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Glow Recipe is one of the hottest TikTok viral makeup products right now. This was made popular by Glamzillaxo and Mikayla for promoting how amazing their skin looked under their makeup.
The idea is to get the most natural glow by combining the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pore-Tight Toner with the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops for the most perfect, glassy skin.
I tried the Niacinamide Dew Drops (read the review) and found that they were too hyped up and not worth the money.
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I bought the small bottle of the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner so I could try it but I think I would easily buy the bigger bottle.
The mini size is 1.35 or 40 mL for $20, or you can get the bigger size for 5.07 oz or 150 mL for $45 Canadian.
If you’re in Canada, the best way to purchase anything by Glow Recipe is to go through Sephora because the Glow Recipe website is in USD and you have to pay for shipping and duties.
Also, the Sephora Sale for Spring 2021 is going to start early April (check my top recommendations here), so if you want 20% off Glow Recipe products just wait a few more weeks!
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner Review
Since I love dewy skin and a healthy natural glow I just had to try the toner alongside the dew drops.
I didn’t love the dew drops (be sure to read my review!) I found that on textured skin they emphasized my pores and didn’t give me the glow I was expecting.
However, the Pore-Tight Toner is INCREDIBLE.
The glow is all in the Pore-Tight Toner in my opinion. It not only reduces the look of pores but over time it will help your skin exfoliate naturally which will help your skin get better over time.
If you have oily skin, you’ll love this pore-tight toner because it will reduce the look of pores.
Sephora says that if you have dry skin you can still use this product but I disagree. It does leave your skin feeling tight and if you don’t follow up with a moisturizer or the Niacinamide Dew drops then you’ll be left with tight skin.
The Watermelon toner does make your skin feel a bit sticky but that’s why I recommend you apply a moisturizer on top for good measure such as the Dew Drops. If you don’t want to go for the Niacinamide Dew Drops check out the other dupes I recommend. Otherwise, follow up with your favourite lightweight moisturizer and of course, a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more.
This toner smells like watermelon jolly ranchers and it feels really good to apply. You can use your hands which I prefer or a cotton pad.
I saw results immediately and so did others whom I’ve read in the Sephora reviews.
I don’t have big pores so I can’t comment on if it made my pores appear smaller but I did find that my skin did look more refreshed under my makeup! I didn’t even need to apply highlighter because the high points of my face shone through because of the plumpness of the glow from the ingredients in the product.
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Ingredients in the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner
The ingredients that make your skin glow in the Glow Recipe Watermelon Pore-Tight Toner are watermelon extract, cactus extract and willow bark.
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Here’s how each of these ingredients work to benefit the skin:
Watermelon extract – Hydrates and soothes the skin. If you read about the different types of moisturizers in my frequently asked skincare article here, you’ll find that Watermelon acts as a humectant.
Cactus Extract – This is the main ingredient that helps so much with the glow because it seals in the moisture and prevents it from leaving the skin. This acts as an occlusive because it seals moisture into the skin and prevents it from leaving. The Cactus extract is the main reason why this product is so effective. It also delivers electrolytes into the skin leaving it bouncy and fresh which is why you get that plumped up look from the glow.
PHA – The PHA (PHA stands for Polyhydroxy Acids) and are a cousin to AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) which stay above the skin barrier and is a chemical exfoliant. The main ingredient here is willow bark which is a natural exfoliant. This is what helps cell turnover and therefore the reason why your skin will get better over time if you use this product every day because you’ll be encouraging your skin cells to essentially revive the collagen that is lost. They are also great for acne prone skin because they won’t go too deep into the skin barrier and cause irritation.
Overall, the ingredients in the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner are considered “clean” at Sephora which means that it has less than 50 ingredients and doesn’t contain harsh surfaces and parables.
Dupes of the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner
Youth to the People Kombucha +11% AHA Exfoliation Toner with Lactic Acid
I have this toner and let me tell you, it is quite comparable to the Watermelon Glow Toner.
I will say that the Youth to the People Kombucha toner does not smell as good as the Watermelon Glow Recipe Toner. However, if a sweet smelling product isn’t your thing then you may really enjoy the Kombucha toner because it is less pungent.
This is also not as much as a dupe as it is an alternative if you don’t like the smell of the Watermelon Pore-Tight Toner. The Youth to the People Kombucha Toner is more expensive at $50 CAD for 118 mL – so you get less product for more money.
What makes it similar to the Watermelon Glow Recipe Pore-Tight Toner is the AHA chemical exfoliant properties. It also helps reduce the look of pores and uses the power of a humectant to turn over cells and helps to decongest clogged pores.
The main difference is that this toner helps reduce the look of dark spots so if you have an uneven skin tone then you will want to opt for this over the Watermelon Glow Pore-Tight Toner.
Pixi Clarity Tonic Toner
The next closest dupe would be the Pixi Clarity Tonic Toner. The main reason why this would be a close dupe is because of the Willow Bark Extract. If you read the ingredients in the Watermelon Glow toner above, I mentioned that Willow Bark Extract is one of the reasons for the chemical exfoliation.
If you enjoy a chemical exfoliant then you may be familiar with the Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic.
The claim of the Pixi Clarity Tonic Toner is that it also reduces the look of pores so I would say this is the best drugstore dupe of the Watermelon Glow Recipe Toner.
The Pixi Clarity Tonic is only $20 CAD for 3.4 oz or 100 mL which makes it the best dupe for the Watermelon Glow Pore Tight-Toner.
I hope you enjoyed this Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA +BHA Pore-Tight Toner Review.
I have become a fan of this brand overall and can’t wait to purchase more products from Glow recipe so I can review them.
Check out my other articles below if you’re into that oh so glow!
Take Our Skin Type Quiz to Find Out What Your Skin Type IS!
Xo,
Beauty Reviews Daily Blog