OK so i wanted the glow everyone talks about and my face just got angry. Used it every other night like the bottle says and by week two my cheeks were red and it STUNG every single time, then i got little bumps along my jaw that i never get. Stopped it and it took like 10 days to calm down. Maybe fine for tougher skin, mine hated it. the price was nice at least.
Latest toners reviews
From users, and from around the web with the source linked.
Used the toner on a stubborn scalp dermatitis several times a week and had a clear scalp after two weeks.
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“I left it on and did not rinse and after two weeks the symptoms went away and I had a clear scalp.”
Doesn't sting their eczema- and rosacea-prone dry skin even with a weak barrier.
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“Mixsoon bean essence and bean cream. I have eczema and rosacea and dry sensitive skin…and these products don’t sting me when my barrier is lacking.”
Swears by it as a midday hydration mist.
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“I swear by my Avene thermal water”
Popular this week
most new reviewsThe Ordinary's glycolic acid helped their texture a lot, but left their combination skin red and sometimes itchy from dryness even after moisturizing.
Someone with sensitive skin and hormonal acne finds the Haruharu black rice toner excellent.
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“I just started using Haru Haru black rice cleanser (the toner from this line is excellent).”
Uses Laneige Cream Skin when their face is irritated: very gentle, never stings, like a comforting thin layer of milk.
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“Oh Laneige cream skin is super gentle, I use it when my face is angry and it never stings.”
A user with combination skin says the Glow Recipe Watermelon toner works beautifully for them.
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“Skincare - Glow recipe watermelon toner, glow recipe niacinamide serum My skin type is combination with oily at zone and dry cheeks and these products work beautifully for me.”
When their barrier is compromised and they still need to exfoliate, The Ordinary's ferment toner works well for them and is kind to the barrier.
Uses the COSRX AHA/BHA toner every other day for congestion, but it strips their barrier: skin looks dehydrated and feels sensitive the next morning.
The Byoma moisturizing milky toner (blue bottle) is their all-time favourite.
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“My all-time favorite is Byoma moisturizing milky toner. The one in the blue bottle.”
The Ordinary's fermented milky toner is their favourite and helps their very dry skin with hydration.
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“My personal favorite is the fermented one. It helps my dry as a desert skin so much with hydration.”
Highly recommends the Saccharomyces Ferment Milky Toner and often layers it with The Ordinary's microemulsion moisturizer.
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“The Ordinary Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner for Gentle Exfoliation and Hydration. Highly recommend.”
Uses the DIVE-IN toner with the serum; some call it just water, but they find it simple and not irritating.
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“I use torriden dive in toner + serum, some people complain it’s basically just water but I find it very simple and not irritating”
On their 4th or 5th bottle: doesn't break out their reactive, Accutane-dry skin and keeps it hydrated.
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“On my 4th or 5th bottle of the byoma milky toner. I've quite reactive skin and it doesnt break me out”
Likes the black rice toner and finds it quite hydrating, but goes through bottles so fast they switched to a cheaper toner.
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“I like haruharu black rice toner, I find it quite hydrating”
Was disappointed by the black rice toner and prefers another rice toner.
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“I was disappointed by Haru Haru black rice toner too.”
Found the toner felt like thick water and kept waiting for it to do something.
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“The Haruharu toner being "thick water" is too real, I had the exact same reaction and kept waiting for something to happen.”
A user says The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner is cheap for a huge bottle and their skin has never looked better.
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“the ordinary's glycolic acid toner is like seven bucks for a massive bottle and my skin's never looked better”
Their one-product pick: in love with The Ordinary's milky toner, at about $10–12.
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“The Ordinary's milky toner. I am in love with this stuff.”
Likes it on oily, dehydrated skin as their only morning step before sunscreen, though not hydrating enough alone in winter.
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“I like the Byoma milky toner! I use just this and sunscreen in the morning (oily dehydrated skin too)”
Regretted buying it right away; the texture didn't feel as nice as Byoma's milky toner so they exchanged it.
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“I got the Beauty of Joseon Rice Milk Toner once because I was influenced, immediate regret”
Obsessed with it alongside daily azelaic acid.
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“I don’t use tret, but I do use azelaic acid daily, and I’m obsessed with Laneige cream skin.”
