Salicylic acid that dives into pores anchors this liquid, and experts keep returning to it for congestion. Many fans say it suits oily and acne-prone skin, even alongside tretinoin, while two experts see it more as an add-on than a cure for acne. One thing to watch: it is strong, so two or three times a week may be plenty, and skin of color may want it at night only.
Synthesized from 32 expert reviews · most recent take October 2026
"I use the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant twice a week in fall. It is mainly for my adult acne, [...] and for keeping my skin free of congestion and inflammation. It might be working against hyperpigmentation as well, but it's not a dedicated step; it's something I use year round."
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"Then for my favorite exfoliant, the one I use is the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It is great for my congestion. I still get congestion even though I use Tretinoin, so to combat that, I use a salicylic acid product three times a week, and this is the one I have been coming back to ever since I first discovered it. I'm really just bummed that I didn't try it earlier in my acne journey."
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"I still use the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant three times a week, mainly around my T-zone."
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"I really enjoy the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. I love the texture, it never irritates my skin, and it keeps it free from congestion when used about three times a week. I'm currently using a drugstore version that's quite good as well but doesn't have the same lovely texture, so I'll go back to this one."
Acne, Allergies and Aging: my Spring Skincare Routine Adjustments | Doctor Anne
"Three times a week I use Paulas Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, even before using my Vitamin C, to keep my pores unclogged and prevent breakouts."
My 2025 winter morning and night time skincare routine | Doctor Anne
"Two nights a week I don't use The Ordinary, but instead the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant to combat congestion. It is the only form of exfoliation I do over winter, but I can't skip it completely unless I want to risk breakouts."
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"The Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is repeated from the years before and a non-negotiable for me. [...] It keeps my pores from getting congested and is easy to tolerate alongside my Tretinoin, absolute perfection."
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"The Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is an old favorite. Despite it being four times as expensive as the Balea alternative, I will stick to Paula's Choice."
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"As today is exfoliation day I go in with Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and I concentrate that on the T-zone where I still get congestion, and then bring it out on the cheeks, because for women over 40 the hormonal beard area is an area of congestion as well. This is what I do year round."
My Travel skincare routine for one week in Mallorca | Doctor Anne
"For treatment I brought my Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, because whenever I'm on holiday, with lots of sunscreen, chlorine water from the pool, and not eating as well as I usually do, I tend to break out, so I brought this one."
My morning skincare routine for spring 2024 | Doctor Anne
"I'm going in with the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. I do that around three times a week to keep my congestion at bay, focus around the key zone, but also on my cheeks, because I get acne and breakouts, clogged pores in this hormonal beard area."
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"I only use it on a regular basis to keep my pores congestion free."
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"During summer I stop exfoliating with glycolic acid, lactic acid, and AHAs in general and focus solely on BHAs. I'm still using the BHA I use year round, the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, but I increase the frequency to three times a week and stop using any other exfoliant altogether, since I'm blessed with pimples and congestion."
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"I use the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant twice a week in fall. It is mainly for my adult acne, [...] and for keeping my skin free of congestion and inflammation. It might be working against hyperpigmentation as well, but it's not a dedicated step; it's something I use year round."
"And then I'm using Paula's Choice and then my BHA, the serum. I use it maybe every other night. [...] My skin is like beef jerky though. It likes the acids. It could take a lot."
"This is probably the most iconic leave-on salicylic acid product out there, and honestly the reputation is earned. I reach for this most often for stubborn blackheads, congestion, oily to combination skin types. I would not really use this on [...] really dry skin. The 2% salicylic acid here is the maximum concentration allowed for over-the-counter use, and the leave-on format means it has time to penetrate the pore and do its job, unlike a cleanser you're rinsing off after 30 seconds."
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"My next recommendation is Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It deeply penetrates to unclog pores, reduce blackheads, and minimize pore appearance. It regulates oil production and helps prevent new breakouts. The key ingredient here is salicylic acid, or BHA, at 2%, which is the active that penetrates into the pores, can clear the blemish-causing buildup, and helps shed dead skin cells."
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"Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant penetrates a little bit deeper to unclog pores, reduce blackheads, and minimize the appearance of pores. You can't physically shrink your pores, but you can minimize their appearance by using salicylic acid. If you use this on a regular basis, it will help minimize oil production, help with some of the shine you get throughout the day, and help with breakouts."
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"This is BHA, which is the lipid-soluble exfoliating acid, so it's going to deeply penetrate to unclog your pores, help reduce some of the blackheads, and minimize the appearance of pores. It definitely helps regulate oil production and will help prevent new breakouts. So if you're somebody with oily skin, this is definitely one of those you must have. And if you have breakouts, the key ingredients are salicylic acid, BHA at 2%, green tea, and methylpropanediol."
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"A good product recommendation here would be Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. Some of the key benefits are that it deeply unclogs the pores. It still contains 2% salicylic acid, but this is a leave-on, so it has more time to work, especially overnight, for longer cleansing and decongesting of the pores. Not only will this unclog the pores, it will also reduce the appearance of blackheads and minimize oil production."
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"My next recommendation in this category is the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. BHA is salicylic acid, which deeply penetrates to unclog the pores. It can help reduce blackheads and minimize the appearance of pores. It works really well on regulating oil production and helping prevent new breakouts. The key ingredient is 2% salicylic acid, or BHA, and it also has a little bit of green tea in it."
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"This is probably the most iconic leave-on salicylic acid product out there, and honestly the reputation is earned. I reach for this most often for stubborn blackheads, congestion, oily to combination skin types. I would not really use this on [...] really dry skin. The 2% salicylic acid here is the maximum concentration allowed for over-the-counter use, and the leave-on format means it has time to penetrate the pore and do its job, unlike a cleanser you're rinsing off after 30 seconds."
"It's way better than other acids, like alpha hydroxy acid, because it penetrates oil and penetrates your pores more readily. The key is not to overdo it, because when you do, you're not going to clear out your pores faster, you're only going to irritate your skin, so pick a product, use it consistently, and be patient because the process takes time. One of my favorites is the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, applied where you're bothered by it a few times a week."
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"I'm going to throw in a quick little plug for Paula's Choice. Their 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, I feel like, is the OG one, more ideal for oily and acne-prone skin. That can be another great one, too."
