Yes, part of the packaging broke... more on that in the post...
Hello everyone! It's been a while since I last made a post, but I'm back with another skincare review. Today, I will be sharing my thoughts on the Cosrx Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol and whether or not it is worth checking out. Spoiler alert: it is.
So what exactly is the Cosrx Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol and what does it do? Well, it's essentially a spot-treatment solution that works to prevent and control acne. With its key ingredients such as BHA, AHA, and propolis, this product chemically exfoliates the skin, helping to manage and eliminate acne. The product itself is clear and thin, similar to water.
Price: ~$15 (I bought this on sale at Jolse for ~$13).
Ingredients: Propolis extract, alcohol, butylene glycol, soduim lactate, lactic acid, glycolic acid, betaine salicylate, sodium hyaluronate, panthenol, allaintoin, cassia obtusifolia seed extract, 1,2-hexanediol, ethyl hexanediol, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil
Notable Ingredients:
- Interestingly, even though BHA is in the name of this product, it actually contains more AHA. Both lactic acid and glycolic acid (the AHA's in this product) come up on the ingredient list before the BHA ingredient, betaine salicylate. *Note: when looking at ingredient lists, ingredients are in order according to it's amount, from greatest to least. The A-Sol contains 1% of betain salicylate (BHA), but the percentage for AHA is not provided.
- Propolis, a wonderful ingredient for acne, is the main ingredient in this product. Produced by bees, propolis is known for its antibacterial properties, working to fight acne germs and heal wounds.
- Cassia obtusifolia seed extract is said to be great for reducing red, inflamed skin.
- Another thing I found interesting about the ingredients is that there are many moisturizing ingredients in this list: butylene glycol, panthenol, 1,2-hexanediol, and ethyl hexanediol. My guess is that without these ingredients, the solution can dry out the skin. This hypothesis may be correct since I find that the A-Sol does not dry out the skin compared to other BHA and AHA products I have tried.
- In mornings/evenings, after facial wash, apply product thinly on troubled areas (areas with many dead skin cells or sebum).
- Tap gently with finger tips to absorb the product into the skin.
In my skincare routine, I apply the A-Sol after my toner. This way, I can get the most out of the product, without having layers of other products for the A-Sol to work through. Although some people use the A-Sol as a toner, I personally apply it to the areas of my face where I'm breaking out. I also apply it to rising spots and bumps that are on the process of becoming pimples.
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| Claims: Controls oil while helping to clear recurring pimples. |
My thoughts:
I got to say, this product is fantastic. I find that it works extremely well in combating and controlling acne. I use it on spots where I see they are on the beginning stages of forming into major pimples. I apply the A-Sol twice a day (morning and night) for a couple of days, and these spots go away. Amazing right? I also apply it areas of my face where I tend to breakout the most (such as the forehead), and it has prevented my acne on those areas from worsening. Interestingly, I find that the A-Sol works very well on cyst pimples. I don't get cyst pimples often, but when they do, I simply apply the A-Sol (again, twice a day for a couple of days) and they start to decrease in size and redness. After using this product for around five months, I find that this product eliminates pimples 7 out of 10 times. There are a couple of instances when the A-Sol has not helped in preventing a pimple from forming, but it has worked to prevent and eliminate most of the time.
Additionally, I like how the A-Sol is made up of chemical exfoliants (AHA and BHA). Having both types of chemical exfoliates in a product has benefits: you get the exfoliation benefit of AHA's and the deep-cleaning-of-the-pores benefit of the BHA. However, I can see how the name of the product can be misleading: it is advertised as a BHA product, but in actuality, it has both...which can pose a problem for those who simply want a BHA-only product. AHA's and BHA's are both classified as chemical exfoliants, but they both have different functions on the skin. So, if you're looking for a BHA-only product, the A-Sol may not be the best choice. For me personally, I don't mind using a combination of both as my skin needs both AHA's and BHA's.
I also love that propolis is the main ingredient of this product. Propolis has many great benefits to the skin, especially for acne-prone skin. It's antibacterial, which eliminates bacteria from mixing with dead skin cells to form those unwanted pimples. Plus, it heals acne too.
Another pro is that the A-Sol lasts for a long time. I've been using this twice a day (morning and night) for the past 6 months and I still have some product left. Which is great for my wallet I must say.
One claim that this product states is that it controls oil. Although I do find my overall oil production has decreased, I do not think the A-Sol was the only factor that helped in decreasing the oiliness. I think other factors, such as an improved skin barrier also helped to decrease oil production. Another claim is that it is suitable for sensitive skin. I personally don't have sensitive skin, but on a few accounts, this product did sting. It doesn't happen with every use, but it did stung on a number of occasions. It does contain tea tree oil, which may be the cause of its stinginess, but overall, this product doesn't sting too often.
An ingredient to point out though, is the addition of alcohol in the ingredient lists. I am aware that many people are wary of alcohol in their skincare, fearing that it may worsen acne-prone skin. However, as someone who also has acne-prone skin, using this product has not dried out my skin or worsen my acne. As with most products with alcohol in it, it is used to increase the absorption of the product. However, you know your skin the best: if your skin is okay with it, use it; if not, don't use it.
Also to note, the packaging is easily breakable. I have the tendency to drop things, and when dropping things, I've dropped this product multiple times. In these cases, some of the packaging broke off, piece by piece (as seen in the photo). So, to all the people with clumsy hands like myself, be wary of dropping the bottle! I need to take this advice myself too. Interesting enough though, this product has the nicest bottle/packaging compared to all the Cosrx products I own. But, I do wish I could visibly see how much product I still have left from looking at the bottle.
In terms of scent, it has a herbal-medical scent to it (perhaps because of the added tea tree oil to the ingredients?). The scent is not pleasant, but bearable.
Pros:
- Eliminates pimples/acne (at its beginning stages) most of the time
- Helps to prevent acne from worsening
- Product lasts for a long time
Cons:
- Stings (on a few occasions)
- Packaging is some-what poor
- Doesn't necessarily control oil
Overall, I found that the A-Sol eliminated most of my pimples. It has been extremely helpful for my skin, as it prevented my acne from worsening. It is such a staple in my routine that I actually have ordered another bottle. It is a great product for those with acne-prone skin. IT'S DEFINITELY A RECOMMEND.
4 out of 5
**Update 3/4/19: This product is my Holy Grail! I am still using this product, but not for daily use. I apply this every few days or when a pimple appears. This products works wonders in preventing pimples from appearing and also reducing inflamed acne. I now give this product a 5 out of 5.
