The Niacinamide Serum Our Readers Love at Every Age

Who doesn’t love a product recommendation everyone agrees on? You’re in luck: When we recently surveyed more than 600 NewBeauty readers* about their skin-care routines, something unexpected happened: among the endless serums, moisturizers and treatments they could name as favorites, Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops ($36) kept coming up again and again. In a landscape overflowing with options, this dewy, niacinamide‑infused highlighting serum has become a quiet staple across generations. 

Part of the serum’s appeal is in what it doesn’t do. Dew Drops delivers a radiant, makeup-optional glow without relying on mica, glitter or pearls. Instead, it leans on niacinamide, hydrating actives and a lightweight emulsion that absorbs instantly, leaving skin bright, bouncy and never sparkly. 

That’s exactly what our readers love about it. A 52-year-old says the serum is “extremely hydrating and soothing,” especially after using retinol or glycolic acid. “It plumps my aging skin,” she adds. A 70-year-old calls out the “special glow” it gives her complexion, while a 65-year-old points to how smoothly it applies and how much she enjoys the packaging. 

BUY ON GLOW RECIPE – $36

BUY ON SEPHORA – $36

For others, it’s the sensorial aspect. A 36-year-old admits the scent is strong, but she doesn’t mind because the payoff is worth it: “skin that feels plump and dewy every time” she uses it. A 48-year-old describes it as “refreshing” and says it makes her skin feel “soft and supple with a lovely glow,” exactly the type of finish Dew Drops was created to deliver. Many readers, like one 64-year-old fan, enjoy mixing it into their moisturizer for an all‑day radiance, while a 50-year-old praises its healthy glow and skin-friendly ingredients that never cause irritation.

What makes this product’s popularity meaningful is the sheer range of people who love it—from 30s to 70s, dry to oily, sensitive to seasoned retinol users. It’s rare for a serum-highlighter hybrid to resonate across so many skin types, ages and routines, yet Dew Drops has carved out that space with a formula that’s flexible, gentle and genuinely effective.

*Source: BeautyEngine Advanced Research, 2025