This formula is pretty strong. At first I only used a little pit on a cotton pad and didn't see much of a result, but the second time I actually soaked the cotton pad more and could see a difference. The second time I could tell that my pores had shrunk, but it did leave me some redness on my nose the next day so I would just be careful about the amount you use. 

This helps my skin by preventing acne, but I don't feel that it exfoliates well.

I use it before applying clay mask. First I steam my face to open up the pore, then apply this and the BHA liquid and wait for about 20 min. After that I apply the clay mask. Together they help reduce sebum production and reduce number of blackheads and whiteheads. Note: you will need to use it more than a few times to see results. So be patient if you don't notice immediate difference.