Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

My skin type: - Very Dry, easily dehydrated - Oily nose - Prone to stubborn acne and closed comedones - Redness on chin and cheeks (not rosacea) I already use a nightly Tretinoin cream (.04% concentration) to help with my acne and premature signs of aging but decided with my derm that incorporating a BHA would be a good idea to help with my seriously stubborn closed comedones and some irritating textural issues. It was between this and the Cerave SA lotion and I ultimately decided on this due to the higher concentration of salicylic acid. It's moisturizing, and feels sticky for the first 5-10 minutes after application but seems to sinks in to something of a satin finish on me and I can no longer feel it on my skin. You just have to be a little patient. My skin feels well hydrated and plump after it settles and looks really smooth and my pores aren't as obvious. It sits just fine under makeup for me but I'm not a new user to chemical exfoliants so I don't have lots of dead skin pilling up or sloughing off when I use it, my skin is, for the most part, already very smooth outside the acne and CCs. Occasionally I'll apply it further down my neck/decolletage than usual and WOW do I old skin just ball up and peel right away - it's so gross but also satisfying. So those that don't exfoliate often or are new to BHA/AHAs will likely have issues with foundation until their skin adjusts (but it will adjust). My advice in those cases is to either use this at night for the first few weeks or just accept going barefaced for a little while if you can. I'd strongly suggest not applying this product over anything that you feel does not dry down fully, the times I've attempted to use it after serums or heavier products it takes forever to sink in and sometimes never fully does. I save all my serums and essences for after this has absorbed and it's far easier to work with it as a result. My steps go like this most days: ACWell Licorice toner --- PC 2% BHA --- 10% Niacinamide serum --- TO Matryxil serum --- Secret Key Black Snail cream or Syn-ake cream w/ 3 drops Stratia Fortify oil --- Sunscreen. It works fairly quickly IMO, on my neck where I typically don't apply my Tret at night I noticed the peeling and balling of dead skin on day one and on my face where I have a patch of really awful CCs I noticed them getting smaller and smoother by around day 3-4. I'm going on about 8 days now and they're barely visible unless I'm right up in the mirror and feel as if they're almost gone when I touch my fingers to that area. I do have some slight peeling of the skin around my mouth and nose but it's not terrible (likely because I already exfoliate the heck out of my skin with the tret). Some tips and things keep in mind: 1) DO NOT RINSE IT OFF. I don't understand some of the top reviews advising people to do that, it says on the bottle not to rinse and nearly all chemical exfoliators are meant to be left on until the next cleansing specifically so they can do their job. If you rinse it off you're either going to prevent it from properly exfoliating or end up irritating the hell out of your skin. If you have oily skin and feel this might be heavy on you than you can probably just use this on bare skin and then sunscreen if you use in the AM or a lightweight lotion/cream and be done with it, but you need to leave it on your skin. 2) You have got to use sunscreen while you're using this product! Any BHA or AHA exfoliant causes increased sun sensitivity and you have to address that in your routine. You should already use sunscreen daily but it becomes a must when you incorporate a chemical exfoliator or you risk sun damage. 3) Less is more! Don't slop this on your face or soak a cotton pad in it, a little goes a long way and you'll be kicking yourself if you apply way too much and have to wait 20+ minutes for it to sink in. Use a shake or two and add more if needed but go easy. 4) Expect some irritation initially. Chemical exfoliants can be harsh and rough even on sturdy skin and you have to give yourself time to adjust. Over-exfoliation is a possibility but sometimes just introducing a BHA or AHA into your routine can cause some sensitivity. Don't panic and just be gentle to your skin. Use ceramides (like Cerave Skin Renewing cream) or fatty oils to soothe your face if needed and try to stay away from any harsh products or acids like Vitamin C right after applying this to avoid really burning your face.

