glow recipe’s strawberry smooth bha + aha salicylic serum: an honest review

The next product in my beauty review series is the Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum! Serums have become a beauty obsession of mine these past few months. I recently wrote an article for College Fashionista about my favorite serums that have absolutely changed my skin routine – and this product is one of them. So, I thought I would create another post about it but this time more in-depth!

About Glow Recipe

I first became aware of this product from my Campus Trendsetters Spring Refresh Kit. I always love when I get these boxes because it always introduces me to new products that I would never have thought to buy.

Glow Recipe states they are a skincare brand that makes fruit-forward, clean formulas for glowing skin. It is built on the philosophy of taking it day by day, skin by skin. They create gentle yet effective formulas that deliver clinically proven results formulated with the highest quality ingredients, including antioxidant-rich fruit extracts and clinically proven actives. The products are clean, vegan, and leaping bunny certified cruelty-free.

They state that sustainability is also important to them. This is something I noticed right away with the packaging. It is made to effortlessly break down and recycle at home. They also encourage you to upcycle the product’s bottle when you’re done with it, or you can refill it. I thought this idea was very innovative!

You can buy Glow Recipe products at Sephora or on their website.

First Impressions

As I wrote in my article, this product really smells great! They are truthful when they say their products are made with fruit extracts. The strawberry scent is strong but not overbearing in any way. When I first applied this serum, it went on very smoothly. I was shocked at how fast this product began to work. It made my skin feel so moisturized and hydrated. It makes your skin glow, and you can see the difference within seconds!

According to their website, this serum contains their 10% Clarity Acid Complex™–a special blend of 2% salicylic acid & mandelic acid (AHA+BHA), strawberry, azelaic acid, and succinic acid–this serum gently smooths texture, clears breakouts, and refines pores, while calming skin. These clarifying qualities are balanced with hydrating & soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid & allantoin to add moisture and protect your skin for a soft-glow finish.

They recommended using this serum after cleansing your face and applying moisturizer after. A pro tip is to double this product with other serums, which is something I have been trying and works even better.

My Results

After a couple of weeks of consistently using this serum, make breakouts began to clear. My skin’s texture became so much smoother. It has become the perfect product to complete my skincare routine. A little goes a long way with this product. I would use 3-4 pumps on my face when just 1-2 are needed to keep my skin glowing and moisturized. Also, add moisturizer and sunscreen afterward to lock in hydration and protect your skin.

I will most definitely purchase this serum again. It is $40 on Glow Recipe’s website. I think this is a little expensive, especially for my budget as a college student. But it is genuinely worth the purchase! I can’t wait to try out more products in the future. Also, I hope they consider making refills of this serum in the future as they have for others to save money!