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Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid.

Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid
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About this product

A 2% salicylic acid (BHA) chemical exfoliating liquid that combines chestnut and willow bark extracts with hydrating ingredients to clarify pores and improve skin texture.

Full ingredients

Guru Score

88%

Yay

7 experts · Moderate agreement
Guru Certified
Broad expert consensus
7Gurus
7Yay
0Mixed
0Nay

What they liked

  • Hydrating formula that doesn't strip or sting
  • Watery texture, easy to apply with a cotton pad

What they flagged

    Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

    What the gurus are saying

    This BHA formula stands out for delivering chemical exfoliation with a hydrating feel rather than a drying one, thanks to humectants and chestnut-derived tannins that support the skin barrier while the salicylic acid works on congestion and acne. The clarifying extracts help reduce inflammation gently without stripping moisture, and the formula tackles hyperpigmentation and uneven texture alongside typical BHA benefits like pore clarity. Those with combination or dehydrated skin may especially appreciate the softer, more comfortable experience compared to harsher alternatives.
    Synthesized from 7 expert reviews · most recent take March 2026

    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 Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
    Yay
    "This one's a really nice option. It's 3.38 ounces and it's $10.50, so this one will save you about $25ish dollars. It's got 2% salicylic acid. It's got licorice root and [allantoin] for soothing. Yeah, so it's a very nice alternative in my opinion to the [Paula's Choice], which is getting kind of pricey."
    Yay
    "This product has earned its reputation. [...] It actually does work so well for reducing texture and congestion and really getting that good amount of salicylic acid into the skin. I think Isntree is a little bit of a nicer experience, a little bit more hydration, a little bit more plumping, a little bit softer, a little bit gentler on the [...] skin. I really do appreciate the way that this delivers into the skin with a kiss of hydration. [...] I am happy with it not just as a cheap dupe, but I think as in some circles a superior product."
    All 4 takes from Kelly Driscoll
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    "The additional ingredients in here [...] lift this formula up slightly. [...] I've used both of these products and they're both good and they're both very effective, but I personally do have combination dehydrated skin, so any product that [...] brings a little extra hydration to the table I'm gonna gravitate towards because that's what my skin needs. I really like that there's some extra humectant ingredients in here. This almost feels more like an exfoliating toner than an exfoliating liquid, [...] where it [...] has a slightly more hydrating kind of feel that is just a little bit more pleasant, especially if you're into texture or if you just need every ounce of hydration you can get. I also like that they've included willow bark extract along with the chestnut extract. These are two what I call clarifying ingredients. They're not astringent, they don't strip hydration or moisture from the skin, but they just have that little bit of a clarifying effect, antibacterial effect that can be very beneficial for acne prone or congested skin. They help to reduce the inflammation and they help to gently clarify the skin, which is a really nice additional benefit alongside the two percent salicylic acid which is getting deep down in there and doing the heavy work."
    Fade Hyperpigmentation in 3 Steps
    "Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Liquid is also a goodie. It's one of my favorite ingredients that checks all of these boxes for controlling inflammation and exfoliating the skin. I like it because it's not just anti-inflammatory and exfoliating, great for controlling acne, but it also has an additional benefit for helping to control redness. It helps to reduce redness on the skin partially because of its anti-inflammatory benefits but it's also an ingredient that is used to help with rosacea prone skin. But it also has a brightening effect for hyperpigmentation too. So it's really hitting a lot of the things that we're talking about in today's video in one ingredient."
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    "This product has earned its reputation. [...] It actually does work so well for reducing texture and congestion and really getting that good amount of salicylic acid into the skin. I think Isntree is a little bit of a nicer experience, a little bit more hydration, a little bit more plumping, a little bit softer, a little bit gentler on the [...] skin. I really do appreciate the way that this delivers into the skin with a kiss of hydration. [...] I am happy with it not just as a cheap dupe, but I think as in some circles a superior product."
    Slow Morning, Late Summer Skincare Routine
    "I've actually refilled it with the Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid. I like this bottle because it actually sprays upside down and I love the BHA exfoliation for my back which can be prone to breakouts."
    Yay
    "This one is great because number one it does contain BHA, so even though BHA we think of it more for like pore congestion acne oiliness, it does also offer some chemical exfoliating benefits. It is a chemical exfoliant so it does help with hyperpigmentation, especially acne related, as well as dullness and uneven skin texture and skin tone. [...] It also contains tannin which is derived from chestnut and this is a polyphenol, so rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, along with hyaluronic acid, also really great at hydrating the skin, supporting the skin barrier, overall improving skin hydration, skin texture and skin tone."
    Yay
    "Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid, I really like it. It's really helping to smooth the skin surface and it's not irritating, although I did find that I've been putting it on my neck and I did find that I got a little bit of dryness back here."
    Yay
    "My favorite BHA toner is the Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid. It does contain 2% salicylic acid, but what's different is that it's using a bit of a higher pH, around 3.5 to 4 last time I tested it, and newer research suggests salicylic acid is not pH dependent the way AHAs are. As somebody with a bit more sensitivity I prefer not to use low pH products, they can really disrupt my barrier, and yet I see the same reduction in acne from using this as I do from our Western 2% salicylic acid products at a lower pH. It's watery, so I prefer to apply it onto a cotton pad. It's an incredible product with a very short ingredients list."
