Cosrx AHA BHA Toner – Review

This post will be sharing a review of the COSRX AHA BHA Toner.

COSRX is probably the only Korean Skincare brand that I have used the most products.

Every time I’m looking for something gentle for my skin, they always seem to have it.

This is not surprising because they have an extensive range of products that cater to most skin types.

During this Summer, I tried to simplify my skincare routine to the barest minimum.

It was too hot to layer products, so I just stuck to the actives that targeted my skin concerns.

While Azelaic Acid and Retinol were a no-brainer in my night-time routine, I wanted a hydrating exfoliating toner for my morning routine, which I would use with a hydrating Niacinamide serum and SPF.

Then I checked my unopened skincare stash and found the Cosrx AHA BHA Toner I had casually bought on IHerb a few months ago. I was so excited to try it.

I’m currently halfway through the bottle, and I’m ready to talk about it.

First Impressions of the Cosrx AHA BHA Toner

According to Cosrx:

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

Simple and short. No fuzz and unnecessary claims.

Ingredient List

As you can already tell, this is a combined exfoliating toner with both AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid), which exfoliates the surface of the skin and BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid), which penetrates into the pores to get rid of dead skin cells that manifest as acne.

AHA/BHA toners are usually the perfect combo, as they save you time using them separately.

Let’s dig further into the ingredient list. It has;

• Exfoliating ingredients
  • Betaine Salicylate is a gentler version of Salicylic Acid. In Korea, the highest percentage of BHA allowed in a cosmetic product is 0.5%, which is the most gentle you can get.
  • Glycolic Acid is the most popular AHA that tends to be harsh in high percentages. For this reason, the formulas are usually a hit or miss. The only way you would get a gentle Glycolic Acid product is if it is formulated in a very low percentage like this product. Seeing that Glycolic Acid is just above Betaine Salicylate, it shouldn’t be anything more than 2%, so it is very low. This is the only confidence I had to use this product daily. It’s so low you can barely even feel it.
• Soothing Ingredients
  • No one does soothing products better than Korean Skincare. Allantoin, Panthenol and Willow Bark Water instantly reduce any chances of irritation.
• Hydrating ingredients
  • To top it all up, Mineral Water is its first ingredient. If you’re familiar with French Pharmacy skincare, you’ll have noticed that Thermal water is a massive part of their formulas for good reason. This is because it is packed with incredibly beneficial nutrients to the skin.

As you can see, it is such a simple but effective product with three major complementary functions.

Not forgetting, it is fragrance-free, essential oil-free, alcohol-free and cruelty-free.

Texture, Consistency & Packaging

My favourite thing about this product is the watery consistency in a spray bottle.

Some brands subject us to misery by not packaging watery products properly.

But COSRX is always so considerate in their packaging which is why they are well-loved.

Personally, I don’t have any issue with the packaging.

Actually, I prefer it in a spray bottle as it is so convenient for me. If it is not, you can always use a cotton pad.

Price & Avaliability

It comes in a 150ml spray bottle that retails for about $20 officially.

But I’m sure you can get it cheaper elsewhere as COSRX is a pretty popular brand.

I never have issues with the pricing because I believe they are affordable and last long enough.

Review of the Corsx AHA BHA Toner

As I mentioned earlier, I use this product for the good part of my Summer morning routine.

After cleansing my face, I spritz a few pumps all over my face, then go in with a hydrating or Niacinamide serum and finish up with SPF.

This 3-4 step routine has been so effective for me and I couldn’t be happier.

Performance

I’m gonna break down this section into three based on the core ingredients and their functions;

Hydrating

While the Cosrx AHA BHA toner might not be the most hydrating, it just works particularly during the Summer.

It’s fairly hydrating and leaves your skin feeling refreshed.

For someone with dry dehydrated skin, It works for me.

Obviously, it won’t be enough during the colder months as I would need to supplement it with an essence, but for the price and formula, it;’s not too bad.

Exfoliating

I love how gentle this product is.

In fact, I got so carried away that I began to use it every day for a while before taking a break.

( Yes, it is completely fine to use every day)

Even with the very low percentages of the actives, it is still effective.

Every single time I use it, I notice a significant difference in the texture of my skin.

It is visibly smoother and it just radiates when layered with other products.

As for the BHA, it didn’t really help as much with my breakouts but I didn’t care.

I just simply enjoyed how mild and gentle it is for my skin.

Soothing

Despite the fact that the percentages of the actives are low, the product is packed with three soothing ingredients to ensure that you don’t experience any sort of irritation whatsoever.

Let me tell you, it worked. Every time, I use the product it just feels like I’m spraying water on my face. That’s how soothing and refreshing it is.

In Conclusion,

I’m sure you can tell how much I love the Cosrx AHA BHA Toner.

I’m almost done with the bottle and I’ll definitely be replacing it when I run out.

Alternative AHA BHA Toners

If you’re anything like me looking to explore even more AHA BHA toners, here are further recommendations:

• Pixi Clarity Tonic
• Cosrx Refresh AHA BHA Vitamin C Toner
• Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner
• Cos De Baha AHA BHA Clarifying Toner
• TIA’M AC Fighting AHA BHA PHA Toner
• Mizon AHA BHA Daily Toner
• Purito AHA BHA Refreshing Solution