With the recent record-breaking heat wave, it seems like a great time to bring up the best sunscreen I’ve added to my skin-care routine. Back in February, Korean beauty brand Glow Recipe launched its very first sunscreen product: the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF 50. The K-beauty brand is known for its buzzy, viral products (like its TikTok famous Dewy Duo) and innovative, lightweight formulations that help keep skin plump and dewy—and it did not disappoint with its latest launch. (Full disclosure: The brand initially gifted this product to me, but I’ve since gone out and bought it for myself and even gifted it to friends. It’s that good.) Here’s everything you need to know about the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen SPF 50.
How it works
The Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen is a hybrid chemical-mineral sunscreen, which means it’s made up of both chemical and mineral filters. It feels very serum-like compared to mineral sunscreens. (Though I love mineral sunscreen for sun protection, it tends to feel heavy on the skin, and sometimes I want something a little bit lighter, especially in extreme heat.) As with many chemical sunscreens, it contains homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene. These chemical filters are combined with zinc oxide, the familiar mineral filter. Together, these ingredients provide broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection that both sit on top of the skin (physical or mineral blockers) and absorb into the skin (chemical filters).
What is niacinamide and why is it important?
As its name suggests, niacinamide is the star ingredient in the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Sunscreen. Niacinamide (or nicotinamide) is a form of vitamin B3 (niacin) that has a ton of benefits: It helps combat dark spots, pigmentation, and dullness, and may even help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Its anti-inflammatory properties can also soothe some types of acne, mild to moderate rosacea, and redness.
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You can use niacinamide daily and it is generally safe to use on most skin types. That said, if you have sensitive skin and combine it with other serums like vitamin C (which we generally suggest you layer for a brighter, more even skin tone), it might cause some irritation, so be sure to test on a small patch of skin before putting it all over your face.
Should you buy it?
Source: SELF
