Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-tight Toner Review

I purchased this Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-tight Toner together in a set with the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drop Serum. The two products complement each other. 

Brand: Glow Recipe
Product Name: Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-tight Toner
Purchase From: Sephora, Cult Beauty
Price: RM160 / 150ml, RM1.07 / 1 ml
Made in Korea

Description:

A dream come true for visible pores that seem to poke out at every occasion, the alcohol-free Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner helps to decongest and tone for a practically poreless-looking complexion.
It features the hero ingredient acclaimed by Korean beauty buffs - watermelon extract - for its ability to soothe irritated and inflamed skin with luscious, skin-restoring vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids. The next link in the hydrating chain is five weights of hyaluronic acid - perfect for flooding thirsty cells with instant and lasting hydration. A potent poly hydroxy acid clarifies the uppermost layer of your skin, buffing away dead skin cells to clear blocked pores, while a naturally derived beta hydroxy acid helps to battle blackheads and ease congestion. The finishing touch is an antibacterial blend of tea tree and centella asiatica to calm and clarify your skin. The results? Why supple, smooth and glowing skin, of course.

Pros:

• In terms of the brand aspect of Glow Recipe, they are natural, vegan, cruelty-free and certified clean. If you are into the clean skincare movement, Glow Recipe is a brand that offers a wholistic clean practice on their products.
• The product offers two solutions, they are hydration and pore-refining. While minimizing the pores through micro-exfoliant (active ingredients here are PHA & BHA), it also provides hydration to the skin. Your skin will feel moisturized.
• The scent is very refreshing. Although watermelon generally don't have any smell, but they manage to replicate that sweet and refreshing scent to it. 

Cons:

• There's a huge issue with the packaging because the bottle is not secured properly. If you intend to bring this for travel, remember to seal the bottle opening with a plastic bag because the product tends to collect on the bottle cap. 
• It has micro-exfoliation effect which makes it not so suitable for sensitive skin or post-retinol use. If you develop any redness after using this product, it is pretty normal. However, do pay attention if your skin is not receptive to the product because the concoction of PHA & BHA can be harsh on the skin. They are equivalent to chemical peeling. 
• The texture is a little sticky. It feels more like an essence instead of a toner. It's thicker and tend to leave some sticky feeling even after dry up. I think skincare texture is a personal preference. I like my toner to dry matte and I'm definitely not enjoying this. 
• The result is pretty slow on my skin. Perhaps this is more suitable for younger skin. 

I will not repurchase this again, mainly because the texture isn't much of my liking. And I don't see any improvements after using almost half bottle. Even when I stopped using it, there is no difference.