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"I recommend incorporating it into your routine a few times a week at most. This is really nice to use, and it's just great all around. It's lightweight, not sticky, and definitely something worth trying out if you have more oily, acne-prone skin. This liquid exfoliant also comes in a smaller 15 mL size, which I'll link below if you want to try it out and see if it's a good one for your skin."
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"This exfoliant contains 2% salicylic acid, which is the BHA component. As I mentioned earlier, salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliant that has oil-gland-loving properties. It's lipophilic, so it really loves sebum, which is why it's more ideal for individuals who are oilier and acne-prone. It helps unclog pores, improves skin turnover, and helps improve pore congestion, which over time can improve the appearance of dilated pores, blackheads, whiteheads, and post-acne marks."
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"It's a really great, lightweight liquid product that you can put on daily, but most people shouldn't be using something like this daily unless they tolerate it. Ingredient-wise, it's got 2% salicylic acid and green tea, which acts as a soothing, calming agent and helps reduce some of the irritation from the salicylic acid."
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"If you're struggling with pore congestion, a little acne, and post-acne marks, then you definitely need to check out Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It's a viral product and really great for those concerns, and it can help with uneven skin texture and skin tone at the same time. It's a liquid exfoliant that you pour onto a cotton pad or directly onto your palm, then apply to the skin."
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"Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is by far one of the most popular products from Paula's Choice, and honestly, whenever I hear liquid exfoliant, AHA, or BHA, I immediately think of this product. Salicylic acid is certainly a very popular ingredient in Western skincare, and they also use it in Asia as well. We know salicylic acid has wonderful benefits in improving pore congestion, helping to unclog pores, and helping to reduce surface sebum."
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"It's way better than other acids, like alpha hydroxy acid, because it penetrates oil and penetrates your pores more readily. The key is not to overdo it, because when you do, you're not going to clear out your pores faster, you're only going to irritate your skin, so pick a product, use it consistently, and be patient because the process takes time. One of my favorites is the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, applied where you're bothered by it a few times a week."
"If you are someone who's wanting a really strong salicylic acid formula to use a few times a week, the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a tried and true classic that's so good at really going deep in your pores and getting all the gunk out. There's a reason why it's so popular. It works really well for clearing out the pores, albeit that you should only use it a couple times per week because it can really dry out the skin, but still very effective."
Top Pick: bha exfoliant
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"If you want to use the product just a few times a week, the Paula's Choice 2% BHA solution is amazing but very strong. I only recommend using it like twice, maybe three times a week."
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"I'm going to use Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It's one of my favorite skincare products of all time. I've recommended it since the very beginning of my channel, and I still find myself recommending it every single week. It's an amazing product for anyone who struggles with acne breakouts and blackheads. [...] I'm trying to clear up leftover hyperpigmentation, and I think exfoliating really helps with that. [...] I will sing praises for that product forever."
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"First is Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. If you've never heard of this product, I always call it the miracle product for blackheads, pimples, and acne. It is absolutely incredible, and it has a cult following. It's 20% off at Paula's Choice on a bunch of different websites, but I feel like Derm Store is the best one to take advantage of it with."
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"I always call this product magic in a bottle, because the way it completely clears everything out of your pores and helps with breakouts and pimples is amazing. I actually ran out of my bottle, and I'm really upset, because it could have worked really well for this big pimple on my lip. It is such a good formula with a cult following. Using it about three times a week is great to help prevent and treat the breakouts you're experiencing."
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"She goes in with the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, and I love that one. If you have super oily skin or breakouts, I always call it the miracle product, because it really does an incredible job at helping with breakouts."
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"This product truly has the ability to zap away persistent breakouts and even acne that you experience on your face, at a level that just blows my mind. I'm constantly recommending it. Yes, it does include salicylic acid, but this one is at a 2% concentration, which is the highest legal limit you can have of salicylic acid in a skincare product. Whenever my skin is really going through it and needs the help, this one always comes to the rescue. It does have a few drawbacks."
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"This BHA product is amazing, and I'm constantly talking about it on my channel, although this is the mini size. I wonder if he got it as a sample. [...] I am jealous, because who doesn't want free Paula's Choice skincare?"
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"If you are someone who's wanting a really strong salicylic acid formula to use a few times a week, the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a tried and true classic that's so good at really going deep in your pores and getting all the gunk out. There's a reason why it's so popular. It works really well for clearing out the pores, albeit that you should only use it a couple times per week because it can really dry out the skin, but still very effective."
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"The Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a full throttle smash. I love that product so much, I've talked about it on my channel so many times. I like to call it the miracle product because it makes your pores literally look invisible, I don't even know how it's possible."
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"The Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a toner formula that is amazing for really oily skin. If you want to get a really strong dose of salicylic acid, that one's great for helping exfoliate your pores, getting rid of excess oiliness and clogged or blocked pores. It also has a cult following."
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"The Paula's Choice 2% BHA Exfoliating Liquid is one of my favorite products. [...] If you want a really strong treatment to help with breakouts and acne, it's an incredible product."
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"I've preached about the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant for years, it's one of my all time favorites. It has the highest concentration of salicylic acid you can get, 2%, and I recommend using it on the spot about three times a week."
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"If you're someone who's looking for a way to get rid of your acne scarring or even help with breakouts and reducing the appearance of your pores, I would first recommend using salicylic acid. It's an incredible ingredient for deeply exfoliating in the pores, really helps with breakouts, has a lot of data behind it. My favorite really concentrated one has always been the Paula's Choice 2% BHA exfoliating solution. That one is amazing to use overnight a few times a week."
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"In my opinion, salicylic acid is the best ingredient for really getting deep in that pore and pushing everything out. I love the Paula's Choice two percent BHA exfoliating solution, that one's like the most powerful one out there."
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"This one, as I have said so many times, is like my miracle product. Whenever I use this my skin just looks so refreshed. It does an amazing job of exfoliating the blackheads on my nose area, and it's an absolute must every time I experience a breakout. This one is really good but really strong, so I can only use it a maximum of about two to three times per week and only at night time."
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"If you want a really strong salicylic acid product, the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Exfoliating Solution is amazing."
