natalieoneilll.com Open in urlscan Pro
2a06:98c1:3121::3  Public Scan

Form analysis
3 forms found in the DOM

GET https://natalieoneilll.com/

<form class="search-form" method="get" action="https://natalieoneilll.com/" role="search"><input class="search-form-input" type="search" name="s" id="searchform-1" placeholder="Search this website"><input class="search-form-submit" type="submit"
    value="GO">
  <meta content="https://natalieoneilll.com/?s={s}">
</form>

POST https://assets.mailerlite.com/jsonp/552465/forms/101402821583176844/subscribe

<form class="ml-block-form" action="https://assets.mailerlite.com/jsonp/552465/forms/101402821583176844/subscribe" data-code="" method="post" target="_blank">
  <div class="ml-form-formContent">
    <div class="ml-form-fieldRow ">
      <div class="ml-field-group ml-field-name">
        <!-- input -->
        <input aria-label="name" type="text" class="form-control" data-inputmask="" name="fields[name]" placeholder="Name" autocomplete="given-name" aria-invalid="false">
        <!-- /input -->
        <!-- textarea -->
        <!-- /textarea -->
        <!-- select -->
        <!-- /select -->
        <!-- checkboxes -->
        <!-- /checkboxes -->
        <!-- radio -->
        <!-- /radio -->
        <!-- countries -->
        <!-- /countries -->
      </div>
    </div>
    <div class="ml-form-fieldRow ml-last-item">
      <div class="ml-field-group ml-field-email ml-validate-email ml-validate-required">
        <!-- input -->
        <input aria-label="email" aria-required="true" type="email" class="form-control" data-inputmask="" name="fields[email]" placeholder="Email" autocomplete="email" aria-invalid="false">
        <!-- /input -->
        <!-- textarea -->
        <!-- /textarea -->
        <!-- select -->
        <!-- /select -->
        <!-- checkboxes -->
        <!-- /checkboxes -->
        <!-- radio -->
        <!-- /radio -->
        <!-- countries -->
        <!-- /countries -->
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
  <!-- Privacy policy -->
  <!-- /Privacy policy -->
  <input type="hidden" name="ml-submit" value="1" aria-invalid="false">
  <div class="ml-form-embedSubmit">
    <button type="submit" class="primary">Subscribe</button>
    <button disabled="disabled" style="display: none;" type="button" class="loading">
      <div class="ml-form-embedSubmitLoad"></div>
      <span class="sr-only">Loading...</span>
    </button>
  </div>
  <input type="hidden" name="anticsrf" value="true" aria-invalid="false">
</form>

POST

<form action="" method="post" novalidate="">
  <div class="mailerlite-form-title">
    <h3>Newsletter signup</h3>
  </div>
  <div class="mailerlite-form-description">
    <p>Sign up to my skincare newsletter</p>
  </div>
  <div class="mailerlite-form-inputs">
    <div class="mailerlite-form-field">
      <label for="mailerlite-1-field-email">Email</label>
      <input id="mailerlite-1-field-email" type="email" required="required" name="form_fields[email]" placeholder="Email">
    </div>
    <div class="mailerlite-form-field">
      <label for="mailerlite-1-field-name">Name</label>
      <input id="mailerlite-1-field-name" type="text" name="form_fields[name]" placeholder="Name">
    </div>
    <div class="mailerlite-form-loader">Signing up...</div>
    <div class="mailerlite-subscribe-button-container">
      <button class="mailerlite-subscribe-submit" type="submit"> Subscribe </button>
    </div>
    <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="1">
    <input type="hidden" name="action" value="mailerlite_subscribe_form">
    <input type="hidden" name="ml_nonce" value="792183fa90">
  </div>
  <div class="mailerlite-form-response">
    <h4>
      <p><span style="color: #339966;">Thank you for signing up!</span></p>
    </h4>
  </div>
</form>

Text Content

Natalie O'Neill

Natalie O'Neill skincare TikToker official blog and website.

 * Product Recs
   * Sunscreens
   * Skin Barrier
   * Moisturisers
   * Water Based Cleansers
   * Oil & Balm Cleansers
   * Retinoids
   * Eye Cream
   * Accessories & Supps
 * Knowledge
   * Clogged Pores
   * Diet & Lifestyle
   * Double Cleansing
   * Fading Acne Marks
 * RETINOID GUIDE
   
 * 

Show Offscreen Content
Hide Offscreen Content

EXPLORE

 * Work With Me
 * Contact
 * About

CONNECT



Clogged Pores, Skincare · May 23, 2024


25 BEST KOREAN CHEMICAL EXFOLIATOR: ALL SKIN TYPES IN 2024

If you’re looking for the best Korean chemical exfoliator you are in the right
place. In this blog post I’ll go through lots of the top Korean chemical
exfoliators and identify which ones are the best options for each skin type.

