Cosrx Two in One Poreless Power Liquid Review

Cosrx are everyone’s favourite brand because they have simple, super effective products. I’ve continually turned to them for years now, and some of their products are my HG skincare items. They’ve been releasing lots of new products this year, which is very exciting, and this was one of them! Enter the Two in One Poreless Power Liquid. I’ve been using this on and off for the past 5 months and here are my thoughts.

*This product was gifted to me by Cosrx. There was no request to review, I just wanted to.

Purpose & How To

The product confused me a little at first so I’m going to explain it in basic terms.

Essentially, it’s a liquid toner which claims to help cleanse pores, and “tighten” them. I’m guessing the “two in one” name is because of the cleansing and tightening in one.

The product contains 0.1% BHA (Betaine Salicylate) and 88% Willow Bark Water, which are the ingredients incorporated for exfoliation of the pores. The product can be used alone or in conjunction with other AHA/BHA products, because it’s very gentle. Generally, BHA products are aimed at people with more oily, acne-prone skin, to help cleanse pores and control breakouts. I currently use Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid (which contains 4% Betaine Salicylate by comparison) to help control the sebum and the large appearance of the pores across my nose, so I was interested to see how this much lower % BHA product would work out for me.

Directions (as on the box):

“Pump the liquid and gently pat on your face for absorption. To form a better synergy, use with cotton pad and wipe off face avoiding lip and eye area.”

For the intense testing period of around 6 weeks, I was wiping my face most mornings and evenings with a few pumps of this liquid on a cotton pad after cleansing. I tested it as a single acid treatment, and then moved onto the rest of my skincare. I also tested it in conjunction with my Cosrx Blackhead Power Liquid (from hereon out referred to as BPL because seriously, I’m not typing the full name each time) by applying this Poreless Power Liquid first, waiting, then applying BPL and proceeding with my routine. I generally wait at least 10 minutes after any acid application before moving on with my routine (there are lots of opinions out there about wait times, this is just what I do).

Product Details & Ingredients

Full name: Two in One Poreless Power Liquid

Amount: 100ml

Ingredients (as per the product box):

Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Water, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Water, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine Salicylate, Arginine, Betaine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Allantoin, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Cassia Obtusifolia Seed Extract, Menthyl Lactate, Mentha Haplocalix Extract

The ingredients list is short, which is usually a good thing IMO! The first ingredient is the 88% Willow Bark Water. There seems to be mixed information on the properties of this ingredient and I found this article really interesting. It’s generally described by many as being anti-inflammatory and soothing. Betaine salicylate is the BHA, at 0.1%, and is a more gentle BHA than salicylic acid. The pH of the liquid came out at about 4 for me, which is at the very upper end of where BHA is effective, adding to just how gentle this product is.  

Packaging

As always with Cosrx, the packaging is simple but functional. I like the blue label! The pump is ideal for hygienic use and getting the appropriate amount.

Texture & Scent 

The texture is a thick watery substance, which spreads easily, sits on top of skin for a few seconds and then absorbs. Once absorbed I find there’s no residue, and it’s very easy to carry on with my routine. It works well morning or evening, and is a quick, convenient step!

The scent is very light, and kind of sweet chemical? It’s nothing like the unpleasant scent of BPL, which I make do with because the product works so well for me. 

Overall Performance

I’ve been using the product on and off for over 5 months now, both by itself, and paired with my BPL or The Ordinary 7% Glycolic Toning Solution (I usually use either the Blackead Power Liquid OR The Ordinary Glycolic to avoid over-exfoliation). The area I always struggle with, regarding pores, excess sebum, and sebaceous filaments, is mainly on my nose and inner cheeks and so this is the area I really observed for results. My pores are actually really large, and although I don’t have oily skin as such, this is the most oily area of my face. With regards to the term “pore tightening”, you can’t actually “tighten” pores or shrink them. However I’ve found that by using BPL consistently over the past few years, mine can appear smaller and less noticeable. Here’s what I found when trying to achieve those results with this product…

By itself, with no other acid use, this gentle product was not really enough to exfoliate my pores the way I like. It did not have the same desirable effect as my BPL, which is not surprising considering the Blackhead Power Liquid has 4% BHA, and this only has 0.1%. I did notice some reduction in sebum though.

However, when I used this Poreless Power Liquid combined with the BPL, I think the Two in One Poreless Power Liquid seemed to boost the results of the Blackhead Power Liquid and help it act more quickly and efficiently. My sebaceous filaments appeared even smaller and less gunked up by using the two combined, which was nice! Because they both work at a similar pH, they were easy to layer. Both absorbed well into my skin, and are really easy to incorporate into any morning or evening routine. I was pleased.

So is the product a necessity? Ultimately for me, it isn’t a game changer, but it is a nice addition to my lineup and a product I will continue to use in conjunction with my other acids. A lot of people I speak to in the skincare community prefer weak, gentle acid products, and I feel like it would work really well for people with those preferences! It would also probably be a good starter product for those interested but a bit hesitant about acids.

My main advice about this product is don’t expect miracles. For the results I want, I need something with a higher % than 0.1, and that could be the same or different for you guys. 

On most sites I’m seeing this product at around $22. That’s around the same price, if not a dollar or two more, than my beloved Blackhead Power Liquid that I’ve mentioned a million times in this post. I think the price is okay. Having said that, I probably wouldn’t repurchase this, but instead spend my money on repurchasing my 4th BPL (or it might be my 5th!). I’d love to hear if any of you whose skin does prefer those lower % products have tried this? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!