Glow Recipe
The destination for natural Korean beauty, curated by industry experts
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Glow Recipe does
Glow Recipe is the first and only natural Korean beauty site founded and curated by industry veterans, with an eye on globalizing the secrets behind the glowing skin of Korean women. Founded in 2014 by Sarah Lee and Christine Chang, Glow Recipe is the online destination for cruelty free, natural, fun and truly effective Korean Beauty. - Featured in Vogue, Allure, Forbes, Marie Claire, Instyle, Cosmopolitan, among others - Featured on Shark Tank - Nationwide offline launch with Sephora and three GR-exclusive brands in September 2016 - K-beauty Popup in Lane Crawford - Glow Recipe will be spearheading QVC's first ever 1 hour K-beauty show in Dec 2016.
Glow Recipe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Glow Recipe
- Legal name
- Aramara Beauty LLC
- Website
- http://www.glowrecipe.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The destination for natural Korean beauty, curated by industry experts
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Glow Recipe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-Beauty Skincare
- NAICS
- Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120), Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (45612)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Facial Skincare (Cleansers, Toners, Moisturizers) (CRABAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Treatment Skincare (Serums, Actives, Acne & Anti-aging) (CRABAAAB), Sensitive Skin & Barrier Repair (CRABAAAG), Brightening & Hyperpigmentation Treatments (HSALADAE), Clean/Organic/Natural Makeup (Positioning-based Color Cosmetics) (CRABACAJ)
Keywords
Where Glow Recipe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Glow Recipe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Primary revenue stream through owned e-commerce platform glowrecipe.com with subscription model offering 5-15% recurring discounts, generating approximately $300 million in annual sales
- Retail Partnerships: Sales through major retail partners including Sephora (where brand is one of top-selling brands) and Ulta Beauty, with products also available at Kohl's and Amazon
- Subscription Auto-Delivery: Subscribe & Save program offering 5% off first order, 10% off second, and 15% off all subsequent orders with free shipping and customization of delivery schedule
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Subscribe & Save subscription with tiered discounts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing for individual products |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Glow Recipe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Glow Recipe develops, manufactures, and sells Korean-inspired, fruit-powered skincare and beauty products including cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, SPF, lip treatments, and tinted skincare. The brand combines clinically proven actives with antioxidant-rich fruit extracts and sells directly to consumers through its own e-commerce site (glowrecipe.com) and major retail partners such as Sephora and Ulta Beauty. The portfolio also includes curated kits/bundles and a subscription auto-delivery program offering up to 15% recurring discounts.
Product overview
Glow Recipe is a K-beauty inspired skincare brand operated by Aramara Beauty LLC, offering a clinically effective, fruit-powered skincare line anchored in Korean skincare philosophies. The product portfolio centers on multi-step routines (cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, SPF) with hero ingredients including Watermelon, Niacinamide, Peptides, Prickly Pear Mucin, Avocado, Plum, Blueberry, Guava, Cloudberry, Banana, Papaya, and Strawberry. Key products include Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops (award-winning niacinamide serum), Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Toner, Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream, Watermelon Milk Peptide Cushion Cream (refillable moisturizer), Prickly Pear Peptide Mucin (vegan mucin serum), and Banana Souffle Moisture Cream. The brand has expanded into tinted skincare with Glow Hues (Dewy Flush blush, Hue Drops) and lip care with Glass Balm Lip Treatments. Glow Recipe offers various kit/bundle options including The Glow Recipe Experience Kit, Glass Skin Roll Bag Kit, and Banana Milk Kit, plus Club Glow Rewards loyalty program. Products are clean, vegan, and Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free, with emphasis on sustainable packaging including refillable options. Distribution is primarily through Sephora, the brand's own DTC website (Shopify-based), and other retail partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Watermelon Milk Peptide Cushion Cream Refillable Moisturizer
- Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
- Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner
- Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream
- Prickly Pear Peptide Mucin
- Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Oil-Free Refillable Moisturizer
- Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser
- Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm
- Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser
- Watermelon Glow Dew Shield SPF 30
- Banana Souffle Moisture Cream
- Glass Balm Lip Treatment
- Banana Milk Glass Balm
- Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum
- Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner
- Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dewy Flush
- Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops
- Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum
- The Glow Recipe Experience Kit
- The Glass Skin Roll Bag Kit
- Banana Moisturizing Cream & Shimmer Lip Treatment Duo
- GlowTinis Mini Skincare Set
- Korean Toner Pad Collection Trial Set
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% agreed skin looked more glowy with Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Glow Recipe
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Glow Recipe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Glow Recipe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.
- KokeminorLimited-time collaboration partnership for Banana Milk Kit launch featuring exclusive Korean Banana Milk beverages alongside Glow Recipe products at Koke location in Los Angeles, driving awareness through experiential marketing.
