Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Leave-On Exfoliant

Will purchase this over and over! I swear this completely changed my skin. I was dealing with those tiny little white bumps/pimples, on my chin and after adding this into my routine (I used at night with moisturizer), my skin has become so much clearer and smoother. I’ve been really impressed with how much of a difference it’s made without making my routine complicated. My skin just looks more even and feels so much smoother when I use it consistently. This has officially become a must-have in my skincare routine, and I’ll absolutely keep repurchasing it

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’ve been using this Paula’s Choice exfoliant for a couple of months now, and it has completely changed the way my skin feels. I’ve tried a lot of facial exfoliants over the years, but this one stands out from everything else I’ve used. What I love most is that it’s both gentle and incredibly effective. It doesn’t leave my face feeling irritated or overly dry, yet I can actually feel it working. I use it once a week, and after each application my skin feels noticeably cleaner, smoother, and refreshed. It seems to clear out my pores better than anything else I’ve tried. The biggest sign that it’s working is that I know exactly when it’s time to use it again. If I go much longer than a week without it, my face starts to feel heavy and congested. After I use it, that feeling is completely gone, and my skin feels light, clean, and renewed. A little goes a long way, so the bottle lasts longer than I expected. I was fortunate enough to catch it on Prime Day and immediately ordered two more bottles so I wouldn’t run out. That’s something I rarely do with skincare products, but this one has earned a permanent place in my routine. If you’re looking for an exfoliant that’s effective without being harsh, I highly recommend giving this one a try. It has made a noticeable difference in the texture and overall feel of my skin, and it’s easily one of the best skincare products I’ve purchased. Five stars without hesitation.

I did a search on AI and asked for a solution to help clear up my blackheads. It told me to use BHA. I then searched and asked what the best brand/solution to buy and multiple AI engines put "Paula's Choice" on blast! I was like, I have to try this "cult-favorite!" I was going to buy the smallest size since I was buying it for the first time, however I'm so happy that I bought this size. It's a great size and should last me a bit. I was BEYOND STUNNED at how well it worked. I cannot believe that I have been squeezing my blackheads this whole time! Unbelievable, and I can't imagine how I've damaged my skin by doing so! Had I know that it was this easy to clear them up, I'd have done this from the jump! I'd say it cleared them up in a week's time. Make sure that you apply it to a clean, dry face (I used it with a cotton pad the first time or two and realized how much product was just getting wasted using the cotton pad so then I just pressed the whole bottle up against my nose and chin where I was applying it and slightly lifted the bottle away from my skin just enough to get what I needed onto my skin, then rub/spread it gently to where I need it). I started using it every other night. Then worked my way to every night. Now that they're gone I just use it about 4-5x a week at night. Make sure that you let it dry for 10 minutes before applying your moisturizer. Lastly - do NOT go out into the sun without sunscreen on when using this product. I would say even if it's not currently on your face. The only reason that I didn't give it 5 stars b/c IT IS AN AMAZING PRODUCT is that it's just too expensive.

