist packaging across the entire range, and the Watermelon Glow collection comes in a shade of millennial pink I’ll never get tired of looking at.

Aesthetically-pleasing packaging aside, I’m not exaggerating when I say everything smells absolutely amazing. If you’re a fan of sweet, fruity scents, let me just say that anything in this collection is bound to bring you some olfactory satisfaction — with all the wonderful smells their superfruit ingredients have to offer, I feel like I’m in a candy store every time I use a product from their line.

Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask

I couldn’t wait to use the product that the brand launched with — the Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask. Traditionally, watermelon rind and flesh has been used to soothe irritated and inflamed skin during the hot summer seasons in Korea, and this is exactly what inspired the best-selling product. The mask features amino-rich watermelon extract and hyaluronic acid, which intensely hydrate and soothe the skin. On top of this is antioxidant-rich pumpkin extract, which helps to repair and defend the skin.

Honestly, I usually don’t gravitate towards sleeping masks when I’m in Singapore, because I find that my skin tends to get oily overnight. However, the Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask is surprisingly light on the skin, and I wake up feeling refreshed whenever I use it.

One thing to note for first-time users — there is a watery layer that settles at the top of the jar, and when I first tried to use the mask, I was a little confused at how thin the product felt. Upon further inspection, I discovered that the best way to use it would be to go a little deeper and scoop the product out from the middle of the jar — this way, you’re given a thick, rich serving of the product. I’ve found that mixing the product beforehand does work, but I prefer to use a little spoon to pick the product up.

A little goes a long way with the mask — by applying a very thin layer before bed, I wake up with plump and hydrated skin, which I then wash in the morning. I used a pretty generous amount at first, but I found my skin to be a bit too oily after letting the product set overnight. I did try using it as a wash-off mask, but I prefer the overnight method.

4/5 — great as an overnight mask, but use sparingly if you have oily skin.

The Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask (from $34) is exclusively available at Sephora.

Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer

Like the Sleeping Mask, the Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer contains watermelon extract, which makes up 90% of the formula. Supported by hydrating hyaluronic acid, along with soothing jasmine and peony extract, we get a cooling gel-emulsion that’s ideal for those with oiler skin. 100% oil-free, the product is extremely light on the skin, and perfect to use as a pre-makeup prep.

Glow Recipe recommends using the Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer after cleansing and toning, or as a serum before a daily moisturiser for drier skin types, but I’ve been using it as a daytime moisturiser right after cleansing.

Because of how thick the Sleeping Mask was, I was pleasantly surprised at how absorbent the Moisturizer was — a single pump is enough to hydrate my entire face, and there isn’t any tacky or sticky feeling hours after application, even without any additional products. Unlike other moisturisers I’ve used, I barely have to wait before continuing with the rest of my makeup routine — when rubbing it into my skin, the product almost felt like water — I felt instant hydration and it didn’t feel like I used any product at all! I also used it when I had a couple of recently popped pimples on my skin, and there was no stinging sensation whatsoever.

5/5 — works for all skin types, super lightweight and provides instant hydration.

The Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer (from $32) is exclusively available at Sephora.

Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser

Unlike most of the products in the Watermelon Glow line, I’d personally never heard of the Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser, and I was a little hesitant to try it. My skin is pretty sensitive, and I usually depend on a specific selection of cleansing products that I’ve tried and tested over the years, but I’m happy to say that this cleanser is officially a part of that list.

The 3-in-1 product acts as a makeup remover, cleanser and deep clarifying mask — gently exfoliating AHAs help to remove dead skin cells and makeup from the skin, while a combination of 6 antioxidant-rich berries (blueberry, groundcherry, raspberry, bearberry, mulberry, bilberry) prevents signs of premature aging while protecting the skin from harsh environmental factors. The addition of hyaluronic acid also ensures your skin stays soft and hydrated in the process of getting it squeaky clean.

I was really surprised when I first used the product — it appeared to have a thick, almost glue-like consistency when first pumped from the bottle, but quickly lathers into a light foam upon contact with water. I was very surprised to find that it actually did remove my makeup fairly well, but I still prefer to use a separate makeup remover beforehand, especially around the eyes. Like the first two Glow Recipe products I tried, a little goes a long way — the product doesn’t lather very well when used in a large amount, and instead forms a sticky layer — however, this is ideal when the cleanser is being used as a deep clarifying mask instead. You don’t have to worry about the product slipping off your skin, and it rinses off easily in the shower.

After a few days of using the cleanser, I did feel as though my skin felt softer and appeared a little brighter than usual. However, I’ve also been using the Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer at the same time, so that might be another factor.

4/5 — multi-purpose, the mini size is handy to carry around and a little goes a long way.

The Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser (from $16) is exclusively available at Sephora.

Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist

The final product I tried from the range was the Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist, the latest addition to the Watermelon Glow collection. Made up of 84% watermelon extract, along with hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica, rice germ oil and hibiscus flower AHAs, this mist is more than just a pretty product.

Yes, the glittery formula and addictive watermelon scent are huge plus points, but the multi-purpose mist just adds the refreshment you need to brighten your day. It can also be used as a hydrating toner and as a makeup enhancer for a little extra glow, but I like to use it throughout the day, whenever my skin feels like it needs a little pick-me-up.

I can honestly say that this is the best mist I’ve ever used — nozzle-wise. Gone are the days of frustrating nozzles and random droplets of product leaving a mark on your makeup! The Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist features a unique nozzle that dispenses the product in ultra-fine particles, distributing the perfect amount of hydration that all will appreciate, especially in Singapore’s hot weather.

5/5 — literally the best spray nozzle I’ve ever used, smells amazing and super satisfying.

The Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist ($43) is exclusively available at Sephora.

 


Glow Recipe’s skincare range is exclusively available at Sephora, in-store and online.