HG Product: COSRX AHA/BHA Treatment Toner Review

When I was just a newbie in the skin care arena, the prospect of using a toner always confused me. That time, people were really into Ayur toners, I guess they still are. Those toners came in a plastic bottle and the liquid was very pink. But the thing that used to put me off was the smell. It smelt strongly like spirit. It contains a large amount of Isopropyl alcohol, which made my skin itch and burn. So, I wasn’t very keen on using a toner after that experience.
After a while I had a really intense breakout and someone suggested me to use a mild toner after cleansing. I found the Farmasi Facial Cleanser Tonic in a local store. It was a tad milder than the ayur one.
Last year, I got two Garnier toner from super drug and they have the same issue. Too much alcohol for my taste. Around that time, I got to know about some amazing pH balancing toners from Korea that don’t contain Isopropyl alcohol. Imagine my relief!!
So, here I am proudly presenting the COSRX AHA/BHA Treatment Toner.

I am using this for 16 weeks. And I am almost finished with the bottle. That’s why I thought of writing a review. I am using this every time I wash my face with any soap/cleanser. This bottle lasted for a long time, which is good for your pocket 😛

What are pH Balancing Toners, actually? 

pH Balancing Toners are toners that have a low pH level because of AHA ( alpha hydroxy acids) and BHA (beta hydroxy acids) in their ingredients list. Most of the pH balancing toners are in the range of 3.5-4.5. In case of COSRX, it’s 3.85.

Why Do You Need It? 
Our skin has a pH range of around 5.5. So when you use a basic cleanser, the pH level goes up. By using a pH balancing toner, you can adjust the pH level of your skin. This comes really handy if you are using actives like vitamin C serums and AHA/BHA treatments.

How To Use: 
The COSRX AHA/BHA Treatment Toner comes in a plastic bottle which is also equipped with a black spray nozzle.

This spray nozzle dispenses a fine mist and there is also a safety cap.
A word of caution: Don’t spray it directly onto the face!! ( I did, though for a while, which was very dumb of me). But you shouldn’t spray acids directly onto your face, ever.
There are two ways of using this toner.
Method 1: Spray this directly onto your hand and then pat the liquid smoothly onto your face. I prefer to use it this way.
Method 2: Spray it onto a cotton pad and use it.

Ingredients:

The one thing I like most about the COSRX products is their minimal ingredients list. They use the fewest ingredients possible in each of their products.
Before going into the details, I need to explain the yellow safety tags of these ingredients.
As you can see, Ethyl Hexanediol has got a 4 in the safety warning. It’s a solvent used in cosmetics and it’s only toxic if you eat this in a higher concentration. (Source: International Journal of Toxicology).

Sodium Lactate is the sodium salt of Lactic Acid. It is also found in corns and beets. It’s also used in intravenous injections. It’s also used as a humectant.

Glycolic Acid is a natural acid derived from sugar cane. But it can also be made synthetically. It is an Exfoliator. It is very useful for removing the outer layer of your dead skin cells. It also helps to treat age-spots and sunspots.

• Butylene glycol is used as a solvent and moisturizer in the makeup industry. It also has the ability to penetrate deeply into your skin. Sometimes people who have really sensitive skin and is sensitive to BHA can break out from using this. But it is pretty much safe to use on your skin. (Source: FDA)
  The COSRX AHA/BHA Treatment Toner has both AHA (Apple water, glycolic acid and malic acid) and BHA (Salix Alba Bark water and betaine salicylate). Betaine salicylate is gentler on skin than salicylic acid.Why I Love It? 
  • Reduced my PIH (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation) greatly. But you also need to use a vitamin C serum with it. I suggest Klairs.
  • Unclogged my pores.
  • Reduced the appearance of my pores.
  • It’s not sticky.

  You may not love it…..

  • If you are sensitive to AHA/BHA
  • If you are a fan of Ayur Toner 😛

Caution: 

• BHA can make your skin purge. But will go away after 2 weeks or so.

Price: 1300 taka or 16 dollars.
Get it from: Korean Cosmetics – Bangladesh. They also have a shop in Banani. So you can go and buy directly from their shop.

If my words are not enough, here is a definitive proof of how much I love using this. As you can see, it’s almost finished. 😀 😀 😀

Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions. Also, I may or may not post a current skincare routine soon. After I am finished with my submission, that is.
Till then, take care and wear your sunscreen.

Love,
Mehnaz.