I am almost 40 and have had acne since puberty. I have tried so many products. The products that showed some improvement (like Proactiv) changed the texture of my face. Literally made my face feel like a basketball. I’ve tried some products that I’ll notice an improvement after a week or so, and the it would just stop working. I have never used something that so drastically helped my face in such a short amount of time. Notably, within 5 days my blemishes were almost gone. Within a week, my chin felt smooth instead of feeling the bumps of every clogged pore. The discoloration of my face, such as the redness, hasn’t totally disappeared, but it is improving. My face doesn’t feel oily throughout the day. My skin feels tighter, like I got a facelift. Moisturizer along with this product is important. And it is important to follow the directions and start slowly with this product. Use it every other day for the first week, gradually working your way up to daily and then twice a day. It is a shock to your skin and can dry it out if you go overboard. But for what I needed this product for, it has exceeded my expectations in every way. I couldn’t recommend it more. Just a heads up, it is applied like a toner. I expected a face wash, but it is a liquid that you apply to cotton and rub on your face. I wash with CeraVe SA cleanser, follow it with this, and apply whatever moisturizer you prefer—I’ve been using moisturizer with SPF so as to not damage my skin more than I already have.

I bought this to tackle clogged pores and the occasional blackhead and to even out my skin without scrubbing harshly. I wanted a gentle option I could use daily without irritation, especially on the more sensitive areas around the nose and cheeks. In everyday use, I cleanse, pat dry, then apply a few drops and let it sink in. It dries down quickly, leaves no fragrance, and doesn’t feel sticky or harsh. It’s a liquid leave-on with 2% salicylic acid that helps unclog pores while smoothing dead skin, and I can follow with moisturizer and sunscreen without any trouble. What stood out the most is how it clears inside the pore and smooths texture over time. After several weeks I notice my skin looks more even and the fine lines around my eyes and mouth appear a touch softer. It feels hydrating while still doing the exfoliating job, which is nice to experience without extra dryness. A small note: there can be a brief, mild tingling if my skin is dry or I use too much at once, so I started with a smaller amount and every other day for a week. Sunscreen is still important during the day. Overall, it fits my routine well and I would rate it five stars.

I’ve been using the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant for a couple of months now, and I can honestly understand why this product has such a loyal following. I mainly bought it to help with the appearance of my pores and blackheads, and I’ve definitely noticed a visible difference since adding it into my routine. When I first started using it, I did notice a slight tingly feeling on my skin. It didn’t hurt or cause any actual irritation, but it definitely startled me a little at first 😭 Thankfully, it never turned into redness, burning, or discomfort, and my skin adjusted pretty quickly after the first few uses. I currently use it around 3–4 times a week… or at least I try to, when I remember. Even with me not being perfectly consistent, I’ve still noticed that my pores look smaller and cleaner overall, especially around my nose where I tend to get the most blackheads. My skin texture also feels smoother, and my face just looks a little clearer and more refined in general. I also appreciate that it’s fragrance-free because my skin can be pretty sensitive at times. The formula feels lightweight and easy to apply, and it layers well with the rest of my skincare products without feeling greasy or heavy. One thing I’d recommend is easing into it slowly if you’re new to chemical exfoliants, especially if you have sensitive skin. Starting with 1-2 uses a week worked really well for me. Overall, I’m really happy with this product and definitely plan on continuing to use it. If enlarged pores or stubborn blackheads are something you struggle with, this is genuinely worth trying.

Paula's Choice Liquid Exfoliant does exactly what it states. After applying the liquid product to my face with a cotton pad, it deeply cleansed the pores and exfoliated the top layer of dead skin cells without the harsh granular feel of most other exfoliants. It is important to continue using it regularly for the best results because, initially, the exfoliated skin was dry and flaky. Using a washcloth helped remove the flaky skin, followed by a moisturizer. After continued use, there was no more flaky skin. It was replaced with a smoother, more evenly toned skin tone. REMEBER TO USE A LOT OF SUNSCREEN AND TO REAPPLY IT THROUGHOUT THE DAY!