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Skin Concern

B

Biffy1993

Oily/Resilient

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Skin Purge or Bad Reaction?

Hello! I just started using Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner a few days ago. From the very first day after use, I started breaking out really bad. I mean, bad. A lot of blackheads/whiteheads and even the kind of pimples that are deeper under the skin (the ones that hurt a lot but almost never come to a head). I'm just wondering if anyone else experienced this and went through a skin purge? Otherwise I'm worried it's just a bad reaction and won't get better. I don't want to stop using it UNLESS I get to around 3 weeks of use and it hasn't gotten better! Side note: I have a large pores and oily skin - I breakout sometimes (usually one week out of the month, but not this bad) and I often have blackheads on any given day. I decided to try this toner on a recommendation I received for clearing acne and shrinking pores đŸ«Ł
AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

COSRX
AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner

star rating

4.4

(1861)

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5936

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36

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4

4 Comments

Ozu user profile picture

Ozu

Oily/Sensitive

The concentration of the AHA/BHA toner is quite low and most probably won’t show immediate purging. The possible cause maybe that your skin barrier is already weak to begin with such that AHA/BHA can quickly causes an irritation on your skin. Before the toner, have you ever introduce other exfoliating acids* or retinoid* or benzoyl peroxide* in your routine? Since your skin is currently irritated, I would highly recommend to stop using it! You may patch test it on skin region behind your ear to test it out again after a few days. If irritation still occurs, you may want to slowly introduce it in your routine. Rules of thumb, avoid using exfoliating acids daily. As your skin barrier seemed to be weak, you should try using it 2-3times per week, mon wed fri or so. Avoid using it with the three ingredients stated above with a ‘*’. Always use a sunscreen the next day after using it, and that use the toner at your PM routine. The mentioned weak skin barrier can be remedied with moisturizer that consists of ceramides😉
upvote

8

comment

0

B

Biffy1993

Oily/Resilient

Thank you for all of this information! I have tried a few different *things you mentioned over the years of my life lol. I've only recently learned about skin purging đŸ€Šâ€â™€ïž and now I look back at those times and sometimes wonder if I was unknowingly purging! Anytime I started using anything that was followed by MORE acne, I immediately stopped using it without giving it a chance. I can't say I've used any of those ingredients lately though, at least not that I can think of/know of. I did try an AHA/BHA/PHA toner a few months ago. The Touch in Sol 'No Poreblem Toner' I tagged. It burned terribly while applying lol, but I actually had some pretty great results from it almost immediately/basically overnight. I forgot to mention that above. This was another reason I decided to try the Cosrx toner. I think I'll try what you've suggested. I'm also going to go do some research to find out how weak skin barrier and pimples are related 😂 because I had no idea that could be a sign of it! There's so much I don't know 😭
No Poreblem AHA BHA PHA Toner

Touch In Sol
No Poreblem AHA BHA PHA Toner

star rating

5.0

(4)

favorite

8

upvote

6

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0

ReviewBoogaloo user profile picture

ReviewBoogaloo

Oily/Resilient

I would wait a few days before trying again, and then only on one patch of skin. It may have been a reaction to other skincare. Sorry to hear that happened to you!
upvote

7

comment

0

B

Biffy1993

Oily/Resilient

It's the only thing I've changed, aside from just not using some of the serums I usually use. I probably should've mentioned that in the og post, just in case. When I bought this, I decided I was going to hold off on everything else to try and clear my face up and shrink pores, and then once it's clear I was planning to start doing other things again by adding one thing at a time over a period of days/weeks. Mainly because I'm not extremely well versed in skincare, but I at least know stuff with AHAs/BHAs can be harmful if mixed with the wrong things. So for right now, it's just my usual cleansers and then this toner.
upvote

4

comment

0

thekeyukemi user profile picture

thekeyukemi

Oily/Sensitive

I think you should give it time. Everyone’s skin is different
upvote

4

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0

asserisco  user profile picture

asserisco

Oily/Sensitive

Strenghtening the skin barrier will be crucial, I really think that’s the issues. That’s not purging, it’is a damaged barrier 😱

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