As we approach the warmer months, natural makeup and glowy skin is well and truly in. With TikTok responsible for trends such as glass skin and ‘no makeup makeup’, the latest launch by Gen Z brand Glow Hub is perfectly timed for those wanting to ditch foundation and embrace the fresh faced look.
The brand is best known for their Scar Slayer Facial serum and BABY BEAM dew filter glow base, having racked up more than 84 million views on the video sharing app. And now, their brand new skincare hybrid Hy_Glaze face frosting serum drops are giving the likes of Glossier and Drunk Elephant a run for their money.
The serum drops have launched in four effortlessly wearable and versatile shades including the clear Glazed, bronzed Sunrise, warm toned Golden Hour and rosy pink Love Flush. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and squalene for hydration, alongside niacinamide and vitamin E for a blurred, smoothing effect, the drops can be used alone, mixed with or used over your usual makeup for an ultra-radiant finish.
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Beauty influencer Amelia Olivia called Hy_Glaze her one of her favourite skincare hybrid products that she “just can’t put down”. The TikToker claimed that in particular, the shade ‘sunrise’ gives the “most golden bronzy hue”.
Amelia’s posts have racked up over 500k views, with her followers flocking to snap up the serum so they could copy her bronzed glow. One commenter said: “can confirm this is so gorg!!!” with another adding, “my absolute new fav product!!!”.
Others have also been raving about the Hy_Glaze face frosting serum drops on Glow Hub’s site with one reviewer saying: “The glowiest my skin has EVER looked! Looks incredible alone & makes my makeup sit so good. It’s really hydrating too so it’s the glow that just keeps on giving”
It’s had nothing but five-star reviews so far – but what did our beauty team have to say about it? Makeup obsessed Bethan Shufflebotham and Eve Rowlands both tested out the latest launch and here’s what they had to say.
Bethan Shufflebotham – favourite shade: Glazed
As someone with very dry skin, I’ve really struggled to find a highlighting product that’s as hydrating as it is luminous. The glowiest products tend to be powder-based with reflective micas, but they also tend to cling to any dry patches and leave my makeup looking cakey. And it seems as though Glow Hub’s Hy_Glaze has just solved all my problems in one affordable little bottle.
In 2023, it’s no secret that the viral Drunk Elephant drops were on everyone’s wish list and flying off the shelves thanks to TikTok. However, at £33 a bottle, it would cost almost £100 to get your hands on their D-Bronzi, B-Goldi and O-Bloos Rosi drops, and while I’ve loved using the sample of the B-Goldi drops I got in this LookFantastic edit, it’s not a price I would repurchase them at.
With the promise of achieving that coveted glass skin look, I was definitely eager to see if Glow Hub’s Hy_Glaze would turn out to be a more budget-friendly alternative.
I first tried the Hy_Glaze in Glazed without any makeup, and I loved the way it really brightened my complexion with an instantly illuminating effect without adding any colour. Completing my usual makeup routine, I definitely noticed a difference in the glowiness, but if you’re looking to achieve that on-trend super glassy effect, you can even use it on top of makeup as a highlighter. The formula is really lightweight and layers with other products really well, offering a dewiness without being shimmery.
As for the other shades, I found these to be a little bit sheer as I had expected a little more colour payoff. Sunrise delivered a natural, sun-kissed glow, with Love Flush making for a subtle blush, but I did find myself having to use more product than expected to achieve the desired effect. Golden Hour was really similar to my Drunk Elephant B-Goldi, albeit a little less pigmented, but it does mean that you don’t have to be afraid of applying too much, as it’s really buildable and blends like a dream.
At just £16, it’s a steal compared to similar products on the market. In fact, it’s less than half the price of the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops, and £12 cheaper than Glossier’s Futuredew. I think this is such a great multitasking skincare product that strikes a balance between affordability and effectiveness. Ideal for on-the-go, full glam days, no makeup days and everything in between, it’s one of those products that enhances your own skin rather than covers it , and in 2024, I’m all for it.
Eve Rowlands – favourite shade: Sunrise
If I’m being totally honest, I’m relatively new to illuminating serums or drops that promise to give me a glowy finish from underneath. Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of highlighter to give me that shimmery, glass skin make-up finish but I’ve never invested in a good illuminating serum out of fear that I’d look oily or cakey adding another make-up product into my routine. That or they’d cling to my small dry spots in a way I don’t want them too.
However, that mindset has been altered entirely after trying this hydrating, lightweight and dewy formula from GlowHub, which is said to be a gorgeous, cheaper alternative (at £16) to the more expensive Glossier Futuredew.
Coming in four lovely shades – Glazed, a sheer nude, Golden Hour which has a gold tint, Sunrise, a warmer gold, and Love Flush, with pink-red tints – the serum is a primer-highlighter hybrid that is chocca with skin-loving ingredients. I tried each without make-up on (although not all at once) to see it’s effects on my bare skin and was thoroughly impressed that none felt heavy, despite them being somewhat tinted.
Trying Glazed first, I instantly noticed the dose of moisture it gave my skin thanks to the formula’s hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, squalane and vitamin E as well as a nice brightness. However, my favourite shade is without a doubt Sunrise. With gorgeous bronze hues, the serum primer gave my olive-undertoned complexion an instant glow that made it look like I’d been lounging in the sun for a few hours – although it wasn’t massively pigmented so didn’t make it look like I had doused my face in bronzer. It was light and subtle.
I loved how it made the light bounce off my cheekbones (which is hard when you don’t have prominent ones) and made my skin look luminous. I would happily wear it alone on my face – maybe with a bit of concealer – for a nice natural sun-kissed look.
I wanted to see, however, whether it lived up to the illuminating reputation underneath make-up. Applying my foundation, blush and concealer, I wasn’t blown away by the luminosity that shone through but my skin did look somewhat dewy but not massively. However, it did look super smooth and hydrated, even underneath my foundation and can see why it’s a really nice, long-lasting base for make-up.
Trying out the Golden Hour on top of my make-up to give my high points an extra boost, I did like how the serum drops added a subtle shimmer – without being sparkly and too overpowering, which some highlighters can be. It didn’t feel heavy either, despite being a creamy texture.
It’s definitely going to be a product I’ll introduce into my daily routine, whether it’s a make-up day or not because it’s creates a natural ‘your skin, but better’ finish that I just love. And for £16, you can’t go wrong.
Hy_Glaze is priced at £16 and is available from glowhub.com in all four shades.