One Bottle of This Glowy Multipurpose Serum Sells Every 17 Seconds—Here’s Why It’s the MVP of My Skin-Care Routine

If a blueprint for creating instantly buzz-worthy skin-care products existed, Glow Recipe would have it on lock. First, every one of the brand’s fruit-forward products sounds good enough to eat—see the Strawberry Blur Drops and Avocado Sleeping Mask, for example. And the packaging? Beyond being recyclable (and refillable), the colorful components practically demand to be put on display.

Most importantly, though, Glow Recipe formulas work, hence why shoppers like moi keep coming back for more. Case in point: the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops Serum ($35). The award-winning highlighting serum channels the powers of niacinamide and antioxidant-rich watermelon to give all skin types a glowy finish and brighten dullness over time. The glowy serum is such a hit, Glow Recipe sells one bottle every 17 seconds (*mic drop*). Here’s why you need it.

Glow Recipe, Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops - 40 mL — $35.00

Key ingredients: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, watermelon

Sizes: 15mL, ($20), 40 mL, and 80 mL ($49)

Pros:

• Brightens skin instantly and over time
• Hydrates with hyaluoronic acid
• Creates a radiant, dewy finish
• Can be used as a makeup primer
• Sweet watermelon scent
• Vegan

Cons: 

• Pricey

It contains proven brightening + hydrating ingredients

The main character in Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops is niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 commonly used in skin-care products. “It helps brighten the complexion and lighten dark spots. It also helps calm inflammation and supports healthy collagen production,” said Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, in a previous convo with W+G. In addition to brightness, it’s also been shown to help curb excess oiliness and reduce the look of fine lines, according to studies.

Next up is hyaluronic acid—the dermatologist-beloved hydrator that leaves skin feeling bouncy and soft. “It’s one of my favorite ingredients,” said Mona Gohara, MD, a Connecticut-based dermatologist, in a previous conversation with W+G. “We’re born with it and it absorbs water, so it keeps your skin plump and well-hydrated.” Because it wouldn’t be a Glow Recipe product without a yummy fruit ingredient, the Dew Drops also contain watermelon extract, which, according to derms, is packed with antioxidants and helps gently exfoliate skin—both of which are non-negotiables for a glassy, radiant-looking complexion.

It gives skin a radiant, dewy finish

The ingredients are solid, and the serum is sensational. It has a watermelon-y scent that’s not cloying (but weirdly still makes me crave a jolly rancher), and a jelly texture that feels cushiony and lightweight on my skin. I typically apply a drop or two in the mornings after washing my face in the shower, and my combination skin soaks it right up, leaving it with a fresh, “I down five gallons of water a day”-appearance. And while the Dew Drop’s niacinamide- and watermelon-infused formula makes good on its promise to boost brightness over time, the highlighting effect makes my skin look glowy (but not glittery) immediately after applying without any glitter or shimmer.

It doubles as a makeup primer

The dewy finish, paired with the skin-plumping hydration it provides makes the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops a perfect primer (and booster!) for makeup application too. “I use it as the last step of skin care before my makeup but I’ve also used it on top of makeup to freshen up my under eye area or around my mouth and marionette lines,” says one 60-year-old shopper in a 5-star review. “It really softens the look of any area of your face, and when used on top of makeup it gives you a highlighted glow that comes from within.”

I totally agree—it doesn’t pill underneath my moisturizer, sunscreen, or skin tint, and leaves behind a natural radiance that I can’t get enough of. And on mornings when I can’t be bothered to slap on makeup, the Glow Recipe serum’s luminous finish somehow makes it look like I tried (which makes it priceless if you ask me). You can even mix the serum into your foundation to give it a more radiant finish, according to the brand. Add it to Glow Recipe’s long list of the products well worth the hype.