Okay so the internet’s favorite K-beauty glow stick got a 2026 facelift and I’ve been smearing both versions on my face like a mad scientist for two weeks.
The old one gave you that “I just drank a green juice” lit-from-within look. The new one? It’s giving “I cried happy tears in a sunbeam.” Different type of shiny — and not everyone’s gonna love it.
It’s a makeup base with SPF 50+ PA+++ — $22 on Olive Young — and the claim is “glass skin but make it sunscreen.”
New Milky Texture
Pours like a thin lotion now, not the old thick balm — so less tugging on dry patches.
Different Shimmer
Old version had micro-pearl particles. New one uses a wet-look oil finish — no visible glitter, just straight-up dew.
Stronger SPF
They bumped the protection and it actually feels lighter on the skin. Weird flex but okay.
Photo: Masum Rahimi / Unsplash
They swapped the formula to push hydration over blur. You’re getting more humectants, less silicone — which explains why the finish changed from matte-blur to straight gloss.
- Niacinamide: calms redness and fades dark spots slowly
- Hyaluronic Acid: pulls water in so the glow isn’t just oil
- Centella Asiatica: the K-beauty anti-inflammatory MVP
- Ceramide NP: patches up your moisture barrier so makeup sits better
Photo: Elsa Olofsson / Unsplash
First pump — it’s runny, almost serum-like. Rubs in clear in about 15 seconds, zero white cast, but leaves a slick that takes 2 minutes to settle down. Don’t rush it or your foundation will slide off your nose by noon.
By week two, I noticed my tinted moisturizer wasn’t pilling anymore (old version did that sometimes). But my T-zone looked like a glazed donut by 3pm — powder is non-negotiable now, even in winter.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
My skin looked calmer after a week — the centella isn’t just marketing fluff. But the glow? It’s definitely more “highlight before concealer” than “natural skin but better.” If you’re oily, this will betray you by lunch.
Photo: Christin Hume / Unsplash
The reformulation is better for dry skin and protection, but worse for anyone who liked the old soft-focus finish. I’d repurchase — with a mattifying powder in my bag.