Beauty of Joseon Glow deep serum: Glow in a jar?

Beauty of Joseon Glow deep serum is a highly concentrated rice bran water-infused serum that promises brighter, glowing, and smooth skin. This serum has been on the rise in social media (yes, TikTok, looking at you) along with its amazing Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50: Rice + Probiotics sunscreen that received a solid 5 out of 5 from us. As you can tell, rice is a big thing in this brand’s product line.

When it comes to choosing a serum, you have to take into account your skincare needs. There is basically a serum for every skin concern, ranging from oiliness to the tiniest skin bumps. If you are struggling with pigmentation, and dark spots, you have come to the right place. This Beauty of Joseon serum specifically targets hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone that comes with it. This is mainly achieved by two central ingredients: rice bran water at 68.6% and alpha arbutin at 2%.

Without further ado, let’s dive deeper into the product and see if it can do wonders for your skin!

Product claims: What does the Beauty of Joseon Glow deep serum claim to be?

Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum: Rice + Alpha-Arbutin claims to be a lightweight, yet hydrating serum that helps fade dark spots and prevent hyperpigmentation. With its watery and weightless texture, it penetrates deeply into skin layers and provides instant moisture. Rice bran water adds antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits while giving the skin a natural glow.

The product is also one of the serums in the Hanbang Serum Discovery Kit that features other serums too. Hanbang refers to traditional skincare native to Korea that focuses on herbal sources like rice, ginseng, or green tea.

The alpha arbutin at 2% is suitable for even sensitive skin and aims to fade dark spots and help with discoloration. So far, pretty good claims in my opinion. Let’s dive even deeper.

Best suited for:

Beauty of Joseon Glow deep serum is suitable for all skin types, especially dry and sensitive skin. That said, no matter the skin type, if you are dealing with dehydration and discoloration, it will work for you.

Things to know:

The Glow Deep Serum: Rice + Alpha-Arbutin:

Packaging

The product comes in a 30 ml bottle, that comes in a carton with a safety seal. It is a transparent bottle, so you can see how much product you are actually using. It is designed with the signature Beauty of Joseon colors and is very easy to use. Do I wish that they include more than 30 ml? Of course, I do! By the time I am writing this review I have gone through almost half of it.

Scent

The fact that the formula doesn’t have any fragrance is music to my ears, and probably to all of our readers with sensitive skin. Though it is not very surprising because the rice-infused sunscreen we reviewed was fragrance-free too. So, if you have sensitive skin and are worried about possible irritation, go ahead and slather it on.

Application and texture

This has a runny, watery texture, very similar to a regular Hyaluronic acid serum, although doesn’t dry down as quickly. It is not thick, or greasy. I personally didn’t find the application very tedious, it got absorbed very well. You know the drill: cleanse, tone, treat (this is where I used it), and moisturize. Of course, finish it off with sunscreen in your AM routine. Because this has alpha arbutin (2%) in the formulation, it can be vulnerable to sunlight, so wearing sunscreen is a must in the daytime.

The ingredients of Beauty of Joseon Glow deep serum

The ingredient list of this Beauty of Joseon serum is very straightforward: rice bran water and alpha arbutin are the stars of the show. And naturally, they are at the top of the list.

Here is the full list that we are going to dissect:

Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Water – Hailed as “Beauty water” in Korea for centuries, rice water attended to many skincare needs. This serum has more than half of it – a whopping of 68 %! Rice is packed with minerals, amino acids, and its antioxidant properties largely help fight cell damage. On top of that, it is deeply moisturizing and soothing – no wonder it was the first toner that Koreans used. Speaking of, we have reviewed the modern rice toner by another K-beauty brand, I am from, which you should definitely check out here. I think rice and rice flour are perfect for sensitive skin because they nourish the skin without any irritation.

Alpha-Arbutin (2%) – The main skin-brightening ingredient here. It fades away the dark spots and acne spots and is very helpful for discoloration. The best thing about arbutin is that it is perhaps the gentlest skin brightener. Technically, it is a derivative of hydroquinone, a well-known skin-brightening powerhouse. Unlike its predecessor though, it is not likely to irritate or dry out even sensitive skin. Also, a 2% arbutin is the sweet spot that sensitive skin can tolerate too. In my experience, it didn’t cause any irritation or redness.

Niacinamide – In other words, Vitamin B3. I feel like all hydrating Korean serums have some form of Niacinamide in their formulation. It helps strengthen the skin barrier, hydrate and brighten the skin, in addition to arbutin. You really get a double brightening effect here!

