This post will be reviewing the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid.
I’m so excited to review this long-overdue product. If you are new to Korean Skincare and you have acne-prone skin, one of the first product that is usually recommended is the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. Just like the Cosrx Snail Mucin Power Essence, this BHA product has also achieved ‘legendary Kbeauty status’ here in the West.
It’s such a popular product that if Google is anything to go by, it is being searched over 100,000 times every month. Yep! That’s how popular it is. Of course, during my first introduction to Korean Skincare, I had to try it out for myself.
Founded in 2013, Cosrx is one of the most popular Korean Skincare brands that formulates cruelty-free skin-friendly products with natural ingredients. It’s safe to say they are the ones that popularized the use of Snail Mucin in skincare products. If you’re into Kbeauty, there is no way you wouldn’t have used any products from Cosrx. It’s almost like a rite-of-passage.
While you typically have to do a few trial and errors to get the best products that work for your skin type, there are some products that work across board regardless of your skin type. This exfoliating liquid happens to be one of them.
First Impressions of the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
In Korean Skincare, they operate on the philosophy that ‘prevention is better than cure.’ This is why there is a HEAVY emphasis on hydration and protection via toners/essences and sunscreens respectively. In recent times, I feel like there has been a demand for more active ingredients which is why they have begun to formulate with acids.
Overview
Just in case you weren’t aware until now, this is a chemical exfoliating liquid. It’s a super gentle and equally effective Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) that penetrates deeply into the skin, helps to clear clogged pores and exfoliate dead skin cells that cause blackheads. Another important thing that you need to know is that it is gentle enough for sensitive skin. If you feel like the exfoliants we use here in the West is too harsh, this is a gentle alternative.
Ingredient List
Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Water, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Niacinamide, Betaine Salicylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol
As you can see, it has a super simple and clean ingredient list with no fluff.
Willow bark water is a soothing ingredient while Betaine is a mild version of Salicylic Acid. As opposed to the typical 2% Salicylic Acid that is allowed for drugstore products, this has an equal equivalent of 4% Betaine. So, don’t be scared of it being ineffective just because it doesn’t use Salicylic Acid. It works regardless.
Of course, we also have Niacinamide which makes this product perfect for anyone with oily acne-prone skin.
To ensure it’s even more soothing and hydrating, it is buffered with Sodium Hyaluronate and Panthenol.
As always, it is Fragrance and Essential Oil free.
What else can you ask for in a BHA product?
Texture & Consistency
The Cosrx BHA Blackhead power Liquid has a similar texture and consistency to the Cosrx Snail Mucin Power Essence. The only difference is that it is not sticky or slimey. Instead it is thin enough to be used by all skin types as it absorbs fast and doesn’t leave a tacky finish. I love the consistency because I can quickly get it over with and continue with the rest of my hydrating routine. it sinks right into my skin.
Packaging & Price
Like most Cosrx products, it comes in a 100ml pump bottle that lasts for ages! Except you want to go overboard, you really don’t need more than a few pumps for your entire face. Depending on how often you use it, it can last for a few up until six months. Thankfully, the packaging says it is effective for 12 months. Depending on where you get it, it ranges between $10-$15 which is a great bargain if you ask me.
Review of the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
For someone like me in my late 20s with dry dehydrated acne-prone skin. This is a perfect product for me. Yes, I have dry skin and I still breakout. This means that I use quite a lot of BHAs in my routine because i like to nip the breakouts at the bud before they become blackheads.
Perfomance
To be honest, when I started using it, I thought it was too slow because I wasn’t getting results fast enough. It wasn’t until I started using my Paula’s Choice 2% Skin Perfecting BHA Liquid Exfoliant that I started to enjoy the gentleness of this product. See, sometimes Paula’s Choice BHA can be quite harsh and irritating. The COSRX BHA is the complete opposite. It doesn’t cause any irritations whatsoever and it is gentle enough to use daily.
It’s important to know that gentle products are sometimes the difference between the blackheads and hyperpigmentation you get. The more harsh a product is, the higher the chances it will cause FURTHER redness and irritation.
In Conclusion,
Using the Paula’s Choice BHA has made me appreciate this product even more. As such, I’ll be using them side by side. So if you have acne-prone skin that is also sensitive, you’re better off using this product. It’s affordable and readily available.
Have you used this product before? If you have, how does it compare to the rest of the BHA products you have used? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Leave a Reply