Really likes it with azelaic acid on acne- and perioral-dermatitis-prone skin: hydrating, supple and no filmy residue.
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“I use Azelaic acid 20% and have really liked the Anua glow 70 rice milky toner.”
On their third bottle: affordable, niacinamide-free and feels lovely.
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“It's like $16 regular price, available a bunch of places including Ulta, does not have niacinamide, and feels lovely. I'm on my third bottle.”
Their favourite milky toner after trying Byoma, Laneige, TirTir, Rhode and others; layers under azelaic acid.
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“I have tried byoma, laneige, tirtir, rhode, and others i can no longer remember and the BOJ one is my favorite I've tried”
Good luck with it: layers well with azelaic acid and doesn't pill on oily, dehydrated skin.
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“For a milky one I’ve had good luck with the laneige cream skin refiner”
Liked the Glow Replenishing toner but wasn't obsessed.
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“I’ve used BoJ Glow Replenishing toner, and I liked it but wasn’t obsessed”
Added the Milky Toner when Accutane left their skin dry and dull and it helped tremendously; nearly two years later it still keeps their skin soft without clogging pores.
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“I incorporated byoma milky toner into my routine and it helped tremendously!”
Makes their skin feel deeply hydrated under moisturizer.
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“I recently started using haruharu toner under my moisturizer, and it's been so helpful in helping my skin feel deeply hydrated.”
A super-dry-skinned user calls Laneige Cream Skin a recent favorite milky toner before moisturizer, layering it with a serum and ceramide cream on very dry nights.
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“Laneige Cream Skin is a recent favorite”
Loves it as an on-the-go facial mist.
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“Love Avene thermal water and Heritage Rosewater with glycerin.”
A repeat buy: nothing calms their face down faster.
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“The Ordinary Glycolic Acid! Nothing gets my face to chill out quicker than that stuff”
Finds it may be smoothing their body skin texture more than urea ever did, though slowly.
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“I’m also experimenting with the ordinary glycolic acid, I feel like that may be doing more (although slowly), than any amount of urea ever did”
With combination, rosacea-prone, textured skin they use the COSRX propolis toner and find the propolis line plays really well with their skin.
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“I use the cosrx propolis toner. Their propolis line plays really well with my skin in general.”
A devoted Laneige Cream Skin user tried Rhode's Glazing Milk instead and went back after it broke them out.
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“I am a devotee of La Neige's Cream Skin but wanted to see if Rhode was any better.”
Gave up on it after weeks because their skin kept getting worse.
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“i give up on this product because my skin was getting worse”
Switched to a gentler pad because the toner dried sticky on their skin.
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“they don’t dry sticky which I always had an issue with when I used The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toner”
Says the glycolic toner solved their underarm odor after a single use.
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“The Ordinary glycolic solved mine as well legit after one use!”
Uses the toner on their armpits with only soap in the shower and has no body odor.
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“I use the glycolic acid from The Ordinary also! I don't use anything else after that and just use my Dove sensitive skin soap in the shower. No B.O!”
Uses the toner on their armpits after showering as one step of a routine that left their underarm odor virtually nonexistent.
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“After I get out of the shower I apply The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner to my armpits to further clean and exfoliate and let them air dry”
Thayers broke them out, but the Byoma Hydrating Milky Toner has been much better for their skin.
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“I moved to the Byoma hydrating milky toner and it’s been a lot better for me.”
Lightened their dark underarms over two months.
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“the ordinary’s 7% glycolic acid worked wonders for me. swiped on with a cotton pad after showering at night.”
Uses Pink Drink a few times a week in the morning on combination skin; gives just enough moisture without feeling heavy.
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“Sunday Riley Pink Drink has been great for my combo skin. It’s a resurfacing essence spray, which I prefer for gently patting in. Just enough moisture without feeling heavy.”
Used it six months and it made their skin worse.
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“I did not like it. Used it for 6 months and it made my skin worse.”
It broke them out so they changed to Anua BHA 2%.
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“It made me break out too. I changed to Anua BHA 2% and my skin likes it 100% more”
Glycolic irritates their face but their body tolerates it.
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“My face tolerates smaller exfoliating acids like mandelic, and gets irritated with glycolic, but my body can tolerate it”
The toner lightened parts of their skin, helped dandruff and works as an underarm deodorant alternative.