    Top Pick: bha toner
    All 2 takes from AliceintheRabbitHole
    20 Isntree Products, RANKED: My Favorite K-Beauty Brand!
    "My favorite BHA toner is the Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid. It does contain 2% salicylic acid, but what's different is that it's using a bit of a higher pH, around 3.5 to 4 last time I tested it, and newer research suggests salicylic acid is not pH dependent the way AHAs are. As somebody with a bit more sensitivity I prefer not to use low pH products, they can really disrupt my barrier, and yet I see the same reduction in acne from using this as I do from our Western 2% salicylic acid products at a lower pH. It's watery, so I prefer to apply it onto a cotton pad. It's an incredible product with a very short ingredients list."
    The BEST Toners | 2023 Best Skincare Products
    "My pick for best exfoliating toner is the Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid. I'm calling it my favorite exfoliating toner, but that is probably because of my skin type, which is dry and acne prone. This is a BHA toner, so it's using salicylic acid, which is oil soluble and can help exfoliate in the hair follicle, making it a really good choice for acne, and it's often recommended for oily skin types as well. This is an easier salicylic acid product for me to use, and because I have sensitive skin that's tough to disrupt my barrier so much, this is a great fit for me. As for texture, this one is very watery, so I prefer to apply it with a cotton round. I don't smell anything in this product. I do think it's interesting that they included chestnut, but I feel the real hero ingredient here is of course the salicylic acid."
    Yay
    "They have a chestnut BHA liquid that's really nice and lightweight."
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    "They have a chestnut BHA liquid that's really nice and lightweight."
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    "They have a BHA Chestnut exfoliating liquid that's like a K-beauty version of the Paula's Choice toner, amazing if you have blackheads."
    K Beauty That Actually Delivers
    "This is one of the most gentle acne products that I've ever used from a K beauty brand, the Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid. And if you've ever used a BHA before, you know that salicylic acid has a tendency to almost like irritate the skin or it can dry it out because it's oil soluble. This is so nice. The chestnut is so soothing. This is like the K beauty version of Paula's Choice BHA exfoliant. It's like the more gentle K beauty version. I love this. It is soothing to the skin. It is wonderful, but it actually does the job. It just does it at a more gentle rate."
    A Post Workout Gym Skincare Routine That Actually Keeps You Glowing
    "This is one of their new products and it is the most gentle BHA toner that I think I've ever used. If you have acne, this is phenomenal. It's for normal to dry skin, but I think oily skin can use it too. I absolutely freaking love it and I love to apply this at night."
    My 21 Favourite Skincare Discoveries Of 2021
    "This is from Isntree. This is a chestnut salicylic acid, it's the two percent clear liquid, and this is a more gentle form of salicylic acid. You know alpha hydroxy acids are water soluble and a lot of people think of them as the gentle alternative to a BHA, but BHAs really stand in a league of their own because they are oil soluble. They help with acne-prone skin, but for a lot of people they can be trying and harsh. This one, this has blown my mind. This toner is like the gentle alternative to the Paula's Choice BHA toner. I have fallen in love with this. And for winter, there are other ingredients in here that act as antioxidants. Why didn't this exist earlier?"
    Finally Addressing My Hair Loss… (while I do my skincare) - My Alopecia Story
    "I have to say this is probably the most gentle BHA that I've ever used. I feel like I can use this before I go out during the day. It is a really light liquid and it just soaks into skin so well, and it doesn't irritate the skin the way that a lot of other BHA products do. This one does have that salicylic acid, but it also has chestnut extract which is wonderful, as well as sodium hyaluronate which is the salt form of hyaluronic acid and it's really nice and hydrating to skin."
    Yay
    "This is a salicylic acid exfoliating product, and it's really really nice. It's again non-intrusive on the skin, it feels like a lightweight toner with no redness, no irritation, no stinging. They use upcycled chestnut shell, so this is the waste from the chestnut industry that they take and extract for this product. Salicylic acid removes dead skin cells, unclogs pores, helps with clogged pores and blackheads, smoothing out skin texture. Chestnut shells contain tannins which can calm the skin, help the appearance of tighter pores as well as controlling sebum, reducing redness and inflammation with some antioxidants too. We have three different types of hyaluronic acids so you don't use this and feel dry and stripped like an old-fashioned astringent toner. I think this will be perfect if you have oily skin, you have an oily T-zone, you're finding that you got a lot of blackheads on your nose and large looking pores on your forehead. I think you're going to love this, I think it would be great for you. One of my favorites."
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    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 Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid?

    A 2% salicylic acid (BHA) chemical exfoliating liquid that combines chestnut and willow bark extracts with hydrating ingredients to clarify pores and improve skin texture.

    Is Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid worth it?

    Yes. All 7 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 88%.

    What is Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid's Guru Score?

    Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid holds a Guru Score of 88%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 7 expert reviewers we have collected. It is also Guru Certified, our mark for products that hold broad approval across many expert reviewers.

    Who is Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid best for?

    Isntree Chestnut BHA 2% Clear Liquid is generally suited to oily skin, combination skin and acne-prone skin.

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