If you follow viral beauty products—or skin-care phenomena in general—you’re likely familiar with the Glow Recipe Watermelon Face Mask. If not, I’ll refresh your memory: After first launching in 2017, the K-beauty-inspired product sold out and amassed a 5,000-person wait list, cementing its status as a skin-care staple. Five years later, Glow Recipe has unfortunately discontinued the popular product—but only because they’ve launched something even better: the Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment. As expected, it became an immediate hit on TikTok, racking up nearly 10 million views after just one day of being on the market.
What makes Glow Recipe’s updated formula so special—or different than the original—you ask? For one, it’s formulated with AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids; lactic and glycolic acids in particular), which gently exfoliate and buff dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, allowing newer and healthier cells to surface. But don’t let that scare you off if your skin is sensitive. It also contains soothing antioxidant peony root, skin-quenching hyaluronic acid, and anti-inflammatory watermelon extract to ensure the new and improved iteration is just as gentle and hydrating as its predecessor. How do I know? I’ve been using it for three weeks.
I’m honestly surprised by my willingness to try this in the first place. I usually stay away from products with exfoliants: My skin is super sensitive (and oily, and acne-prone), so almost everything irritates it and inevitably breaks me out. I also steer clear of overnight products, since I’ve found most of them too thick and fragrant for my taste (and my silk pillowcases’ well-being). But since I’d tried and loved so many Glow Recipe products in the past, I thought I’d give their new treatment a try. I’m so glad I did.
The first night after wearing the Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment, I woke up with noticeably smoother, brighter, and much more supple skin. I wasn’t irritated or dry in the slightest, and since I loved my results so much, I decided to try it again. And again. I ended up using it three times a week, though it’s gentle enough to use nightly. (The brand recommends using it two to three times a week.)
Fast-forward to today, and my skin’s texture looks more even, my complexion is silky and soft, and my previously red, angry, and irritable skin has been transformed. It’s made such a difference in how my face feels, that skin-care products and face makeup now sit significantly better on my face; no part of my complexion feels dry, irritated, or flush as it did before. I can especially see a difference on my easy-to-aggravate cheeks.
As for my pillowcases? They’re pleased too: Unlike typical overnight treatments and masks, Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment has a lightweight consistency and seeps right into your skin upon application. If anything, it feels and acts more like a serum, meaning no product residue is left on your pillow when you wake up—though it still operates with the power of a full-fledged treatment or mask. And in this summer heat, the jelly-like texture feels incredibly cooling on your face. The watermelon scent is refreshingly subtle; you (or your bedtime buddy) won’t be lucid-dreaming about fruit juice anytime soon.
With its $40 price tag, I wholeheartedly believe Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment is worth the TikTok hype. It combines the beloved qualities of the original mask with the power of AHAs and requires very little product to get the job done. Plus, you only need to use it a few times a week to see a difference, meaning the cute little pink tub lasts a while.
I look forward to watching this treatment follow in its older sister’s footsteps and achieve skin-care stardom. She deserves it.