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“the toner has helped with lightening parts on my skin, dandruff, alt to deo for underarms”
Stopped using it after it broke them out following a month of use.
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“i stopped using it because it broke me out as well, after over a month of use”
The biggest boost to their skin's hydration.
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“The byoma milky toner on damp skin has made the biggest impact on my hydration personally.”
Hated the sticky feel and prefers salicylic acid.
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“Bought it and hated it. Left a sticky feeling everywhere. I'm guess I'm more of a salicylic acid girl”
Uses it on the pits but still ends up musty after sweating.
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“I use The Ordinary 7% glycolic toner on my pits, but it doesn't matter. If I sweat, I end up musty.”
The toner made their dry, sensitive skin red and irritated for days.
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“I used this back before I discovered the wonders of AB, and this made my skin red and irritated for days!”
One use left their skin yellow-tinged and badly dried out.
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“One use of that same exact toner last night and I look jaundiced today. I also looked tired and have mouth creases that I don't usually have as though it dried out my skin like a desert overnight.”
They and their mother use it under the arms to reduce odor and sweating, though it smells like maple syrup on them.
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“my senior mother and i both use it under our arms and it helps reduce odor and dramatically reduce sweating.”
Got a mild breakout after starting the Milky Toner.
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“does anyone have the same experience? i started oral spiro a few months ago”
Glycolic worked well for underarm odor and reduced ingrown hairs, though deodorant is still needed.
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“glycolic acid worked well too. Still need to wear deodorant. Reduced ingrown hairs too”
Uses it in place of deodorant and finds it cheaper than AHA deodorants.
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“I use this or the ordinary’s azealic acid in place of deodorant.”
Daily for over a year with no deodorant and no smell.
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“I’ve been using it daily for over a year. I haven’t used deodorant during that same period. I still sweat of course but don’t smell.”
Uses it on the underarms for odor and says it has helped a lot.
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“I use it and it has helped me a lot”
Sees a definite underarm difference, though the liquid acid takes forever to dry.
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“Same! I definitely see a difference. But I do wanna try the solid version bc the liquid aha deodorant takes foreverrrr to dry.”
Found 7% too weak for underarm odor and prefers 20% for full-day stench elimination.
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“Ive tried it but IMO i need a stronger concentration than 7%. 20% is my go-to for full day stench elimination.”
Says it helps with underarm odor and makes a difference, though they still layer deodorant.
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“Yes, it helps with body odor. I've done it before and it makes a difference. I do still layer with deodorant,”
Persimmon soap plus the toner and antiperspirant worked best for new-onset underarm odor.
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“What has worked best is persimmon soap and GA with my dove antiperspirant.”
Does not work as a deodorant replacement for them; the 7% has its limits.
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“i do this. it does not work as a deodorant replacement. or maybe it does but it has its limits and i'm just too smelly.”
Did nothing for underarm odor and they think it made their sweat smell stronger.
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“I bought the ordinary glycolic acid after seeing so many reviews, kept using it but it did nothing, infact I swear it actually made my sweat smell stronger!”
Uses it as a day-to-day deodorant, layering deodorant for the gym, and loves the discoloration help.
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“I layer deodorant over top. It also helps with discoloration which I looove!”
Twice-weekly use has pretty much killed their underarm odor.
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“I use it about 2x week and imo it’s pretty much killed my odor.”
Allergic to most deodorants, the toner works for them and leaves no residue.
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“I'm allergic to most deodorants. GA works for me and has no yucky residue.”
Mixed with isopropyl alcohol as a spray, it completely replaced their regular deodorant.
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“it's been a real game changer for me. It has completely replaced regular deodorant”
Sprays it under the arms daily before deodorant and says it keeps them dry and odor free.
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“I use every day under my pits. I spray it then let it semi dry and then I’ll go in with my deoderant! Works like a charm. Keeps me dry and I don’t smell”
Switched to the Byoma milky toner and nothing makes their skin feel as good and hydrated after cleansing; it has completely changed their skin.
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“nothing makes my skin feel so good and hydrated after cleansing my face. Has completely changed my skin”
Bought it more than ten times; great for their ageing, sensitive skin.
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“I use BYOMA hydrating milky toner! I’ve purchased it 10+ times. It’s great for my aging sensitive skin.”
