You ever spend a few hours on TikTok, just watching blackhead pulling or pimple popping videos? Same. Here’s the thing, the blackheads on my nose have annoyed me for literally years. My own mother has always pointed them out, saying how obvious they look. And yes, I am that girl who will stare at herself in the mirror, just squeezing the blackheads out. I’ve bruised my nose a few times from doing this, no joke.

Then, in August of 2022, I saw somebody rave about the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid on Tik Tok. I know of a few friends who used it on and off, so I always thought it was kinda gimmicky. Like come on, a product that can banish blackheads? But then again, there’s something about Tik Tok that just really influences me to buy or do something, so I caved and bought the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and decided to try it out for myself.

COSRX is one of my favourite brands of all time, so I already had high hopes for this product. Let me tell you RN, this thing works, but it’s going to take a while. I’ve been using it (somewhat) consistently since mid last year, and there are still some blackheads, but it’s not even satisfying to use a nose strip anymore because there just aren’t that much blackheads to pull out.

Facts in a Flash

Skin Type: Sensitive, dehydrated, combination

Main function:

  • Clear clogged pores
  • Prevent breakouts & reduce marks from spots
  • Balance oil production

Star ingredients:

  • Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Water
  • Betaine Salicylate
  • Niacinamide

Texture: Slightly watery

The COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

The first thing to know about the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is that it contains 4% Beta Hydroxy Acid. BHAs are oil-soluble, which means that they can get really deep into the pores, penetrate the oil, and dissolve it.

Some common types of BHA that you’ll probably have noticed in a lot of skincare products are Salicylic Acid, Betaine Salicylate, and Salix Alba. The BHA in the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid contains both Betaine Salicylate, which provides a timed release exfoliation that works long after the skin dries down, as well as Salix Alba, which is known to clear clogged pores, and improve the skin tone and texture.

The second thing to know about the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is that although BHAs can help with fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture, and reduce acne, it takes a little bit of time and practice to use it as it does require some tolerance. It’s totally safe to be used everyday, but it’s not recommended to be used daily if you have sensitive or dry skin. Even if you have oily or combination skin, it’s still best to try it out slowly before incorporating it in your daily skincare routine.

My Experience with the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

Imagine this: blackheads just all over the nose, so densely packed and hardened that I can pull them out super easily with a pair of tweezers. Which I used to do all the time, but the pores just kept filling back up and wouldn’t go away. Using nose strips would be super satisfying (and painful) too, but I’d do it anyway even though you’re not supposed to use it often.

I have dehydrated, sensitive, and combination skin (no literally, my dermatologist told me I have all the possible skin types). My T-zone and chin are oily, but my cheeks are dry AF. Sometimes I get bouts of clogged pores too, but it’s not a main concern of mine.

How Often I Use the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

Because I know I have very sensitive skin, I practise skin cycling, which means that I rotate my skincare products daily. This means that I only use the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid every other day at night time, and TBH I’m just too scared to use it more often than that. But, I have been using it since August of 2022 (I literally have the receipts showing when I bought the product), and I can tell you that there is actually a difference. Again, I only use it every other day at most and only at night time, and I basically only use half a pump, so there’s still a lot in the bottle.

Here’s how I use it: I use a facial cleanser, apply toner, followed by the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid , and finish off with a moisturiser. I only apply the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid on my nose, on my chin, and wherever I have clogged pores. I avoid my cheeks because my cheeks are sensitive and I don’t really have any issues there, and I also tend to let it dry before putting on my moisturiser. The COSRX website recommends letting the product fully absorb before applying the next step, so I do that.

How the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid Feels on My Skin

It has a slightly watery consistency, and it doesn’t have a scent, which is great for us sensitive skin girlies. When I apply it on my skin, I feel like it takes quite a while to absorb, which is different than what other people have been saying about the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. As it absorbs into my skin, I find that the pores on my nose will get a lot oilier, which I believe is when the Power Liquid is dissolving the oils inside my pores from the inside out.

The Results

I’ve been using this for almost a year now, and although I can’t say that this works overnight, it definitely works to get rid of blackheads and to reduce my pores. It was about a month into using this product that I realised that I had less blackheads, and I won’t stop using it until they’re all gone.

I find that although I still do have some blackheads/sebaceous filaments on my nose, it’s a lot harder to squeeze them out or pull them out with a nose strip just because there aren’t many blackheads left. They’re still there, but they’re much less noticeable. I’ll definitely continue using the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, and I think I might even use it more often now. Maybe we’ll get an update to this post in a few months…?

Insider’s Ratings

Pros

  1. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive
  2. Clears clogged pores and acne
  3. Reduces appearance of pores and texture

Cons

  1. Best for experienced BHA users
  2. Sunscreen needs to be used if applied during the day
  3. Needs to be fully absorbed before applying the next product

Verdict

I really love this product. There’s a lot less blackheads on my nose, and it works great to clear clogged pores. You do need to build up some tolerance to it, and you can’t use it with other acids like AHAs, BHAs, Retionols & Vitamin C, but it’s not an issue in my personal skincare routine. It also does take some time to work, but you’ll definitely start to see results within about a month or so.

Price: RM 55

Where to buy: Lazada

If you enjoyed this article, be sure to follow Beauty Insider on Facebook and Instagram! MY