I'm not proud of this, but when a brand-new Glow Recipe launch showed up at my door this month, my first thought was, Wait, what is this? I say that with zero shade; I was genuinely confused why a skin-care product was in such a massive container, until I read the label and realized that Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream was actually for my body, not for my face.
This candid reaction basically sums up my entire relationship with body-care products. Although I promise I shower and apply some kind of lotion on a daily basis, I'd draw a total blank if you asked me what I use. Nine times out of 10, the answer is probably whatever I snag on my way to the checkout line while getting groceries. The only exception was when I chanced upon an under-$10 bottle of body lotion that brought back faint olfactory echoes of my beloved high-end fragrance.
Watermelon Glow Pink Dream doesn't exactly smell like any of my ludicrously priced perfumes. I'd say the scent is more like a cross between an ice-cold slice of watermelon and a sugary watermelon Jolly Rancher. If you've tried the other products in Glow Recipe's watermelon lineup, you'll know it well. It's something I definitely don't mind smelling of all year round, although my ultimate dream would be for the brand to make this in the same scent as its heavenly Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm.
Glow Recipe cofounders and co-CEOs, Sarah Lee and Christine Chang, say they were inspired by childhood memories of Korea for the brand's latest launch. “Our grandmothers would rub watermelon rinds on our backs to soothe heat rash and irritation,” says Lee. “We wanted a body product that could offer more than the expected hydration, and could also actively smooth skin over time with gentle exfoliation.”
The accompanying campaign celebrates those hydrated, glowing results without restricting the idea of beautiful skin to only one body or skin type, a truly reflective approach I'd love to see way more often.
As for the formula, it's an actives-packed winner. Along with hydrating watermelon extract, the body cream also contains liquefied watermelon seed butter. “It delivers nutrients to your skin and creates a lightweight whipped texture,” says Chang. “We included hyaluronic acid—a popular moisturizing ingredient known for its ability to hold large quantities of water—to boost the hydration factor even more so that dry, rough skin feels instantly quenched upon application.” Hibiscus AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) rounds out the formula with chemical exfoliation that's gentle enough to use on a daily basis for an evening, softening effect.
Lee says Watermelon Glow Pink Dream is best applied to “dry or almost dry skin” after a shower. It's designed to be pajama-proof, which means it sinks in almost instantly and won't leave any stickiness on your clothes. After I get out of the shower, I apply a few generous pumps from head to toe. It really does feel more like a whipped body cream than a lotion; rather than being runny, the formula has a buttery, airy finish that melts into my skin. At first, it feels intensely thick and nourishing, but after a few seconds, I'm left with only the sensation of velvety-soft skin.
While I've used my bottle for only a week so far, the dry patches on my elbows and knees have already vanished. I now keep it right by my desk so it can perform double duty as a hand cream whenever I need it throughout the day—a little goes a long way. While I delight in becoming a human Jolly Rancher upon application, the scent isn't overly heavy and quickly drifts away. Give it a few minutes, and you'll be left with just smooth, gleaming skin from head to toe. Pick up your own bottle when it launches today (February 23). I guarantee your body-care routine will change for the better.
Sarah Y. Wu is a beauty writer in Berlin. Follow her on Instagram @say.wu.
