Review paulas choice bha liquid

Blackheads (and their sinister cousin, whiteheads) have plagued me for years; they simply cannot let me go. Across my T-zone, I have pretty large pores going on that cannot resist getting filled with gunk. After years of skin torture in the form of Biore pore strips and ultra strong peel-off masks, I was left with blackheads and a load of irritation. I have tried anything and everything in my quest to send blackheads to that place that Gandalf fell, including a memorable incident with a pore vacuum, which I can heartily say I do not recommend. While it turns out expecting instant results was getting me nowhere (who knew?), I have stumbled upon a cult favorite product I would happily douse my face in for the rest of my life.

I routinely spend time google researching blackhead remedies while binging The Great British Baking Show (don’t you?), and unfailingly, the Paula’s Choice BHA exfoliant would appear in comments and on message boards surrounded by words like magic, life-changing, and undeniable. It’s a chemical exfoliator, which means it doesn’t require those skin-shredding granules I used to slather over my face in middle school.

“I recommend ‘chemical’ exfoliation over physical, meaning using an acid or enzyme to exfoliate instead of physical particles as in a scrub,” said Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, dermatologist and owner of Dr. Loretta Skincare. “With physical exfoliation, you’re removing only surface dead cells. With a chemical exfoliant like AHA/glycolic, BHA/salicylic, or an enzyme, you’re removing cells both in pores as well as on skin’s surface.”

I caved and bought the 2% BHA Exfoliant so I could test the magic for myself about eight months ago. The formula takes a moment to get used to—initially, I was really skeptical since it feels quite oily on the skin. I was expecting more of a light zingy feeling, and instead, it has more of an oil-based slick quality. I apply it with a cotton round and concentrate it on the areas where my blackheads like to congregate—mainly my nose, upper lip (sexy!), and chin.

Despite my doubts, I’ve actually gotten used to how the formula feels, and after around eight months of use, it’s made my hallowed list of auto-buy repurchases. My favorite part is how gentle it feels with no burning, itching, or stinging like other exfoliators—both chemical and physical—that I’ve tried. All Paula’s Choice products are fragrance-free as well, which is a welcome respite from recent overly-scented launches (Fenty Skin, I’m looking at you).

I’ve worked up to using it every night, and I’ve found that of all my lotions and potions, BHA (aka salicylic acid) works best for my skin in terms of refining texture and reducing pore blockage (my nemesis). I’m going to be real: I still have some blackheads. I think they may have decided to be with me forever, and who could blame them? But overall, the pores on my nose are less noticeable and enlarged and the skin on my cheeks and forehead feels buttery smooth, which wasn’t my intention in using this product but is a delightful side effect. Here’s a photo I would use to announce the Exfoliant and I are engaged:

In general when I’m having skin woes, I go back to the drawing board with my tried-and-true products I know work and don’t irritate my skin. The 2% BHA Exfoliant always makes the list, along with a gentle cleanser and hyaluronic acid serum. And of course, sunscreen.

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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 2% BHA liquid exfoliant everyday?

You can use Paula's Choice BHA every day— exfoliating once either in the morning or evening (pick whichever is most convenient for you). Many people with stubborn clogged pores have great results using a Paula's Choice BHA exfoliant twice per day.

What are the cons of Paula's Choice exfoliators?

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant.

Price: $.

Active ingredients: salicylic acid, green tea..

Pros: exfoliates gently, clarifies skin, evens skin tone..

Cons: can be irritating if overused..

Best for: dull skin, clogged pores, acne-prone skin..

What are the benefits of Paula's Choice 2 BHA liquid exfoliant?

GENTLE NON-ABRASIVE LEAVE-ON EXFOLIATOR: with 2 percent BHA (Beta hydroxy acid) to unclog and diminish enlarged pores, exfoliate dead skin cells, smooth wrinkles and brighten and even out skin tone. ... .

Dramatically improves skin's texture for radiant youthful even-toned skin..

How long does Paula's Choice liquid exfoliant take to work?

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant reduced my breakouts by ~70% after 3 days of using it at night! Note that timing is different for everyone. After 7 days of use, my skin felt smoother and softer.