Watermelon Is the Secret Ingredient for Year-Round Glowing Skin

Certain things just scream summer. Like cutoffs, swimsuits, beach wave sprays and all kinds of sunscreens. (Even though SPF really should be an all-season thing.) When it comes to sweet treats, watermelon is at the top of the list. A staple at picnics and barbecues, the colorful fruit is super healthy with vitamins A, B6 and C, amino acids, antioxidants and lycopene. Plus, watermelon is mostly water. Making it a low-calorie and fat-free superfood.

Its high water content also makes it ideal for skin care. Watermelon is in everything from cleansers to serums to moisturizers to up the hydration factor. It’s also a great anti-aging ingredient since lycopene along with vitamins C and A combat skin-damaging free radicals. It’s not just the pink part that brings big benefits, however. The striped rind and even the seeds are valued powerhouse ingredients.Make watermelon a daily part of your year-round skin care regimen with these watermelon beauty products.

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Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask, $45 at Glow Recipe
Sleep your way to smooth skin with this bouncy and breathable mask. Rest assured, the pillow-proof formula won’t rub off as you catch those zzzs. The radiance-boosting hydrator relies on amino acid-rich watermelon extract to make a noticeable impact as well as hyaluronic acid and pore-refining AHAs to gently exfoliate while you’re in dreamland.
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Glow Recipe Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer, $39 at Sephora
The brand loves watermelon so much, it also turned it into a must-have moisturizer. We already bragged about its greatness for acne-prone and combination skin, but it also serves as a soothing serum for dry skin. The oil-free moisturizer includes an extra hydration boost courtesy of hyaluronic acid, soothing botanicals to calm irritation and brighten plus antioxidants to fight free radical damage in an effort to stop fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots before they start.
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PCA Skin Hydrating Toner, $40 at DermStore
Full of watermelon, apple and lentil fruit extracts, this toner gives complexions an extra boost of hydration. Not to mention improving moisture retention. Use it to remove dirt, oil and debris. As well as alleviate free radical damage.
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E.L.F. Cosmetics Jelly Pop Watermelon Cleanser, $8 at E.L.F. Cosmetics
The brand’s watermelon extract-infused gel cleanser gets rid of dirt, oil and makeup while delivering antioxidants. There’s also vitamin B5 to soothe and hydrate complexions. Bonus: It boasts a delicious watermelon scent.
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Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum, $48 at Sephora
It’s not just the fruity flesh of watermelon that has major beauty benefits. This ultra hydrating serum features the rind in its signature complex combined with apple and lentil to offer up to 24 hours of continuous hydration while increasing moisture retention. Provitamin B5 and pineapple ceramide are also included to keep moisture levels up and boost luminosity, respectively. The result is less drabness, dryness and fine lines.
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Milk Makeup Watermelon Brightening Serum, $36 at Milk Makeup
If you prefer your hydration in stick form, you’ll love this easy-to-use serum. Watermelon fruit extract offers an immediate blast of long-lasting hydration, while Swiss garden cress sprout extract reduces the look of dark spots. You also get vitamins A, C and E to combat free radicals.
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Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream, $52 at Nordstrom
Watermelon can even be found in hair products. Take Oribe’s Supershine Moisturizing Cream, which is basically leave-in conditioner taken up a notch. Watermelon extract teams with wheat amino acids to calm flyaways and fight frizz. The formula, which is ideal for medium-to-thick and coarse hair, also protects strands against environmental aggressors that can dry, damage or even fade the color of your locks.
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Skin Laundry Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask, $50 at Skin Laundry
For all you sheet mask fans, you can quench your complexion’s thirst for moisture with a mix of watermelon, lentil and apple fruit extracts. Dubbed Acquacell, the formula even minimizes fine lines and lentil seed extract helps refine pores and fight blemishes. Just apply one sheet mask for 10 minutes to see results.
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NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, $49 at Sephora
Watermelon in foundation? Yup. It’s used in conjunction with other fruits like raspberry and apple to support skin's elastic fibers. The long-wear formula feels like you’re wearing nothing at all. It's also transfer- and sweat-resistant.
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Pacifica Crystal Youth Gem Infused Face Lotion, $14 at Ulta Beauty
We all want that effortless glow and this face lotion provides just that thanks to the trifecta of rose quartz, watermelon and turmeric. The light lotion also boasts peptides to up the hydration and promote radiance. Bonus: The 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free formula has a fresh watermelon and lemongrass scent.
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Ouidad Curl Immersion Hi-Defining Custard, $24.55 at Walmart
Curls crying out for a little TLC? This custard has you covered with its oil-in-gel type of texture. It penetrates deep into the hair shaft to infuse locks with essential oils, including coconut, avocado, watermelon and grapeseed. Bottom line: It’ll keep your style in check throughout the day while banishing frizz and flyaways.
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Algenist Overnight Restorative Cream, $94 at SkinStore
While this cream is pretty pricey, it promises to visibly repair and restore skin to its natural, healthy complexion. It accomplishes this goal by combining alguronic acid with rock samphire, watermelon and apple extract to create a powerful anti-aging cocktail. Slather on every night to witness wrinkles minimizing along with firmer and rejuvenated skin.