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"I only use it as a nighttime treatment and I would encourage you to do the same just because of how strong the formula is. However, every time I use this one I feel like it just makes my pores disappear. [...] It's an amazing formula, particularly if you really struggle with breakouts or acne, and great results. There's a reason why it is so popular. [...] It's an amazing product, I highly recommend."
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"That's the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. I love that product, it is so amazing. I always call it the miracle product, because every time I use it, when I wake up in the morning I'm like, [...] where did my pores go, where did all the dirt go. It's seriously an amazing product. [...] Two percent salicylic acid is the highest concentration of salicylic acid you can find in over the counter products, and for a lot of people that formula can tend to be a little bit strong."
"The classic 2% BHA is famously minimal, only eight ingredients: water, a couple of humectants, pH adjusters, and salicylic acid. That simplicity is a big part of why it's so well tolerated. My skin loves this stuff, and it's even more especially tolerated on sensitive skin. [...] If you have active hyperpigmentation, reactive skin, or you're newer to exfoliants, the 2% is still your best friend. It was built for the concerns most of us are actually dealing with."
Top Pick: bha exfoliant
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"The classic 2% BHA is famously minimal, only eight ingredients: water, a couple of humectants, pH adjusters, and salicylic acid. That simplicity is a big part of why it's so well tolerated. My skin loves this stuff, and it's even more especially tolerated on sensitive skin. [...] If you have active hyperpigmentation, reactive skin, or you're newer to exfoliants, the 2% is still your best friend. It was built for the concerns most of us are actually dealing with."
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"I use it all the time, my skin loves it, and every time I have makeup on it's a non-negotiable in my nighttime skincare routine. It also has green tea extract for antioxidant support and soothing, plus it hydrates the skin while it exfoliates, which some formulations miss, and an ingredient that helps the exfoliant absorb deeper into the skin. It's a straightforward, effective formulation and the label backs up everything they claim."
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"Make sure you're exfoliating once or twice a week, this will help remove dead skin cells and encourage skin cell turnover. Paula's Choice BHA Exfoliant is a great classic example."
"The only thing I'd say to you, which differs from the website, is to wear this only at night time for skin of color. I would never want you to exfoliate and then go out into the sun, where you have a barrage of free radicals on the skin thanks to the UV, which is not good for our skin. So I'd say wear this if you want to wear it, and wear it at night. But I absolutely love this product, and I would buy it if my main concern was oily skin."
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"The only thing I'd say to you, which differs from the website, is to wear this only at night time for skin of color. I would never want you to exfoliate and then go out into the sun, where you have a barrage of free radicals on the skin thanks to the UV, which is not good for our skin. So I'd say wear this if you want to wear it, and wear it at night. But I absolutely love this product, and I would buy it if my main concern was oily skin."
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"What you need to do is go in with a 2% salicylic acid. I really like the one from Paula's Choice."
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"Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is fragrance-free. You can use this once a week to unclog the follicular openings."
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"I also like Paula's Choice."
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"For a salicylic acid leave-on exfoliator, Paula's Choice is a very good one. We have one which also has niacinamide, silicic acid, anti-inflammatories and glycerin in it too, because what you tend to find is that salicylic acid can be quite drying on the skin, and that's why we added glycerin."
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"I like the 2% salicylic acid from Paula's Choice. This is the OG. Paula is the one who really figured out the 2% leave-on exfoliant, and everyone just sort of mimicked her or did their own iteration."
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"When it comes to products, there are two types of acids. The first is fat-soluble salicylic acid, which is good for unclogging pores, and in that case I recommend the 2% salicylic acid from Paula's Choice. They were the OG, the original 2% salicylic acid leave-on exfoliator. Everyone copied Paula's Choice, so really Paula's Choice should be getting the recognition for the 2% salicylic acid trend. It was a fantastic idea, and it works."
"If you've been on the beauty side of the internet anytime in the last 10 years, you've heard of Paula's Choice 2% salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid. It dives into your pores and can help clear them out. So this is a really nice prep step if you're going to be applying makeup, and it's something you can do anywhere from every day to just a couple times a week, depending on what your skin can handle."
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"If you've been on the beauty side of the internet anytime in the last 10 years, you've heard of Paula's Choice 2% salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid. It dives into your pores and can help clear them out. So this is a really nice prep step if you're going to be applying makeup, and it's something you can do anywhere from every day to just a couple times a week, depending on what your skin can handle."
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"This product is holy grail for so many people, one because it's very effective but two I think because it's very easy to incorporate into a routine. You sort of use it how you would use a toner, so after you wash your face you apply it either with your fingertips or you can apply it on a cotton round and then put it over the parts of your face that tend to break out in blackheads."
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"The Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is magical. A few weeks ago I did a poll on my Instagram asking for your favorite products for oily skin and this by far was your number one recommendation. [...] I have loved and used this product for so long, so it's kind of nice when you see other people enjoy it as much as you do. BHA in the title of this product stands for beta hydroxy acid, which is also known as salicylic acid."
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"The first leave-on products that I'm incorporating into my skincare routine today is the [Paula's Choice] 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. This is an oldie but a super super goodie. I'm essentially applying this as a toner or a toning step. [...] I'm using this 2% BHA or 2% salicylic acid toner to help relieve some of the congestion on the lower half of my face so this is some hormonal acne that has really been a pain in my butt ever since I had my son, which was over a year ago now."
"This one's out of your price range, and there are several great dupes that are about half the price. This is Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It just uses 2% salicylic acid, and it's a liquid toner. You can apply it with a cotton pad or just pat it onto the skin. This would be great for people with acne-prone or oily skin, since salicylic acid is a great ingredient for that. It's a great product."
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"They still have their 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, but there are a lot of alternatives to it."
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"[Paula's Choice] has so many great products"
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"The Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is 20% off right now, so it's $28. Paula's Choice usually has good sales on their website, but if you don't want to pay for shipping, this is the time to do it. It's a really lovely product, and I would guess it's probably the number one seller."
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"I know [Paula's Choice] has a uh exfoliant uh what else there's several brands you don't necessarily have to get this specific one this is just one that I know uh the ingredients of"
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"I don't. I always use it on damp skin. Other people also sometimes use oils. So use it on damp skin, and after you're done, you can use a simple BHA toner. I find that prevents any of the breakouts from happening. Something like Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant on a cotton pad, smoothed over your skin afterward, might sting a little bit. So if your skin's not used to exfoliants, give it some time to acclimate before you start."
