What is the buzz about Ginseng? Unique in its fleshy figure, Ginseng is valued for its almost “humanly” shape that is characteristic to the incredible body vitalizing effects it harbors. Prized for centuries as a medicinal favorite to restore health and circulation, this plant is most commonly found in Siberia, Northern China, and Korea. Ginseng is still a foreign ingredient to many of us, so let’s delve deeper into why...

Skincare 101 is now in session! Between studying for tests, writing papers, going to class, volunteering, and socializing with friends, where is there time for a nourishing skin care routine? I know as a busy, constantly on the go student, bouncing between what seems like countless activities in a day, my skin doesn’t get all the attention that it deserves. In honor of finals week, I’ve put together multi-tasking products...

With the very recent launch of Lancome’s Miracle Cushion Compact in the US, joining the ranks of Amore Pacific’s Color Control Cushion Compact and Laneige BB Cushion, it’s official. The global cushion compact wars have started – and we expect customers everywhere to be the happy beneficiary of an increasing range of choices. Here’s a summary of all the questions we’ve been getting from you guys on this fascinating development...

Pollution to us means car exhaust, smog, dirt, grime and pollen. And these elements clogging and dirtying the skin. City smog: Photo Source Unfortunately, pollution is also a constant in our lives, wherever we live. But did you know that pollution can go beyond surface grime to actually damage the skin? While it’s commonly known that UVA and UVB rays are a key factor in premature aging, pollution can also...

Korean water-less beauty products are taking the world by storm! In a recent article by BeautyBanter, our co-founder Sarah Lee talks about some of her favorites: Korean Skincare Phenomenon: Waterless Beauty Products. Check them out below. 1. Whamisa Organic Flowers Water Cream with Natto ($35) – I love this cream because of how soft and hydrated it makes my skin feel, and especially because of the earthy, natural scent. It...

I first encountered natto when I was studying abroad in Japan and a couple of my friends thought it would be funny to challenge each other to eat natto (think the cinnamon challenge, except with natto). If you’ve eaten/seen natto, you know it is not the most appetizing looking food. It’s slimy and gooey, and if you look at it close, it kind of looks like …alien eggs. Despite its...

At Glow Recipe, we always try to partner with brands that have a mission beyond profit & products. One of our favorite partners is Whamisa, a company dedicated to creating high quality organic beauty. Whamisa was also one of the pioneers of fermentation in skincare in Korea (the CEO Junhan Park started it in the 1990’s) and this passion for research and innovation has led to some of our most...

One of the most frequent requests we get from our customers is to recommend a skincare routine. And what better way than to take a peek into how others care for their own skin? We’ll be doing Skincare Routine Deep Dive posts on Glow Recipe’s blog on an ongoing basis, interviewing some of our friends and fellow skincare experts along our way. Today we’ll be starting with our co-founder, Christine...

We’re loving Refinery29’s recent article: The Missing Step in your Skincare Regimen With a recent slew of articles on essences, ampoules and serums – how and when exactly does one use all of these treatments? We break it down for you below (3 of these products were also editor-tested and recommended by Refinery29’s Joyce Kong!) WHO: LJH VITA PROPOLIS AMPOULE WHAT: A concentrated anti-aging ampoule with 50% propolis extract that...

So we’ve done a deep dive on essences vs. serums and essences toners vs. toners. And we thought it was high time to give a little love to another recent skincare hotword – ampoules. Ampoules are very concentrated treatments that are used to target skin concerns such as fine lines, dullness and rough texture, and infuse skin with a natural glow. They often come in smaller sizes due to their...

Cheryl Wischhover is one of our favorite editors – her articles are always so well researched and spot on – and her recent article “Korean Skincare: The Differences between Serums, Essences & Ampoules” knocks it out of the park. (We were honored to be consulted for the article as well!) One of the most confusing keywords that is trending in beauty now are essences. In a nutshell – essences ARE...

Goodbye drying-out powders. Goodbye harsh cleansers. Hello cleanse-‘n-glow powder cleansers. When it comes to glowing skin, there are 2 things we want: To keep the freshness and dewy glow that lasts all day To cleanse the skin after a long, stressful day, removing impurities and makeup Powder has been a beauty staple for all mankind, from women looking to “powder their nose” to drying babies’ bottoms. We love powder for...