Panthenol – It is a humectant that traps moisture in the skin and prevents moisture loss on the skin. It is also very effective against redness and UV ray damage.

Black soybean (Soybean seed extract) – Soybean is high in protein and fiber, and boasts great health benefits. In skincare, soybean extract is used as softening and skin-smoothing agent. Thus, making this serum ideal for even the driest skin.

Sesame seed extract – Sesame seeds have anti-inflammatory benefits, and the oil (sesame oil) extracted from these seeds is rich in Vitamin E and B which help replenish the skin.

Coptis Japonica Root Extract – Coptis Japonica (aka Japanese Goldthread) is a traditional herb popular in East Asia for its anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory features.

Overall impressions: Does Glow Deep Serum: Rice + Alpha-Arbutin work?

Having used their rice sunscreen and having had a great experience with it, I didn’t expect this serum to be a flop. Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep serum lives up to its claims, at least for the most part. Below are my impressions:

Weightless consistency: In general, Korean serums are very lightweight and smooth, and this rice-infused serum is no exception. As I mentioned above, the consistency bears a close resemblance to Hyaluronic acid. It dries down relatively quickly and doesn’t feel heavy at all.

Passed the sensitive skin test: You can definitely use this Beauty of Joseon serum for sensitive skin. I was a bit skeptical because of alpha arbutin, although it is at 2%. When you have sensitive or reactive skin, it is very easy to get breakouts of irritation. If you have sensitive skin, you know what I am talking about. This serum is probably one of those that didn’t have any reaction on my skin. Normally, if I try a new serum with a chemical exfoliant or a new ingredient, I’d sometimes feel some skin tingling. Also, the fact that it is oil-free and fragrance-free is a big plus.

The brightening effect pays off: For some, alpha arbutin may not be enough in terms of skin brightening, but I personally find it sufficient enough. I am only saying this because some online reviews I read claimed that it barely showed any results. Here is the thing: I can’t use hydroquinone on my face because chances are it will irritate my skin. Although kojic acid is a great alternative, most products with kojic acid have a higher concentration in comparison with 2%. So, for me, gentle brighteners like Niacinamide and Arbutin are the ways to go.

Here is a side-by-side after almost 4 weeks of using Beauty of Joseon Glow deep serum in AM and PM routine:

As you can see, I have some acne spots from the sunscreen that broke me out in August. There is pigment, and of course, there is redness that is visible. These days, my daily skincare routine involves a gentle cleanser (double cleanse in the evening), Klairs toner, Hyaluronic acid, moisturizers with ceramides + sunscreen (AM routine). And of course, exfoliating three times a week with by Wishtrend 5% Mandelic Acid. There is a lot of HA in my routine, it is in my cleanser, serum, and moisturizer too! What can I say, I am a hydration junkie!

I think all of these products combined together with the Glow Deep Serum: Rice + Alpha-Arbutin made a difference for my acne spots.

Great hydration factor: The Beauty of Joseon Glow deep serum centers around rice bran water and many many ingredients we mentioned that only add up to the bunch. Just like hyaluronic acid, you need to lock that up with an occlusive moisturizer.

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Beauty of Joseon Glow deep serum: Rice + Alpha Arbutin

Beauty of Joseon Glow deep serum: Rice + Alpha Arbutin

5 5 0 1

This serum didn’t disappoint. It lives up to its claims, hydrates, and supports the skin barrier. Rice and arbutin make a great team that fades dark spots and discoloration. Also, sensitive types will love this! With and oil-free and fragrance-free formula, this get 5 out of 5.

This serum didn’t disappoint. It lives up to its claims, hydrates, and supports the skin barrier. Rice and arbutin make a great team that fades dark spots and discoloration. Also, sensitive types will love this! With and oil-free and fragrance-free formula, this get 5 out of 5.

5.0 rating

5/5

Total Score

Amazing

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How to use the Beauty of Joseon Glow deep serum?

Applying this serum is no different than your other serums.

Step 1: Cleanse your skin, apply your toner if it feels try, and then add 2-3 drops of serum.

Step2: Gently pat it on the face, don’t rub it.

Step 3: Finish it off with a moisturizer + SPF in your AM routine.

Final Verdict

This concludes our Beauty of Joseon Glow deep serum review on a high note. Listen, I can’t tell you how to live your life or what serum to use. What I do know is that every skin needs hydration, and a glowy, smooth finish. And this serum accomplishes that. So, is this Beauty of Joseon serum glow in a jar? I think it is very close to being one. Being glow in a jar is too much to ask from a serum, let’s be real.

FAQ on Beauty of Joseon Glow deep serum