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"There are a lot of dupes and alternatives to it. Walgreens has one as well. However, this one, in my opinion, is still relevant and still works well for a lot of people at this point. It's not crazy priced. It's expensive, but it does last a long time. I think this bottle's getting down to the bottom, but I've been using it off and on for a long time, so in my opinion it's still relevant."
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"It might look a little pricey at first, but it's really affordable and well formulated, with a proper pH and a good percentage of BHA. So in my opinion, this one deserves the hype. It is the real deal. If you have acne-prone skin, I think it's worth considering trying this, especially if you haven't, just on price, because a little bit goes a long way and the bottle is super big and lasts."
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"Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is currently $35 for 4 oz, and I've heard it used to be $19 back in the day. It's pretty expensive, I will say, though the bottle lasts a while, so keep that in mind. It's expensive, but especially if you just pat it on your skin, it'll last a while. Still, if you can save money, you might as well. The main ingredient is 2% salicylic acid."
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"You can just pat it on your skin in your evening routine after cleansing, or you can use a cotton pad. It's really nice just to prevent breakouts and things like that. I know a lot of people swear by it. I'm sure nowadays there are tons of dupes, [...] but it's been around forever and it's still a great product overall. The pH is spot on, and there's no fragrance in it. It's great for sensitive skin types as well."
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"I've got one of the holy grails, Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It's 4 oz, so it's $37. It's actually not terribly expensive when you figure that with 4 ounces of a liquid exfoliant, you can just pat it onto your skin or use a cotton pad. So it's not really terribly expensive, but I've got some options that are more affordable than this."
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"Oh I've been using the [Paula's Choice] 2% BHA for years it's the best thing ever"
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"This 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is probably one of the best-selling salicylic acid products out there. If I had to guess, I'd say it might be one of the best sellers, because a lot of people use it and have good luck with it."
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"This one's out of your price range, and there are several great dupes that are about half the price. This is Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It just uses 2% salicylic acid, and it's a liquid toner. You can apply it with a cotton pad or just pat it onto the skin. This would be great for people with acne-prone or oily skin, since salicylic acid is a great ingredient for that. It's a great product."
"I also recommend Paula's Choice BHA, it's very popular. These are formulated for at home use, the pH is appropriate, and the concentration is such that it won't send you to the ER."
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"I also recommend Paula's Choice BHA, it's very popular. These are formulated for at home use, the pH is appropriate, and the concentration is such that it won't send you to the ER."
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"I also brought the Paula's Choice two percent BHA. They make it in individual towelettes, two percent salicylic acid pads, so you can put a couple of those in a sandwich baggie, throw them in your stuff, and you're good to go. That way you don't have to carry the full bottle, it just tears open and you wipe down with it."
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"There are also other formulations of salicylic acid, like toners or pads, and this is where the Paula's Choice BHA toner is really a cult favorite. It comes in the grayish bottle, and you can put it on a cotton pad or cotton round and wipe down."
"Salicylic acid, which is BHA, right in that toner, is actually a great scalp ingredient. It loves oily surfaces. It's actually approved for dandruff. It can help exfoliate away flakes, and it's anti-inflammatory. It's also good for seborrheic dermatitis, which is basically dandruff on the face. So the facial product, you can certainly use it on your scalp."
"This is a very good leave-on 2% salicylic acid liquid toner, however you want to classify it. It can be used one to two times a day as tolerated. It's useful for imparting some acne control, and it can help with clearing and suppressing hyperpigmentation. It can also help improve skin texture and skin roughness. If you're someone who is prone to blackheads, whiteheads, or sebaceous filaments, you might want to give this a try. It's free of fragrance."
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"The 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is really popular, and it's popular for a reason. It's a really good salicylic acid leave-on treatment."
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"The 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is salicylic acid, which is great for blackheads and whiteheads. By itself it doesn't really hold a lot of power in terms of an acne treatment, but it does play a supporting role, especially in targeting blackhead and whitehead formation and smoothing the skin surface. It's also underrated for dry, rough, and bumpy skin conditions like keratosis pilaris."
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"It's really good. It's a frequently hyped, promoted product, but it's definitely worth the hype in my opinion, and it's one I'm constantly recommending anytime I talk about comedones, blackheads, and whiteheads. It's also going to be really helpful if you have a tendency to get sebaceous filaments, which are essentially little threadlike projections out of the pores that represent an accumulation of dead skin cells plus oily residue."
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"I'm going to link my recent video comparing it to [Paula's Choice] 2% Liquid BHA exfoliant."
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"Salicylic acid, which is BHA, right in that toner, is actually a great scalp ingredient. It loves oily surfaces. It's actually approved for dandruff. It can help exfoliate away flakes, and it's anti-inflammatory. It's also good for seborrheic dermatitis, which is basically dandruff on the face. So the facial product, you can certainly use it on your scalp."
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"This is an option for those of you with KP on the cheeks. It's also great for comedones, aka blackheads and whiteheads. It's good for hyperpigmentation and seborrheic dermatitis."
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"Paula's Choice is a well-established skincare brand at this point. I believe they're now owned by Unilever, so it's a huge conglomerate with lots of R&D. [...] The Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a best seller. It's one I frequently recommend, and it's got to be one of their best products. It works, and it's well-loved. But is it just me? It has gotten a lot more expensive than I recall it being in the past."
"If you've been eyeing the popular Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and wondering if it's worth the hype, it's definitely worth it in my opinion. It's a salicylic acid leave-on product, and it's really helpful if you have a tendency toward comedones, whiteheads, or blackheads, or if you have acne. It's also a helpful ingredient for improving sunspots, age spots, hyperpigmentation, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It's an acne treatment, and it's a really good product."
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"It's very popular. It's a BHA liquid exfoliant, and BHA is just another name for salicylic acid. This particular product is free of fragrance. It's really good for people who want to improve closed and open comedones, aka whiteheads and blackheads, because salicylic acid localizes within the pore to help reduce blackhead and whitehead formation. If you have acne, blackheads and whiteheads are part of that. If you have hyperpigmentation, salicylic acid can be tremendously beneficial too."