It’s no secret that I think chemical exfoliants are a little bit overused in
most skincare routines today.

However, I do think they are superior to physical exfoliants and are great to
use in moderation.

If you are interested in creating a perfect Korean skincare routine, make sure
to check out my post on the best Korean moisturisers and Korean body washes.

I’ll start with a list of the best Korean exfoliators, but skip down to the
bottom to learn about how chemical exfoliants work.

These are in no particular order, since there is no single best Korean chemical
exfoliator. Some links are affiliate links.

Source



THE BEST KOREAN CHEMICAL EXFOLIATOR: PEELING PADS

I’ll start with one of the most popular form of Korean chemical exfoliator –
peeling pads or toner pads.

Same thing pretty much, just different names. 

These are toner pads marinated in solution that includes one or multiple
skincare ingredients. For example, many include:


 * Vitamin C
 * Green tea
 * Glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid
 * Aloe vera
 * Hyaluronic acid

In Korean beauty there are lots of great ingredients that are very rare in
western beauty products.

The goal of toner pads (and nearly all chemical exfoliants) is to even out skin
tone, skin texture and to fade dark spots.

These skin issues aren’t exclusive to acne-prone skin, at times any skin type
can be in need some gentle exfoliation.

You can use them by swiping them across your face, or by leaving them on for
5-10 minutes at a time.

The recommendations are in no particular order, avoiding fragrance and essential
oils.


1. NUMBUZIN – NO.5 VITAMIN-NIACINAMIDE CONCENTRATED PAD



These pads by Numbuzin are ideal if you’d like to exfoliate and brighten at the
same time, since they contain vitamin C and niacinamide.

For the exfoliating element, they combine a gentle PHA (poly hydroxy acid) with
an LHA (lipo hydroxy acid).

Remember that vitamin C can be a little irritating, so also don’t go overboard
with these!

I would recommend them for skin types that aren’t particularly sensitive.

Shop the Numbuzin No 5 pads


2.TORRIDEN – BALANCEFUL CICA TONER PAD



These pads by Torriden are perfect if you’re looking to soothe and hydrate your
skin, as they are infused with centella asiatica (cica) extract.

For the calming effect, they combine cica with panthenol and allantoin, making
them ideal for sensitive skin.

Shop the Torriden Balanceful Cica Toner Pads


3. CELIMAX – PORE & DARK SPOT BRIGHTENING PAD



These pads by Celimax are excellent if you aim to refine pores and brighten dark
spots, thanks to their inclusion of niacinamide and pearl extract.

I think these will be suitable for most skin types, providing you tolerate
niacinamide (not everyone does). These are also ideal if uneven skin tone is a
concern of yours.

Shop the Celimax toner pads


4. ABIB – PINE NEEDLE PORE PAD CLEAR TOUCH



These pads by Abib are ideal if you’re looking for a refreshing feel without
stripping the skin.

For the pore-clearing element, they combine salicylic acid (BHA) with witch
hazel extract and LHA, making them effective at managing excess oil.

Remember that salicylic acid can be drying for some skin types, so incorporate
these pads gradually into your routine!

I think these would be most suitable for oily, acne-prone skin types.

Shop the Abib Pine needle pore pad


5. NEOGEN – DERMALOGY PORERASER CLEAR BHA PAD



Neogen’s PoreRaser pads combine four different kinds of exfoliating acids –
salicylic, LHA, PHA and AHA.

This sounds ideal but stronger isn’t always better. I would suggest only using
these pads sparingly, since the combination of acids is very strong.

I would recommend these only for oily and non sensitive skin types.

Shop the Neogen PoreRaser pads




6. CAREZONE – SKIN SURFACE CLEAR TONER PAD

CareZone’s skin surface clear toner pad contains a mix of BHA and PHA to
exfoliate away dead cells from the surface of the skin.

It also contains a high amount of glycerin which is a great option for
maintaining hydration within the skin.

I think most skin types could get along with these, provided they are not
overused.

Shop the CareZone toner pads


EXFOLIATING KOREAN TREATMENT TONERS FOR OILY SKIN

In this section I’ll list some toners that I would mostly recommend for oily
skin. These are often referred to as a treatment toner or a daily toner, but
unfortunately I think this is a confusing name.



As always, just because a product says to use daily, do not use daily unless you
really feel you know what you’re doing!

