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Does this $47 'holy grail' serum for glowing skin live up to the hype? I tried it to find out

The Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops are a customer favourite for glowing skin.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops serum. Photos via Kate Mendonca, Sephora.
I tried the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops serum. Photos via Kate Mendonca, Sephora.

Spring is just around the corner, which means it's time to ditch the heavy winter skincare in favour of some new seasonal products. Lately, I've been loving Glow Recipe's Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops — a lightweight serum that leaves my skin looking brighter and more hydrated.

In case you're ready to swap out your skincare for something a little lighter, keep reading to find out why this serum is my top pick for spring.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops. Image via Sephora.
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops. Image via Sephora.

$47 CAD/$35 USD at Sephora

The details

This hydrating, illuminating serum helps reveal glowing skin, without including glitter or mica powder for sparkle. It uses a blend of hydrating and brightening ingredients, and is the perfect step in your skincare routine if you love the dewy look.

The lightweight gel formula can be worn underneath moisturizer or SPF as a serum, or used as a makeup primer or highlighter. As its name suggests, it also has a fresh, fruity scent that you're sure to love.

The serum is available at Sephora for $47 CAD/$35 USD — and might just be my new go-to.

Key ingredients

  • Niacinamide: Also known as Vitamin B3, niacinamide reduces inflammation and improves the skin’s barrier function.

  • Watermelon extract: This ingredient helps to hydrate, deliver essential vitamins and amino acids and visibly brighten skin.

  • Hyaluronic acid: A powerful ingredient that can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, hyaluronic acid helps keep skin hydrated throughout the day.

  • Chinaberry leaf extract: This ingredient contains antioxidants that are known to be particularly effective in neutralizing free radicals, which helps to fight visible signs of aging.

My (now half empty) Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops.
My (now half empty) Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops.

Why I love it

When it comes to skincare, I'm a big fan of niacinamide. A powerful ingredient that reduces inflammation and improves the skin’s barrier function, it helps diminish the look of redness and blemishes, leaving skin looking smooth and healthy.

I've written in the past about The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum, which I've since swapped out of my skincare routine for Glow Recipe's serum. Both formulas do a great job of reducing redness and keeping breakouts at bay, but the Watermelon Dew Drops have the added bonus of leaving behind radiant, dewy-looking skin.

For that reason, I love to use this serum after cleansing my face in the mornings. It works well as a base layer underneath makeup, or on days when I keep things simple with just moisturizer and SPF.

Before (left) and after (right) applying Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops.
Before (left) and after (right) applying Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops.

'A must have in my routine'

Sephora shoppers have also been loving this watermelon serum as a way to achieve "glass skin" at home. It's received a 4.4-star average rating from more than 2,000 customer reviews, with shoppers raving that it's quickly become a "holy grail" product.

"Makes my skin feel so refreshed and hydrated, and leaves me with dewy skin. It’s a must have in my routine," shared one reviewer.

"When I tell you this makes my skin glow all day it is no joke!" added another. "It also helps enhance my makeup and has helped my skin feel beautiful."

Despite the many rave reviews, some shoppers did find that the serum didn't work for their sensitive skin.

"If you react badly to any products that have fragrance, I would stay away from this," suggested one shopper.

Final thoughts

Given that this serum has become a staple in my skincare routine, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to give their skin an extra boost this spring. It works well to brighten and even out my complexion, leaving a glow that reads more lit-from-within than sparkly.

Those with sensitive skin may find this to be too strong of a product, but luckily shoppers can test it out without breaking the bank. The Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops come in three sizes, including a $26 CAD/$20 USD miniature in case you aren't ready to commit to a full-size bottle.

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