Every Glow Recipe Product, Ranked

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I can't open up Instagram or TikTok without scrolling past a perfectly curated skincare shelfie. While there's no shortage of aesthetically pleasing moisturizer tubs and pretty face serum bottles nowadays, you can't always guarantee that the formula inside will also be efficacious. That is, unless, we're talking about Glow Recipe. The K-beauty powerhouse has become one of the most popular—and most viral—brands in the U.S., and inside the brightly colored containers are clinically tested, fruit-forward potions that deliver a glass-like glow. And after testing it for myself, trust me, I would know.

To experience the Glow Recipe effect for myself, I swapped out my entire skincare routine for a full Glow Recipe regimen. While most dermatologists and fellow beauty editors would advise against this (oops lol), I put my skin on the line, you know, for science, and the results were brilliant. After just a few weeks of nothing but Glow Recipe, I started receiving daily (!) compliments on my skin. A month in, and my complexion has never been softer, plumper, or more radiant. Through my little experiment, I've been able to narrow down my top 10 favorite products. Here's a little sneak peek:

If you're after dazzling skin or simply want fun skincare that actually works, keep reading to discover the best Glow Recipe products that are 100 percent worth the money.

Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Hue Drops Sun Glow Serum

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Glow Recipe's latest product may be their best yet. This hybrid serum quickly calms my skin with centella asiatica, all the while delivering that signature Glow Recipe radiance with a combination of niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid. The real kicker, though, is the transparent bronzy glow it leaves behind.

I spread this across my entire face as my makeup primer, but I've also mixed a little bit into my foundation to add some warmth to my skin. I look like I got the perfect amount of sun when I use it. As someone who proudly embraces a pale lifestyle filled with the best sunscreens (I am a redhead after all), I'm amazed at how natural the color looks. I really didn't expect to love these hue drops so much, but now I genuinely can't live without them.

• Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid, watermelon

• Size: 1.35 oz
  

Glowing customer review: "I love this mixed with my moisturizer for an every day no makeup makeup look. It gives my face such a nice healthy glow and a little bit of color. I can run out of the house with this and my brows on and be okay at work and not need to do a full face of makeup."

Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser

I know washing your face feels like a chore, especially after a long night out, but I catch myself romanticizing my daily cleanse since adding this face cleanser to my routine. The gentle formula transforms from a gel to a foamy lather and effectively rinses away makeup, dirt, sweat, and other debris from my day, giving me a deep clean without making my skin feel tight or stripped. A blend of antioxidant-rich blueberry extract, hyaluronic acid, and AHAs that simultaneously hydrate and lightly exfoliate. Oh, and the sweet blueberry scent is also a nice energizing touch.

• Key Ingredients: Blueberry extract, hyaluronic acid, AHA

• Size: 5.41 and 1 oz

Glowing customer review: "This product is so gentle on my skin and makes it so glowy every time I use it! And the scent is to die for! This is the best cleanser I’ve ever had!"

Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner

The people who say that an essence is too excessive in their skincare routine must not have tried this hydration-enhancing bb. The toner-essence hybrid, which is infused with cloudberry concentrate (you know, those cute little orange berries you sometimes see at Trader Joe's) absorbs right into my skin as I pat it on, leaving me with a radiant finish. It's ideal for layering underneath my other serums and moisturizers to give them a moisturizing boost. I also need to call out the packaging here—seeing the bright bottle on my vanity lifts my mood every time I step into my bathroom.

• Key Ingredients: Cloudberry concentrate, coenzyme Q10, glycerin, rice water

• Size: 2.53 oz

Glowing customer review: "This one is another new favorite in my morning routine. It makes my skin feel so soft and hydrated, but not oily. The fragrance is so subtle with fruit essences. The price isn't too bad for how much you get, and I only use two pumps, that's all I need!"

Avocado Fine Line Eye Cream with Retinol

Because retinol can be a lil irritating, it's really tricky to formulate a retinol eye product for the ~delicate~ eye area. However, this Glow Recipe cream is rich and cushiony, using encapsulated retinol, which is slowly released over time to ward off dryness and inflammation while gradually minimizing fine lines and crows feet. Plus, the formula is filled with moisturizing avocado oil to plump and smooth my under eyes, offsetting some of the potential irritation too.

I've used my fair share retinol eye creams that have left me dry, flakey, and itchy. Contrary to those, this one keeps the thin skin comfortable and smooth. But PSA: If you're new to retinol, try incorporating this once a week for one week, then twice a week for two weeks, then three weeks indefinitely.

• Key Ingredients: Encapsulated retinol, avocado oil, coffeeberry

• Size: 0.5 oz

Glowing customer review: "This is the best, thickest, most moisturizing, and lovely eye cream ever. I have seen people say it is drying, and I just don’t know how that is possible. I have used it for years, and my wife, friends and I have always considered it the holy grail. It is a must-have for me."

Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Brightening Treatment Serum

If you browse Glow Recipe's full range of serums, you'll notice that almost every single formula has won award after award...except for this one. And I just simply can't understand why, because I attribute my bright and bouncy complexion to this bad boy. This multi-tasking powerhouse uses 5 (!!) forms of vitamin C and tranexamic acid—which has helped brighten my stubborn acne scars, diminished my redness (bless), and contributed to my healthy, lit-from-within glow in a little less than four weeks.

