Why you need to incorporate watermelon into your beauty routine

Much more than just a key ingredient in daiquiris (although, we know that’s an incredibly important job), watermelon is the latest superfruit that’s tipped to transform your complexion. Jam-packed with precious moisture to restore skin’s youthful ‘bounce’, this also boasts a cocktail of essential phytonutrients to nourish and revitalise dulled, weather-stressed complexions.

You'd be forgiven for believing that the primary component of your overused emoji is, well, water (96% to be precise), but there's a lot more to this photogenic fruit than H2O. Brimming with citruline - a circulatory-boosting amino acid which doubles as an ultra-mild exfoliant - as well as lycopene (an anti-inflammatory phytonutrient), this fruity symbol of the summer is a brilliant addition to your year-round skin care arsenal.Suitable for all skin types, watermelon is particularly brilliant for those who're prone to blemishes, suffer from redness or have particularly flaky, dry complexions. Plus, it works wonders for lessening fine lines - preventing their development (thanks to a wealth of antioxidants) and pausing their progression.

Bursting onto the beauty scene thanks to our own {K-Beauty} experts, Sarah Lee and Christine Chang of brand {Glow Recipe}, their {Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask} is pink (!!) and infinitely Instagrammable... not to mention miraculous. Causing a furore on social media, this jelly-textured treatment works to boost skin's 'spring' and grant your face that hallowed SoKo glow.And you needn't confine the dew-boosting brilliance to your face. Glow Recipe's five-star rated {Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream} extends the plumping, protective and softening properties from neck to knees (and beyond) - cherishing dry, scaly limbs while enveloping you with its sunshine-y scent. Perfect for those who're a little bit lax about caring for any skin south-of-the-chin (guilty as charged), this upgrades the mundane to sublime... and it looks super-cute on your shelf.

If you're in hot pursuit of a tan (sans the sun damage), St. Tropez's {Gradual Tan Watermelon Infusion Miracle Body Lotion} builds a beautiful, olive-toned glow that looks naturally sunkissed whatever your skin tone - working with your colouring to grant a streak-free finish while infusing sun-starved limbs with precious moisture so your skin feels plush and cushiony. On a mission to find a lip scrub that’s totally vegan? You’ve come to the right place! This waterlemon {Sugar Sugar} from NCLA Beauty is a watermelon buffing miracle worker that's made with beet sugar and plant-derived butters to effectively smooth and moisturise your lips.

On the lookout for a lip balm? May we suggest trying fresh's {Hydrating Lip Balm} with a fruity, 'Sugar Watermelon' flavour? Gorgeously glossy and packed with lip-softening oils to promote a plump, pillowy kiss, this lends a sheer whisper of pretty pink tint for a flattering, just-licked-a-lolly effect.

A serum but not as you've seen it before, Milk Makeup's {Watermelon Brightening Serum} is a cool, thirst-quenching twist-up stick that boasts a blend of extracts to refine and restore radiance. Instantly refreshing (you can hear your cells exhale) this cooling cocktail glides on seamlessly and won't leak in your hand luggage - a boon for long-haul flights.

And in keeping with the 'stick' theme, Milk's {Watermelon Brightening Face Mask} is more than enviably photogenic. Perfect for fuss-free application, this applies straight from the bullet to infuse your cells with countless antioxidants, vitality-boosting vitamins and soothing anti-inflammatory extracts. Plus, it's pink (selfie-camera at the ready).SHOP ALL MASKS >>

Verity Douglas Writer and expert

Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...

Why you need to incorporate watermelon into your beauty routine

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