2 NEWBIES FROM GLOW RECIPE

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Today we're talking through two more recent launches from Glow Recipe: the American-Korean skincare line with the cutesy packaging that's slowly won me over with their formulas this past couple of years. Let's dive in...

First up we have the Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum* | £36. For whatever reason I found I was really breaking out quite a bit after my surgery at the end of April; not anything major or cystic but just colonies of whiteheads! I decided to give this serum a go 3 times a week during that time as it's formulated with salicylic acid, which is oil-soluble so gets into your pores to reduce and clear breakouts. There's also mandelic acid in here which is a gentle chemical exfoliant with antibacterial properties (further helping move along active breakouts) and it's great for tackling hyperpigmentation left over after a blemish has healed over. We also have azelaic acid, which can help with redness and discolouration and niacinamide: a multi-tasking ingredient that can stop hyperpigmentation spreading through the skin, boost up its natural barrier function and help with excess oiliness in the skin. They're both great supporting ingredients for a product aimed at helping spot-prone skin.

One of the things I noticed when I put this product on my skin is that it feels hydrating; there's a lot of good stuff in here to take the edge off the stronger exfoliants. We have some fermented ingredients, which are a staple of Korean skincare products and help to hydrate the skin and possibly even boost the overall effectiveness of the formula. There's also soothing bisabolol and allantoin and a hyaluronic acid derivative to draw water into the skin. I really like the slow-release action of this product because it's gentle, it doesn't irritate my skin and it works! It's really helped clarify my skin and reduce marking after blemishes. I'm still throwing this in once a week and I'm still loving it! My only negative is that it does contain fragrance, which not everyone will love - especially in an exfoliant. However, if that doesn't bother you: I can't recommend this enough.

Not so much of a hit with me was the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF 50* | £31. I'd heard very mixed things about this by the time I cracked it open for myself. Initially, it was actually very promising: this comes out as a light, fluid lotion, where so many other mineral sunscreens are thick and difficult to spread. Likewise, where other mineral formulas are often matte and powdery, this one had a fresh, hydrating, almost-dewy finish. It actually didn't even leave much of cast on my medium skin tone either. The artificial watermelon scent was a bit much for me, but I was prepared to overlook it if the product worked for me. 

For context: I keep my morning skincare routine relatively simple, just cleansing, toning, using my Vitamin C and then moisturiser and sunscreen (or some sort of hybrid product). That's a pretty normal amount of steps, I think personally! I don't excessively rub my skin when I apply my sunscreen; I just do enough to ensure it's spread evenly across my skin and there's not a cast. And initially, the first time I used this sunscreen it looked absolutely fine. However within an hour I noticed it was pilling up and peeling off my skin in certain areas. Despite me not touching my face, it only got worse throughout the day and I was just at home so wasn't super-stringent about applying the correct amount. This was a day during which I wasn't wearing makeup, so I can only imagine how bad it would be if I was trying to use this underneath my usual complexion products. I didn't even try it because I honestly couldn't afford to deal with that during a day at work! It's a shame because the texture on application is a big positive but it's just unusable in its current state. I don't see how this could be practical for anyone to apply on a day-to-day basis.

Have you tried either of these new launches from Glow Recipe?

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Read more posts from this series here!