Sprays Avène Thermal Spring Water after washing and before hyaluronic serum and finds it somehow calms their skin.
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“I cant explain it but it somehow “calms” my skin? I also spray this after washing and before applying hyaluron acid serum”
Skin has never felt so soft and smooth since adding the Byoma milky toner with a beta-glucan serum.
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“My skin has never looked and felt so soft and smooth since I started using the toner and beta glucan serum.”
One use under the eyes, followed by sun without sunscreen, left lasting brown marks.
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“I dabbed the Ordinary’s 7% glycolic acid under my eyes/on my cheekbones ONCE for some acne and got hyperpigmentation (melasma?).”
Developed similar dark marks after a week and stopped.
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“The same happened to me after one week! Immediately stopped.”
Has used the numbuzin No.3 Super Glowing Essence Toner for a long time, is on a second bottle, and says it works very well for them.
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“I’ve been using this toner for a long time now and it works so good on me!”
Used before washes on the scalp, it calmed flaking and itching so they now use it twice a month.
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“now that my scalp has calmed down, there's significantly less flakes, it doesn't itch as much etc.”
Uses Avène Thermal Spring Water on hot days to calm flushing and redness.
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“I get really flushed when it’s hot and I use this spray to calm down the redness.”
Helping a lot; their skin stopped itching and burning.
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“And yes I use the Avene thermal water spray too, it’s been helping a lot, my skin has stopped itching and burning.”
Amazing for irritated skin; calming, even helped their hives.
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“The avene thermal water spray is amazing for irritated skin, it's also really calming, it even made my hives so much better”
A daily user loves the COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner and stopped getting acne after pairing it with the COSRX snail moisturizer.
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“I love the propolis toner!! there is not a day that I don’t use it lol. I also stopped having acne since I used it together with the cosrx snail moisturizer”
Cleared blackheads and sebaceous filaments that retinoids didn't, alongside The Ordinary's azelaic acid.
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“Tret and ret did nothing for my blackheads and sebaceous filaments, but glycolic acid and azelaic acid did! I use both from The Ordinary.”
Near-daily use burned their sensitive skin, leaving it dull, irritated and prone to hyperpigmentation.
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“After technically burning my skin off with almost daily usage of TO glycolic acid, my sensitive medium-light olive skin became VERY prone to hyperpigmentation especially during summer and my skin became very dull and irritated”
After a deodorant burn it restored their underarm skin tone within weeks.
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“After old spice chemically burned my arm pits, I stared using glycolic acid on them and they look like my regular skin tone now.”
An acne-prone user broke out on their chin after trying the Anua Rice 70 Glow Milky Toner two or three times.
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“I added it to my routine”
A gentle daily exfoliating toner that calmed their congested, breakout-prone skin within days.
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“Beauty of Joseon Green Plum toner, my skin can get congested and breakout with almost anything, all I needed was a gentle daily exfoliating toner”
Repurchased in a larger size; makes their body very soft though not much change in arm KP.
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“I emptied entire 100ml bottle and purchased 250ml now. I only use it in my body and it makes my body very soft.”
Uses and loves the Ordinary glycolic acid.
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“Yes to phlur and the glycolic acid from the ordinary. I use and love both”
Likes the glycolic acid a lot and calls it very multi-purpose.
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“I like the glycolic acid a lot though, very multi-purpose”
On their third bottle: brightens armpits, treats KP and exfoliates the scalp.
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“spray it on my armpits for brightening/killing body odor bacteria, on my upper arms for keratosis pilaris and on my scalp to exfoliate and get rid of product buildup! 10/10”
Exfoliates incredibly well on armpits, thighs and KP areas.
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“keeps those areas cleaner of bacteria and exfoliates INCREDIBLY WELL. i don’t think i’ve used it on my face in a long time but it works great for other areas!”
Really helped lighten their acne scars on the face.
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“i use it on my face to lighten my acne scars, it’s really helped me!”
Liked it and calls it a versatile product.
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“I really liked the glycolic acid toner from The Ordinary, it’s a versatile product.”
Lightens their underarms with consistent use and breaks up scalp buildup.
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“I can confirm it does lighten skin (I use it for my underarms) with consistent use and I also use it on my scalp before I shampoo to help break up build up.”
