Glow Recipe is another online K-Beauty retailer, but they curate more indie brands that are not as known or easily accessible to those of us in the Western World! Think Make P:rem, Blithe, Huxley, Whamisa… Working in the Korean and American beauty market for so long, and having their own business, the founders Sarah and Christine curated their own line, Glow Recipe!
I first purchased the original Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser and Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask, and eventually wanted to try their Jelly Sheet Mask! Since the Cleanser has been reformulated, I won’t be reviewing it * missed my chance *. If you would like to see a review on it despite it being the older formula, let me know in the comments! We’ll be focusing on the 2 Watermelon Masks I purchased from their line:
Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask
Watermelon Glow Jelly Sheet Mask
Why watermelon? I actually find it a very cute and sentimental reason. In the summertime during their childhood, their grandmothers would rub the rhine and flesh of fresh watermelon on their backs to soothe irritated, inflamed skin. My grandmother never did anything like that, but she’d always prepare a copious amount of snacks for me and my cousins!
Quick Facts:
– Cruelty Free
– Formulated without synthetic dyes and mineral oils
– Good for all skin types
– Made in Korea
Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask
Price: $59 CAD, Mini $29 CAD
Amount: 2.7oz/80ml, Mini 1oz/30ml
Description: “The Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask is a luxuriously bouncy, breathable sleeping mask that smoothes and perfects skin, overnight. This pillow-proof formula acts as a radiance-boosting hybrid hydrator, formulated with soothing, amino-acid rich Watermelon Extract, hydrating Hyaluronic Acid, and pore refining AHAs that work while you sleep to gently exfoliate and clarify.” – Glow Recipe Website
Key Ingredients: Watermelon, Hyaluronic Acid, AHA
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Caulerpa Lentillifera (Seaweed) Extract, Simethicone, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit, Silica, Propanediol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Fruit Extract, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract , Paeonia Suffruticosa (Peony) Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata (Cabbage) Leaf Extract, Ipomoea Batatas (Sweet Potato) Root Extract, Betaine, Beta Glucan, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol, Fragrance
Usage: Bath time, 1-2 times every 2 weeks.
Texture: Slimey. You have to mix before applying because there is separation.
Fragrance: Artificial watermelon, like a candy or a popsicle.
Application: I use the spoon to apply dollops on my forehead, cheeks and neck. I had to be fast, the texture is slimey and slippy!
Instant Results: Skin felt soft and smooth.
Long-Term Results: Don’t use it enough to know. I rely on higher strength chemical exfoliators for this purpose.
Where to purchase:
Sephora
Glow Recipe
Watermelon Glow Jelly Sheet Mask
Price: $11 CAD
Amount: 1.17oz/33g
Description: “This one-of-a-kind sheet mask gets its jelly texture from a blend of watermelon extract and natto gum. That’s right, it’s a sheet mask made out of watermelons that gives you all the benefits of the amino-acid rich fruit directly into the skin. The watermelon base gives the jelly a naturally translucent pink hue that’s almost invisible on the skin, meaning you can mask anywhere, anytime without anyone knowing what you’re up to. It’ll be our little secret.” – Glow Recipe Website
Key Ingredients: Watermelon, Hyaluronic Acid, Centella Asiatica
Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit, Soy Amino Acids, Fructooligosaccharides, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Hyaluronic Acid, Natto Gum, Ceratonia Siliqua (Carob) Gum, Glycerin, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum, Xanthan Gum, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa (Peony) Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Beta-Glucan, (-)-Alpha-Bisabolol, Brassica Oleracea Capitata (Cabbage) Leaf Extract, Ipomoea Batatas (Sweet Potato) Root Extract, Fragrance.
USAGE: 10 minute one night stand.
Texture: Thin, jelly gel mask.
Fragrance: Artificial watermelon, like a candy or a popsicle.
Application: 2 pieces, apply top and bottom.
Instant-Results: Somehwat hydrating.
Where to purchase:
Sephora
Glow Recipe
Final Thoughts
PROS:
– One of the few Korean-inspired products with a decent-sized ingredient list. When Korean brands use plant extracts, the list is so insanely long and features a lot of exotic ingredients that I don’t even bother to check all of them. Glow Recipe’s list is actually readable.
– Key ingredients are actually near the top of the list. Too many times I have seen Niacinamide, collagen, HA, and all the good stuff at the bottom of a 50+ long ingredient list. I never thought it would do anything significant for my skin. Watermelon is noticeably high on the GR INCI lists.
– Texture – the Sleeping Mask has an interesting and fun texture, which adds to my enjoyment using the product.
CONS:
– Price – $59 For a sleeping mask that dries way too quickly for my skin, PLUS I have to use extra layers to feel a decent amount of hydration… Not worth it.
– Artificial fragrance – I don’t mind fragrance if it is somewhat natural smelling. The watermelon definitely smells like fake candy. It’s not overwhelming, but it takes away from a more enjoyable experience with the mask.
– This isn’t an attack solely on the Watermelon Glow Jelly Mask, but after trying multiple gel masks this one just continues to prove to me that gel masks are MEH. Not worth $11 When a $2 cotton-sheet has shown to be just as efficacious, if not more.
– Jelly Mask in general is flimsy and I managed to puncture it a few times when trying to get it to adhere to my face.
IN-BETWEEN FEELS:
– More suited for oily skin. I wouldn’t say these products can be for all skin types, I don’t feel like my skin is nourished enough, even when I applied extra layers. Having said that, they still somewhat performed, and someone with an oilier skin type may see better results.
– Mild enough for sensitive skin or for those who have never used chemical exfoliants. I’m used to stronger chemical exfoliants, but I did notice my skin would look fairly smoother with the mask. I just feel like I have tried better, but for someone starting out, you may want to look into the Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask.
I appreciate Glow Recipe, admire the founders, and generally like the products. I’m sort of interested in trying the Avocado Mask, but I don’t really have an urge to try anything further from the brand. Have you tried the Avocado Mask? Let me know in the comments below!
xo, M