Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid Bha
Mandelic Acid Aha
Strawberry Extract
Niacinamide
Azelaic AcidAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate suitability for your oily skin, as salicylic acid and azelaic acid provide mild oil control and exfoliation to help with blemishes and texture.
- While ingredients like allantoin and bisabolol offer some soothing benefits, they are not specialized enough to fully address your primary concerns of acne and breakouts.
- The product is generally safe for your skin, with a low risk of irritation from the exfoliating acids.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but before your final moisturizer step.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product directly onto clean, dry skin for the best results against breakouts.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use a daily SPF since exfoliating makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly praised for its gentle exfoliation and smoothing effects, particularly for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Users frequently report significant improvements in breakouts, pore appearance, and skin texture, alongside a pleasant sensory experience. Some reviewers, however, find the product to be expensive for the quantity provided and have noted issues with the packaging and a potentially sticky finish.
Highlights
Clears acne and pores Often Mentioned
- “cleared my breakouts”
- “reduced pore congestion”
- “stopped hormonal acne”
- “blackheads are gone”
Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “no tingling sensation”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “very soothing”
- “didn't dry me out”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels softer”
- “smooths rough bumps”
- “glass skin effect”
- “refined texture”
Pleasant sensory experience Sometimes Noted
- “smells like real strawberries”
- “lightweight gel texture”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “yummy scent”
Price and value Sometimes Noted
- “too expensive”
- “small bottle”
- “finished too quickly”
- “pricey for the amount”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out bad”
- “bad reaction”
- “purging never stopped”
Packaging design Rarely Noted
- “hard to hold”
- “pump stopped working”
- “cute but impractical”
- “slippery bottle”
Scent disliked Rarely Noted
- “smells artificial”
- “fragrance is too strong”
- “sickly sweet smell”
- “scent lingers”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “leaves a sticky residue”
- “feels tacky”
- “takes time to dry”
- “slightly sticky”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, kohls.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, glowrecipe.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Serum work for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum works moderately well for your oily skin, offering mild oil control and helping with blemishes through its salicylic and azelaic acids. However, its soothing ingredients are not specialized enough to fully address stubborn acne, meaning an oily acne-prone skin type needs a product with effective targeted ingredients like niacinamide and soothing extracts to properly manage excess oil and breakouts without irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum fits your oily acne-prone skin because salicylic acid and azelaic acid provide mild oil control and help smooth out blemishes and rough texture. While it is generally safe and causes little irritation, an exfoliant treatment for this skin type needs targeted ingredients like niacinamide and soothing extracts to fully manage excess oil and breakouts comfortably.
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing oil levels and calming inflammation. It is well suited for oily, acne-prone skin because it targets pimples while helping keep the skin hydrated and protected.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What does Mandelic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Mandelic acid helps clear breakouts and manage oil on acne-prone skin with a low chance of irritation. A product of this type for oily skin needs purifying exfoliants and ingredients that calm redness to keep the face clear and smooth.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine, starting at once a week and slowly increasing if your skin tolerates it well. Oily acne-prone skin needs a dedicated product with stronger blemish-fighting and oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid, retinoids, or benzoyl peroxide to fully clear breakouts.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first, waiting for it to dry, and then applying your retinol on alternate nights to prevent irritation. While this product provides mild oil control, oily acne-prone skin typically needs stronger targeted ingredients like specialized acne treatments and retinoids to effectively clear breakouts.
How often should I use it?
Start by using this exfoliant treatment once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin tolerates it well and sees good results, you may carefully use it more often. A product of this type needs stronger specialized acne-fighting ingredients to fully address breakouts on oily acne-prone skin.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause major irritation, and it has a low risk of causing breakouts for oily skin. Salicylic acid and azelaic acid help clear blemishes and smooth texture, but this skin needs stronger specialized blemish-fighting ingredients and targeted soothing care to fully address acne.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
Azelaic acid nanocrystal hydrogel 10% achieved a higher success rate and greater lesion reduction than azelaic acid cream 20% in patients with mild to moderate facial acne.
Pharmaceutics, 2021Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Treatment with 45% mandelic acid peel showed nearly equal overall efficacy as 30% salicylic acid peel in patients with mild-to-moderate facial acne vulgaris, but with fewer adverse effects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019Commonly used chemical peels showed no significant differences in effectiveness for acne vulgaris in most comparisons, though combined salicylic and mandelic acid peeling was superior to glycolic acid and glycolic acid was superior to placebo, based on twelve randomized controlled trials.
BMJ Open, 2018Fragaria vesca extract-based hydrogel exhibited antioxidant efficacy, cutaneous compatibility, acceptability, and stability suitable for topical application.
Antioxidants, 2020Supercritical CO2 extract from strawberry seeds at concentrations up to 2% successfully provides moisturizing and skin-softening effects in mild cleansing compositions without significantly affecting their stability, cleansing, or foaming properties.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015Treatment with strawberry seed extract and tiliroside increased stratum corneum total ceramide content and specific ceramide species in human epidermal equivalents by enhancing the expression of ceramide-related enzymes.
PloS One, 2018Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Application of 15% azelaic acid gel significantly reduced post-inflammatory erythema and hyperpigmentation, decreased hemoglobin and melanin content, improved quality of life, and contributed to acne improvement in patients with mild to moderate acne compared to placebo.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2024Topical application of a dermocosmetic containing Myrtus communis extract and azelaic acid reduced acne relapses and helped maintain remission compared to a light moisturizing cream in adult females in the acne maintenance phase over 16 weeks.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2023Topical administration of 20% azelaic acid cream and 5% tranexamic acid solution comparably improved acne-related postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with acne vulgaris, while tranexamic acid demonstrated a significantly better safety profile at week 4.
Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2023
Why other products fit oily acne-prone skin better
A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Methylpropanediol, C9-12 Alkane, Strawberry Fruit Extract, Hydroxypropyl Phosphate Starch, Salicylic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Mandelic Acid, Succinic Acid, Strawberry Leaf Extract, Azelaic Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract Prickly Pear Flower Extract, Niacinamide, Glucosamine, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Dextrin, Polydextrose, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Amylopectin, Butylene Glycol, Succinoglycan, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Phytate, Lecithin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Parfum
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.