After double-cleansing, I’ll use a Muji cotton pad and do 2-3 pumps across mainly my t zone area ( please avoid your eye and lip area). Some people prefer to pat this on using their fingertips, but I find if I use a cotton pad I can see that there’s still either makeup or dead skin after application so I use it as a last step cleansing method.

One of my all-time favorite ingredients. This does a little bit of everything. It’s very effective at brightening skin tone, treating hyperpigmentation (skin discoloration), and hydrating the skin. ( 2, 3) There’s also ample evidence that it has anti-aging benefits. ( 4, 5 , 6 , 7) In fact, one study showed it’s anti-wrinkle properties are akin to tretinoin! ( 8) I had fun at the beach but my skin wasn’t as happy, and I came home with pretty clogged pores. Instead of reaching for my acids, I just used the Poreless liquid to see if it would be enough to remove the comedones and sebaceous filaments. Honestly, it was not, for the reasons stated above but I did see an improvement in my skin. The texture felt smooth again and my skin wasn’t as red from all the sun exposure, thanks to the willow bark water. I think the BHA was able to remove the smaller, shallower clogs but ultimately I did have to use a fuller strength acid to clear them out. After using it for about a week, I began to notice the changes. But to understand my experience, you need to know more about my skin. Until a few years ago I had combination skin- a very oily T-zone with dry patches in areas. As I hit my 30s, my skin started drying out and I find myself reaching for my moisturizer more than ever.

Recommend to use 2-3 times in a week, and gradually build up the usage according to the skin condition. Recyclable

And that does it for this review! I highly recommend the COSRX BHA if you’re on the lookout for a gentle BHA. If you want a stronger and more traditional salicylic acid exfoliant, I don’t think you can go wrong with stridex in a red box (full review here)! It’s the only pure salicylic acid product I’ve tried that worked for my skin because I’m prone to fungal acne / malassezia flare-ups. The active ingredients are paired with a light, moisturizing, watery gel base that contains willow bark water, instead of plain mineral water to maximize exfoliating and clearing benefits without irritation.Hey there! I really want to try everything Cosrx makes haha. I got super into Korean products recently only to find most of them have added fragrance, lavendar or citrus oil, etc (AKA stuff that makes my skin dry, itchy and exploded in zits all at once) Thanks to Cosrx and Benton, I can hop on the Korean skincare bandwagon without fear! Yay! At SkinCarisma, we've done our best to identify as many ingredients as possible but note the fungal-free label may not be 100% accurate due to the complexconditions and combination of ingredients that malezzeria can thrive on. Feels like silky water and spreads very easily. Dries leaving a dewy finish, and smells faintly of lemon lime shots! :p For the same reasons they are popularly used, they are also commonly avoided. Anecdotally, many individuals have reported that Silicones cause/excerbate breakouts, irritation, cause a feeling of skin being unable to breathe, cause clumping of cosmetic products and find it difficult to wash off. As a result, those who find them problematic are avoiding them and increasingly, cosmetic companies are avoiding them as well.

Due to having Oily skin I need to use BHA toners at least twice a week. I've tried so many from cult favourite Paula's choice BHA to Glow Recipes BHA toner and sadly this one doesn't compare to those two. This is definitely a more gentle BHA and perfect for those starting to use a BHA exfoliator. For more information regarding Fungal Acne, please visit Simple Skincare Science (f.c) - #3 of our Recommend Skincare Resources for an amazing comprehensive guide!

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Salix Alba Bark Water, Butylene Glycol, Betaine Salicylate, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Arginine, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum. Of course, we also have Niacinamide which makes this product perfect for anyone with oily acne-prone skin. This new product becomes ideal for leave-on and rinse off compositions that require mild exfoliation and antimicrobial properties blended with substantial moisturizing and anti-irritation claims.” ( 1) For starters, the COSRX BHA has the most gorgeous slip! It feels like silky water and spreads super easily. And look at the beautiful dewy finish it leaves behind! Moreover, one study that found 4% betaine salicylate was just as effective as 2% salicylic acid after 10 days, without the drying or irritating effects that salicylic acid had.