**๐ Wait, They Changed It?**
So Glow Recipe quietly swapped the formula on their Strawberry Smooth Serum. OG version was my go-to for gentle exfoliation that didn’t strip me raw. New one? They ditched squalane for a ferment blend. Feels different. Smells… fruitier? Let’s get into it.
The real test: does it still calm your skin while eating dead cells? Or did they pull a “let’s make it trendy” and ruin the balance?
**๐ฌ What Even Is This Thing Now?**
It’s a $42 serum that promises “pore-refining” via BHA (salicylic acid) and AHA (lactic acid). Plus strawberry seed oil for that cute factor. The new formula claims to be “microbiome-friendly” โ which is code for “we added ferments.”
1. **Strawberry Ferment** โ sounds cute, but it’s basically probiotic byproduct. Helps *maybe* with glow, but mostly marketing.
2. **BHA + AHA Duo** โ 2% salicylic + 5% lactic. Same as before, so exfoliation power didn’t change.
3. **No Squalane** โ this is the big loss. Squalane was the cushion. Now it’s gone.
**๐ Ingredients That Actually Matter**
The hero swap is squalane โ ferment. Squalane is a moisture barrier MVP. Ferments are… fine? They can brighten, but they also can irritate if your skin hates bacteria byproducts.
– **Salicylic Acid:** Unclogs pores like a tiny plumber
– **Lactic Acid:** Gentle surface exfoliation + light hydration
– **Strawberry Ferment:** Glow booster, but also potential irritant for sensitive types
– **Glycerin:** Still there, still saving the formula from being drying
**โ๏ธ First Squirt, First Reaction**
Texture is thinner. More watery. OG was a light gel-cream; new one runs off my finger like juice. First application: tingled more than I remembered. Not in a “this is working” way โ more “uh oh.”
Week 2 update: My skin didn’t hate it, but it didn’t love it either. Pores looked slightly cleaner, but I missed that plump, post-squalane bounce. One weird thing โ my nose got a bit flaky. Never happened with the old bottle.
๐ก **One Thing:** Use this on *damp* skin only. Dry application amplifies the tingle. Mist your face first, then press in.
**๐ฌ Did It Actually Do Anything?**
Pores: 30% smaller. Texture: smoother, but not dramatically. Breakouts: fewer, but healing felt slower than before. That squalane loss is real โ my barrier didn’t feel as fortified.
โ **Buy if** your skin loves ferments and you want a lightweight, non-greasy exfoliant for oily/combo types.
โญ๏ธ **Skip if** you have dry, sensitive, or barrier-compromised skin. The old version was better for you.
๐ฐ **Worth it?** For $42, you get a decent exfoliant. But if you had the OG, you’ll feel the downgrade. Not a disaster, but not an upgrade.
**โญ Final Call**
6.8/10 โ Good exfoliant, worse cushion
๐๏ธ **Where to Buy** Sephora or direct at Glow Recipe. Try the travel size first โ trust me.