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

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

cerave Moisturizing Lotion scores 8.8/9.8 vs Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum at 8.1/9.8. cerave Moisturizing Lotion wins for hydration.

Head to head

cerave

Moisturizing Lotion

moisturiser

8.8

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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

cerave Moisturizing Lotion edges ahead, winning 1 of 5 attributes.

cerave wins 1

Tied 4

Glow Recipe wins 0

8.8cerave

+0.7vs

8.1Glow Recipe

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

cerave WINS

9.4

6.5

cerave

Glow Recipe

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

Glow Recipe

Active Ingredient Strength

TIE

7.3

7.4

cerave

Glow Recipe

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

cerave

Glow Recipe

Formulation Safety

TIE

8.8

9.0

cerave

Glow Recipe

Ingredient face-off

12% overlap

33cerave

4Shared

30Glow Recipe

Only in cerave Moisturizing Lotion

29 unique

Aqua/Water/Eau Cetearyl Alcohol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Cetyl Alcohol Phenoxyethanol Dimethicone Potassium Phosphate Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop+19 more

Shared ingredients

4 in common

Niacinamide Allantoin Sodium Hyaluronate Xanthan Gum

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

26 unique

Water/Aqua/Eau Methylpropanediol C9-12 Alkane Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate Salicylic Acid Pentylene Glycol Mandelic Acid Azelaic Acid Bisabolol+16 more

Why cerave Moisturizing Lotion comes out ahead

Where cerave Moisturizing Lotion really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 9.4 compared to Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum's 6.5. With Sodium Pca, Arginine Pca, and Sodium Hyaluronate in its top ingredients, cerave Moisturizing Lotion delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

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

Best for your skin type

cerave 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 Sodium Pca
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting

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

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum comes in at mid-range pricing with a 8.1 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+0.7 lead

cerave Moisturizing Lotion edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum is still a solid pick.

8.8cerave

✶

8.1Glow Recipe

Frequently asked questions

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

Based on ingredient analysis, cerave Moisturizing Lotion scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

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

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