I’ve Been Testing Glow Recipe’s Latest Dewy Flush Shade: Here’s What I Really Thought
Main image – Courtesy of writer
Any Glow Recipe fan will know that whenever the brand brings out a new product, expectations are high. And it was no different in January this year when Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush Tinted Serum (£22 from Cult Beauty UK /$25 from Sephora US) was launched.
Aimed to be just a flush of colour for the cheeks rather than a blush thanks to the brand’s focus on skincare, they first launched two shades. These, unsurprisingly, went viral straight away so, expertly reading the room, they dropped two more shades in October.
I tested one of the newest shades – Dragon Fruit Flush, a neon pink. With this in mind, I was hopeful that it would live up to its claim of being a subtle flush of colour rather than a full-blown blush. Because, well – neon pink?!
Keep reading to find out whether this tint did indeed live up to its name or if I would vow to never let such a lively hue near my cheeks again…
The product details
Containing 3% niacinamide, it’s already a flush with a difference. Niacinamide is known for its skincare benefits, including protecting, brightening, hydrating and calming the skin. It also contains hyaluronic acid for added moisture and extra ‘plump’ and jojoba-coated pigments help the shades to blend easily.
As mentioned, it comes in four shades: Dragon Fruit Flush (a bright pink and the shade I am testing), Cherry Flush (a translucent soft red), Watermelon Flush (a soft pink) and Berry Flush (a warm berry plum).
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It aims to brighten dark spots, smooth, hydrate and refine pores and promises not to be overpowering so that your real skin can “shine through”.
First impressions
It’s pretty clear that when I first saw the shade of this flush, I was a little put off. Don’t get me wrong, I love a neon pink – give me a neon mani any day. But on my cheeks? Barbie vibes.
Image – Courtesy of writer
The applicator comes out like a lip gloss and is loaded with bright pink product from the off – even scarier. I then noticed it has a very subtle scent of watermelon which I find totally inoffensive, and rest assured it really doesn’t dominate.
I put a dot on each cheek and, lo and behold, it was as pink as it looks on the applicator. “Don’t panic,” I thought and reached for my best blending brush.
As I blended, the colour instantly de-intensified and became a diluted version of what I had first dotted onto my skin. Relief! Not only that, but it blended really, really beautifully too.
It was easy to mould into where I wanted to place it with my brush and my cheeks were left with a pretty pink, glowy flush, just as promised. I liked it!
My results
For me, the pretty flush lasts until around lunchtime before I need to top it up, but this might be because I have particularly oily skin so the jojoba oil might be working against me. It’s not exactly hard to top it up though and you really don’t need much.
Image – Courtesy of writer
Perhaps if I applied a double layer of colour in the morning, it would last longer but I really like the subtle flush it gives me with just one dot on each cheek and I wouldn’t want it to be any bolder.
What I love about it is that you can also wear it on your lips, something I certainly thought I wouldn’t do when I first saw it. But because it is so diluted when blended in, the two worn together can look really effective and help to tie your whole look together.
If I am completely honest, I haven’t noticed many skincare differences, apart from my cheeks being nicely hydrated and the fact that it makes for a nice moisturising (and for some reason, cooling at first) lip tint too.
Image – Courtesy of writer
I wouldn’t say my pores were particularly refined as a result of wearing it, but I suppose my cheeks do look nicely plumped on application which is a bonus. It depends on what you need from your cheek tint. Personally, I just want a quick and easy pop of pretty colour and that’s exactly what I get.
What other users are saying
There seem to be quite a few negative comments about there being too many blusher launches at the moment, as well as the frequent use of niacinamide in products.
Taking to Reddit, qbb_beauty writes, “These colors are pretty but this is a hard pass. I’m tired of niacinamide in almost all skincare and now in makeup. It’s not universally tolerated.”
While Mystarkov says, “it breaks me out SO bad. I’m always disappointed to see it listed in nearly every cosmetic, So many things I’d like to try that have it.” So, if you know your skin reacts badly to niacinamide, it’s probably best to give this one a miss.
Having said that, there is a lot of love for the actual product. “Super pretty and youthful,” says Prestigious_Bat9563, “lasted for the whole day for me without setting spray,” adds Anon. While r/AustralianMakeup writes, “have tried it once but that one time has made me fall in love with this product! Pigmented blush that blends seamlessly and leaves a natural flush! It has become my favourite blush overtaking the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush!”
Now, I am a big Rare Beauty fan but the Soft Pinch Blush spreads like wildfire meaning your cheeks could end up looking a little too flushed. The Glow Recipe flush is a lot easier to blend.
Overall value for money
For a ‘designer’ blush (sorry, flush) we think £22/$25 is pretty reasonable and it’s around the same price as Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush.
However, there are plenty of high street brands that do really decent cheek tints like Elf and Benefit. In the end it probably boils down to where your loyalties lie, and which shade suits you most. Personally, I would take the Glow Recipe one over any other cheek tint I’ve tried. You heard it here first!
The takeaway
This product has taught me to never judge a book by its cover and to always try something before you make assumptions. A shade is only a shade until you try it on your own skin. Lesson learnt!
It’s nothing against Barbie, but I am thankful the neon pink diluted down because Margot Robbie I am not. It moved around my skin beautifully, albeit to the detriment of my oily skin by lunchtime, but I don’t mind doing a quick top up if it means I get to achieve that pretty flush for the rest of the day.
My overall verdict? The Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Dewy Flush is wearable, comfortable, semi-affordable, doubles up as a decent tinted lip balm and is definitely a flush – not a blush.
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