Gracie

Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Retinol Eye Serum with Caffeine + Copper Peptides vs Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum

Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Retinol Eye Serum with Caffeine + Copper Peptides scores 8.5/9.8 and Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum scores 8.7/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Retinol Eye Serum with Caffeine + Copper Peptides
Drunk Elephant

A-Shaba Complex Retinol Eye Serum with Caffeine + Copper Peptides

eye-carepremium
8.5
VS
✶
Glow Recipe

Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum

exfoliantmid-range
8.7

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.2 points apart.

1
4
Drunk Elephant wins 1
Tied 4
Glow Recipe wins 0
8.5Drunk Elephant
vs
8.7Glow Recipe

Scores last verified: July 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

TIE
6.8
6.8
Drunk Elephant
Glow Recipe

Irritation Risk

TIE
9.5
9.5
Drunk Elephant
Glow Recipe

Active Ingredient Strength

Drunk Elephant WINS
9.1
7.6
Drunk Elephant
Glow Recipe

Ingredient Transparency

TIE
8.5
8.5
Drunk Elephant
Glow Recipe

Formulation Safety

TIE
9.0
9.0
Drunk Elephant
Glow Recipe

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.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum brings Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, and Mandelic Acid as actives, while drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Retinol Eye Serum with Caffeine + Copper Peptides relies on Caffeine, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, and Niacinamide. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Retinol Eye Serum with Caffeine + Copper Peptides is better if you have

  • Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
  • Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Caffeine does the heavy lifting
  • 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 premium pricing with a score of 8.5, Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Retinol Eye Serum with Caffeine + Copper Peptides is a decent pick. Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum sits at the mid-range level with a 8.7 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.

8.5Drunk Elephant
vs
✶
8.7Glow Recipe

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Retinol Eye Serum with Caffeine + Copper Peptides 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 Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Retinol Eye Serum with Caffeine + Copper Peptides 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 Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Retinol Eye Serum with Caffeine + Copper Peptides 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.