COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid Ingredients Explained

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on October 05, 2020. Submitted by GreatGagger.

Overview

What it is

Exfoliator with 10 ingredients that contains BHA, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide

Cool Features

It is vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe

Suited For

It has ingredients that are good for fighting acne, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores and dark spots

Free From

It doesn't contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

Fun facts

COSRX is from South Korea. This product is used in 855 routines created by our community.

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

Ingredient List (10)

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You should know

Here's our breakdown of the notable ingredients, benefits, and concerns we determined from the ingredients in this product. Click any item to learn more.

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

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant 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

Ingredients Overview

Here's our quick-to-read summary of the ingredients in this product. Keep scrolling if you'd like to learn more about what each ingredient does!
Ingredient
Features
1
Astringent, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic
2
Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
1 / 0
3
Antimicrobial
BHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon
4
Smoothing
Niacinamide IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Dark Spots IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin Icon
5
Skin Conditioning, Solvent
6
Masking, Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon
7
Skin Conditioning
0 / 0
Helps reduce irritation Icon
8
Humectant, Skin Conditioning
0 / 0
Hyaluronic Acid Icon
9
Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
10
Solvent

Ingredients Explained

This product contains 10 ingredients. Click on any ingredient to learn more about it
1
What it does: Astringent, Skin Conditioning, Soothing, Tonic
Community Rating: Mixed

Salix Alba Bark Water is created by distilling parts from the white willow tree. The white willow tree is native to Europe and Central Asia.

Salix Alba Bark has often been described as salicylic acid's cousin. This is due to the salicin it contains. However, studies are limited showing salix alba bark to be an effective salicylic acid alternative.

Salicin does have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has shown to decrease the formation of inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor-kappa B. Salicin also has a mildly exfoliating effect on the skin.

As an astringent, salix alba bark water helps tighten the skin by drawing water out. This helps reduce the appearance of large pores.

Learn more about Salix Alba Bark Water
2
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.

3
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
4
What it does: Smoothing
Community Rating: Liked

Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.

It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.

Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.

The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.

When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.

Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.

Learn more about Niacinamide
5
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.

6
What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.

As a cosmetic ingredient, Arginine has antioxidant properties and can also help repair damaged skin.

Arginine is derived either synthetically or from animals.

Arginine isn't fungal acne safe when used in the presence of other lipids (fats, fatty acids, oils, esters, etc). Oils and fats occur naturally within the skin, so you should take caution when using Arginine if you're prone to fungal acne.

Learn more about Arginine
7
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
8
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

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
9
What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum
10
What it does: Solvent

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.

Embed Ingredients

Here's what our community thinks of the 10 ingredients in this product ✨

40% are loved or liked
40% have mixed ratings
10% are disliked or very disliked
10% have no rating yet

When to use

We've created a guide with info on when you should use COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. We've also included some recommended products to use it with, as well as some routine inspiration!

Read our guide on when to use BHA Blackhead Power Liquid ->
Verified by SkinSort

We're dedicated to providing you with the most up-to-date and science-backed ingredient info out there.

The data we've presented on this page has been verified by a member of the SkinSort Team.

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Latest Reviews

View all 10
Pronicio's Avatar'
Nov 30, 2023

Excellent exfoliant for all skin types, including sensitive skin and acne. Very effective for oily skin. May irritate, do not apply to damp skin.

Excellent exfoliant for all skin types, including sensitive skin and acne. Very effective for oily skin. May irritate, do not apply to damp skin.

Great Value
Irritating
Light
Absorbs Well
No Scent
Works Well
ChristopherGarrick_790's Avatar'
Nov 22, 2023

Clear skin magic
This product can be used daily even if you have sensitive skin because it is a very gentle exfoliant that rarely irritates the skin and within 3-4 says, I noticed tremendous changes to my skin

Clear skin magic
This product can be used daily even if you have sensitive skin because it is a very gentle exfoliant that rarely irritates the skin and within 3-4 says, I noticed tremendous changes to my skin

Read more reviews ->

Alternatives

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