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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Safi Acne Solutions 3 in 1 Cica Acne Rescue Serum versus Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on April 21, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain AHA, BHA and hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum Malaysian Brand Malaysia
Serum American Brand United States

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

AHA (2)
BHA
PHA
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores (3)
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

AHA
BHA
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing (3)
Reduces Irritation (2)
Reduces Large Pores (4)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting (3)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Safi Acne Solutions 3 in 1 Cica Acne Rescue Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Antimicrobial
Community Rating: Liked

Mandelic Acid helps exfoliate skin. It also contains antioxidant properties.

As an AHA, Mandelic Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Mandelic Acid may be an alternative to Glycolic Acid for those with sensitive skin.

Mandelic Acid may help reduce wrinkles, acne, and hyperpigmentation.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Mandelic Acid

Safi Acne Solutions 3 in 1 Cica Acne Rescue Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

3
What it does: Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Methylpropanediol is a synthetic solvent and humectant.

As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients, helping to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. This ingredient has also been shown to have antimicrobial properties which makes it a preservative booster.

Methylpropanediol is able to add a bit of moisture to the skin. It also helps other ingredients be better absorbed into the skin, such as salicylic acid.

Learn more about Methylpropanediol

Safi Acne Solutions 3 in 1 Cica Acne Rescue Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

4
What it does: Buffering
Community Rating: Liked

Aminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.

Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.

Safi Acne Solutions 3 in 1 Cica Acne Rescue Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum contains this as ingredient number 33.

5
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

Safi Acne Solutions 3 in 1 Cica Acne Rescue Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

6
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Safi Acne Solutions 3 in 1 Cica Acne Rescue Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum contains this as ingredient number 34.

7
What it does: Buffering, Masking
Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Safi Acne Solutions 3 in 1 Cica Acne Rescue Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum contains this as ingredient number 35.

8
What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

Safi Acne Solutions 3 in 1 Cica Acne Rescue Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.

9
What it does: Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.

Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.

In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

Learn more about Salicylic Acid

Safi Acne Solutions 3 in 1 Cica Acne Rescue Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

53% are loved or liked
18% have mixed ratings
29% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet
44% are loved or liked
17% have mixed ratings
17% are disliked or very disliked
22% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Safi Acne Solutions 3 in 1 Cica Acne Rescue Serum 17 ingredients

Acne Solutions 3 in 1 Cica Acne Rescue Serum hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum 36 ingredients

3.2 /5
from 5 ratings
Expensive (1) Light Scent (1) Works Well (1)
sayumi's avatar

sayumi

10 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

not worth it
feels sticky and fragrance is super strong ur better off getting a different exfoliant and its super expensive for what it is

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Our Dupe Finder has found 11 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum.

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