COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid Versus COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid versus COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on March 07, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe . They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA and hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

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COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive

Exfoliator South Korean Brand

Toner South Korean Brand

Exfoliator

Exfoliators are used to exfoliate the skin, or remove dead skin cells from the skin. Exfoliators may be chemical or physical.

Toners are used as a “last-step” cleanser, a pH balancer, add moisture to the skin, or may help in reducing impurities on the skin. They have a liquid consistency and are usually used after cleansers but before treatments.

Price

Shop

Buy BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

Starts at $12.49

Shop

Buy AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive

Starts at $14.99

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid 10 ingredients

COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive 25 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

ph level

4.85

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid 10 ingredients

COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive 25 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Niacinamide

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Dark Spots

Acne Fighting

Brightening

Concerns

Rosacea

Notable Ingredients

AHA (2)

BHA

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating

Good For Oily Skin (2)

Redness Reducing (2)

Reduces Irritation (3)

Skin Texture (2)

Reduces Large Pores (3)

Anti-Aging (2)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing (4)

Acne Fighting (2)

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying

May Worsen Oily Skin

Irritating (3)

Rosacea (5)

Eczema (3)

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid 10 ingredients

COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive 25 ingredients

Salix Alba Bark Water • Butylene Glycol • Betaine Salicylate • Niacinamide • 1,2-Hexanediol • Arginine • Panthenol • Sodium Hyaluronate • Xanthan Gum • Ethyl Hexanediol

Propolis Extract • Alcohol • Butylene Glycol • Water • Sodium Lactate • Dimethyl Sulfone • Betaine • Lactic Acid • Betaine Salicylate • 1,2-Hexanediol • Glycolic Acid • Polysorbate 20 • Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract • Ethyl Hexanediol • Panthenol • Allantoin • Sodium Hyaluronate • Polysorbate 60 • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Zinc PCA • Parfum • Asiaticoside • Asiatic Acid • Madecassic Acid • Limonene

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Butylene Glycol

What it does: Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
It helps improve product application.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid contains this as ingredient number 2.

COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive contains this as ingredient number 3.

Betaine Salicylate

What it does: Antimicrobial

Community Rating: Liked

Betaine Salicylate is a salicylic acid alternative. It is created with betaine and salicylic acid.

Betain Salicylate is a keralytic ingredient. This means it breaks down the top layer of skin. Due to its similarity to salicylic acid, it can be considered a BHA alternative.

This ingredient is most effective at a pH range of 3.8-4.2.

Learn more about Betaine Salicylate

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid contains this as ingredient number 3.

COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive contains this as ingredient number 9.

1,2-Hexanediol

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

1,2-Hexanediol is a multi-tasker ingredient. It acts as a preservative to increase shelf-life and can aid other preservatives in preventing microbe growth. 1,2-Hexanediol also helps the skin retain moisture as a humectant.

In products that are water-based, this ingredient can help stabilize perfumes and fragrances. It can also help make the texture of products softer and more smooth.

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid contains this as ingredient number 5.

COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive contains this as ingredient number 10.

Panthenol

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Panthenol (also referred to as pro-vitamin B5) is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin.

lt is a humectant, meaning that it helps the skin attract and retain moisture.

Another benefit is the anti-inflammatory abilities. This means that it's great for sensitive, irritation-prone skin.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

Learn more about Panthenol

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid contains this as ingredient number 7.

COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive contains this as ingredient number 15.

Sodium Hyaluronate

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid contains this as ingredient number 8.

COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive contains this as ingredient number 17.

Ethyl Hexanediol

What it does: Solvent

Community Rating: Mixed

Ethyl Hexanediol is an aliphatic alcohol. It is a solvent.

Solvents are used to keep ingredients together in a product. They can help dissolve ingredients to stable bases or help evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product.

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid contains this as ingredient number 10.

COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive contains this as ingredient number 14.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid 10 ingredients

COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive 25 ingredients

50% are loved or liked

40% have mixed ratings

10% are disliked or very disliked

0% have no rating yet

60% are loved or liked

16% have mixed ratings

20% are disliked or very disliked

4% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid 10 ingredients

COSRX AC Collection Calming Liquid Intensive 25 ingredients

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid 10 ingredients

3.9 /5

from 24 ratings

Works Well (4) Great Value (4) Light (4) No Scent (4) Absorbs Well (3) Doesn't Work (2)

sword

5 months ago · Oily Skin

Review

Gently Exfoliates
I decided to try a leave-on exfoliator rather than an exfoliating cleanser because I noticed I kept getting irritation from...

Gently Exfoliates
I decided to try a leave-on exfoliator rather than an exfoliating cleanser because I noticed I kept getting irritation from exfoliating cleansers. This Cosrx one is really gentle and pleasant. It takes a few minutes for it to absorb into my skin, but afterwards I get very little irritation and my skin texture and pore appearance have definitely improved.

COSRX

BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

tsmeu

5 months ago · Dry Skin

Review

This was only the second BHA product that I ever tried and got this because I just don't enjoy the skin feel of the Paula's Choice 2% BHA liquid...

This was only the second BHA product that I ever tried and got this because I just don't enjoy the skin feel of the Paula's Choice 2% BHA liquid (which I used on/off for years), and this was recommended by fiddysnails who has a similar skin type and concerns to mine. I do like that this leaves no residue but I just don't find this to be very effective.

I have dry combo skin and very rarely deal with breakouts - the only reason I use BHA is to help keep the pores on my nose and chin clear of sebacious filaments. I also use peptides in my routine so I don't want a BHA that I need to use every day, as I haven't been able to find conclusive information on whether acids really make peptides less effective and for now choose to use them on alternate days. I find that this product when used every other day just isn't enough to keep my pores clear of gunk. Maybe my skin just responds better to salicylic acid than to betaine salicylate which this uses.

COSRX

BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

Light

No Scent

Doesn't Work