Side-by-side comparison

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid vs Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner

Both exfoliants contain Salicylic Acid, but each adds something the other doesn't. Here's where they overlap and where they split.

1Shared hero active
COSRX
BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
ExfoliantMid-rangeEvening only
AcneRough TextureOilinessSensitive skinDamaged barrier

4% betaine salicylate — a gentler salicylic-acid equivalent derived from sugar beet — with niacinamide and willow bark water. Better tolerated than a straight 2% BHA, though effectively similar in function for surface blackheads and congestion.

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Glow Recipe
Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner
ExfoliantPremiumEvening only
CongestionRough TextureOiliness

A gentle PHA-and-BHA toner with watermelon and hyaluronic acid for pores and texture. A milder daily-ish exfoliating toner with a hydrating slant; fragranced, so patch test if reactive.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

Both contain Salicylic Acid. COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid adds Niacinamide. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner adds PHA. Pick the one whose extra matches what you're treating. COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is the better fit for acne; Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner for congestion. On price, COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is the less expensive option (Mid-range versus Premium).

The overlap

What they share

This hero active appears in both formulas:

Salicylic Acid
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid — top of the list

  • Water~50–80%
  • Betaine Salicy…4%
  • Butylene Glycol~3–10%
  • Niacinamide~2–6%
  • 1,2-Hexanediol~1.5–4%

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Citrullus Lanat…~5–25%
  • Glycerin~3–10%
  • Butylene Glycol~2–6%
  • Gluconolactone~1.5–4%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power LiquidGlow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner
CategoryExfoliantExfoliant
Price tierMid-rangePremium
Best forAcne, Rough Texture, OilinessCongestion, Rough Texture, Oiliness
Usage notesEvening onlyEvening only
Shared hero activesSalicylic Acid
Questions

Common questions

Is the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid or the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner better?
It depends on what you're treating. Both contain Salicylic Acid; COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid adds Niacinamide; Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner adds PHA.
What's the difference between the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner?
COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid's hero actives are Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner's are PHA, Salicylic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid. They also sit in different price tiers (Mid-range versus Premium).
Are the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner dupes for each other?
Partly. They share Salicylic Acid, but COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid's Niacinamide and Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner's PHA aren't in the other, so they aren't full substitutes.
Can I use the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner together?
They both fill the exfoliant slot in a routine, so you'd normally pick one. If you like both, use one in the morning and the other at night, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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1 shared hero active

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