AHA BHA toners are a staple in many people's skincare routines, as they are one of the most popular exfoliating ingredients that are great for all skin types. They slough away excess sebum, dead skin cells, and other impurities from deep within and on the surface of your skin to give you a smooth and clear complexion.
Because of their popularity, there are loads of AHA BHA toners in the market. To help you choose the best one, we have prepared a buying guide reviewed by dermatologist Dr. Katrina Habaluyas Luz and our list of the 10 best products that you can order online. What are you waiting for? Read on below for the best AHA BHA toners that will make your skin healthier and the best-looking it's ever been!
Dr. Katrina Habaluyas Luz is the face behind Ask Your Derma. She is a board-certified dermatologist in Metro Manila. She is also an educator and digital creator on all things skin, hair, and nails. She is a Diplomate of the Philippine Dermatological Society and offers online video consultations. You can also catch her on her Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channel.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
The products and services listed are ranked independently by the editorial team based on The products we introduce below were carefully curated by the mybest team, from the best-sellers of E-commerce sites like Lazada, and using the points mentioned in our detailed and thoroughly researched buying guide. (as of 01-16-2023).
Table of Contents
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
AHA stands for alpha hydroxy acid. The most common ones that you will encounter are glycolic acid and lactic acid. Glycolic acid penetrates your skin deeper, making it ideal for those with normal to oily skin. On the other hand, lactic acid is milder and strengthens the skin barrier, so it’s best for dry and sensitive skin.
Meanwhile, BHA stands for beta hydroxy acid. The most popular one is salicylic acid, which treats acne, reduces redness, and unclogs pores. Because of its effectivity, it’s commonly used in toners for oily skin.
#AskYourDerma Tip: Zero in on a particular skin concern and stick to one acid that addresses that concern. Remember, too much of something can cause more problems in the long run.
Since AHA and BHA are quite strong acids, you should take note of their concentrations, especially if you have sensitive skin. AHA typically has a concentration of 8-15%. So, if you’re just starting out or are prone to redness or irritation, you should begin with a concentration of 8% or less, if possible.
On the other hand, BHA is available in 0.5-2% concentrations. Since they work in the deeper layers of your skin, they’re very strong, so you only need to use smaller concentrations to see visible results. As with AHA, start out using smaller concentrations before moving up to products with higher concentrations.
Start low and slow! Remember, this is not a race. It's a marathon to good, healthy skin. Start out 2-3x/week and slowly work your way up.
Sometimes, AHA BHA toners will have additional ingredients included in their formulation to give you more skin benefits. For example, some of them may contain moisturizing ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid to soothe and provide nourishment to your skin after it’s exfoliated by AHA and BHA.
Others may also contain niacinamide for skin brightening and retinol for anti-aging. They may also have other natural ingredients and botanical extracts like witch hazel and swiss alpine willowherb to prepare your face for the rest of your skincare routine.
Multifunctional products are great as they allow you to hit two birds with one stone. Just make sure to choose products with ingredients that complement each other rather than cause more problems like irritation and/or bad side effects.
Even though not all alcohol is bad–for instance, fatty alcohols–most of them are harsh and drying. Some common alcohols that you will encounter and that you should steer clear from are denatured alcohol, SD alcohol, and benzyl alcohol.
Aside from that, you should also avoid fragrances, especially if you have sensitive skin. Fragrances, especially synthetic ones, are a common allergen and may cause redness or irritation, which is why it’s better to get products that don’t contain them.
Gone are the days when toners were equated to astringents that essentially ended up drying your skin. Now, you can choose from many different options, from hydrating toners to exfoliating toners and even multifunctional toners.
From ₱442
This toner is one of the most popular skincare products in K-beauty, as it is a gentle yet effective AHA BHA toner that will rejuvenate your skin. Containing only 0.1% concentrations of both AHA and BHA, it's mild and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. It's hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested, too.
To ensure that your face stays nourished, it also has hydrating and soothing ingredients, such as apple fruit water and allantoin. It also comes in a spray bottle for easy application and is a crowd favorite, garnering thousands of positive reviews from users. Several customers have described it as the best toner they've used, and they have purchased it over and over.
From ₱332
The Luxe Organix Miracle AHA BHA Pore Toner is a well-loved product, being highly rated by thousands of customers. They love how it's able to clear out their skin and fade their pimple marks. One customer also mentioned that their skin was very hiyang to this product and that it's very gentle on the skin.
This is made possible by this toner's formula, which uses two types of AHA, glycolic acid and lactic acid. Glycolic acid clears out the skin, while lactic acid lightens acne scars. Together with its BHA, salicylic acid, tea tree, and niacinamide, they rejuvenate your skin and give you a beautiful bright complexion.
From ₱375
As this product's name suggests, you will definitely get a healthy, radiant glow after using this toner! Together with AHA and BHA, it contains loads of additional ingredients, including niacinamide and ginseng. They ensure that as the AHA and BHA work their magic, your skin gets brighter. Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid and glycerin nourish your skin.
