Product Review: Paula's Choice BHA Toner

Hey beauties! A question I get a lot from readers is whether or not the SA toner is necessary to clear the skin, or can they just use any toner.

Salicylic acid will help to dissolve existing clogs. It's really the hemp oil that does the healing and prevention of future clogs. So the answer is, the SA toner is not absolutely necessary, but it will speed the process.


That being said:

In order to clear your skin, you need to stop using any products that could exacerbate clogging. My theory is that you need to use as few ingredients as possible, so you know exactly what you're getting.

Most, if not all, commercially available toners have many ingredients. It's impossible to know, just by looking at the label, if any one of those ingredients will cause more clogs. You have to examine each and every ingredient separately.

Let's take a look, for example, at Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. Here's what it's supposed to do:

• Effective for: Acne Breakouts, Anti-Aging, Blackheads, Enlarged Pores, Keratosis Pilaris, Redness, Wrinkles
• Liquid formula exfoliates to reveal smoother, firmer, younger-looking skin
• Calms redness and builds collagen
• Gentle yet still effective on the most stubborn acne and blackheads
• Unclogs and diminishes enlarged pores
• Creates radiant, clear, even-toned skin
• Anti-inflammatory ingredients reduce signs of rosacea

 Sounds awesome! Exfoliant is good! BHA is good! Salicylic acid is a BHA! 

Here's the ingredient list:

Water, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol (slip agents/penetration enhancers), Salicylic Acid (beta hydroxy acid/exfoliant), Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract (anti-irritant/antioxidant), Polysorbate-20 (solubolizing agent), Sodium Hydroxide (pH balancer), Tetrasodium EDTA (chelating agent).  

Conclusions

Problems: the comedogenicity for some of these ingredients is unknown; Sodium hydroxide is highly alkaline; tetrasodium EDTA is carcinogenic; and penetration enhancers can be irritating to the skin.

I don't see anything egregious about this product, but to me, there are too many unknowns. I would much rather use the simple SA, water, and pH balancer blend for a toner because I know that none of those ingredients will hurt my skin or cause clogs.

MIRI

click the link for a more detailed overview of the clogged pore cure.