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COSRX · Skin · Exfoliants

COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

A mild AHA and BHA toner in a spray bottle, sold by the maker to beginners for daily use. Too gentle to do much for some, and it still breaks out others.

150 mlLiquidGlycolic acidBetaine salicylateWillow bark waterFragrance-free
$20 MSRPAmazon price not shown
Check price on Amazon →

Amazon link · we earn a commission if you buy · $20 MSRP · Amazon price not shown · verified Nov 1, 2026. More stores appear here as each affiliate program approves the site.

Buy it if

  • You have never used an acid
  • You want a daily toner with light exfoliation
  • You want no added fragrance

Walk past if

  • You want a strong exfoliant; some owners see no effect on blackheads
  • You break out easily; owners report it within a few uses
  • You dislike overspray; owners mention it with the spray top

What's in it

The ingredients that do the work, from the maker’s label.

Glycolic acidBetaine salicylateWillow bark water

Salicylic acid guide →Sulfate-free →Fragrance-free →

Not in it: fragrance, essential oils, drying alcohol, sulfates. Nothing on our flag list.

Full ingredient list, from the maker

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

Known issue

Owners report breakouts or red bumps after only a few uses, and others see no effect on blackheads or clogged pores.Ulta and MakeupAlley reviews

What owners say

Filled by the research pass: two or three owner reports from named venues, each linked, each with the date it was read.

If it's not right

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant$37 MSRPTwo percent salicylic acid in a short-list, leave-on liquid, sold by the maker to unclog pores and control oil. It has a long record and a tacky finish some owners cannot stand.CeraVe Moisturizing CreamNo maker list price for this sizeThree ceramides, cholesterol, hyaluronic acid and petrolatum in a thick cream for face and body. The plain standard for dry skin, developed with dermatologists according to the maker.

Sources

  1. Maker page: ingredient list, 150 ml list price, beginner and daily use statements.
  2. Ulta reviews, 287: low ratings mostly report breakouts after one or two uses, with irritation and overspray tagged as complaints.
  3. MakeupAlley reviews, 22 at about 4.1 of 5: no visible effect for some, and breakouts and irritation for others (read from a search excerpt)

Ingredient lists from the maker's label, not our measurements.