Versus

Prettywell Feel Alive PHA + BHA Gentle Exfoliating Toner Versus Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner

Toner
Exfoliator
Indonesian Brand Indonesia
Korean Brand South Korea

Updated on December 19, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe . They have a total of 2 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA and ceramides

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and scar healing

Free From

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

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

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.

Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.

In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

Learn more about Salicylic Acid

When to use

9 Routines
11% use in am
89% use in pm
44% use every day
717 Routines
14% use in am
86% use in pm
39% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Prettywell Feel Alive PHA + BHA Gentle Exfoliating Toner 10 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 1 rating
Absorbs Well (1) Great Value (1) Light (1)
kazetachinu's avatar

kaze tachinu

6 months ago
Review

meredakan jerawat meradang, minimal ingredients

#great value
#light
#absorbs well

Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner 34 ingredients

4.4 /5
from 16 ratings
Works Well (12) Light (9) Great Value (8)
Cheeks's avatar

Cheeks

4 months ago
Review

This is an amazing exfoliator! She is affordable, powerful, little to no scent, non drying and has the added bonus of practical packaging! I use this every 5 days as the only exfoliating product in my routine and she just wipes any closed comedones, sebaceous filaments, clogged pores etc right off. Though it mentions a fragrance there is little to no scent detected for me and I am sensitive to Show more

#great value
#hydrating
#absorbs well
#no scent
raggedrobbin's avatar

raggedrobbin

10 months ago
Review

I've tried both Paula's Choice and Isntree's BHA toners and I find that for my sensitive but acne prone skin this Anua one is far superior. It doesn't have as much of a sticky feeling as the other two (but still some) and also didn't dehydrate or sensitise my skin as much, while still drastically improving my blackheads and acne bumps.

I believe this to be way more beginner-user and sensitive Show more

#great value
#light
#no scent
#works well