Generally speaking, I mostly recommend products that contain beta-hydroxy acids
for oilier skin – but not always!

I may recommend it for oilier skin because it combines either a high percentage
of BHA, or a strong combo of acids. Either way, I’ll explain more about why I’ve
made the recommendation under each product lsitng.


7. COSRX – BHA BLACKHEAD POWER LIQUID

This is an interesting product that uses 4% betaine salicylate instead of
salicylic acid.



Betaine salicylate is known to be a gentler alternative to salicylic acid, and
tolerated better by sensitive skins. For this reason I might put it in the
dry/sensitive skin category as well.

I think it’ll just depend on how you uniquely get along with this product, but I
really like how the ingredients list is pretty minimal.

It also contains niacinamide for added brightening effects, which is helpful so
long as you like niacinamide.

Shop the BHA Blackhead Liquid Power


8. COSRX – AHA/BHA CLARIFYING TREATMENT TONER



This is a very similar product but with slightly different ingredients. Instead
of 4% betaine salicylic, it contains a mix of exfoliating apple water with some
betaine salicylic.

Honestly the two are pretty similar but this one may feel sightly gentler and
more suited to sensitive skin.

Shop the AHA/BHA Treatment Toner


9. BEAUTY OF JOSEON – GREEN PLUM REFRESHING TONER: AHA + BHA



This is a toner I like to use on my nose to keep my sebaceous filaments in
check. Which, by the way, if you haven’t tried my sebaceous filaments hack using
Cicaplast, it’s definitely worth a go!

It contains a mix of salicylic and glycolic acid for better texture, doing the
job of facials scrubs in a much gentler format.

Even though glycolic acid is typically recommended for dry skin, I think the
combination of BHA and AHA makes it somewhat hardcore, so my personal opinion is
that it’s more suited to oily skin.

Shop the Beauty of Joseon Plum Toner


10. ISNTREE – CHESTNUT BHA 0.9% CLEAR TONER



If you’re looking for a pretty simple exfoliating toner, this one by Isntree
could be a good option. It’s 0.9% BHA, which you can compare to the popular
Paula’s Choice BHA toner, that one is 2%.

As i’ll say time and time again, stronger isn’t always better! Plenty of people
find the Paula’s Choice toner too strong, so 0.9% might be just perfect for you.

This one is simple yet effective. It contains the active ingredient, but also
plenty of hydrating and soothing ingredients like panthenol and glycerin.

Shop the Isntree Chestnut Toner


11. BONAJOUR – EGGPLANT DAILY BHA TONER



This is fairly similar to the previous toner, but the salicylic acid
concentration is 0.48%.

Shop the BONAJOUR Egglpant Toner


12. PYUNKANG YUL – ACNE FACIAL CLEANSER



Moving over to cleansers, if you follow me on socials you’ll know that I am
quite wary of exfoliating cleansers.

Mostly because people only want to buy one and use one water based cleanser,
rather than using multiple. If you choose an exfoliating cleanser as your main
cleanser, it means you’re guaranteed to use it 7-14x a week. 

That is exfoliating 7-14x a week! Even though it’s gentle, it’s just a lot,
especially if you use other toners and serums to exfoliate.

People also just kind of forget that their cleaner is exfoliating, which means
if they damage their barrier, for example, it will be harder to repair it while
using an exfoliating cleanser.

Anyway, as long as you’re aware of that, you can use an acid cleanser when you
feel like you need it.

This Pyunkang Yul cleanser utilises willow bark extract, a sister ingredient of
salicylic acid, to gently exfoliate.

Shop the Pyunkang Yul cleanser


13. ONE THING – HOUTTUYNIA CORDATA CLARIFYING FACIAL CLEANSER



ONE THING is a brand I really gravitate towards because of their simplicity
ethos, however I do find the inclusion of salicylic acid in this cleanser a
little confusing.

The cleanser is called a Houttuynia Cordata cleanser, AKA the soothing heatleaf
plant, so I didn’t expect it to also be exfoliating.

Nevertheless it is still a good execution of a gentle exfoliating Korean
cleanser without harsh alcohols or a fine scrub.



This one also contains a little PHA, too. Shop the ONE THING cleanser.


BEST KOREAN CHEMICAL EXFOLIATOR FOR DRY OR SENSITIVE SKIN

Moving onto dry or sensitive skins. It’s important to say that skin types aren’t
actually really a thing, but it’s just the easiest way to organise things
sometimes!

For example you may feel that your skin is oily but sensitive, or dry with areas
of oiliness. I can sympathise with this, so I recommend trying to use products
intuitively based on how your skin is currently feeling.


