DIY BHA Body Toner for Keratosis Pilaris

Hello! It's understandable that using a ready-made BHA product for your entire body can be quite costly, especially given your height and the area you need to cover for keratosis pilaris. Based on the ingredients of the product you've been using and the staff's suggestion, we can formulate a simpler, cost-effective BHA toner focusing on the key active ingredients.

The main component for addressing keratosis pilaris is Salicylic Acid (BHA), which helps exfoliate the skin and unclog pores. To minimize irritation, we'll include anti-irritant ingredients like Bisabolol and Allantoin, similar to your current product.

Here is a simple formula and instructions for making a 2% Salicylic Acid Body Toner:

Simple BHA Body Toner Formula (approx. 100g)

Instructions:

1. In a clean beaker or container, combine Salicylic Acid, Propylene Glycol, and Bisabolol. Stir or gently warm the mixture (e.g., in a warm water bath) to help dissolve the Salicylic Acid and Bisabolol completely.
2. In a separate container, weigh the Deionized Water and Allantoin. Gently heat the water phase (around 40-50°C) and stir until the Allantoin is fully dissolved. Let it cool down.
3. Once both mixtures have cooled, combine the Salicylic Acid/Propylene Glycol/Bisabolol mixture with the Water/Allantoin mixture. Stir thoroughly.
4. Add Phenoxyethanol and stir to combine.
5. Measure the pH of the mixture using a pH meter or pH strips. The target pH for Salicylic Acid efficacy and reduced irritation is typically between 3.0 and 4.0.
6. Prepare a 10% Sodium Hydroxide solution (e.g., dissolve 1g of Sodium Hydroxide in 9g of water). Add this solution drop by drop to your toner mixture, stirring and re-measuring the pH after each addition, until the desired pH of 3.0-4.0 is reached. Be careful not to add too much.
7. Add a small amount of Deionized Water if needed to bring the total weight to 100g.
8. Pour the finished toner into a clean, opaque bottle for storage.

How to Use:

• Apply the BHA Body Toner to the affected areas (chest, below the navel, thighs, upper arms) after showering, once daily. You can pour it into your palm or use a cotton pad.
• Follow with your regular body lotion for moisture.
• Important: Salicylic Acid can increase sun sensitivity. Always apply sunscreen to treated areas if they will be exposed to sunlight, or cover up.

This DIY toner provides the core active ingredient and anti-irritants in a simple, lightweight base, which should be much more economical for full-body application while still being effective for your keratosis pilaris.