Curious about Korean beauty and its skincare benefits? The founders of Glow Recipe share more below along with their best advice on how to achieve and maintain good skin
They are famous for having enviable skin and never seem to run out of ideas on new products to treat their loyal fans and customers.
Meet the founders of Glow Recipe, Sarah Lee and Christine Chang. By now, if you haven't already heard of or tried the brand's best-selling Watermelon Glow range—you (and your skin) are seriously missing out.
The beauty entrepreneurs started their journey in skincare from a very young age and inspired them as adults to start an e-commerce site curating cult Korean beauty products. Following their success, the duo launched their very own skincare line which has grown into an empire that offers fruit-based products that appeal to both skincare fanatics and those who are only beginning their journey.
At the heart of their brand lies Lee and Chang's commitment to embracing all aspects of Korean beauty. From inspiring others to have 'chok chok' skin or glass skin to emphasising the importance of double cleansing, we ask the beauty entrepreneurs to give us a lowdown on how they take care of their skin and to share their best tips on achieving enviable skin.
Related: Glow Recipe in Singapore: The Founders Reveal How To Achieve Glass Skin and More
How long do you typically spend on your skincare routine?
Sarah Lee (SL) My skincare routines are what I look forward to the most in a day—both for morning and night. I have combination, sensitive skin and I tailor my routine based on how my skin feels each day, because no one day is the same. I always make sure to focus on hydration for all steps, and pat in skincare vs rub or tug skin for a gentle approach and to avoid sensitisation. I believe that the approach to skincare is just as important as the products used and taking the time to gently apply each product but also giving my skin what it needs and not what it needs is key to healthy skin. There are days where I spend five to 10 minutes, and other days 30 minutes when I incorporate facial massages. Recently I’ve been dealing with 'maskne' due to wearing a mask every day, so I’ve been focused on double cleansing, gentle exfoliation, and adding skin barrier supporting ingredients such as ceramides.
Christine Chang (CC) My routine really varies each day depending on how my skin feels, but the usual building blocks are a thorough cleanse, a toner to soak the skin in essential ingredients, an eye cream, a serum (or two) and then sealing in everything with a moisturiser. It usually takes me five to 10 minutes and I like to gently pat in every step for maximum absorption. I use different products depending on my key skin concern—for example, if my skin feels a little sensitive, I’ll mix in the Plum Plump Hyaluronic Serum with Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum, and then seal in everything with a soothing moisturiser like Banana Souffle Moisture Cream.
What is your skincare routine like for the day?
SL I take my skincare day by day—which is a holistic K-beauty approach to skincare—so depending on what my skin feels like or needs that day, I’ll adjust and customise my routine. On a typical day to get Zoom-ready quickly, I cleanse with Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser, apply a generous amount of our best-selling Watermelon Glow BHA & PHA Pore-Tight Toner to keep my pores healthy and skin smooth, then follow it up with my daily go-to, the Plum Plump Hyaluronic Serum to intensely hydrate my skin, and then lock in moisture with the Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturiser which is perfect as a morning moisturiser because it is lightweight and great for oily skin, and then I top my glow off with our Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops for an instant camera-ready dewy glow.
CC In the morning, I like to keep it simple and do a quick cleanse with the Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser. I followed with the Watermelon Glow Pore-Tight Toner which has a balance of hydrating and pore-refining ingredients, which I press into the skin gently with my fingertips. I always include the Plum Plump Hyaluronic Serum in my daily routine as I notice a difference in my skin’s bounciness when I skip it and then follow with the Banana Souffle Moisture Cream. I like to do an extra spritz of our Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist at the end of the routine before sealing it in with an SPF.