- Sephora CanadacoreExpansion of retail partnership to Canadian market through Sephora Canada, extending brand availability beyond US borders.
- Children's Miracle NetworkminorCharitable partnership supporting children's hospitals through the Glow for Good initiative, providing monetary donations and community support as part of brand's giving back philosophy.
- Pact CollectivecoreEnvironmental partnership for recycling beauty product empties. Pact Collective provides mail-in recycling labels allowing consumers to return used Glow Recipe packaging for proper recycling and waste reduction.
- SephoraflagshipFlagship retail distribution partner; Glow Recipe is one of Sephora's best-selling brands with exclusive app launches and prominent placement. Products are available both in Sephora stores and on Sephora app, with exclusive launch dates often reserved for Sephora.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Glow Recipe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Ordinary (DECIEM): DECIEM's The Ordinary is a direct peer: ingredient-focused, clinically driven skincare at accessible price points, sold through Sephora and DTC. It is explicitly named alongside Glow Recipe as a top Sephora skincare brand.
- Drunk Elephant: Drunk Elephant is a direct peer in the clean, biocompatible skincare category, founded by a celebrity aesthetician and distributed through Sephora. Overlapping product formats (serums, moisturizers) and consumer demographic.
- Tatcha: Tatcha is a direct peer: Japanese-inspired luxury skincare, sold through Sephora, with hero SKUs in cleansers, essences, and moisturizers. Directly competes for the same culturally-inspired skincare consumer and shelf space.
- Peach & Lily: Peach & Lily is a direct peer in K-beauty inspired skincare with strong Sephora and DTC presence, founded by Alicia Yoon. Same Korean-skincare-philosophy positioning and overlapping consumer demographic.
- Youth To The People: Youth To The People is a direct peer in the clean, plant-based, superfood-ingredient skincare category. Overlapping Gen Z/Millennial target demographic, Sephora distribution, and ingredient-led marketing approach.
- Versed: Versed is a direct peer in clean, accessible skincare sold through Target and DTC. Similar clean-beauty positioning, ingredient transparency, and value-pricing strategy targeting younger consumers.
- Sunday Riley: Sunday Riley is a direct peer in results-driven, clinical-clean skincare with Sephora distribution. Overlapping product categories (serums, moisturizers) and positioning around proven active ingredients.
- Dr. Barbara Sturm: Dr. Barbara Sturm is a direct peer in premium clinical skincare with celebrity-driven demand, viral products, and Sephora distribution. Comparable high-price-point positioning and social-media-led consumer acquisition.
- Summer Fridays: Summer Fridays is a direct peer: influencer-founded (Marianna Hewitt, Lauren Gores Ireland), social-media-virality-driven, Sephora-distributed skincare brand with cult lip balms and masks. Strong overlap in TikTok-driven discovery and Gen Z consumer base.
Broad incumbents
- CeraVe: CeraVe is a broad incumbent in dermatologist-recommended skincare, owned by L'Oréal, and is explicitly named alongside Glow Recipe as one of Sephora's best-selling skincare brands. Same mass-market distribution and overlapping hydration/barrier-repair positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Glow Recipe social profiles
Digital presenceGlow Recipe compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Glow Recipe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Glow Recipe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Glow Recipe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Glow Recipe M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Glow Recipe
What does Glow Recipe do?
Glow Recipe develops, manufactures, and sells Korean-inspired, fruit-powered skincare and beauty products including cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, SPF, lip treatments, and tinted skincare. The brand combines clinically proven actives with antioxidant-rich fruit extracts and sells directly to consumers through its own e-commerce site (glowrecipe.com) and major retail partners such as Sephora and Ulta Beauty. The portfolio also includes curated kits/bundles and a subscription auto-delivery program offering up to 15% recurring discounts.
Is Glow Recipe a public or private company?
Glow Recipe is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Glow Recipe founded?
Glow Recipe was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Glow Recipe based?
Glow Recipe is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Glow Recipe make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are retail Partnerships and subscription Auto-Delivery.
Who are Glow Recipe's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Ordinary (DECIEM), Drunk Elephant, Tatcha, Peach & Lily, Youth To The People, Versed, Sunday Riley, Dr. Barbara Sturm and Summer Fridays. CeraVe is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Glow Recipe have an API?
No public API is recorded for Glow Recipe.
What industry is Glow Recipe in?
Glow Recipe's product category is K-Beauty Skincare. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRABAAAA, Facial Skincare (Cleansers, Toners, Moisturizers), with a secondary code of CRABAAAB, Treatment Skincare (Serums, Actives, Acne & Anti-aging). Its NAICS code is 456120 and its SIC code is 2844.