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cerave Daily Moistur… vs Glow Recipe Strawber… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion vs Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum

cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion scores 8.0/9.8 and Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum scores 8.1/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

cerave

Daily Moisturizing Lotion

moisturiserbudget

8.0

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

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Glow Recipe

Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum

exfoliantmid-range

8.1

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.1 points apart.

cerave wins 1

Tied 3

Glow Recipe wins 1

8.0cerave

8.1Glow Recipe

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

cerave WINS

7.7

6.5

cerave

Glow Recipe

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

Glow Recipe

Active Ingredient Strength

Glow Recipe WINS

5.4

7.4

cerave

Glow Recipe

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

cerave

Glow Recipe

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

cerave

Glow Recipe

Ingredient face-off

7% overlap

23cerave

2Shared

30Glow Recipe

Only in cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion

21 unique

Aqua/Water Glycerin Cetearyl Alcohol Cetyl Alcohol Ceteareth-20 Dimethicone Potassium Phosphate Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop+11 more

Shared ingredients

2 in common

Sodium Hyaluronate Xanthan Gum

Only in Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum

28 unique

Water/Aqua/Eau Methylpropanediol C9-12 Alkane Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate Salicylic Acid Pentylene Glycol Mandelic Acid Azelaic Acid Allantoin+18 more

Why these two are neck and neck

These two exfoliants take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion scores 7.7 here versus 6.5 for Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum brings Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, and Mandelic Acid as actives, while cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion relies on Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, and Ceramide Eop. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract does the heavy lifting
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

At budget pricing with a score of 8.0, cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion is a decent pick. Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum sits at the mid-range level with a 8.1 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.

8.0cerave

✶

8.1Glow Recipe

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion or Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum?

Based on ingredient analysis, Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion and Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion and Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion→Full analysis: Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum→

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