Glow Recipe Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops for dry sensitive skin
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Strawberry Extract- Salicylic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Caution
- LowDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for dry sensitive skin; the serums alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 exfoliation for your dry and sensitive skin due to salicylic acid and willow bark extract, which help decongest pores and improve texture, but lacks sufficient hydrating ingredients to counteract potential dryness.
- The presence of saccharide isomerate and sodium hyaluronate offers some hydration, but these may not be enough to fully balance the drying effects of the exfoliants for your dry skin.
How to apply
- Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
- Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.9k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is frequently praised for its ability to control oil and create a smooth base for makeup, with users appreciating its lightweight, silicone-free feel. Some users with dry skin find it lacks sufficient hydration, and a moderate number of reviews mention that the pore-blurring effect is subtle.
Highlights
Controls oil Often Mentioned
- “effectively does its job in terms of prolonging makeup and controlling oiliness throughout the day”
- “kept shine under control the entire day”
- “effective in softly mattifying the skin while avoiding a dry or flat look”
- “absorbs excess oil for a mattifying blur effect”
Smooth makeup Often Mentioned
- “applies without causing pilling”
- “makeup remains fresh all day with its use”
- “no peeling no flaking... when I was applying the foundation”
- “looks so beautiful under foundation and throughout the day”
Lightweight feel Sometimes Noted
- “does not feel heavy”
- “silicone-free formulation is not like your typical mattifying primer”
- “doesn't feel suffocating which some dimethicone rich primers tend to feel”
- “thin consistency that dries down pretty quickly”
Lacks hydration Sometimes Noted
- “formulation is not hydrating enough”
- “definitely needs to be topped with a moisturizer for some hydration”
- “almost seems too drying for the rest of the year”
- “dries down so much that it makes foundation harder to apply over it”
Subtle pore blurring Sometimes Noted
- “didn't notice a pore-blurring effect”
- “pore-blurring effect is quite subtle for me”
- “blurring effect is a bit too subtle for me to call it a primer”
- “hardly makes any difference in the look of texture/pores in the short term”
Tricky packaging Rarely Noted
- “good-sized dob of it squirted out... ended up on my wall”
- “somewhat tricky to control how much comes out”
- “find myself squeezing more product out 2-3 additional times”
- “flimsy plastic top”
Sources: lovi.care, glowrecipe.com, sephora.sg, walmart.ca, beauty-detective.com, thehappysloths.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops for dry sensitive skin?
Lovi advises caution because this treatment uses salicylic acid and willow bark extract that may dry out dry and sensitive skin, and it lacks enough deep hydrating ingredients to fully balance those drying effects. A product of this type needs rich moisturizing and nourishing ingredients that provide deep hydration and protect the skin barrier without any risk of irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid and willow bark extract make this serum a poor fit because they provide moderate exfoliation that may dry out dry sensitive skin. A treatment of this type needs rich moisturizing and nourishing components that provide deep hydration and skin barrier support without irritation.
What does Bha do for dry sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid is generally too harsh for dry, sensitive skin because it can easily irritate already fragile or damaged skin barriers. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients, gentle hydrators, and barrier-repairing components to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999International Journal of Dermatology, 2011
What does Strawberry Extract do for dry sensitive skin?
Strawberry extract helps calm dry sensitive skin by easing redness and irritation while protecting skin cells from daily environmental stress. To truly care for this skin type, a product of this type needs soothing plant extracts and gentle hydrators that build up the skin barrier without causing stinging.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2012Food Research International, 2019
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine, placed after cleansing and a soothing toner and right before your moisturizer. Because this is a poor match for dry sensitive skin, a product of this type needs extra soothing and deeply hydrating ingredients like ceramides and rich plant oils to keep your skin calm and comfortable.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to avoid using this exfoliating treatment on the same night as retinol to help prevent irritation and dryness on your dry sensitive skin. Instead, alternate nights or use this in the morning and retinol at night, always following up with a rich moisturizer.
How often should I use this serum?
You should use this treatment just once a week in your evening routine, as exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid and willow bark extract can easily dry out your dry and sensitive skin. To use an exfoliating treatment like this safely on dry skin, it needs plenty of soothing hydration and rich moisturizing ingredients to protect your skin barrier.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores, but it may cause dryness and irritation for dry sensitive skin because it lacks enough hydrating ingredients to balance the exfoliants. A product of this type for dry and sensitive skin needs extra moisturizers and soothing ingredients to keep skin soft and comfortable.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Lasers in Medical Science, 2025
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Twice 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, 2024A novel moisturizer containing saccharide isomerate accelerates skin barrier recovery, improves hydration, reduces erythema, and alleviates discomfort compared to a control moisturizer following intense pulsed light treatment in subjects with skin aging.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025Cryotherapy 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024Fragaria 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 application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Tapioca Starch, Isopentyldiol, Nylon-12, C9-12 Alkane, Distarch Phosphate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Saccharide Isomerate, Strawberry Leaf Extract, Salicylic Acid, Willow Bark Extract, Strawberry Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Triheptanoin, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate, Dilinoleic Acid Butanediol Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Castor Ipdi Copolymer Oil, 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.
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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