Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment for oily skin
Watermelon Extract
Aha Alpha Hydroxy Acid
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Pumpkin Extract
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your oily skin, with glycolic acid and lactic acid providing mild resurfacing to support overall skin health.
- Niacinamide and watermelon fruit extract contribute to seboregulation and hydration, offering general skincare benefits that are supportive but not specifically targeted for oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like sea water and watermelon fruit extract, and lacks harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product as part of your PM routine once a week. Start slowly and build up frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb fully. Avoid any harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the exfoliant directly onto completely dry skin to get the best balance and results. Clean, dry skin helps the product work evenly.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area when applying. Be sure to use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily while using exfoliating acids.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 2.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this overnight treatment is widely praised for delivering a "glass-skin" glow and noticeably smoother texture without the irritation often associated with AHAs, making it a favorite for sensitive skin. While most users love the hydrating, plumping effects and the shift to a pillow-proof formula, some long-time fans of the original sleeping mask dislike the thinner, runnier consistency and altered scent.
Highlights
Radiant glow Mostly Mentioned
- “subtle glass-skin glow”
- “skin appears brighter”
- “gave me a healthy radiance”
- “dullness is gone in the morning”
Smooth, soft skin Mostly Mentioned
- “skin looked noticeably smoother”
- “texture felt softened”
- “woke up to baby-soft skin”
- “bumps and roughness disappeared”
Hydrating & plumping Often Mentioned
- “skin felt bouncy and plump”
- “very moisturizing for an acid”
- “hydrated without being heavy”
- “fine lines looked filled in”
Gentle exfoliation Sometimes Noted
- “no irritation or stinging”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “gentle enough for frequent use”
- “didn't damage my skin barrier”
Runny/sticky texture Sometimes Noted
- “consistency is too watery”
- “feels a bit tacky at first”
- “hard to scoop out”
- “miss the gel texture of the old mask”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “did nothing for my skin”
- “saw no visible difference”
- “just a glorified moisturizer”
- “glow was very temporary”
Price Rarely Noted
- “too expensive for the amount”
- “pricey for the results”
- “jar is small for the cost”
- “not worth the high price tag”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like plastic”
- “chemical undertone”
- “scent is not as good as the original”
- “weird after-smell”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.ph, kohls.com, cultbeauty.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatment work for oily skin?
This exfoliant treatment offers moderate resurfacing and hydration for oily skin, though other products fit this skin type better. An ideal product for oily skin needs ingredients that actively control shine and excess oil while keeping the skin comfortable and balanced.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin?
Glycolic acid and lactic acid help resurface your oily skin, while niacinamide and watermelon extract support hydration and balanced oil. An exfoliant for oily skin also needs ingredients like zinc PCA or ferulic acid that specifically target excess shine and enlarged pores.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
What does Watermelon Extract do for oily skin?
Watermelon Extract helps balance oily skin by providing lightweight hydration and antioxidants without clogging pores. Because this product type is an average fit for your skin, an oily skin routine needs ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help control excess shine and keep pores clear.
What does Alpha Hydroxy Acid do for oily skin?
Alpha Hydroxy Acid helps clear clogged pores and smooth oily skin while calming redness. This type of ingredient works best when it also includes soothing agents and barrier-strengthening ingredients to keep the skin balanced and comfortable.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliant treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Start using it just once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You should use this exfoliant on nights when you do not use retinol to help prevent irritation on your oily skin. Using both active treatments together may cause dryness and redness, so alternate them on separate evenings.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliant treatment once a week in your evening routine, and carefully use it more often only if your oily skin tolerates it well and shows good results. An oily skin type needs products with stronger oil-controlling and deep-cleansing ingredients to properly manage shine.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to cause clogged pores or breakouts on oily skin, as it has a safe formula with soothing ingredients and lacks harsh substances. However, because it contains acids that gently resurface the skin, you may experience mild initial purging. Oily skin often benefits most from products that provide targeted oil control and stronger shine reduction.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical application of 1-1.5% glycolic acid suppresses UVB-induced inflammation by modulating NF-κB signaling pathways in human keratinocytes and mouse dorsal skin.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2017A combination of dermapen and glycolic acid peel significantly decreased acne scar grades and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to either monotherapy in 30 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Coniferyl alcohol derived from seed watermelon promoted linoleic acid-stimulated lipogenesis by approximately 2.2-fold at 300 µM and increased total lipid content in SZ95 sebocytes compared to controls.
Molecules, 2025Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical treatment with pumpkin seed oil-loaded niosomes decreased fallen hairs by 44.42% and increased the anagen to telogen ratio by 1.4-fold after 8 weeks compared to initial conditions.
Pharmaceuticals, 2022Topical application of prickly pear, pumpkin, and linseed oils significantly reduced clinical signs of acute inflammation, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress in carrageenan-treated rats compared to the normal saline-treated group.
BioMed Research International, 2020
Why other products fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, C9-12 Alkane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Watermelon Fruit Extract, Sea Water Maris Aqua Eau De Mer, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Lactobacillus Watermelon Extract Fruit Ferment, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc Radish Ferment Filtrate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Sodium Pca, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polysorbate 60, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Sodium Lactate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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How does it fit your skin?
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