Compared to other vitamin C serums I've tested over the years, I like that this one has a creamier consistency, so it feels like it's hydrating my skin on top of all of the other brilliant benefits it provides. Trust me when I say this is a GR underdog that deserves every bit of attention.

• Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, guava extract, tranexamic acid

• Size: 1 oz

Glowing customer review: "I love this. It is so soothing, and I’m already seeing a difference in my skin tone! I would definitely repurchase and recommend!"

Watermelon Pink Juice Oil-Free Refillable Moisturizer

This oil-free gel moisturizer feels like a tall glass of water for my skin but without any heaviness. Out of all of Glow Recipe's products, I was most excited to finish off my morning routine with this because it consistently left my face looking like glass. Even though it's packed with super hydrators like watermelon, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin, the texture is incredibly lightweight, making it ideal for those with oily or combination skin. That said, my normal-to-dry skin absolutely loves this and it manages to keep my skin well-moisturized through the cold winter months.

• Key Ingredients: Watermelon extract, hyaluronic acid, glycerin

• Size: 1.69 and 0.85 oz

Glowing customer review: "One of my favorite moisturizers! Not only does it smell amazing, it hydrates my skin like no other moisturizer I’ve used in the past. I highly recommend this for those with combo skin that's prone to an oily T-zone."

Plum Plump Refillable Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizer

I simply couldn't shout out only one of Glow Recipe's moisturizers—they're both shining stars in their own right and so. freaking. good. I reserve Plum Plump for nighttime use, although it's light enough to use during the day too. The whipped formula floods my face with hella hydration, courtesy of polyglutamic acid and hyaluronic acid, both of which pull water in my skin to increase hydration and plump.

Every time I put this on, I look like a lil glazed donut, and my skin maintains that bounciness through the night. A little bit goes a very long way too. In one month, I made such a small dent in the jar that you can barely tell I used any at all.

• Key Ingredients: Polyglutamic acid, hyaluronic acid, plum, ice willowherb

• Size: 1.7 and 0.68 oz

Glowing customer review: "I love this! The gel cream texture is my favorite for my combination skin, as it's not as heavy as a typical cream, but there's more to it than a thin gel, so I instantly feel more hydrated without feeling greasy anywhere. I use this morning and night to finish my skincare routine, and it's amazing to wake up with still bouncy skin and spend the day soft and dewy!"

Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment

Between the fun jelly texture, sweet watermelon scent, and joyful pink hue, this overnight treatment makes exfoliating the most enjoyable part of my skincare routine. The consistency is unlike anything I've ever tried (it's like a thin, viscous gel that leaves my face looking like the Pat McGrath x Maison Margiela glass skin look), which makes smoothing it on a luxurious experience, TBH. Along with a powerful blend of AHAs (which mimics the potency of 10 percent glycolic acid with less intensity), this formula also includes skin-balancing hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to enhance moisture levels and reveal a professional facial-level glow come morning.

• Key Ingredients: AHA complex, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide

• Size: 2.02 and 0.84 oz

Glowing customer review: "This is my second time purchasing this sleeping mask, and I really love it. It has a faint melon scent that disappears on contact. I use this as the very last step in my skincare two to three times a week and wake up with a hydrated, plump glow. The chemical exfoliants leave my skin super smooth and glowing."

Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Lip Gloss Balm

True story: A few days after I started using this my best friend asked if I got lip filler. On top of deeply hydrating lips, the formula's hyaluronic acid acts as a natural plumper, while raspberry extract and kakadu plum amplify moisture retention and help smooth out fine lines.

During the winter, I dab it on my lips before bed for fast-acting hydration. However, most days, I use it as a lip topper because it leaves behind the perfect sheen that actually stays in place for hours. This is one of those products that's seemingly never-ending too—it took me almost seven months to hit the bottom of the jar.

• Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, kakadu plum blend, raspberry extract

• Size: 0.5 oz
  

Glowing customer review: "This balm lasts on the lips a long time and is the only things that helps my super cracked and peeling winter lips."

Pomegranate Peptide Firming Serum

If you're looking to simplify your skincare routine, this silky serum addresses almost every major skin concern, from fine lines and wrinkles to dryness and loss of elasticity. The secret lies in the hero ingredients: Polypeptides encourage collagen production while pomegranate works to soften, smooth, and tighten skin. I apply two pumps every night, and I swear my skin started to appear bouncier and more supple in just two weeks.

• Key Ingredients: Polypeptides, pomegranate seed oil, hyaluronic acid

• Size: 1.01 oz
  

Glowing customer review: "This is my favorite serum by far! It smells good, feels good, and I can feel and see a difference in my skin. I love how natural it smells/feels, but it still has the good stuff to combat fine lines etc. I keep getting more every time I run out!"

Why Trust 'Cosmopolitan'?

Mary Honkus is a contributor for Cosmopolitan with five years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including reviewing every Maison Margiela Replica perfume and finding the most spot-on Baccarat Rouge 540 dupes. She's an authority in all beauty categories and is a true skincare fanatic. For this story, she swapped out her entire skincare routine and replaced each item with Glow Recipe's line. She spent an entire month exclusively using Glow Recipe to find the top products the brand has to offer.

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