5 Fragrance Free Alternative Serums to Glow Recipe Watermelon Dew Drops
If you have a teen it’s likely they’ve been drooling over Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Dew Drops - either in person or via social media. Known for it’s pretty packaging, yummy watermelon scent and skin-glowing benefits, you can see why most teens are keen to get their hands on it. It even made me curious - so I went investigating!
There were some interesting finds on Tiktok, with a lot of documented skin reactions popping up. I decided to dive deeper into the ingredients to see what could be causing it but to be honest, there wasn’t much to find! Packed with watermelon, hyaluronic acid, moringa seed oil and niacinamide - all of the hero ingredients are relatively gentle and unlikely to cause a reaction. Glow Recipe also mentions they are free from parabens, mineral oil, sulphates, silicones, phthalates and synthetic dyes so what could be causing all of these reactions?
The likely answer is fragrance. I even had a dermatologist look over the ingredients and she agreed that fragrance was most likely to be the culprit! In addition to fragrance sensitivity, it’s also important to note that niacinamide is known as a gentle, soothing and skin balancing ingredient, however if mixed with other actives such as Vitamin C or AHA/BHA there is a chance it could cause redness and irritation. What you apply to your skin before and after the serum also matters - so be aware of active ingredients in your cleanser, exfoliants and moisturisers that you may be using alongside this type of product.
Either way - if you’re a teen with sensitive or acne prone skin it might be best to avoid this one. It’s also important to mention that if you are a tween or teen you don’t really need a serum. Serums are treatments that often contain potent active ingredients to treat specific skin concerns. So, unless you’re treating dull, dry or acne prone skin they really aren’t necessary.
Still keen to get that serum glow? Don’t worry - we won’t leave you without some other natural dewy options! Below are our top 5 fragrance free alternatives to Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Dew Drops.
Bubble Waterslide Hydration Boosting Serum
Reasonably priced and easy to get your hands on, Bubble’s Waterslide Hydration Boost Serum is an easy find at Priceline. Packed with similar skin-loving ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, and Niacinamide you’ll also get barrier support with Peptides, Ceramides and Squalane for a hydrated, dewy glow minus the fragrance.
Esmi Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum
Suitable for all skin types, Esme’s Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum will quench your skin’s thirst within a couple of hours! This Award-Winning, Eco-conscious product will leave you glowing and balanced with Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid.
The Ordinary Serum Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Affordable and offering a minimal ingredient list, this serum promises to smooth your complexion, boost hydration and balance congested skin within 1-4 weeks. This serum is also silicone free, oil free, vegan and cruelty free.
Biobod Replenishing Hydra Soothe Serum
If you’re a sensitive skin type who is looking for glow while comforting irritation, this one is for you! Biobod’s Replenishing Hydra Soothe Serum offers oil-free, weightless hydration to boost glow while reducing redness thanks to Hyaluronic Acid and Centella Asiatica. Formulated without fragrance or essential oils, this pH balanced and microbiome friendly serum holds one of the lowest irritation risk ratings on the shelf!
LAMAV Hyaluronic Hydra Max Serum
This certified organic serum may come without Niacinamide, but it delivers a serious boost of antioxidants in addition to a hydrating glow. With Hyaluronic Acid, CoEnzyme Q10 and native extracts such as Quandong - you’ll enjoy hydrated, brighter skin and daily antioxidant protection.
FAQ
Is Hyaluronic Acid safe for tween and teen skin?
Yes! While Hyaluronic Acid may sound scary thanks to the word acid - it's actually one of the only "active" ingredients that are low risk when it comes to tween skin and sensitive skin. Hyaluronic Acid is a serious hydration hero - with the ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water! It is naturally produced by the body but declines as we age and topping up through skincare will help to boost hydration without a greasy residue.
Is Hyaluronic Acid suitable for all skin types?
Absolutely! Although Hyaluronic Acid is a heavy weight when it comes to boosting hydration, it is actually very lightweight in texture and as it is a water-soluble molecule, it delivers hydration and supports healthy barrier function without causing excess oil or blocking pores. So yes - blemish prone skin can enjoy hydration without the greasy residue!
What is the difference between a Serum and a Moisturiser?
Serums are targeted treatments, designed to treat specific skin concerns such as dryness, ageing, dullness and in some cases acne. They generally contain more concentrated ingredients to achieve faster, more noticeable results. Moisturisers are designed to hydrate the skin. While some may contain smaller amounts of active ingredients, they are often diluted amongst the formulation so won’t have the same level of effect on the skin.
Do Teens need a Serum in their Skincare Routine?
Not really! If you’re a tween or teen with normal skin then you may be treating skin concerns that don’t exist! If you don’t have excessively oily skin and are using serums that contain oil balancing or exfoliating ingredients (such as niacinamide or AHA/BHA) you are basically treating something that doesn’t exist - which may cause irritation. Potent forms of Vitamin C in some serums also have the potential to irritate young or sensitive skin. We always recommend patch testing before using any new product or any skincare that contains active ingredients.