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.

Best for

Oily skin Acne-prone skin

Type

Masks & PeelsLiquid

Key actives

Hyaluronic acid Salicylic acid (BHA)

Formula notes

Contains fragranceNo drying alcohol

Full ingredients

Opuntia Ficus-Indica (Cactus) Extract, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Gluconolactone, Sodium Polyglutamate, Betaine Salicylate, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Lactobacillus/Watermelon Fruit Ferment Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Brassica Oleracea Capitata (Cabbage) Leaf Extract, Ipomoea Batatas Root Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Fragrance/Parfum

Guru Score

73%

Mixed

3 experts · Moderate agreement

3Gurus

1Approved

1Mixed

1Skip

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 3 expert reviews · most recent take December 2024

Where to buy

Find it at Amazon → Compare prices on Google Shopping →

How it works Independent by design. Every take comes from a creator we have no relationship with. We do not ask anyone to review, and affiliate links never move a score.

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

James Welsh

1.58M subs

~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

The Worst Of Beauty TikTok - Dodgy Derms, Rhode Nut Allergy & Questionable Skincare Hacks! Jan 2024

"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."

Best Skincare / Beauty Products Of 2023 - Skin, Hair, Fragrance, Best Brand! 💜 James Welsh

"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."

The Best And Worst Products From GLOW RECIPE- My Honest Thoughts 1 Year Later 💜 James Welsh

"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."

The Weird History Of The Pimple Patch, Neck Care & More - Oct - Nov Tiktok Compilation

Viral Skincare Products & Their BETTER Alternatives - Tiktok Skincare Compilation

"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."

Hyram

4.35M subs

~Skip

"The Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight Toner, I think pass, if I remember right, because I believe they do use natural fragrance. Their fragrance components aren't super bad, but I usually prefer products without fragrance, so I'm going to have to say pass, but I do love Glow Recipe."

AliceintheRabbitHole

59k subs

~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."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

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?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 73%.

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 73%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.