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The Best Drugstore Exfoliating Serum for Instant ‘Mochi Skin’
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The internet is no stranger to a skin texture trend. Whether it’s Hailey Bieber’s “glazed donut” skin or the K-beauty “glass skin” effect, we love finding new ways to style our complexions with a skincare routine. Mochi skin is the latest skincare trend, combining the matte finish of the early aughts with the glowy effect that has dominated our routines for the last decade. The result is a velvet texture with skin that appears as soft, bouncy, and hydrated, just like that of a mochi rice cake.
This isn’t mochi skin’s first go-around, though. The Japanese beauty ideal took off in 2019 in response to the K-beauty “glass skin” craze, with a focus on skin softness vs. a glossy glow. To achieve the look, it’s less about aggressively sloughing off dead skin cells with harsh exfoliants and more about using a gentle exfoliating and hydrating serum, such as the Bioré 2% BHA Exfoliating Hydra Serum.
Bioré 2% BHA Exfoliating Hydra Serum
This liquid exfoliant features a serum-like texture that is easy to apply and doesn’t burn or cause discomfort upon application, making it gentle enough to use daily on all skin types, including sensitive skin. It’s also fast-absorbing, so you don’t have to wait for it to work its magic between the steps in your skincare routine.
Size: 4 oz.
Key Ingredients: 2% salicylic acid, glycerin
Bioré 2% BHA Exfoliating Hydra Serum Review
As someone with ultra-dry skin, I can use all of the exfoliating support I can get. However, most exfoliating skincare products take what little moisture I have left in my complexion along with the dead skin cells and gunk. When testing this serum for the first time, I knew right away that it would be a different experience. The formula texture is thicker than a toner and reminded me of my hyaluronic acid serums. It’s also easy to apply—just add a dime-size amount to a cotton pad and swipe, or a few drops directly to your skin and dab with your fingers.
This exfoliating serum does more than give you mochi skin. While I appreciate being able to achieve the velvety texture in fewer steps (with its exfoliating, toning, and hydrating properties, it’s essentially a three-in-one formula), I loved how well it acts as a priming step for my moisturizer and SPF, and that the liquid exfoliant makes it easier for my complexion to absorb hydrating formulas. Instead of my moisturizer sitting on top of my skin and absorbing over time, it quickly settled into my complexion and revealed a hydrating, soft, and supple-looking finish.
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This story’s author, StyleCaster contributing writer Jessie Quinn, scours the internet for the best of the best to ensure readers walk away with items recommended by our team, industry experts, and more. She has spent over a decade covering the best beauty products, skincare trends, and more for top publications. For this story, Quinn added the Bioré serum to her daytime skincare routine, after cleansing and before applying a hyaluronic acid serum, moisturizer, and SPF. The results were subtle but instantly noticeable, as shown in her before and after photos above.