I’m already very discerning when it comes to the products I recommend and review as a beauty editor, but I’m even more particular when it comes to TikTok megahits. In fact, I’m borderline skeptical. Is the cult favorite really worth its praise? Or is it merely a meh formula housed in pretty, vibrant-hued packaging? What’s the secret sauce?
Glow Recipe is arguably one of the most revered brands on the app—it’s launched viral sellout after sellout—and I investigate (that is, personally test) each smashing success with a healthy dose of skepticism. And each time, I’m dazzled. Trust, the hype is very much real when it comes to this K-beauty brand. I haven’t met a formula I didn’t like (and, yes, I have tried every single product!), but for the sake of your wallet, I’m whittling them down to my top 10 favorites. Below, find the best Glow Recipe products to take home—at least in my very picky opinion.
The Best Glow Recipe Products, at a Glance
- Plum Plump Refillable Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer
- Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner
- Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops
- Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum
- Pomegranate Peptide Firming Serum
The 10 Best Glow Recipe Products, Tested by Me
1. Plum Plump Refillable Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer
Glow Recipe
Plum Plump Refillable Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer
Pros: Provides a dewy, healthy-looking glow without feeling greasy; refillable; wears incredible underneath makeup
Cons: Very lightweight if you’re looking for a denser face cream to use at night
Key ingredients: Polyglutamic acid, hyaluronic acid, plum and ice willow herb
If I had to choose just one favorite from the brand, it would be this Plum Plump moisturizer. The texture is juicy and bouncy (not unlike Jell-O), which is exactly how it makes my skin look. In addition to its skin-plumping properties, it provides a glossy, dewy sheen that’s noticeable yet doesn’t feel sticky or “wet,” which is impressive given the amount of hyaluronic acid pumped into the formula. I’m currently on my fourth refillable jar, and I don’t plan on swapping it anytime soon! I also recently convinced my friend to give it a whirl, and now she’s begging me for my extra jars.
Customer Review: “Immediate results. I am picky. This cream impressed me. I have dry, mature skin with flakiness from tretinoin use. This cream immediately gave my skin a hydrated, nourished look without being greasy. I have sensitive skin but this does not cause me to breakout. It does initially have a tacky feel that changes to a slightly waxy feel, but I apply a heavy amount.”
2. Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner
Glow Recipe
Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner
Pros: Helps with hydration and overall glow, fades dark spots, makes subsequent serums more effective
Cons: Some reviewers don’t love the scent (it’s a little citrusy)
Key ingredients: Cloudberry concentrate, CoQ10, glycerin, rice water
Oh my god, this toner. I am of the opinion that toners are more “nice-to-haves” than routine essentials, but this is the only exception in my book. You simply need to see its brightening power for yourself. I tend to struggle with stubborn dark spots post-breakout, and this antioxidant-rich liquid helped speed the fading process tenfold. I flew through my first bottle and am currently on the last few precious drops of my second.
Customer Review: “This product is actually the best thing everrrr. I’ve repurchased this thing more times than I can count!! It smells sooo good and it makes my skin feel so nice. I LOVEEEE IT. it’s a must-have in my routine!!”
3. Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops
(Image credit: @jamieeschneider)
Glow Recipe
Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops
Pros: Gives skin a natural-looking glow, doesn’t stain clothing or hands, provides an extra layer of moisture with good-for-skin ingredients
Cons: Very dewy finish; those with oily skin tones might want something more matte
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid
If you’re ever in the mood to fake a post-vacation glow (who isn’t?!), say hello to your new secret weapon. I first tried these drops smack-dab in the middle of winter before they launched in February 2023, and I was floored by how much life they instantly gave my complexion. The formula features the same skin-loving niacinamide and hyaluronic acid as the brand’s viral Watermelon Glow Dew Drops (we’ll get to those in a moment!), just with a sheer, buildable tint. I like to apply one pump all over my face before my makeup routine, then tap a tiny amount directly on my cheekbones for some extra warmth.
Customer Review: “Gives my skin the perfect golden bronze while making my skin so dewy and beautiful. Already purchasing my second bottle!”
4. Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum
Glow Recipe
Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum
Pros: Great for acne, uneven skin texture, and fine lines; amazing scent and user experience
Cons: Smaller size
Key ingredients: Retinal, retinol, retinyl ester, blackberry extract, glycerin, ectoin
Introducing a retinol serum that doesn’t feel like a retinol serum. Like all Glow Recipe products, the texture is a dream, and it doesn’t have that funky stench I’ve noticed with many other potent retinoids (a term I’ve dubbed “retinol reek“).
“We’ve heard feedback from our community that retinol treatments have not always been enjoyable to use, and we wanted to rethink the experience by creating a lightweight, milky gel texture that is infused with a small amount of 100% naturally derived, essential oil–free fragrance,” Christine Chang, co-founder and co-CEO of the brand, previously told me about the formulation process. Don’t let the joyful experience fool you into thinking it’s not potent; this serum comes with a 0.16% triple retinoid blend of retinal, retinol, and retinyl ester.
Customer Review: “My skin was so bad before and I was constantly breaking out. After using this product I saw results within 2 weeks! It has left me with barely any acne!!!”
5. Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum
Glow Recipe
Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum
Pros: Has an instant plumping effect, layers well under skincare and makeup
Cons: Texture is a bit sticky before it dries down
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid blend, three antioxidant-rich plums, vegan collagen, silk proteins
This superpowered serum contains five (yep, five!) weights of hyaluronic acid to deeply shimmy into pores and plump the skin with hydration at every level. I will say, it is a bit sticky as it dries down, which is something to note if texture is a big deal breaker for you. However, I will also say that it’s very difficult to avoid tackiness with such a large dose of HA. It still layers incredibly under the rest of my skincare and makeup, and I immediately notice its plumping effect.