14. AXIS – Y – PHA RESURFACING GLOW PEEL



PHA or polyhydroxy acid is one of my personal favourite kinds of chemical
exfoliators, it does a good job of brightening skin in just one use in most
cases.

You won’t find PHA in many western formulas, although it is starting to become a
little more popular.

Shop the Axis Y PHA glow peel.


15. FORMOTOPIA BFFECT AHA 30% + MANDELIC ACID 4% SERUM



This is a 30% AHA serum which is pretty harcore!

For reference, the Ordinary glycolic acid toner is only 7% and that is still
somewhat stronger. If you’re interested in using this, remember to use it
sparingly.

It might even be a good option for your feet!

Shop the Formtopia AHA serum


16. BENTON – PHA PEELING TONER



I absolutely hate when brands use the word ‘peeling’ but here we are. It’s just
a known word now, so I almost feel forced to use it.

This is a lovely and simple formula that includes PHA, which is ideal for
regular exfoliation on sensitive and dry skin.

Shop the Benton PHA toner


17. ROUND LAB – 1025 DOKDO TONER



This is a very popular toner that contains a very mild exfoliant, probably one
of the gentlest on this list!

There is no single best Korean chemical exfoliator, but I imagine this is on
many top 10 lists.

It is known to be extremely soothing, even with the mild exfoliant. I feel like
you probably can’t go wrong with this one.

Shop the ROUND LAB Dokdo toner


18. ROUND LAB – 1025 DOKDO PEELING GEL



Similarly we have the matching Round Lab peeling gel. A peeling gel is an
interesting concept that I’ve not seen much of in western beauty.

You essentially want to massage it into the face and wash off like a cleanser,
but instead it is an exfoliating treatment.

Shop the ROUND LAB peeling gel


19. HARUHARU WONDER – CENTELLA 3% PHA GENTLE LIQUID EXFOLIATING SERUM

Image sourced from HelloLolly


Haruharu is one of my favourite K beauty brands, and this centella PHA formula
is a great example of a gentle Korean exfoliator.

It’s a mild PHA with added centella for soothing, as well as orange water for
the potential of added brightness.

At this current moment I’m not sure on the efficacy of orange water instead of
another vitamin C derivative, but I’m sure it can’t hurt in terms of
brightening.

Shop the Haruharu Wonder PHA exfoliant


20. ISNTREE – CHESTNUT PHA 5% CLEAR CREAM



This Isntree product is quite an interesting execution of an acid exfoliator.

It uses PHA in a cream format that you leave on your skin. I would recommend
avoiding the eye area and nasolabial folds if you do go with this one.

Shop the Isntree Chestnut PHA cream


21. TIA’M – AC FIGHTING PHA 12 PURIFYING LIQUID



Another great PHA product, this one is a very simple formula that can be used as
a serum or toner

It also contains tea tree leaf water, which may be soothing on hormonal acne,
for example.

Shop the TIA’M PHA liquid


22. ISNTREE – CHESTNUT AHA 8% CLEAR ESSENCE

A korean essence is pretty much the same as a toner, but they tend to be a
little thicker than a water-like toner.



This 8% AHA toner is fairly strong, so again use it sparingly.

This is the sort of product you might use a few days before an event, to give
your skin a bit of a ‘polish’.

Shop the Isntree AHA Essence


23. HARUHARU WONDER – BLACK RICE TRIPLE AHA GENTLE CLEANSING GEL



Another simple but effective formula from Haruharu, this triple AHA cleansing
gel is a good one to add in as a treatment every few days.

I would not recommend it for daily use, personally.

Shop the AHA cleanser by Haruharu Wonder


24. COS DE BAHA – LS LACTIC ACID 12.5 SERUM



This is a simple lactic acid serum, not too different from The Ordinary’s lactic
acid serum.

Lactic acid is known to be super gentle, and is well tolerated by dry and
sensitive skin.

Shop the Cos De BAHA Lactic Acid serum


25. HICA – PEEL CARE SERUM LACTIC ACID 6%

Another lactic acid serum except this one contains niacinamide, too. 



So you have a couple of lactic acids to choose from, one with niacinamide for
added brightening and one without!

Now for a little on the basics of chemical exfoliation, to make sure you’re in
the right place and to clear up any questions.

Shop the HiCa Lactic acid serum


WHAT IS CHEMICAL EXFOLIATION?

Source


If you have flaky skin and your goal is smooth skin, a few years ago we’d all be
reaching for facial scrubs. These would have been made of things like sugar
granules or plastic beads suspended in a gel.

