Beloved K-beauty brand Glow Recipe may or may not be on a mission to create skin-care products that give your face a quick trip to a farmers market — all without even leaving the house.
The Korean beauty e-retailer launched its namesake line back in May 2017 with a watermelon-spiked mask and a blueberry-infused cleanser that had every skin-care lover talking. Since then, the watermelon line has expanded and an avocado-based sleeping mask has been added to the roster, so I think my produce-related theory is correct.
With its brand-new line, Sweet Chef, Glow Recipe is staying true to its name, giving you more products that will give you dewy, radiant skin with ingredients found in your favorite meals. On January 27, Sweet Chef launches at Target with Serum Shots and Fresh Pressed Sheet Masks in three varieties: Beet + Vitamin A, Kale + Vitamin B, and Ginger + Vitamin C. Co-founder Christine Chang says she purposely played off of ingredients that are familiar to people for Glow Recipe's latest launch.
"These are things you eat for your salad every day," she explains. "With all that nutrition, why not bring that to your face? They are great skin-beneficial ingredients." And like the beets, kale, and ginger root at your local farmers market, all of Sweet Chef's products are free of parabens, dyes, fragrances, and mineral oil, too. How sweet (!) is that?
Beets might seem like an odd skin-care ingredient that would stain your face as it does lips, but they're packed with antioxidants that smooth skin. Chang recommends this formula for those with oily skin and pore concerns, and the magenta-tinted, jelly-like serum and sheet mask printed with "beet of my heart" on one of the cheeks are also made with vitamin A. Also known as retinol, it can help clear up a myriad of skin issues, such as breakouts, dark spots, and dullness. Vitamin A can also help decrease the appearance of fine lines and increase skin's radiance.
The trendy leafy green isn't just a nutritious addition for your green juice, smoothies, and salad, but also your skin-care routine. When slathered on in the form of a milky mint-hued serum or "don't kale my vibe"-adorned sheet mask, kale helps soothe skin and reduce inflammation, according to Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Paired with hydrating vitamin B, both products are the perfect antidotes to dry, flaky skin.
Whenever I feel a cold coming on or have a stomachache, I down a ginger shot as soon as I can. When the spicy root is added to skin-care products, it gets dull skin glowing. Ginger is an antioxidant, so it will help defend your skin against nasty environmental aggressors, like pollution, too. Chang predicts it will have a major skin-care moment in 2019.
Vitamin C is also incorporated in the formula to further brighten your skin and even it out hyperpigmentation. I've been using the golden Serum Shot for the past week or so, and my first impression is that it doesn't have the tell-tale baloney smell of vitamin C and my typically sensitive skin doesn't feel dry or irritated. (It's also Chang's personal favorite.) I look forward to testing out the "Oh ginger snap"-decorated sheet mask, too.
All three of the lightweight, non-sticky Serum Shots can be used together, depending on what your skin is going through. Chang and co-founder Sarah Lee came up with three "sweet skin recipes," so if you want glass skin, they recommend mixing a drop of beet with a drop of ginger. For maximum hydration, combine drops of beet and kale to your favorite moisturizer. And drops of kale and ginger added to some of your facial oil will give you the ultimate bouncy, "chok chok" skin.
All of these concoctions are based on a Korean skin-care trend called "double seruming." Because people often deal with more than one skin concern at once, a lot of people have been layering their serums, Chang says. "We're bringing that into daily skin care, but in a more accessible way that will make a lot of sense to people because everyone has their skin-care wardrobe these days," she adds. "You don't have to do a 10-step routine, but you can still cocktail serums according to your needs."
Everything from Sweet Chef will be available for pre-sale on glowrecipe.com on Thursday, December 27 at 9 A.M. EST. The Super Shot Serums will be $20 each, and the Fresh Pressed Sheet Masks are $4 a pop. As previously mentioned, they'll officially launch at Target (both in store and online) on January 27, but you'll be able to shop them earlier on glowrecipe.com starting on January 16.
Read more about Glow Recipe's food-inspired offerings:
- This Watermelon Sheet Mask Is Totally Transparent and So Soothing
- Glow Recipe's Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask Will Be Your New Winter Skin Essential
- This Watermelon Moisturizer Sold Out the Day It Launched
Now, learn about 100 years of face-mask history:
