When it comes to desserts, few treats are as iconic and beloved in Korea as Bingsoo. This delicately sweet shaved ice dessert, often adorned with toppings ranging from rich condensed milk and espresso to fresh strawberries and melon, is a sensory delight—refreshing, light, and irresistibly creamy. Its ethereal, glossy texture became the muse for Glow Recipe’s latest innovation: the Glass Balm collection, a tinted lip balm designed to capture that same juicy, translucent allure.
Glow Recipe cofounders Christine Chang and Sarah Lee set out to create their very first tinted lip product with Bingsoo’s essence in mind. “When you have shaved ice, there’s a sheerness, a glossiness that comes from the ice itself,” Lee explains. Translating that experience into a lip balm meant crafting a product that offers a sheer wash of color paired with a radiant, glass-like shine. The goal was a balm that feels plush and smooth without the sticky finish so many glosses deliver—a balance of comfort and glamour that anyone can wear day or night.
What Makes Glass Balm Stand Out?
At its core, Glow Recipe’s Glass Balm is a hydration powerhouse. Christine Chang describes the product as “lasting hydration meets glassy lip shine.” This is no ordinary lip gloss; it’s a treatment that nourishes as it beautifies. The secret lies in the formula’s unique blend of hyaluronic microspheres and glycerin, which together saturate lips with moisture for a visibly plumper, smoother pout.
But these aren’t just any moisturizing ingredients. The hyaluronic microspheres act like “hydration magnets,” as Lee puts it. Upon application, millions of tiny spheres glide across your lips, filling in dry patches and sealing moisture beneath the surface. This multi-layer hydration effect ensures that lips stay soft and supple for up to 12 hours, according to Glow Recipe’s clinical tests. Complementing this, glycerin locks in moisture, enhancing the balm’s long-lasting comfort.
Antioxidants Meet Beauty
Glow Recipe is known for prioritizing skincare benefits in their beauty products, and Glass Balm is no exception. Instead of adding synthetic flavors or gimmicky scents, each shade incorporates antioxidant-rich fruit extracts that provide real skin benefits. These natural extracts help protect lips from free radical damage—those pesky molecules that accelerate aging and dryness.
For instance, the soft pink shade Watermelon Bingsoo is infused with watermelon extract, known for its hydrating and soothing properties. The deeper red Blackberry Bingsoo contains blackberry extract, which boasts powerful antioxidants to guard against environmental stressors. There’s also Strawberry Bingsoo, a cherry-inspired hue packed with antioxidants, and Ice Bingsoo, a clear gloss designed to amplify shine while caring for your lips.
This thoughtful approach means that while you’re enhancing your look, you’re also giving your lips a daily dose of protection and nourishment.
Buildable Color, Effortless Wear
Glow Recipe designed Glass Balm to suit everyone—from the makeup minimalist to the full-glam enthusiast. The shades are sheer and buildable, allowing for versatility. If you prefer a barely-there natural glow, one light swipe is enough. Want to dial up the drama? Simply layer the balm for richer color and more intense shine.
Lee emphasizes this inclusivity: “If you’re not a makeup user, you can still enjoy this and look amazing—like natural but enhanced. If you’re a full-beat person, add a couple more layers and you’re going to get that finish.” It’s the kind of product that adapts to your mood, your style, and your day, all while feeling luxuriously comfortable.
The Glow Recipe Experience
At $22 for a 50 ml tube, Glass Balm offers a combination of skincare and beauty that feels well worth it. Each shade is a nod to Korean culture and Glow Recipe’s dedication to blending innovation with natural ingredients. Whether you want the juicy glow of Bingsoo-inspired color or a clear gloss that delivers hydration with a dazzling finish, this collection invites you to treat your lips to something new.
Glow Recipe’s Glass Balm proves that beauty products don’t have to sacrifice care for color. In fact, they can do both beautifully—giving you the glossy, glass-like lips of your dreams, inspired by the sweetest, most iconic Korean dessert.
