Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask includes AHAs that gently exfoliate your face overnight, so you wake up with newly vibrant skin.
Before watermelon became a trending skin-care ingredient, it was the star of the K-beauty hit Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Overnight Sleeping Mask. There's a lot to love about this mask, which is packed with watermelon extract, smells like candy, and comes in an alluring shade of Instagram pink.
Watermelon Glow is rich in hyaluronic acid, brightening peony root, and exfoliating AHAs (glycolic and lactic acids, specifically). That last bit is what drew me to Watermelon Glow in the first place because I have a hard time with chemical exfoliants. They often irritate my face, even if they're meant for sensitive skin.
This mask certainly is gentle enough for me to use without courting inflammation. Hydrating and soothing ingredients balance out the AHAs, giving my skin all the nourishment it needs to ward off irritation and redness. Once a week or so is probably enough exfoliation for someone with sensitive skin like mine, but if you have a heartier dermis, you can probably use this more often.
While not as hydrating as most night creams, it keeps my skin happy on warm nights. In the winter, you might want to pair it with something heavier. On really hot evenings, you can pop Watermelon Glow into the fridge for a cooling effect when you apply. I haven't tried this yet, but it's moving to the top of my to-do list as temperatures climb.
Watermelon Glow has more than 1,000 Sephora reviews, and The Cut's Kathleen Hou is a big fan. She writes, "I applied the bouncy, millennial-pink gel liberally all over my face, tried to take a nap during my eight-hour flight to Europe, and, despite a fitful sleep, woke up with skin that felt soft and smooth, and even looked decent in the bad overhead lighting of the customs hall."
Pros: Gentle exfoliating formula, contains AHAs, smells like watermelon
Cons: Not as hydrating as a thick night cream
Buy the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask at Sephora for $45