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"Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is one of my holy grail liquid exfoliants."
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"I love the two percent liquid BHA exfoliant, though liquids can always be a bit unwieldy to apply compared to a gel."
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"It's two percent salicylic acid and it's great if you have blackheads, whiteheads, [...] closed comedones, if you're acne prone, if you've got hyperpigmentation, or if you have seborrheic dermatitis or sebaceous filaments. [...] The Paula's Choice product is fantastic. [...] Most people tolerate salicylic acid pretty well, although it can be drying if you've got super sensitive dry skin. The four ounce size is around 32 dollars, so it's not cheap."
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"One of the best products in my opinion from [Paula's Choice] is the BHA liquid exfoliant, which is just a two percent salicylic acid toner. It's great if you have oily acne-prone skin. It's great for pores, blackheads, and whiteheads. Salicylic acid is also really good for those who deal with hyperpigmentation. It's gentle for deeper skin tones. It's also good if you deal with sebaceous hyperplasia and you're trying to prevent more of those bumps from occurring."
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"[Paula's Choice] BHA liquid exfoliant is another fantastic cruelty free product I've always recommended. It is great, but it is a lot more pricey than the Peach Slices alternative."
"This is a 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It's great for acne. But again, when we're treating acne, we're treating aging. I know it's weird, but that's what it does. Why? Because it's a good kind of stress. I talk about this in the course as well. Good stress means anything that is irritating your body and causing a biological response. Whether it's a chemical peel, [...] a retinoid, or microneedling, it's causing a chemical response in your body that makes it better."
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"I put this on a cotton pad and slept with it on. This is the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It's salicylic acid, so anytime you're talking about a BHA, it's salicylic acid."
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"This is great if you're acne prone, you've got larger pores, or things like that. But there's a lot of people who could use this on their chest. You get one of those cotton pads, and you can use these kinds of things on your chest, on your arms, and on different places like that."
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"If anybody out there is suffering from acne, this is a great one. This is by Paula's Choice, and it's a 2% BHA. BHAs are all salicylic acid, that's what it is. AHAs are the major group of chemical peels, and those include things like glycolic acid. If I see a salicylic acid product, I know it's a BHA. These are great for all skin types, but particularly great if you suffer from acne. Even if you don't have acne, this is a great one."
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"This is a 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It's great for acne. But again, when we're treating acne, we're treating aging. I know it's weird, but that's what it does. Why? Because it's a good kind of stress. I talk about this in the course as well. Good stress means anything that is irritating your body and causing a biological response. Whether it's a chemical peel, [...] a retinoid, or microneedling, it's causing a chemical response in your body that makes it better."
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"This is a 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It's great for acne. But again, when we're treating acne, we're treating aging. I know it's weird, but that's what it does. Why? Because it's a good kind of stress. I talk about this in the course as well. Good stress means anything that is irritating your body and causing a biological response. Whether it's a chemical peel, [...] a retinoid, or microneedling, it's causing a chemical response in your body that makes it better."
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"This is one of my favorite toners. This is by Paula's Choice. This is a 2% BHA. It's great in terms of shrinking pores."
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"This is my favorite, by Paula's Choice. I just used this last night, actually. It's a 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, and it is great. It is safe enough to use every day. So if you decide you can't use a retinoid, or you don't like it and don't want to do it, find a chemical peel that will work for you on a daily basis. This could be one of them, and it's great for acne."
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"I would also suggest doing a Paula's Choice 2% BHA. It's a salicylic acid, since all BHAs are salicylic acid, and that will help with the whiteheads."
"Paula's Choice is great. It's really the OG 2% salicylic acid toner exfoliant product, for sure. I honestly feel like this product has earned its reputation. You know what I mean? It actually does work so well for reducing texture and congestion and really getting that good amount of salicylic acid into the skin. I just think that entry is a little bit of a..."
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"It contains 2% salicylic acid, which is a BHA exfoliant that dives deep inside your pores to exfoliate the oil and dead skin cells away, and that's what's clogging up your pores and causing texture and blackheads. I like to get a cotton square, saturate it with the BHA liquid, and apply it to any areas where my pores are super visible and really gunky, where I have a lot of blackheads, which for me is my nose. I apply it like a BHA pack on my nose and leave it on for about five minutes."
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"Two percent is a good amount. It is absolutely a very effective amount to help clear out the skin, so it can absolutely unclog the pores. [...] Like I said, it's not AHA, so it doesn't work at the top surface, but it does have the ability to help with skin tone a little bit, or if you have dull skin, because it's cleaning out your pores, and sometimes the stuff stuck inside your pores is what dulls out your skin."
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"I actually filled it up with some exfoliating toner that I had on hand, so I have refilled it with Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. This has been really awesome."
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"This Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant retails for $35 for 118 ml of product. It's a classic, it's a goodie, and a classic for a reason. It has 2% salicylic acid. That exfoliant goes deeper into the pore and unclogs it, and that's exactly what you need when you get that bumpy congestion, so this is awesome. Paula's Choice has definitely gone more of the route of ingredients and formulation science, and I think that's something Sephora has been lacking in its skincare department."
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"Things like the polished Choice BHA toner are goodies"
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"Paula's Choice is great. It's really the OG 2% salicylic acid toner exfoliant product, for sure. I honestly feel like this product has earned its reputation. You know what I mean? It actually does work so well for reducing texture and congestion and really getting that good amount of salicylic acid into the skin. I just think that entry is a little bit of a..."
"I've even seen patients get irritation from Paula's Choice BHA solution. So, with leave-on exfoliants, be very, very careful, especially if you're using a retinoid. Just be careful."
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"Paula's Choice is a great brand, but people see the BHA, the salicylic acid, and think it's going to treat and cure their acne. [...] It could be out of the scope of what we're dealing with, and just going for something that's trending doesn't mean it's the right fit for you. I feel like it's more of a supplemental thing to add on later, after you have a good foundation."
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"Other things you can consider would be leave-on exfoliants, maybe one to three times a week. I like Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. That's the nice one, and it's very popular, and I see why."
