Where reviews refer to foods or cosmetic products, results may vary from person to person. Customer reviews are independent and do not represent the views of The Hut Group.
Love this product
Got the mini version to try out what's so special about this product and now i understand! My skin has gotten so much better. Definitely recommend this product!
22/03/2024 by Monta
Verified Purchase
Can’t live without
My 4th time purchasing makes my skin glow and feel tight and moisturised. Facelift in a bottle
16/03/2024 by Aa
Verified Purchase
Great
This is a great product, leaves your skin very flawless after continued use.
16/03/2024 by Anna
Verified Purchase
Favorite BHA product
I have tried plenty of BHA products, but this one is my holy grail. It dries out acne over night. The small bottle also lasts a while, so it is definetely worth the purchase.
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- Paula's Choice launched its cult-favorite BHA liquid exfoliant more than 22 years ago.
- It's still the brand's no. 1 bestselling product, and one is sold every 7 seconds around the world.
- After using it for two weeks, I saw a noticeable improvement in my skin's tone and texture.
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Paula's Choice Skincare was founded by Paula Begoun in 1995 and has since been a firm favorite of skincare fanatics. Long before the creation of her namesake brand, Begoun was struggling with acne and eczema, constantly searching for products that wouldn't make her skin worse and brands that told the truth. Twenty years before launching her own skincare brand, Begoun was fired from her job on a cosmetics counter for telling customers the truth about what products could and couldn't do for their skin.
Seven years after the business began, Begoun created one of the industry's first leave-on liquid exfoliants, the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, which has won numerous beauty awards. "First of all, BHA (beta hydroxy acid), better known to consumers as salicylic acid, is such an effective skincare ingredient, particularly for those with breakout and acne-prone skin," Begoun told Insider.
The 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant comes in a gray plastic container that blocks out light, which can make ingredients less effective. Mollie Davies/Insider
This unique leave-on liquid is best applied with fingertips or a cotton pad to the entire face and neck, and it's even suitable around the eye area. While many similar products on the market also have a 2% BHA concentration, they don't always have the right pH balance. "Salicylic acid works best at a pH between 3 and 4," says Begoun. Formulas outside of this pH range will be less effective or could significantly disrupt the skin's barrier.
Anybody who knows their hyaluronic acid from their niacinamide would be able to spot the iconic bottle on a bathroom shelf. Paula's Choice Skincare opts out of using jars or transparent packaging, as vital ingredients become less effective when exposed to air and light, and can become clogged with bacteria when using fingers.
Left: My skin after first using the liquid exfoliant. Right: My skin after two weeks of use. Mollie Davies/Insider
Initial thoughts
My skin doesn't like to make for easy work. I'm prone to hormonal breakouts and my skin is quite dull, with lots of enlarged pores.
After cleansing my skin and using a gentle toner, I applied the exfoliant to my face and neck. The product suggests use up to twice a day, but having relatively sensitive skin, I kept the use at a max of once a day. I concentrated more on areas where I'm blemish-prone and applied the liquid to a cotton pad and pressed it gently into my face and neck once every other day for around four days before changing it to once a day. A little coin-sized amount is plenty to cover your face and neck if using a cotton pad, but I found that reusable pads soak up the liquid quite quickly.
If I used it in the morning I always followed with a light moisturizer and SPF 50, as any acid can thin out the skin's surface and make you more prone to burning and sensitivity.
I noticed my skin was instantly a bit more firm, and slowly, the stubborn milia on my forehead were starting to shift.
My skin after two weeks
I started to notice a huge difference in my skin around day nine. I'd upped my usage after day four and my pores started to shrink, some stubborn blackheads unclogged, and my skin had more of an overall glow, including a decrease in the pigmentation on my cheeks.
The bottom line
Although I was initially a bit nervous about using a liquid exfoliant, and not being able to feel with my fingers just how much I was exfoliating my skin, I am officially converted. The Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant delivers multiple benefits through its key ingredients. It also comes in a travel size at just $11.00 for those wanting to test it out before investing in the full size.
Mollie Davies
Freelance Reporter
Mollie Davies is a health and lifestyle journalist with a degree in English Literature and History and a background in PR and marketing. Mollie has since gone on to contribute to publications that include Cosmopolitan, The Metro, Healthline, HelloGiggles, Reviewed, HuffPost, Independent, and Fabulous, amongst others. More recently, Mollie has been the Beauty and Style Editor of well-being magazine, The Breakdown. Basset Hounds are Mollie's favorite things on the earth, she has her own named Olive. Mollie loves anything with too much sugar in, the color yellow, pop culture, and musical theatre. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.
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Can I use Paula's Choice BHA exfoliant daily?
If you are new to using salicylic acid products, we recommend initially using one twice a week and then gradually build up usage to once or twice daily. Apply after cleansing and toning. A liquid BHA exfoliant is best applied with a cotton pad. Apply a BHA gel or BHA lotion the same way you would a day or night cream.
How long does it take to see results from Paula's BHA?
It took time to see results but I could tell it was working after the third week. Along with using the products I changed my habits, better eating more water, and doing research and adding better skincare into my routine.
Is Paula's Choice exfoliant dermatologist recommended?
Everything is formulated free of dyes, fragrances, and phthalates. The website even features a handy skin care ingredient dictionary that beauty editors love to reference. A couple of Paula's Choice ingredients are mainstays with beauty editors and dermatologists, such as their Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant.
Why is Paula's Choice exfoliant breaking me out?
Skin purging is a phenomenon that some people with breakout-prone skin skin can experience after using a leave-on exfoliant or a particular new ingredient for the first time. The theory is that such products 'purge' skin from clogs stuck deep in the pore, pushing them quickly to the surface.