If you like your cleansers cute, fruity, and a little extra, Glow Recipe’s Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser probably caught your eye already. It’s part cleanser, part mini-exfoliant, and the kind of product that promises to remove makeup, cleanse, and gently resurface – all without stripping your skin. But does it actually deliver, or is it more Instagram shelfie than real skincare staple? Let’s break it down.
Key Ingredients in Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser: What Makes It Work?
DECYL GLUCOSIDE
Front and centre is Decyl Glucoside – basically the gentle giant of the cleansing world. It’s plant-based, made from sugar and fatty alcohols, and it’s the same kind of stuff you’ll find in baby shampoo because it’s that mild. What it does here is simple: it sweeps away dirt, sunscreen, and leftover makeup without giving your skin that tight, “why does my face feel like a raisin?” vibe. If you’ve ever had your skin freak out after a too-harsh cleanser, you’ll appreciate how low-key and barrier-friendly this one is. It’s cleansing without the drama.
GLYCOLIC ACID AND LACTIC ACID
Then there’s the tag team of Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid. Glycolic is the tiny overachiever – small enough to slip deeper into your skin’s surface and loosen up the dead cells hanging on for dear life, which makes your skin look smoother and more even over time. Lactic acid is the chill older sibling – it works more on the surface, gives you a soft polish, and adds some hydration while it’s at it.
Now, acids in a cleanser are like adding a squeeze of lemon to your water – nice to have, refreshing, but not as concentrated as the full-on juice. They don’t get much time to do their thing before you rinse them away, so you’re not getting the same kick as you would from a leave-on acid serum. But with daily use, they can give you that slow, steady “oh, my skin just looks better lately” effect. In this cleanser, they’re more of a bonus feature – a little extra glow built into your wash routine, without tipping you into over-exfoliation territory.
Related: Do Exfoliating Cleansers Work?
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
- Water: The base of the products, it helps other ingredients dissolve too.
- Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract: Often called sea grape extract, this marine plant is packed with minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium, plus natural antioxidants. These help defend your skin against oxidative stress from UV rays and pollution, which can accelerate visible aging. It also has a subtle hydrating effect thanks to its natural polysaccharides, which form a light film over the skin to lock in moisture.
- Beta-Glucan: A soothing superstar that comes from oats or fungi. Beta-glucan helps calm redness and irritation, making it ideal for sensitive or compromised skin. It’s also a humectant, which means it attracts water to the skin, keeping it hydrated and plump.
- Sodium Hyaluronate: The salt form of hyaluronic acid, and more stable in formulations. It can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, which makes it one of the most effective hydrators in skincare.
- Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit: Blueberries are loaded with anthocyanins, which are potent antioxidants. They help neutralize free radicals from UV exposure and pollution, while also providing a small dose of vitamins C and E to support a brighter, healthier-looking complexion.
- Physalis Peruviana Fruit Extract: Known as goldenberry or cape gooseberry, this fruit extract is high in polyphenols and vitamins A, C, and K. It offers antioxidant protection while also helping to calm inflammation in the skin.
- Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit: Raspberries are naturally rich in vitamin C, which supports collagen production and helps even out skin tone.
- Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract: Also known as bearberry, this plant is a natural source of arbutin – a gentle skin-brightening compound that can reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation over time by inhibiting excess melanin production. It just can’t do this in a cleanser.
- Morus Nigra Fruit Extract: Mulberry fruit extract brings both antioxidant protection and mild brightening benefits.
- Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract: This is bilberry, another antioxidant-rich berry that helps fight environmental stress.
- Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract: Also called Baikal skullcap, this traditional Chinese medicinal herb is packed with flavonoids like baicalin, which have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant effects. It can help soothe irritation while supporting the skin barrier.
- Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract: Peony root is valued for its brightening and soothing abilities. Doesn’t do anything in a cleanser.
- Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract: A well-known skin brightener, licorice root contains glabridin, which helps fade dark spots and even out skin tone. It’s also naturally soothing, making it great for calming redness or irritation.
- Betaine: A humectant derived from sugar beets that hydrates the skin and helps maintain a healthy moisture balance. It also has osmolyte properties, meaning it helps skin cells manage water flow, which can make skin feel less tight after cleansing.
- Sodium Chloride: Common table salt in skincare acts as a natural thickener and viscosity controller, giving the formula its gel-like body.
- Glycerin: A tried-and-true humectant found in countless skincare products, glycerin pulls moisture into the skin and helps maintain softness, even after rinsing.