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"With a chemical leave-on exfoliant, you want to stick to one to three times a week. [...] If you want to leave on, say, Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant every day, I don't advise that. We're going to be really damaging our skin barrier and getting into trouble."
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"I've even seen patients get irritation from Paula's Choice BHA solution. So, with leave-on exfoliants, be very, very careful, especially if you're using a retinoid. Just be careful."
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"If you wanted to use Paula's Choice BHA leave-on solution, that's fine to do to help further work on your pores, but I wouldn't say to do that every day. I would not use the leave-on exfoliant the same day as a retinoid if you're on one. You want to separate that from your leave-on exfoliant."
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"I would not layer a retinoid with, say, Paula's Choice BHA exfoliant. It's a great one, but if you use the two together, be very careful and don't do it every day, because you're going to really run into that irritation zone."
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"I know everyone talks about [Paula's Choice] BHA leave on solution which is great it's a great product"
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"Leave-on exfoliants with lactic acid and glycolic acid are a different story. Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is nice, but doing that multiple times a week can be like playing with fire. I've been seeing a lot of rashes in clinic from people who are just overdoing it. They have a really well-demarcated red line on their face, their face is swollen, and their neck is all red. You really want to be careful."
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"When you have it cleansed off, you can wash your face for a good 30 to 60 seconds. Once you wash it off, it's not sitting there in a great quantity or high concentrations, so it's less likely to irritate your skin versus a Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. That one is just so viral right now, but I would not combine it or layer it with the retinoid, or if you had a benzoyl peroxide"
"Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant [...] is without a doubt still the brand's most iconic product, and probably its most popular and most viral. The formula has barely changed since it was created nearly 25 years ago. It was one of the industry's first leave-on exfoliants, and it was seen as a game changer all over the world."
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"This one has 2% salicylic acid. We also have willow bark extract in here, which is a natural source of salicylate and is basically anti-inflammatory. They say it's exfoliating, but it's not really. There's niacinamide to help improve skin tone and texture, sodium hyaluronate to actually help hydrate the skin, and panthenol to soothe the skin and moisturize too."
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"Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant [...] is without a doubt still the brand's most iconic product, and probably its most popular and most viral. The formula has barely changed since it was created nearly 25 years ago. It was one of the industry's first leave-on exfoliants, and it was seen as a game changer all over the world."
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"The Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a tough one because of South Korea's restrictions on salicylic acid, but I know a lot of people are turning to K-beauty because they have more easily sensitized skin and want [...] gentle actives. I find the Paula's Choice exfoliant is quite gentle in my opinion and experience, but K-beauty is going to be a lot gentler, which is why I'd point to the COSRX Blackhead Power Liquid as an alternative."
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"Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant has two percent BHA in the form of actual salicylic acid. It also has antioxidants like [...] green tea and [...] centella paired with really nice soothing ingredients, which I love in a chemical exfoliant because it takes away any kind of possible irritation. It has a slightly thicker than water texture that you can put in the palm of your hand and press pat over your skin."
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"It's a great product, it's affordable, it really really does a great job for me. I've started using a few other two percent BHAs as well that I find a lot more nice to use. Peach slices have a BHA that I really really love because it just feels like water on the skin. I'm starting to fight with the Paula's Choice one that I'm being left with almost like a sticky residue that I almost feel I have to let dry down before I can carry on with my routine. So it kind of makes exfoliating a bit tricky."
"I'm reintroducing actives because my skin was looking really congested. I have figured out the best way to use this: cotton pad, I put a decent amount on, and what I don't do is swipe -- I don't swipe anymore, I pat. I completely miss the area around my nose. I used to do the opposite, I used to get my pad and dig in around there, and I do not need it -- it made my skin so sensitive. I don't really go around my mouth either."
"Their skin perfecting liquid exfoliate however in the last 12 months things have really taken a turn"
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"Their skin perfecting liquid exfoliate however in the last 12 months things have really taken a turn"
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"A good alternative to the Pol Choice BHA oh my go yes if anyone's using the Pol Choice salicylic acid get the um get the face Theory saltia"
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"If you're using the Paula's Choice two percent BHA liquid exfoliant don't swap to this because not only is it cheaper which I love but it's also got a better blend of ingredients"
"This is my Holy Grail, the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. [...] It's a workhorse, it gets the job done. This will clean out your pores, and it's great for acne-prone, oily skin. It's a true toner, so after washing your face you put it on a cotton pad and apply it to your face, or sometimes I just apply it to my hands and smear it all over. You would do this on your off nights from your retinoids. I usually reach for this one more in spring and summer. It's a staple."
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"This is my Holy Grail, the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. [...] It's a workhorse, it gets the job done. This will clean out your pores, and it's great for acne-prone, oily skin. It's a true toner, so after washing your face you put it on a cotton pad and apply it to your face, or sometimes I just apply it to my hands and smear it all over. You would do this on your off nights from your retinoids. I usually reach for this one more in spring and summer. It's a staple."
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"If you have acne, the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a great option for you."
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"I wanted to highlight the best of the best 2023 kit here, which I think includes all of my favorites. The Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is my Holy Grail, and it's great for use on the nights that I'm not using my retinoid."
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"Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a holy grail for a reason. With salicylic acid, it's really great to use once or twice a week instead of your retinoid as a powerful exfoliant. Also, because it's lipid soluble, it can really go in and clean out all that gunk from your pores."
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"Another exfoliant I really love, that I've talked about a bunch before, is Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, and this is salicylic acid. We know BHAs like to go into the pores and clean them out better, so for oily skin this is a great option. If you're oily and acne-prone, and you tend to get worse breakouts during the summer, you can even use this on a cotton pad all over your face, or on your back and chest if you have acne on those body areas as well."
"If you get the occasional mature skin breakout, you can't go wrong with Paula's Choice 2% Liquid Exfoliant, it'll have your breakout cleared up in no time. But don't forget to keep your skin really hydrated, even though you're having breakouts, you don't want to dry it out too much, so make sure you're still using a great moisturizer."
"If I was using the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, my skin would have been irritated. There's something so weird about that ingredient list, something so strange, because when I first started using it I never experienced irritation. Then, as I kept using it over the years, my skin developed a sensitivity to the 2% BHA. I don't know what it is, so I can't use that product anymore."