Switched from a scalp mask to this; so far so good and much cheaper.
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“I use it on my scalp too. I switched from Paul Mitchell tea tree mask to this and so far so good. It’s WAY less expensive.”
Weekly scalp use is fine on dyed hair and on the soles of their feet it gives baby-soft skin.
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“I use it in my scalp once a week and haven’t had any issues with it being dyed.”
Daily head-to-toe use for years made skin smooth with no more ingrown hairs or blemishes.
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“The first thing I noticed is how smooth my skin got and how I no longer get ingrown hairs or blemishes.”
Years of use on face, armpits and after shaving; helped acne scars and hyperpigmentation.
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“I use it on my face, armpits, to lighten newer scars, and after shaving my lady bits to prevent ingrown hairs.”
Keeps underarm sweat odor under control and softens skin elsewhere, though it darkened their skin so they take breaks.
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“I use it for underarms, to help keep my sweat and stank under control. I also use it on my knees, ankles, elbows and hands, back; pretty much everywhere to soften skin”
Worked for initial lightening but a tyrosinase inhibitor is needed for better results.
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“So it has worked for me for initial lightening but to get better results, you should add what I mentioned.”
Incredible daily on the armpits: fast steady lightening and helps odor; no results on inner thighs.
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“It does. It is incredible. I use it daily, which is not recommended. Yet, my skin tolerates it well and I would say I saw changes fast and steady changes. Also, it helps with odor.”
Over a year of face use and loves it.
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“i've used it for over a year and i love it, but never tried anywhere besides my face.”
Makes their KP-prone butt and thighs so soft.
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“I use it on my butt and back of thighs where I tend to get KP. It makes my butt so soft.”
Liked it but it left a film like dish soap, so they switched to a 10% body version.
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“I liked this but I felt like it left a film behind, or a feeling like I had touched dish soap?”
Uses it 3x a week; also great on hair with no buildup or dandruff and worth every penny.
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“I also love it on my hair, i used to use Kiel’s hair scrub before for buildups but this acid is so easy to apply and does the job, no build up , no dandruff.. worth every penny”
Twice-weekly use for almost a year lightened these areas a bit.
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“I use it in my arms, thighs, legs, bikini line, butt. I do this twice a week. Yes, it lightened these areas, maybe not much but there’s a difference.”
Lightened their pregnancy-darkened underarms in under two weeks.
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“I started using it by swapping a glycolic acid-soaked cotton pad after showering on my underarms. I saw it lighten in just under 2 weeks.”
Loves it on the scalp and armpits; no armpit smell even without deodorant and less scalp buildup.
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“Love the results from both applications, my armpits really don't give off any smell anymore even without regular deodorant.”
Breaks them out on the face and only minimal KP improvement; armpits need 4-day gaps to avoid dermatitis.
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“I use it every day on my upper arms and legs with minimal improvement to my KP (which is better than nothing)”
Disliked it on the face but it helps as armpit deodorant and on rough feet.
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“I didn’t like this for my face personally. But I found out other uses like my armpits- helps as a deodorant although I still sweat.”
Burns their face but they love it on legs and underarms.
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“It burns my face but love it for my legs and underarms.”
Uses it on body and scalp and has repurchased it multiple times.
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“TO Glycolic - I use this for my body and also scalp and I repurchased this multiple times”
Calls it great for the body and scalp.
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“The ordinary glycolic acid toner - like someone elae mentioned, great for your body and scalp.”
Uses it on the body but finds it too harsh for their combination face.
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“I use the glycolic acid toner on my body but find it too harsh for my face”
Nearly finished with a bottle, a user has come to like the BoJ Ginseng Essence Water and will likely repurchase.
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“i have come to like ginseng essence and most probably will buy new as I am about to finish my 40”
Loves it, especially for travel.
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“Avene thermal spring water. I especially love it for travel.”
Calls the toner insane, using it in a mister right after washing and expecting it to stay a staple of their routine.
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“The dive in toner is insane. Put it in a good mister and apply right after showering or washing your face, then add serums.”
A user finds the Green Plum toner fine in the morning, but it stings and itches when used in their evening routine.
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“when I use it in my evening routine, it doesn't necessarily burn, but it stings and my skin is kinda itchy afterwards”