Category: BHAs

Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) get deep down into pores to loosen and dissolve accumulated sebum, sweat, dirt, and dead skin cells, preventing breakouts and reducing the appearance of pores.

  • The Best of NIOD and The Ordinary 2021: My Picks for Deciem’s Slowvember Sale

    It’s that time of year again! The clocks have shifted back an hour, darkness falls before 6pm, Mariah Carey has risen from her slumber to lay claim to her rightful season of power, and the days have begun their inexorable march to that date that basically every brand and retailer in the United States waits…

  • Off-Blog: Sheet Mask Ingredients, Anti-Aging Lessons, Acids Prep

    I don’t post nearly as much here as I do on Instagram, but I am always writing something! Here are my latest articles on other sites. GlowieCo and I have developed a good relationship primarily based on our shared love of Taiwanese sheet masks. I’ve wanted to write a big sheet mask ingredient guide for…

  • Reader Questions: Recognizing and Treating Overexfoliation

    Recognize the signs of overexfoliation and learn how to treat and prevent it for improved skin health.

  • Do You Need Actives in Your Skincare Routine?

    I know I haven’t been great about answering comments and questions here latelyand I’m super sorry and am working to catch up!, but since I manually approve every comment that comes through, I have still been reading them. Lately I’ve noticed one particular type of question come up more often than most. Lots of you…

  • How to Exfoliate: Multitasking with Chemical Exfoliants

    The most recent episode of the Snailcast was all about acids and how to exfoliate safely and effectively, and I’m super bummed because I wasn’t able to join thanks to moving hassles. But the topic got me thinking about acids and reminded me that I’ve been doing mine in a different way than I used to. A…

  • Review: COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

    COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid keeps pores clear without excessive risk of irritation.

  • COSRX News: COSRX Now Available Stateside!

    Good news for those of you who have been dying to try out the COSRX products I’ve been raving about, but who have been hesitant to order from Korean sites (or annoyed at the long shipping times from Korea to the US): A US-based K-beauty retailer now carries a nice variety of COSRX products! Cupidrop has…

  • Review: COSRX Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol

    Have you ever accidentally bought the wrong product, but then the product came all the way from Korea and returning it would be way too much hassle so you tried it out anyway, and the product ended up taking you on a journey of discovery? No? Really? Just me?

  • Spring/Summer 2015 Routine Overhaul Status: Complete!

    I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: flexibility is critical to maintaining healthy skin. Your skin is a complex living ecosystem, subject to all sorts of ever-changing influences, like diet, lifestyle, stress levels, living environment, overall climate, and day-to-day fluctuations in the weather. And if that wasn’t complicated enough, just about anyone’s skin…

  • Brand Spotlight: COSRX

    If you’ve been following the changes I’ve made to my skin care routine recently, then you may have noticed that I’ve swapped out my trusty Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid and 8% AHA Gel for a Korean brand you may not be as familiar with: COSRX. COSRX, whose sister brands include C20 (makers of the famous C20…