- 1,2-Hexanediol: A solvent to help dissolve other ingredients and improve texture.
- Butylene Glycol: A humectant that attract water into the skin.
- Fragrance/Parfum: Added for the product’s signature sweet blueberry scent. While it enhances the sensory experience, it may be irritating for those sensitive to fragrance.
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Texture
This is a lightweight gel with a bouncy texture that foams up slightly when mixed with water – not the fluffy bubble kind of foam, but a soft, cushiony lather. It feels smooth and spreads easily, which makes it great for a quick second cleanse.
Fragrance
It smells like sweet blueberries – not overly fake, but definitely not fragrance-free. The minimum amount of fragrance makes for an enjoyable skincare experience, BUT if you’re sensitive to scented skincare, this could be a dealbreaker. Fragrance can irritate sensitive skin. The scent doesn’t linger long after rinsing, though.
How To Use It
You can use it morning and night. If you’re wearing heavy makeup or sunscreen, you’ll want to use it as your second cleanse after an oil/balm cleanser. Massage onto damp skin using small circular motions, work it in for 30-60 seconds, then rinse off with lukewarm water.
Packaging
It comes in a clear, sturdy purple plastic pump bottle, which makes it easy to control how much you’re using. Bonus points for being travel-friendly – the pump twists to lock.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Here’s the truth: this is a nice cleanser, but it’s not magic in a bottle. It can clean skin of dirt, gets rid of traces of makeup, and leaves you feeling fresh without that tight, stripped feeling. But it’s not going to erase years of dead skin buildup or completely transform your texture – especially since, like I said earlier, the AHAs don’t hang around long enough to do the heavy lifting.
Glow Recipe says it works as a first or second step in your routine, but let’s talk about that for a second. The whole “you must double cleanse” thing? Bit of a myth. If your cleanser can actually remove stubborn oil-based products – sunscreen, waterproof mascara, that lipstick that laughs at makeup remover – you don’t need to waste time with two separate products. This one does a decent job even with heavier stuff, though if I’ve gone full glam, I still prefer to loosen everything up with a balm first.
One thing that does make it stand out? The real blueberry pieces in the gel. They’re more of a visual “cute factor” than something that’s actively scrubbing your skin, but they do add to the sensory experience – like, you can actually see and feel them when you pump it out. And while it’s packed with antioxidants from all those fruit extracts, you’re rinsing it off, so you’re getting more of a quick hit than deep, lasting protection.
What I Like About Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser
- Gentle, non-stripping formula that still gets skin properly clean
- Contains antioxidants for a little extra skin support (even if you rinse them off)
- Pump packaging – no messy caps or product waste
- Real blueberry bits make it more fun to use
What I DON’T Like About Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser
- The AHAs don’t do much in a rinse-off formula
- Blueberry scent won’t suit fragrance-sensitive skin
Who Should Use This?
If you’ve got normal, combination, or dry skin and want something that cleans skin of dirt, removes traces of makeup, and feels a bit more “extra” than your standard gel cleanser, this is it. It’s also a good fit if you want something antioxidant-rich without any sting or dryness afterward. Just don’t buy it expecting a deep exfoliation – this isn’t a replacement for your acid toner or serum.
Does Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser is a gentle cleanser and makeup remover, packed with antioxidant-rich blueberries, hyaluronic acid, and gentle AHAs. | True. |
| This cleanser delivers all the antioxidant-rich benefits of blueberries. | Not true. That only happens when you eat them (and please, do NOT eat this cleanser!) |
| Blueberry Bounce Gentle Cleanser is an effective yet gentle 3-in-1 bouncy makeup eraser, cleanser, and deep clarifying mask that hydrates the skin without stripping it, helping to combat blemishes and breakouts over time. | Sort of. It does cleanse skin and remove some makeup, but it’s NOT a deep clarifying mask. The exfoliants can remove dead cells buildup from the surface of your skin, which helps prevent blemished and breakouts. BUT 1) they don’t do this as well as in a leave-on product and 2) they don’t exfoliate pores from within, so their action is limited anyway). |
Price & Availability
$26.00 at Cult Beauty, Glow Recipe and Sephora
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If you’re into Glow Recipe’s whole fruity, fun vibe and want a daily cleanser that leaves your skin soft and fresh, go for it. Just know you’re paying for the experience as much as the performance – it’s not going to overhaul your skin or replace your more potent treatments.
Water/Aqua/Eau, Decyl Glucoside, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Physalis Peruviana Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Morus Nigra Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Fragrance/Parfum.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