Physical exfoliation is exactly this, a physical way of scrubbing away at dead
skin cells to reveal radiant skin underneath.

However with chemical exfoliants, there is no physical scrubbing action.
Instead, the exfoliant gently breaks up the glue that sticks dead skin cells
together.

Chemical exfoliants utilise key ingredients like:

 * Glycolic acid
 * Lactic acid
 * Salicylic acid
 * Mandelic acid

Usually these acids are grouped into types: alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy
acids. Salicylic is the most common beta hydroxy acid, and it’s often referred
to as BHA.


IS GENTLE EXFOLIATION OKAY FOR DAILY USE?

Source


One of the topics I talk about frequently on social media is whether a gentle
exfoliator can be used daily.

Whether you have sensitive skin, dry skin, oily skin etc.. I personally think
exfoliation is a little overplayed on social media. It’s really helpful to
remove dead skin cells with an exfoliant, but exfoliating too much can have some
unwanted consequences.



Even using the best Korean chemical exfoliator can cause damage if overused, so
I recommend using it 1-2x a week max.

If you overuse an exfoliant you may damage your skin’s protective lipid barrier,
also known as the moisture barrier.

Signs you’ve damaged your skin barrier include:

 * Irritated skin
 * Excess sebum – the feeling of oilier skin even though you’re doing more to
   tackle this very problem
 * Dull skin
 * Small breakouts that appear like irritation, but won’t improve with acne
   treatment

As you can see, if you go overboard with exfoliants you can end up making things
worse! It’s a fine balance to strike.


THIS WAS THE BEST KOREAN CHEMICAL EXFOLIATOR FOR ALL SKIN TYPES IN 2024. YOU MAY
ALSO LIKE:

 * 25 Best Korean Moisturizers for Acne-Prone Skin
 * Best Korean Body Wash Products for Shower Skincare
 * The Best Water Based Cleansers for Acne Prone Skin



Posted By: Natalie ONeill · In: Clogged Pores, Skincare

Can I use Retinol and Tretinoin Together? Tips & Routine
The best MERIT beauty products for a minimalist makeup look & NEW beauty finds


YOU’LL ALSO LOVE

Best Korean Body Wash Products for Shower Skincare
[CLOSED] Advent Calendar Giveaway 2023
Lactic Acid vs Retinol: Which is Best for Acne?
Welcome to my skincare, diet & lifestyle blog.


NEWSLETTER

Signup for news and special offers!

Subscribe

Loading...

THANK YOU!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

HANDY LINKS

 * RETINOID GUIDE
 * SKINCARE PODCAST
 * MY TIKTOK
 * My Linktree

PARTNERS





NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Sign up to my skincare newsletter

Email
Name
Signing up...
Subscribe

THANK YOU FOR SIGNING UP!

[instagram-feed feed=1]

 * PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright © 2024 Natalie O'Neill · Theme by 17th Avenue

Natalie O'Neill
Toestemming voor gegevens en cookies
Om een persoonlijkere gebruikerservaring te bieden, gebruiken wij en onze
218 partner partners
technologie zoals cookies om apparaatinformatie op te slaan en/of te openen.
Door op "Accepteren" te klikken, stemt u in met het gebruik van deze
technologieën waarmee wij en
onze partners
persoonlijke gegevens zoals IP-adres, unieke ID en browsegegevens op deze site
kunnen verwerken.
Om uw toestemmingsvoorkeuren te beheren, klikt u op de knop "Instellingen
beheren". U kunt uw toestemmingsvoorkeuren op elk moment intrekken of bijwerken
door op de link ‘Privacy-instellingen bijwerken’ onderaan de website te klikken.
Wij gebruiken uw gegevens voor het volgende: Informatie op een apparaat opslaan
en/of openen; Beperkte gegevens gebruiken om advertenties te selecteren;
Profielen maken voor gepersonaliseerde advertenties; Profielen gebruiken om
gepersonaliseerde advertenties te selecteren; Profielen maken om inhoud te
personaliseren; Profielen gebruiken om gepersonaliseerde inhoud te selecteren;
Advertentieprestaties meten; Inhoudsprestaties meten; Inzicht krijgen in
doelgroepen door middel van statistieken of combinaties van gegevens uit
verschillende bronnen; Diensten ontwikkelen en verbeteren; Beperkte gegevens
gebruiken om inhoud te selecteren; Zorgen voor beveiliging, fraude voorkomen en
detecteren en fouten verhelpen; Advertenties en inhoud leveren en presenteren;
Privacykeuzes opslaan en communiceren.
Instellingen beheren
Accepteren

Update de privacy-instellingen