Farmstay AHA & PHA Hyaluronic Acid Pore Scrub

It's a physical scrub. The main ingredient is baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) at 40%, combined with fine silica and cellulose granules. As you massage it over wet skin, the granules polish away dead skin cells and help loosen oil buildup around pores, so skin feels smoother and the T-zone looks cleaner straight after rinsing.

Only traces. The box lists lactic acid (an AHA) at 0.9 ppm and the Korean label lists lactobionic acid (a PHA) at 1 ppm, with hyaluronic acid at 10 ppm. At these levels they don't exfoliate chemically. The smoothing effect comes from the baking soda and granules, so think of this as a scrub, not an acid exfoliant.

After cleansing, take a small amount and apply it to a wet face, avoiding the eyes and lips. Massage gently in small circles for 30 to 60 seconds, focusing on the nose, chin and forehead, without pressing hard. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, then follow with toner and moisturiser to restore comfort.

Once or twice a week for oily skin, and once a week for combination or normal skin. More often can over-exfoliate and leave skin tight or red. Don't use it on the same evening as retinol or acid exfoliants, and skip it if your skin is already irritated, sunburnt or has active, inflamed breakouts.

We wouldn't recommend it. The baking soda base is alkaline and the scrubbing action is mechanical, and the formula also contains menthol, fragrance and tea tree, all of which can sting dry or sensitive skin. If your skin is reactive, a gentle PHA toner or an enzyme cleanser is a kinder way to exfoliate. Ask our team for options.

For short, occasional contact on oily, resilient skin, yes. Baking soda is alkaline, while healthy skin is slightly acidic, so leaving it on or using it daily can disrupt the skin barrier. Here it's rinsed off within a minute, once or twice a week. Following with a toner helps skin return to its normal balance quickly.

Yes. The box carries a sunburn alert, because any exfoliation leaves fresh skin more sensitive to the sun, and the formula contains salicylic acid. Apply SPF every morning while using this scrub and for a week afterwards, and use the scrub in the evening so your skin has the night to settle before sun exposure.

Yes. Men often have an oilier T-zone and more visible pores on the nose, which is exactly what this scrub targets. Use it on evenings when you haven't shaved, as scrubbing freshly shaved skin can cause irritation and razor burn. Once or twice a week is enough, followed by a light moisturiser.