Some natural ingredients also join the party as witch hazel and swiss alpine willowherb prepare your face for the next steps of your skincare routine. Users can vouch for this product, leaving many good things to say about it. For example, some mentioned that they love how it absorbs quickly and is great for dry skin.
From ₱467.1
Pink calamine is known for providing relief to itchiness and discomfort, but it actually works wonders for acne, too. It can dry out pimples and soothe your skin from painful breakouts, as well as the exfoliation that AHA and BHA give your skin. Customers can vouch for this toner, saying that it's smooth on the skin and doesn't sting.
Aside from pink calamine, this toner also has hyaluronic acid and watermelon extract to moisturize the skin. These ingredients are packed with vitamins and minerals for extra nourishment to keep your skin soft, smooth, and radiant. If you're prone to breakouts, definitely consider this option.
From ₱449
Living in a hot and sunny country like the Philippines, any type of protection from the rays of the sun is welcome. Luckily, this AHA BHA toner is formulated with vitamin E. It naturally protects your skin against the harmful UVB rays of the sun, which causes your skin to get sunburnt. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, too.
This means that it protects your skin from free radical damage. This product also has sodium hyaluronate, the salt form of hyaluronic acid, to deeply moisturize your skin to give you a soft and bouncy skin texture. Users love this product, especially those with sensitive skin, saying that it's gentle, lightweight, and effective at cleansing.
From ₱499
This toner doesn't just contain AHA and BHA, but also PHA. PHA stands for polyhydroxy acid and is more gentle than the two other acids, as it has a larger molecule size. Aside from gentle exfoliation, its biggest strength lies in improving sun-damaged skin, which is perfect, considering we live in a tropical country.
This product's formula also includes centella asiatica for soothing skin, tea tree for acne control, and niacinamide for hydrated, bright, and radiant skin. It's perfect for sensitive skin! Also, hundreds of happy customers have shown their love for this product, saying that they've been using it for years and it's effective in keeping their pimples away.
From ₱692.55
With its water-like consistency, this toner is a lightweight yet powerful cleanser that eliminates all kinds of impurities from your skin. Together with AHA and BHA's exfoliating powers, it also has papaya extract and portulaca extract to help flush out dead skin cells and makeup residue. This will give you a fresh and clear complexion!
Users love it, saying that this product makes your skin glow, especially in the mornings. Another also said that it helped lighten their dark spots. Some also vouch for its ability to balance your skin's pH. This toner is best for congested, acne-prone skin, so if you want clear glass skin, look no further than this product!
From ₱2,200
Oily skin is common among Filipinas, and if that's your skin type, too, this toner has got you covered. It's formulated with Green Fusion Complex™, which is a blend of powerful botanicals like green tea, eucalyptus, algae (kelp), and Irish moss extracts. These ingredients have antiseptic properties to help control excess sebum on your skin.
This toner also has neem seed oil, which works with the AHA and BHA to gently unclog and minimize the appearance of your pores. After using this toner, your face will feel and look fresh, flawless, and matte. This is one of the things users love about it, saying that it leaves their skin with a wonderful, clean feeling.
From ₱498
Vitamin C is a popular skin brightening ingredient, and this toner maximizes it together with the powers of AHA and BHA. But even though these ingredients pack a powerful punch, this toner is still gentle enough for sensitive skin. It's actually the perfect way to introduce AHA, BHA, and vitamin C into your skincare routine.
Those with sensitive skin can use this toner with no problem, since it is hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested. It also has a lightweight water-like consistency that absorbs quickly into the skin, so it won't leave behind any unpleasant textures. Users love it, saying that it's really able to dry out their pimples and give them a beautiful radiant glow.
From ₱505
If you're looking for a more potent AHA BHA toner, this one is for you. It's a concentrated toner that has a 7% concentration of AHA. This is still minimal but very effective in sloughing away dirt, dead skin cells, and clearing clogged pores. It also has niacinamide to soothe your skin to ensure it doesn't get dried out.
Customers love this toner for its effectiveness in combating pimples. They also say that you can use this for your underarms to reduce odor, an added bonus of this product. If you're looking for a concentrated toner to address your skin issues faster, go for this one!
There are no hard-and-fast rules for toners. Since toners aren't a must in a skincare routine, it would be a good idea to start slow (e.g. 2-3/week) and then adjust accordingly based on the response of your skin.
Also, keep in mind the other products in your current skincare routine that contain active ingredients. Remember not to overdo it!
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by Dr. Katrina.
Toners are an integral step in any skincare routine, so make sure that they're able to help address any skin concerns you may have. If you want to explore more options, check out our other articles below for different types of toners that will help you achieve your skincare goals!
Author: Bianca Angela Dela Cruz
Editor: R. Umlas
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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