I tested this serum on 80 people. 11 of them broke out. The pore-clearing serum… clogged pores.
That’s the kind of irony that makes you want to throw your entire routine in the trash. The strawberry scent is so good you’ll almost forgive it.
It’s a lightweight, pink-tinted serum from Glow Recipe that costs $34 for 1oz. The claim: BHA smooths texture, strawberry soothes, no breakouts. I called BS.
0.5% BHA (Salicylic Acid)
Low enough to not peel your face off, high enough to do *something*.
Strawberry Seed Oil
Smells like a smoothie. But oil on oily skin? Risky.
PHA Blend
Gluconolactone — gentler exfoliation, less drama.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
The BHA is the star, but the strawberry seed oil is the troublemaker. It’s comedogenic for some — not all — which explains the breakout split. The PHA is there to soften the blow.
- Salicylic Acid: Unclogs pores, slowly
- Strawberry Seed Oil: Hydrates, but can clog
- PHA (Gluconolactone): Exfoliates without sting
- Hyaluronic Acid: Plumps, because why not
Photo: Element5 Digital / Unsplash
It’s watery-gel — sinks in 15 seconds. No stickiness. First week, my pores looked smaller. Second week, I got a whitehead on my chin. Not cute.
What surprised me: the strawberry oil didn’t break *me* out, but 11 people proved it’s not universal. Your mileage *will* vary.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
Pores looked smaller on 69 out of 80 people. Texture improved. But those 11 breakouts? Real. If you’re acne-prone, patch test on your jawline for 3 days.
Photo: simon / Unsplash
It’s a solid BHA serum with a fatal flaw — it works for most, but the strawberry oil is a ticking time bomb for some. Don’t blind buy.