"To see this on the list was like, okay, yes, because we know the girlies love this. TikTok got a hold of this a couple years ago, and I feel like everyone has tried it, and if you haven't yet, I'm sure you've heard of it at least. So I put a little bit of that on. This is really good. This used to be one of my favorite exfoliants, and it's still so good. I just try so many new skincare things that it's not currently in my routine, but it's a really nice product."
"If you have oily skin or acne-prone skin, [...] you might also be able to use a product with just salicylic acid every single day. Two of my favorite products for that are going to be Paula's Choice 2% BHA."
"Probably the most iconic salicylic acid formula out there is from Paula's Choice. Their 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is just formulated to work so well, so effectively, that it helps even in ways you don't expect. In terms of being analgesic, it can get rid of a lot of redness from inflammation, but it also actually helps with pigmentation as well."
"Paula's Choice BHA 2% is one of the popular exfoliating toners. I stopped buying exfoliating toners in 2021 because they are very watered down. I actually prefer using exfoliating serums. A serum is good enough, and I don't need a serum and a toner with the exact same ingredient that does the exact same thing."
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"If you're getting late and you're in a hurry like me, you'll use a BHA toner, like a pharmacy toner, or you can use Paula's Choice. [...] I like to focus it on the areas with oil, so use this kind of toner after you cleanse your face."
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"Paula's Choice BHA 2% is one of the popular exfoliating toners. I stopped buying exfoliating toners in 2021 because they are very watered down. I actually prefer using exfoliating serums. A serum is good enough, and I don't need a serum and a toner with the exact same ingredient that does the exact same thing."
"For ingrown hairs I use the Paula's Choice BHA. Because I don't use it very often this little bottle is all I need, I just put it on a cotton pad and gently swipe. This is not only good for acne, it's also good for ingrown hairs, because salicylic acid, aka BHA, goes deep into the pore and clears all the gunk, whether it's oils or an ingrown hair, and helps loosen it up so it can come out."
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"One thing I like to do is use a BHA liquid. For years I was using the Paula's Choice 2% BHA."
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"Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a salicylic acid product, and it goes very hard. It's not just for taking care of acne and clogged pores on your face. It's also good for preventing ingrown hairs and exfoliating underneath the arms and the bikini line."
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"I would try something like a BHA liquid, like the Paula's Choice 2% BHA, or any salicylic acid toner. Here's what this looks like. This is the Paula's Choice 2% BHA, and it's going to help clear out the pores. Now, with pores, there's this misconception, and it's in a lot of marketing, and I hate it because I always have to counter the marketing. You cannot shrink your pores. You can't change the size of your pores."
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"I'm so glad they gave me this, though. This is the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant in a little travel size, and it's so cute. [...] I could for sure use a travel size Paula's Choice."
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"Right now acne isn't really an issue for me. Sometimes it is, and it can be worse than other times, and then sometimes I go a really long time without having a single pimple, so it's kind of a toss-up. So I only really use Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant when I have breakouts. You can use it as a preventative or for maintenance. [...] This felt like it was a little much for right now."
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"For ingrown hairs I use the Paula's Choice BHA. Because I don't use it very often this little bottle is all I need, I just put it on a cotton pad and gently swipe. This is not only good for acne, it's also good for ingrown hairs, because salicylic acid, aka BHA, goes deep into the pore and clears all the gunk, whether it's oils or an ingrown hair, and helps loosen it up so it can come out."
"Paula's Choice has a BHA toner, which is salicylic acid, and this is probably more geared towards people who have more intense acne and who are really oily, because BHA loves oil and that is going to go deeper into your skin. This one retails for $35."
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"Two products that I absolutely love. One is Paula's Choice. They have their BHA toner at 2% salicylic acid, available at Sephora and elsewhere online."
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"Paula's Choice has a BHA toner, which is salicylic acid, and this is probably more geared towards people who have more intense acne and who are really oily, because BHA loves oil and that is going to go deeper into your skin. This one retails for $35."
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"If you want a tried and true option, Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant goes for $35. It's a cult favorite exfoliating toner with salicylic acid, and it's [...] best for oily and acne-prone skin."
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"For acne-prone skin, you're going to look for salicylic acid. And if you're not sensitive, the toner format isn't necessarily a bad idea. You can put it on a cotton pad or directly on your skin and let it sit. Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a liquid toner with 2% BHA."
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"It's $22. Some people would much rather use it during the day, which I can understand, because they're very oily and use it to help regulate their oil production. If you're going to use it during the day, do not use it at night too, because you'll be way overdoing it, inflaming your skin barrier in the process and, counterintuitively, potentially becoming oilier. But if you're going to use it during the day, and I can't stop you, that's the approach."
Skincare for Your 30s: Anti-Aging, Adult Acne, Oily Skin | Dr. Shereene Idriss
"Now we move into the exfoliation phase. Remember, I said you're in your 30s, you're hormonal, and you're oily, so this is where salicylic acid is a great one if that's you. Anything with salicylic acid, which is a BHA, like Paula's Choice, you can use several times a week at night, and it's going to help get into your pores. If you're somebody who wants to wear makeup and is very oily"
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"This one is a salicylic acid toner. They claim you can use it twice a day, but I really recommend you try to pair it down. Ideally, use it at night in your skincare routine. For those who are sensitive to salicylic acid, always patch test first. It retails for $35."
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"In terms of salicylic acids, everyone talks about the gray bottle by Paula's Choice. This is 2% salicylic acid. It doesn't claim acne because there's no drug facts panel. It's great if you have acne or oily, acne-prone skin."
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"I prefer salicylic acid in the form of a serum, but here in front of me I have a toner-type salicylic acid. This is by Paula's Choice, their 2% BHA."
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"Paula's Choice has a BHA toner and it's a classic. It's a 2% salicylic acid toner that is great for oily and acne prone skin. If you are dry or just trying to exfoliate regularly this one is not for you, but if you're oily and acne prone absolutely check this one out."
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"I love salicylic acid for people who are [...] extremely oily and tend to overproduce oils because it's going to be oil soluble and oil loving and it's going to be attracted to your oil in your pores and help break that out. It's great for people who have blackheads and oily skin. This one by Paula's Choice is at the Sephora sale and [...] it's a 2% salicylic acid."
