Index / Glow Recipe / Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner
Glow Recipe

Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner
Masks & Peels

About this product

A toner formulated with polyhydroxy acids (PHA) and Betaine Salicylate (a gentler form of BHA) designed for exfoliation combined with hydration, featuring watermelon extract and tea tree.

Type

Masks & PeelsLiquid

Formula notes

Contains fragranceNo drying alcohol

Full ingredients

Guru Score

82%

Approved

Early verdict · Few reviews so far
2Gurus
1Approved
1Mixed
0Skip

What the gurus are saying

This toner pairs PHA (with larger molecules for shallower penetration than traditional AHAs) and Betaine Salicylate (a gentler alternative to pure Salicylic Acid) instead of stronger actives. Reviewers particularly valued this approach for sensitive and rosacea-prone skin, especially when paired with hydrating cactus water and soothing tea tree extract. One thing to keep in mind: it contains fragrance, so those with fragrance sensitivity may want to patch-test first.
Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take December 2024
Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved takes Critical takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
Approved
"The Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA and BHA pore-tight toner is one of my favorite products of all time, my favorite toner of all time. It's gentle, using betaine salicylate instead of salicylic acid plus a PHA, and takes that Korean approach of teaming exfoliation [...] up with hydration. [...] Moving away from high percentage actives to lower percentage gentler actives more often has transformed my skin, especially for my rosacea, and this toner is the perfect product to do that as it slots easily into my daily routine."
Top Pick: toner
All 5 takes from James Welsh
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"The PHA, which is in this toner, is actually known to be great for sensitive skin. PHAs are known to be, to put it very simply, a gentler version of AHA. Does everything AHAs do, but gentler, and that is down to its larger molecule size, so it doesn't penetrate the skin as deep and as quickly as a regular AHA does. Studies have also shown that PHAs work very well on easily sensitized skin, including rosacea, which is why my skin loves this so much. I have rosacea. And chemical exfoliants can really rubber my skin the wrong way. So this is a perfect regular toner that I can use without bothering my skin. The BHA is actually Betaine Salicylate, which is a mix of Betaine and Salicylic Acid. Again, it's said to be a lot more gentler than pure Salicylic Acid. Like a lot of other K-beauty products, uses Betaine Salicylate instead of Salicylic Acid, purely because of the restrictions that South Korea puts on Salicylic Acid. [...] And to oversimplify, Betaine Salicylate is almost half the strength of Salicylic Acid."
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"With Watermelon, which is rich in antioxidants, we have Betaine Salicylate. So you get that really nice, gentle exfoliation. A mix of Betaine and Salicylic Acid. Polyhydroxy Acids, a very nice, gentle exfoliant. Cactus Water, which helps hydrate and moisturize the skin. Tea Tree Extract, which for me works wonders on soothing my skin and soothing redness. I absolutely love this. I absolutely love it as a toner/essence."
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"I had a cocktail the other day that had cactus water in it and it tasted exactly like this product. I drank it all. But this product just feels light, it's refreshing, it's instantly hydrating. When my skin is craving, dying for some hydration, this is what I go for. I use this every day and night. I absolutely love it. My favorite product of all time, not just Glow Recipe, ever."
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"The Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA and BHA pore-tight toner is one of my favorite products of all time, my favorite toner of all time. It's gentle, using betaine salicylate instead of salicylic acid plus a PHA, and takes that Korean approach of teaming exfoliation [...] up with hydration. [...] Moving away from high percentage actives to lower percentage gentler actives more often has transformed my skin, especially for my rosacea, and this toner is the perfect product to do that as it slots easily into my daily routine."
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"The best product for me has to be their watermelon glow BHA PHA pore tight toner, it's very gentle exfoliation with a load of hydration that gives my rosacea prone skin this immediate glow and hydration you can actually feel, targeting concerns I'd usually need stronger chemical exfoliants for. It uses bain sulfate instead of salicylic acid, a really gentle version of BHA, so it's a great starter exfoliant for those new to exfoliation but also for those who want to exfoliate low and slow. I can't remember when I didn't use [...] this, it's [...] one of my favorite products of all time."
Mixed
"I used to love this. I did like this product, I liked Glow Recipe, and I feel like Glow Recipe is one of those brands where I really liked them for a long time, but more recently I've moved away from them. I still think the products are cute, they're really fun to use, I will absolutely say that. It says PHA and BHA, but the BHA here is actually betaine salicylate, willow bark extract, not salicylic acid, which means this is a much more gentle BHA product compared to something like the Paula's Choice PHA. It also contains fragrance."
Common questions

Frequently asked.

What is Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner?

A toner formulated with polyhydroxy acids (PHA) and Betaine Salicylate (a gentler form of BHA) designed for exfoliation combined with hydration, featuring watermelon extract and tea tree.

Is Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner worth it?

Mostly yes. 1 of the 2 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 82%.

What is Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner's Guru Score?

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner holds a Guru Score of 82%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.

Who is Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner best for?

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner is generally suited to oily skin and acne-prone skin.

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