Index / Glow Recipe / Strawberry Smooth BHA and AHA Salicylic Serum
Glow Recipe

Strawberry Smooth BHA and AHA Salicylic Serum.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA and AHA Salicylic Serum
Masks & Peels

About this product

A dual-exfoliant serum combining 2% encapsulated salicylic acid with mandelic acid, azelaic acid, and additional actives designed to address acne, redness, and uneven skin texture.

Full ingredients

Guru Score

77%

Approved

Early verdict · Few reviews so far
3Gurus
3Approved
0Mixed
0Skip

What they liked

  • Gentle enough for frequent use

What they flagged

    Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

    What the gurus are saying

    The encapsulated salicylic acid delivers slower into skin so you get solid exfoliation without the irritation that usually comes with stronger formulas. The blend adds mandelic acid (gentler than typical AHAs), azelaic acid for redness, and succinic acid for breakouts, hitting multiple concerns at once. Reviewers find it gentle enough to use every other day or even daily depending on your skin's tolerance.
    Synthesized from 3 expert reviews · most recent take April 2025

    Best for

    Type

    Masks & Peels

    Formula notes

    Contains fragranceNo drying alcohol

    Where to buy

    Opens a search for this product. We do not sell anything ourselves.

    More from Glow Recipe 20 products · Guru Score 77% → How it works Independent by design. Every take comes from a creator we have no relationship with. We do not ask anyone to review, and affiliate links never move a score.

    What the gurus are saying.

    Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

    All takes Approved takes Critical takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
    Kelly Driscoll
    Kelly Driscoll
    90k subs
    ✓Approved
    "So, this is the Glow Recipe Strawberry BHA Pore Smooth Blur Drops. I know the label is coming off. Um, and I think the last time I showed this to you, the label was also like kind of rubbed off. It does say it has salicylic acid in it, BHA, but I honestly don't find this irritating."
    All 2 takes from Kelly Driscoll
    GRWM YouTube Creator Collective 2025 | Skincare, Hair, Makeup + Outfit!
    "So, this is the Glow Recipe Strawberry BHA Pore Smooth Blur Drops. I know the label is coming off. Um, and I think the last time I showed this to you, the label was also like kind of rubbed off. It does say it has salicylic acid in it, BHA, but I honestly don't find this irritating."
    Top 20 Must-have Skincare Products At Sephora!
    "This is more truly designed to be more of a makeup type of product but um I just think it's a superior one to do drop"
    AliceintheRabbitHole
    AliceintheRabbitHole
    59k subs
    ✓Approved
    "This is the Strawberry Smooth BHA and AHA Salicylic Serum, and I think it stands out because of this blend, two percent encapsulated salicylic acid, mandelic acid, and azelaic acid combined in a more gentle way. It targets acne in cute and fun packaging, which isn't something I'm used to since most acne care looks very clinical and boring. Is it my absolute favorite acne treatment? No, that's adapalene for me, but acne is nuanced and I think this might be the right treatment for some people. I'd rather see a product like this on the market next to a standard salicylic acid serum with no added fluff, so you have distinct options to choose from."
    James Welsh
    James Welsh
    1.58M subs
    ✓Approved
    "The finish is very much like a matte natural finish, which I do quite like. The blurring results are hard to see on camera, but I can see this side where I've used it looks a little bit more blurred than this side. I'm going to not exfoliate for three weeks and just use this so we can see the exfoliating effects. As for an exfoliating treatment, I'll see. I'm excited to try more of it."
    Sponsored
    All 3 takes from James Welsh
    The Best And Worst Products From GLOW RECIPE- My Honest Thoughts 1 Year Later 💜 James Welsh
    "I don't use this. I don't really feel the need to"
    Testing New & Hyped Skincare Products...They're OK 😬
    "The finish is very much like a matte natural finish, which I do quite like. The blurring results are hard to see on camera, but I can see this side where I've used it looks a little bit more blurred than this side. I'm going to not exfoliate for three weeks and just use this so we can see the exfoliating effects. As for an exfoliating treatment, I'll see. I'm excited to try more of it."
    Game Changing Holy Grail Skincare Products - Moisturiser, Toner, Cleanser & More
    "This contains 2% encapsulated salicylic acid, which is delivered slower into the skin so it's less irritating. It has mandelic acid, which is your AHA and will help even out skin tone and texture of your skin, and it's really known for being not as irritating as other AHAs. There's also succinic acid in here, which is great for people with breakouts, azelaic acid, which I personally love for my complexion as far as redness and evening out skin tone, and allantoin to help soothe. It really is just an all-in-one kind of serum. I don't use this every day but I could potentially use it every day because it is so gentle. I tend to use this every other day or I'll start using it for a couple days where I feel like my skin needs a bit of exfoliating attention. You still get a good percentage of exfoliation but it's packed in a much gentler formulation that is kind of an all-round usage product as well, which I absolutely love. The BHA toner is one of the best toners for my skin. It loves it so so much."

    What the evidence says.

    Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

    Niacinamide

    Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

    Source: DermNet

    Salicylic acid

    Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

    Source: DermNet

    Alpha hydroxy acids

    Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

    Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

    Frequently asked.

    What is Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA and AHA Salicylic Serum?

    A dual-exfoliant serum combining 2% encapsulated salicylic acid with mandelic acid, azelaic acid, and additional actives designed to address acne, redness, and uneven skin texture.

    Is Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA and AHA Salicylic Serum worth it?

    Yes. All 3 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 77%.

    What is Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA and AHA Salicylic Serum's Guru Score?

    Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA and AHA Salicylic Serum holds a Guru Score of 77%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected.

    Who is Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA and AHA Salicylic Serum best for?

    Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA and AHA Salicylic Serum is generally suited to acne-prone skin.

    Cheaper alternatives the gurus rate.

    Lower-priced masks and peels the gurus still rate highly, versus this mid-range pick.

    See how they stack up →

    Similar products worth a look.

    Other products the same gurus have weighed in on, plus more from this brand and category.

    Compare side by side →

    This week's top beauty news, in your inbox.

    A weekly read of the takes worth catching up on: the raves, the splits, the ones the gurus won't shut up about. Free, no spam, unsubscribe whenever.

    Subscribe to the digest