Review: COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

Hi Everyone!

I will be discussing a very popular toner by COSRX. This is the AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner.

The main reason I bought this toner to begin with was because I saw a review, I don't remember by who, that said they used this toner and noticed a big difference in their skin. They noticed that the little bumps they used to have on their forehead disappeared. This was the reason I bought it. I had these small bumps, they weren't really pimples because if you tried to pop it or put a pimple sticker on it, nothing came out. I've had these bumps for ages, so I was willing to try anything to try and get rid of them.

AHA/BHA are a type of chemical exfoliant which can make a big difference in your skin.

AHA - alpha hydroxy acid, EX: glycolic acid and lactic acid

BHA - beta hydroxy acid, EX: salicylic acid

It's important to gently exfoliate the skin daily to scrub off the buildup of dead skin, revealing beautiful, soft, hydrated skin.

AHAs and BHAs act to "unglue" the bonds holding dull, dead skin on the surface, Once these bonds are broken, gently and evenly, skin naturally sheds. To work well, AHA and BHA must be made within a narrow pH range between 3 - 4.

Similarities between AHA/BHA:

Diminish the look of line and wrinkles
Make skin look and feel firmer
Hydrate
Improve the look of dull, uneven skin tone
Smooth out rough texture

Differences between AHA/BHA:

AHA work on the skin's surface and are water soluble. Usually preferred for people with NORMAL to DRY skin, also sun-damaged skin, due to their ability to enhance natural moisturizing factors within skin.
BHA work on the skin's surface and inside the pore, it is oil soluble. Usually preferred for people with NORMAL to OILY skin, people prone to bumps, clogs, blemishes, and enlarged pores. BHA has natural skin-calming properties, so it's gentle enough for sensitive skin that's prone to redness.

About this Clarifying Treatment Toner:

Formulated with AHA, BHA, and purifying botanical ingredients, the AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner works to soothe, refresh, and soften skin.

It helps to maintain skin's optimal pH level. This low pH formula works to refresh, and soften the skin and helps prevent the formation of future whiteheads and blackheads. In the formulation of the toner, mineral water for your skin's health, natural AHA to even skin tone, and natural BHA to smooth and soften skin.

Suitable for ALL skin types.

This is a DAILY exfoliating toner.

Size: 5.07 oz. / 150 mL

pH range: 4.0 + 0.5

Color: Clear, colorless

Texture: Water-y

Fragrance: no scent

Packaging: Plastic bottling, has a squirt, mist top and a clear plastic cap. Spray bottle.

Benefits:

Daily Exfoliation: to get rid of built-up dead surface skin cells and leave skin smoother
Enhance Skin Vitality: enriched with mineral water and vitamins to revive dry, dull skin
Skin Balance: to maintain a healthy balance in skin by removing makeup residue and dead skin cells after using a facial wash
Pure water, high elasticity: a lightweight, non-sticky type toner that boosts absoprtion and enhances skin elasticity

Key Ingredients:

Salix Alba (Willow Bark Water) 10%
Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Water 10%
Glycolic Acid (AHA) 0.1%
Betaine Salicylate (BHA) 0.1%

Free From: parabens, artificial colorants, artificial fragrance, triethanolamine, and phthalates

Full Ingredients List: Mineral Water, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Water, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Lactate, Glycolic Acid, Betaine Salicylate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Ethyl Hexanediol

Here are some swatches of the toner. When sprayed onto a cotton pad, you can't even tell it's on it! There's no color to this toner at all.

How To Use:

Use this toner after facial wash every morning/evening.
Saturate a cotton pad with the toner and gently apply from the inner areas of the face outward.

How I Use It:

I used this toner both morning and night, after I have freshly cleansed my face. I also applied it onto my neck.

At first I just sprayed it onto my face, like a mist. But then I felt like I was wasting product because the mist would miss some areas of my face and just go into the air. Eventually, I just sprayed it directly into my palm and applied it onto my face. You could also spray it onto a cotton pad and then swipe it all over as well.

BEFORE/AFTER

My skin doesn't look as dull and has a certain brightness to it after application.

2 MONTHS LATER

BEFORE/AFTER

Again, after application, there's less dullness to my skin tone, maybe a slight brightness.

Overall, I liked this toner.

I truth, I didn't see a major difference in my skin.
Over the months that I used this toner, I know that it didn't cause my any skin issues, no serous breakouts. However, I'm not entirely convinced that it help get rid of the little bumps I had on my forehead. Maybe some of the redness on my cheeks have gone down, but not completely. However, this could be due to other reasons.

As an exfoliating toner, it didn't burn or sting when applied to "open" pimple areas that were freshly popped or just freshly appeared.

While I do notice from the BEFORE/AFTER pictures that my skin seems to be less dull and there's a slight brightness to it, I wouldn't say it was anything major. In person, I didn't even notice these changes, only through pictures was I able to see anything at all.

My skin didn't feel softer or smoother by any means, even as this is an exfoliating toner, I didn't notice much of an exfoliation effect.

Rate (out of 5 stars): ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I would recommend everyone to try this toner. While I didn't have major noticeable effects, I know there are many other reviewers that have. It's still a good toner, light-weight, and great for sensitive skin. I like that my skin didn't have any major breakouts from it either. The price is right as well! It gives a lot of product for a much cheaper price, making it worth it.

Product Mentioned:

COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Kuoput

https://amzn.to/2TJ4KuO

Yesstyle: http://shrsl.com/1az5o

Ulta: https://bit.ly/2oHMB2U

iHerb: https://iherb.co/5pBPNfyi

FTC: This is not a sponsored post. I bought this toner with my own money and this is an honest review. Some links are affiliate.