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COSRX

COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner.

#16 in TonersSee the ranking →
About this product

A toner combining AHA (glycolic acid) and BHA (betaine salicylate) exfoliants, designed to refine skin texture and keep pores clear.

Full ingredients

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

More from COSRX 46 products · Guru Score 88% →

Guru Score

80%

Yay

6 experts · Moderate agreement

What the gurus are saying

A very low-strength double exfoliant, with about 0.1 percent each of glycolic acid and betaine salicylate, is what most of these experts keep returning to. They say it is gentle enough for oily, combination and acne-prone skin, helping with clogged pores, dark spots and tone. A smaller camp feels it does less than its name promises, and some find the texture not to their liking, even though they still rate the results well.
Synthesized from 6 expert reviews · most recent take December 2025

What they liked

  • Gentle enough for frequent use
  • Low cost compared to similar products
  • Noticeably improves texture and breakouts

What they flagged

  • Spray bottle requires cotton pad application
  • Very low acid concentrations may underdeliver

Type

TonersLiquid

Key actives

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
✓Yay
"This is a great gentle exfoliant that helps to refine skin texture and promote smoother and clearer skin. The combination of AHA and BHA is really ideal for those who are seeking exfoliation and who have a little bit more acne or clogged pores at the same time want to brighten their complexion or improve post acne marks. [...] I would say this is pretty gentle."
All 2 takes from Dr. Jenny Liu
COSRX Skincare Favorites | Worth the Hype or Skip? | Derm Dr. Jenny Liu
"This is a great gentle exfoliant that helps to refine skin texture and promote smoother and clearer skin. The combination of AHA and BHA is really ideal for those who are seeking exfoliation and who have a little bit more acne or clogged pores at the same time want to brighten their complexion or improve post acne marks. [...] I would say this is pretty gentle."
Oily Skincare, tips from a dermatologist | Dr. Jenny Liu
"COSRX their AHA and BHA toner is also pretty gentle and great to use for oily and combination skin."
✓Yay
"This aha BHA toner is so gentle and it is formulated with such beautiful hydrating ingredients. [...] This is a fabulous line and this is gentle enough so [...] anyone can use it, but especially if you have oily skin or acne, or if you get hormonal acne or adult acne, any of those problems, this is lovely to use. [...] I always have this product with me because at any time I always grab this and I start using this. This is a fabulous fabulous product."
All 2 takes from Nipun Kapur
How remove Melasma at home under Rs 500 | Melasma treatment | Nipun Kapur
"You can go on to minimalist retinyl whatever else"
Translated from the guru's original language.
Gentle Exfoliation for Anti-Aging and Texture Control | Nipun Kapur
"This aha BHA toner is so gentle and it is formulated with such beautiful hydrating ingredients. [...] This is a fabulous line and this is gentle enough so [...] anyone can use it, but especially if you have oily skin or acne, or if you get hormonal acne or adult acne, any of those problems, this is lovely to use. [...] I always have this product with me because at any time I always grab this and I start using this. This is a fabulous fabulous product."
✓Yay
"It's one of the few ingredients I added into my routine where I knew a difference, I could tell a noticeable difference in my skin very quickly. It's great for redness, it's great for acne, it's great for hyperpigmentation, it's great for hydration, it's just a wonderful ingredient all around, and it's really great if you have suffered from blemishes, dark spots. My acne got a lot better when I started using this."
✓Yay
"It really is a five out of five type of product it works beautifully to keep the skin clear and to exfoliate deep inside the pore"
✓Yay
"I've decided to just stick with this AHA acid toner. This tends to cost less, about half what the pricier one costs. I actually prefer the other one's texture, but in terms of results I feel they compare, so I'm willing to save a little more money and go with the product where the texture is not a favorite, but I like the results."
All 2 takes from AliceintheRabbitHole
Skincare EMPTIES! How Long to Finish Products, Why I Go Back to Affordable Picks...
"I've decided to just stick with this AHA acid toner. This tends to cost less, about half what the pricier one costs. I actually prefer the other one's texture, but in terms of results I feel they compare, so I'm willing to save a little more money and go with the product where the texture is not a favorite, but I like the results."
COSRX: Ranking 18 Products Best to Worst! (2023 Version)
"This is the AHA BHA clarifying treatment toner, and honestly it isn't a bad product, but I have some bones to pick with it. It has glycolic acid at 0.1 percent and betaine salicylate at 0.1 percent, so calling it the AHA BHA clarifying treatment toner sounds like it's going to do so much more for your skin than I've found it to do."
✓Yay
"I use low percentages more often with great results, and this is a very low percentage double chemical exfoliant that's really [...] gentle and can be used as a daily exfoliant. It has betaine salicylate, which is a moisturizing version of BHA, and glycolic acid as well. It's very gentle and works on texture and tone without over-exfoliating."
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All 2 takes from James Welsh
Tiny Changes, Maximum Results - DAILY USE GENTLE SKINCARE With COSRX AD
"It also has a very low percentage of glycolic acid alongside allantoin and panthenol so it's moisturizing and soothing, all working super gently to work on the surface of the skin and deeper into the pores, helping with whiteheads, breakouts, congested pores, blackheads, tone, and texture. [...] This approach to gentler, more often exfoliation has improved the state of my rosacea quite significantly."
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"I use low percentages more often with great results, and this is a very low percentage double chemical exfoliant that's really [...] gentle and can be used as a daily exfoliant. It has betaine salicylate, which is a moisturizing version of BHA, and glycolic acid as well. It's very gentle and works on texture and tone without over-exfoliating."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner?

A toner combining AHA (glycolic acid) and BHA (betaine salicylate) exfoliants, designed to refine skin texture and keep pores clear.

Is COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner worth it?

Yes. All 6 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 80%.

What is COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner's Guru Score?

COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner holds a Guru Score of 80%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 6 expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner best for?

COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner is generally suited to oily skin and acne-prone skin.

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