I decided to try this on a whim after reading all the positive reviews and I am so glad that I did. This product is definitely worth 5 stars to me. I was hesitant about chemical exfoliation but I wanted something that would be less abrasive than physical exfoliation. This product delivered that. It has evened out my skin tone, improved the size of my pores and did not irritate my acne in the process. Another plus that I was not expecting is that where my T-Zone would be oily halfway through my workday it has become much less so after using this product. I know the chemical names and percents can be a little off-putting so I will explain BHAs in a more basic way: BHA is an acronym for Beta Hydroxy acid. It works by penetrating the pore and essentially "degunking." This purging process can be a little grueling as the gunk in your face gets pushed out before you see improvements in your skin. The purging process lasted around 2 weeks for me before I noticed a considerable improvement. It could take more time for you,or less. My skincare routine for my combination skin goes as follows: A.M. Wash hands with anti-bacterial soap Cleanse: Splash face with lukewarm water, pat dry with a clean towel Exfoliation: BHA, wait 10-20 minutes for it to dry Moisturize: Clinique dramatically different moisturizing gel (Miracle moisturizer for my combination skin. Can't get enough of this stuff!) Sun screen: Neutrogena Ultra sheer sun screen (Can't stress how important sun screen is for you. Please, please use it) P.M. After shower so I don't wash my hands Cleanse: CereVe Hydrating facial cleanser, pat dry with clean towel Exfoliation: Apply BHA lightly with a clean cotton ball. Wait 10-20 minutes to dry Moisturize: Clinique dramatically different moisturizing gel Spot treatment: Body Shop tea tree oil spot treatment for any acne Important things to remember: 1. When introducing any new product ALWAYS do a patch test and only introduce 1 new product into your routine at a time so that way if you do have a reaction you will know what is causing it. Here is a good way to patch test a new product: Where to test: To see if you're allergic---- Behind your ear To check for irritation---The area where you're most sensitive. For me this is around my mouth To check for clogs or acne----The area in which you experience this the most. For me this was around my hair line and cheeks If you are allergic to a product you would know pretty instantaneously. Irritation and clogged pores can sometime take up to a month. You know your skin best so always do your patch test and follow your instincts. You can always stop use if need be. 2. Everyone has different skin and don't be discouraged if this product does not work for you. If BHA does not work for you try AHA. It is great for dry skin. 3. I experienced some dryness in the beginning and fixed that by cutting back on the amount of product used. Same results minus dryness. 4. The purging can be frustrating because it is almost as if your skin gets worse before it gets better. If you do your patch test, start using this product and after a few days notice NEW break outs in area you never had them before I would discontinue use immediately. That is not part of the purging process and it is clogging your pores which will invariably lead to more breakouts. 5. One practice that improved my acne ten fold is washing my hands with an antibacterial soap before touching my face and using a clean towel to dry my face each time. I also sleep in a clean shirt each night and wash my sheets once a week. The "towels" I use are Kleenex brand single use hand towels. They are not super soft but I just pat my skin dry with them versus rubbing. If you don't like the idea of wasting so many hand towels invest in washable face towels so you have a clean one each time. Overall, I have recommended this product to close friends and my sister which is why I am comfortable giving it 5 stars. Once this bottle is empty I will most definitely be ordering it again.

amazing! After using for almost a year now I noticed this was the only product that actually got rid of acne and somewhat smoothed out texture on my skin. I have sensitive dry/mixture skin and this never caused me problems that I needed to fix with another product :)

Very good and simple exfoliant, does Not upset my sensitive skin. This stuff also goes a LOOONG way, I put two drops on my two fingers and cover a full cheek and up my temple. Six drops total and my full face is covered nicely, skip the cotton ball altogether. Will buy again. ^-^

Holy moly... Why am I so late to the game with this product??? I turned the magic 4-0 and have been trying to find something for my skin to just look better. Over all more healthy. I've always had pretty decent skin, normal to dry and leaning more dry as I get older. But lately it's just looking dull, my pores getting bigger, and these ugly sebaceous filaments on the nose and chin.. ahhhhh!!! Enter this Paula's choice BHA.. The very first use I noticed my pores were almost completely GONE! Along with the filiments! I have dry skin and was worried this would be too much along side using retinal but so far so good! I use it once or twice a week to sluff off dead skin cells and wow I am blown away. I've tried to use this every night bc I got greedy and addicted to the results. But too much of a good thing can still be bad for the skin. So just a couple times a week. I haven't been brave enough to use before makeup yet. Pro tip: Dab a tiny bit on your finger and apply to your ears. My stubborn ear filiments and black heads - GONE!!! Second pro tip: Apply to scalp before showering to help remove scalp psoriasis!! What can this stuff NOT do?!?! Automatic monthly subscription!

As someone who is a bit of a skin care addict I highly recommend this product! Especially if you have troublesome acne prone skin like me. I use this every other night in between using Paula’s choice retinol cream. It is also fantastic when you get a spot and need it to be gone ASAP! Just dab some on the affected area (I normally like to drench the area in it) and it will be gone or hugely reduced in a few days. If you can carefully remove any of the whitehead from the spot it will be gone even quicker. This product helps to bring everything out. It also doesn’t aggravate my skin like some anti-spot lotions can. Although I use this especially against spots, it does also help to make the skin smoother and more refined. By using Paula’s choice retinol and the BHA lotion on alternate nights, I’ve noticed an improvement in my over all skin tone. It looks supple, smoother, clearer and dewy.

Llevo años usando este producto porque me ayuda a controlar mis espinillas ocasionales. Mantiene los poros limpios y se notan menos. No podría estar sin él

Love this , it really works, skin became much prettier! Will buy again 👍

I love this exfoliator! It’s great for when my skin feels congested after a few days of wearing makeup, I use it around 2 times a week and over time it’s really helped my skin feel smoother and have less blemishes. I bought a mini one to take when I travel or stay at my partners, this is really useful!

so the price is like 18 euro and the product size is very tiny, i mean in 18 euro we can have a large bottle of cerave , are you guyz fooling us. whats the point of charging this hefty amount , please i request everyone dont buy this product without reading the reviews. dont waste your money..