We Tried Tonymoly's Watermelon Serum & It's The Best Affordable Glow Recipe Dupe

From "Shark Tank" to a skincare staple, Glow Recipe's rise is one for the books. The clean beauty brand aims to help folks — you guessed it — glow through skincare formulas centered around fruits, including its Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream, Pomegranate Peptide Firming Serum, and more. But we're here to discuss Glow Recipe's claim to fame: the Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer. 

Based on personal experience, this watermelon-filled moisturizer feels incredibly luscious on the skin, but it's not necessarily a skincare product many can afford to keep on hand at all times. The 50-ml. full-size moisturizer is $40, while the mini (25 ml.) is $25. Cost-effective and eco-minded folks can opt for 50-ml. refill pods for their full-size containers for $34. Even with a few bucks shaved off for refills, though, this moisturizer can be out of reach for many.

I first fell in love with Glow Recipe's watermelon formula in 2023 (admittedly a little late to the game), but I hoped to find a more affordable option that wouldn't sacrifice any quality. Months later, I received Ulta gift cards for my birthday in December and, while perusing the "it" skincare aisle, stumbled upon Tonymoly's Watermelon Dew All Over Serum, which retails for just $15 and contains a whopping 120 ml. I quickly learned that it boasts ingredients like aloe leaf extract, watermelon extract, and Centella asiatica for maximum hydration and improved skin health. I had never heard of this K-beauty brand before, but now, after four months of using this serum, I'll never look back. Here's why.

I apply Tonymoly's Watermelon Dew All Over Serum right after I get out of the shower (please excuse my steam-induced redness above) and target it to four areas where I typically feel dryest: under each eye, between my eyebrows, and under my mouth. When I rub it in, I cover my whole face with it but really work it into these targeted areas the most, ensuring I cover my nose as well. I even use a dot on each of my ears, which tend to be dry. 

Tonymoly's formula is lightweight and soaks into the skin beautifully, leaving no stickiness whatsoever. As its name promises, it bestows an all-day dewy look upon your face without ever appearing greasy or sweaty. It also works well with other products. I layer a vitamin C serum on it and then crown the skincare sandwich with a thicker cream moisturizer to seal everything in. Even when topped with two products, my skin remains dewy throughout the day like it never did when I only used the cream moisturizer. When I use this formula, I feel like I have healthier skin — and it looks like it, too. You don't have to stick to the sandwich method, either; in warmer weather, this lightweight serum is enough to keep you glowing, hydrated, and fresh. Ultimately, I've found great success with Tonymoly's Watermelon Dew All Over Serum, so it might be worth a shot if your moisturizer isn't up to snuff anymore.

Curious about how we got all the way to fruit-filled moisturizers and skincare-product sandwiches? Check out the last 100 years of skincare for a brief history of this beauty industry tentpole.