Gracie

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum vs Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum scores 8.7/9.8 and Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen scores 8.4/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

✶
Glow Recipe

Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum

exfoliantmid-range
8.7
VS
Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen
Tower 28 Beauty

SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen

spf
8.4

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.3 points apart.

1
3
1
Glow Recipe wins 1
Tied 3
Tower 28 Beauty wins 1
8.7Glow Recipe
vs
8.4Tower 28 Beauty

Scores last verified: July 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Tower 28 Beauty WINS
6.8
9.8
Glow Recipe
Tower 28 Beauty

Irritation Risk

TIE
9.5
9.5
Glow Recipe
Tower 28 Beauty

Active Ingredient Strength

Glow Recipe WINS
7.6
6.0
Glow Recipe
Tower 28 Beauty

Ingredient Transparency

TIE
8.5
8.5
Glow Recipe
Tower 28 Beauty

Formulation Safety

TIE
9.0
9.0
Glow Recipe
Tower 28 Beauty

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.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum scores 7.6 here versus 6.0 for Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen. 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 tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen relies on Allantoin, Bisabolol, and Ceramide Ap. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

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

Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen is better if you have

  • Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
  • Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Cholesterol
  • 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 8.7 score, which is solid value at that tier.

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.

✶
8.7Glow Recipe
vs
8.4Tower 28 Beauty

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum or Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen?

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 Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum and Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen share ingredients?

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

What's the main difference between Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA+AHA Salicylic Acid Serum and Tower 28 Beauty SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen?

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