BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner — Reddit Reviews
by Anua
Updated October 29, 2026
Studies support 2% salicylic acid for acne; Reddit uses it sparingly.
What the community says
This is a leave-on 2% salicylic acid toner for oily, clogged skin, and studies found 2% salicylic acid worked about as well as adapalene in one trial. Redditors usually apply it weekly or every few days; twice-daily use can irritate.
What this means for you
What people love
- 2% salicylic acid active for acne-prone routines
- Low-frequency schedule: weekly to every few days
Watch out for
- Twice-daily use can irritate skin and worsen cysts
- Persistent cheek bumps may not respond; suspected fungal acne complicates the picture
Product details
Skin type data limited
Where to buy
What the science says
Acne
Some evidence
Salicylic Acid: 16 studies tested it directly. See all 34 studies
What the studies found
- Most studies found salicylic acid helped clear acne
- It often reduced pimples, blackheads and whiteheads
- It often worked about as well as other common acne treatments
- Used with other acne treatments, it sometimes cleared acne better than the other treatment alone
- Side effect results were uncertain when compared with benzoyl peroxide
Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.
Real Reddit threads — 15 mentions across 10 threads
Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner on Reddit, in one place — 10 threads from r/tretinoin, r/koreanskincare and 2 more, summarized.
“everything is the same just instead purito centella unscented toner into anua BHA 2% then purito nightly bamboo phanthenol cream.”
Positive
“7. Anua BHA 2% toner”
Positive
“even 9-10 months (anua BHA 2% toner) then I can afford my budget properly.”
Positive
“or Anua’s BHA 2% excipient on nose and chin 3x a week”
Mentioned
“was thinking ab using Paula’s Choice BHA exfoliant or Anua’s BHA 2%”
Mentioned
“don’t know what to do about the rest of my face though lol”
Mentioned
“• Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner”
Mentioned
“TONERS:”
Mentioned
“Here are the products:”
Mentioned
“Anua 2% BHA toner (every 2-3 days)”
Positive
“PM - Anua 2% BHA toner (every 2-3 days)”
Positive
“Try benzoyl peroxide spot treatment instead of BHA”
Positive
“If you want to exfoliate once a week Anua 2% BHA”
Positive
“A lot of mistakes made by young people is getting too aggressive too fast with skincare and breaking your barrier.”
Positive
“These are what I recommend.”
Positive
“Other treatments i’ve tried:”
Mentioned
“- Anua BHA toner”
Mentioned
“I have a feeling it might be fungal acne and that’s why it’s not responding to these treatments..”
Mentioned