Customer Review: “My skin has been looking a little dull due to some drying acne products. I definitely see a difference in adding this product to my morning and evening routine. My skin looked hydrated without looking greasy.”
6. Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Lip Gloss Balm
Glow Recipe
Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Lip Gloss Balm
Pros: Has subtle plumping effects (without stinging!), deeply hydrates the skin
Cons: Can be difficult to scoop product from the jar if you have longer nails
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Kakadu plum blend, raspberry extract
Can you tell I have a thing for Glow Recipe’s Plum Plump line? I simply couldn’t forget about this hyaluronic acid–infused balm, as it’s one of the only lip masks that actually hydrates my lips (as opposed to merely sitting atop the skin). You know those immediate plumping effects I talked about with the moisturizer and serum? This baby has those perks, too. I instantly notice my lips looking softer and juicier with a touch more volume. I use it every single night before bed, and I’m already on my third jar.
Customer Review: “This product beats any other lip balm on the market for me! I have always had dry lips to the point I constantly had to reapply whatever lip balm or gloss I’m wearing. It was super annoying and could be painful because dry lips can lead to cracked lips which is no bueno. Then I tried this product…and my lips stayed super hydrated plus soft for hours before I have to reapply it! I also have very sensitive skin…I have used lip products in the past which led to full dermatitis. Not only does this product keep my lips super soft, it has never irritated my lips or skin at all. I can’t be without this stuff to the point I stock-up on this lip balm so I will never run out of it!”
7. Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Brightening Treatment Serum
Glow Recipe
Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Brightening Treatment Serum
Pros: Amazing scent, great for sensitive skin, fades dark spots
Cons: It’s a gentler vitamin C serum, if you’re looking for something stronger
Key ingredients: Five forms of stabilized vitamin C, guava extract and seed oil, tranexamic acid
My skin doesn’t usually tolerate vitamin C, so this potent brightening serum must contain some sort of sorcery. My skin not only laps it up but looks clear and even toned (not a dark spot in sight) within days. In addition to five forms of the classic antioxidant, it contains guava extract and seed oil for even more brightening power, plus tranexamic acid to help fade hyperpigmentation.
Customer Review: “Unlike most vitamin C’s, this one doesn’t smell offensive. It’s also great for my sensitive skin, I also love the texture. It’s a great introduction to vitamin C, but also for the novice. It does brighten the complexion over time, especially any post-acne marks. However, it is not strong enough for my sunspots, but they definitely have faded over the last 5 months since I’ve started using this product, along with other actives in my routine. I wish it came in a bigger bottle because I go through these 1oz so quickly.”
8. Pomegranate Peptide Firming Serum
Glow Recipe
Pomegranate Peptide Firming Serum
Pros: Brightens, plumps, and hydrates; gentle enough to use morning and night
Cons: Some reviewers say the fragrance is strong
Key ingredients: Polypeptides, pomegranate seed oil, hyaluronic acid
Speaking of brightening serums, this pomegranate-infused number is divine. Since my skin doesn’t love vitamin C, I will typically slather on another antioxidant serum in the morning to fend off free radicals and target uneven tone. I’ve gone through two bottles of this stuff, and I can’t get enough. It also contains peptides for skin repair and plumping fine lines, so it’s like a one-two punch for bright, healthy skin. My own complexion has never looked smoother.
Customer Review: “Love this product! Applying it in the morning under the moisturizer. Makes my skin look glowing and younger. Repurchased many times already!”
9. Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
Glow Recipe
Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
Pros: Easy to apply under and over makeup, noncomedogenic
Cons: A bit sticky as it dries down
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, watermelon, hyaluronic acid
Told you I wouldn’t forget about those Dew Drops! These absolutely took the TikTok crowd by storm when they first launched thanks to their ability to provide a dewy, glass-like finish. “This first-of-its-kind highlighting skincare-and-makeup hybrid can be used in versatile ways, including as a niacinamide-infused brightening serum, a dewy primer before makeup, on eyelids for a dewy look (it’s ophthalmologist-tested!), or mixed in with foundation for a lit-from-within glow,” Sarah Lee, the brand’s co-founder and co-CEO, previously told Who What Wear. “It can also be used to achieve a reflective complexion in place of products like highlighters.” I love the aforementioned Hue Drops to add warmth back into my complexion, but if all I’m looking for is glow, these non-tinted drops are all I need.
Customer Review: “OMG. This stuff is SO GOOD!!!!! If you do not have this right now, you absolutely NEED it! It gives you an instant glow that lasts for hours! I use this everyday and it is acne-safe!”
10. Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm & Makeup Remover
Glow Recipe
Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm & Makeup Remover
Pros: Resurfaces skin for extra softness, doesn’t leave a sticky or greasy residue
Cons: I don’t love dipping my fingers into jars, so I wish it came in a tube or pump.
Key ingredients: Papaya enzymes, papaya seed oil, blueberry extract, apricot kernel oil, camellia seed oil
Last but certainly not least, we have the Papaya Sorbet cleansing balm. Like its name suggests, it boasts a smooth, delicate texture that glides across the skin. You know when a cleansing balm is too goopy that you feel like you’re tugging your eyelashes off? This one has none of that stickiness, yet it latches onto makeup and leaves no trace behind. I also love its subtle exfoliating power from the gentle papaya enzymes; the slight buffing makes my skin baby-soft.
Customer Review: “I love glow. This cleanser is lovely. It leaves my face so clean and not sticky. It’s totally what I expected from a glow cleanser.”