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"If you have oily skin, you probably want to use a salicylic acid, and Paula's Choice 2 percent BHA is a great place to start. [...] This is great for oily skin and acne-prone skin."
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"I think Paula's Choice also has one now for salicylic acid."
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"Paula's Choice 2% BHA Exfoliant comes in a dropper and does not smell like anything at all. This is excellent if you have active acne or oily skin because it is salicylic acid. I try not to use this every single day, but if you're super oily or if you have acne this might be beneficial for you."
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"I like it [...] because they don't call it a toner—they call it an exfoliant, so it is telling you what it does. It is in the form of a liquid exfoliant. I especially like it [...] if you have oily or acne-prone skin. It retails around thirty dollars. [...] I would say two to three times a week is when you want to exfoliate; more than that is just excessive."
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"Paula's Choice is a clinical brand with good formulations. They're strong on ingredient education. They have their 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant for 34 dollars. A lot of patients use this and they do not have oily skin, and I have to educate them every day that this is one if you are acne prone or have oily skin."
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"This is a two percent salicylic acid chemical exfoliant that you can use, especially if you have oily skin or acne-prone skin. If you overdo it, just be aware because your skin might overproduce oils, and if you have another toner in your regimen, just make sure it doesn't have salicylic acid in it as well."
"You could use a salicylic acid leave-on product like the one from Paula's Choice, which is 2%, or any other salicylic acid toner. Now they're more widely available."
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"I even have the special edition of this one from the holiday, so this is their Gold version. It's not any different, it's just in Gold packaging, so pretty cool stuff. Overall, this is a great product. It's great for people with oily skin and great for people with blemish-prone skin, and it's their most viral product and most purchased product. If you're going to try any product from Paula's Choice, I always think this is a good starter product for you."
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"Let's say that you're using the BHA liquid exfoliant you need a reup [...] good opportunity to get your 25% off"
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"You could use a salicylic acid leave-on product like the one from Paula's Choice, which is 2%, or any other salicylic acid toner. Now they're more widely available."
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"Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is a really good option to kind of target in these really sebaceous areas. Salicylic acid is lipophilic, so it can dissolve the oil and remove it in a cleanser, which is my favorite way to use this. It can also work as a leave-on product to break down the oil and maybe decrease oil production a little bit. It's going to lift away a lot of that oil and dead skin cells and is a mild exfoliant able to get into the pores and remove that."
"It's a 2% BHA, which means it's a salicylic acid liquid exfoliant. This is a long-term, viral holy grail product, and you can get it on sale right now. I love this product. If you have bumpy skin complexion or bumpy skin texture, or a lot of comedonal acne, [...] this gets down into the pores because it's salicylic acid, which means it's oil soluble. So it does a really good job getting down into the pores and helping clear those out."
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"This is the viral Holy Grail from Paula's Choice. The 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant has 2% salicylic acid in it, and AHA acid. I like to even use this a few times a week in the morning. It's 25% off right now, and I'm linking it below."
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"It's a 2% BHA, which means it's a salicylic acid liquid exfoliant. This is a long-term, viral holy grail product, and you can get it on sale right now. I love this product. If you have bumpy skin complexion or bumpy skin texture, or a lot of comedonal acne, [...] this gets down into the pores because it's salicylic acid, which means it's oil soluble. So it does a really good job getting down into the pores and helping clear those out."
"The first one is this holy grail, the two percent BHA liquid exfoliant with salicylic acid. This is great, definitely if you have acne or acne-prone skin or your pores are prone to getting clogged. This is like my top pick to use for prevention and treatment of pores. It's so luxurious on the skin. This is unbeatable."
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"Or perhaps you have acne, you can bring in a sulfur mask or a salicylic acid product like the one by Paula's Choice."
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"If you want to go beyond the drugstore you can always shop at Paula's Choice for their BHA liquid exfoliant. It is a long time Holy Grail that feels so nice on the skin."
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"This is my number one recommended product from Paula's Choice, the two percent BHA liquid exfoliant with salicylic acid. [...] Salicylic acid is one of the absolute best [...] topical ingredients I really recommend for acne because it penetrates well into the oil glands and pores to really unclog them and clean them out. [...] This has a two percent salicylic acid in it which is the strongest you can get over the counter."
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"Paula's Choice BHA liquid exfoliant is 2 percent salicylic acid. This feels incredible on the skin and wears really well under makeup. This is in a ton of my other videos and it is a holy grail product for sure."
SHOP WITH ME! 3 Drugstore Anti-aging Must Haves | The Budget Dermatologist
"Paula's Choice BHA Liquid Exfoliant is not a drugstore option but a holy grail of mine that I incorporate into a lot of different types of routines. If you happen to be watching this and planning to shop online instead of at the drugstore, compare and contrast to this one. The Paula's Choice one is great if you are acne prone as well."
"Salicylic acid is a good choice for both acne and fungal acne. My recommendation is Polished Choice BHA liquid exfoliant. Put a thin layer on after you cleanse the skin. [...] This is optional but if you are out here trying to do the most, I like this option as well."
"If you've watched my videos before you've probably heard me rave about the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. I use it on my face -- I use my fingers to apply it -- and I find that this just never runs out. Once I get to a low enough level and I feel like maybe it's a bit too dicey to use it on my face, I start using it on my body."
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"If you've watched my videos before you've probably heard me rave about the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. I use it on my face -- I use my fingers to apply it -- and I find that this just never runs out. Once I get to a low enough level and I feel like maybe it's a bit too dicey to use it on my face, I start using it on my body."
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"I use chemical exfoliants about twice a week, because if I don't, I end up with little closed comedones, which are clogged pores that look like flesh-colored bumps all around my jaw. One of the two I was using was the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It has just been one of my favorites for a long time."
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"Paula's Choice BHA Liquid with two percent salicylic acid [...] is going straight up into the Holy Grails for me. I have been using it since 2009 and I've not stopped using it since then. This is a legacy cool product that has been popular since before 2009. [...] If you have large pores, blackheads, oily skin, acne, this is probably going to help your skin. I have tried so many products on the market and I still haven't found a salicylic acid product that works as well as this on my skin."
"I don't like this. It feels like putting vinegar or soy sauce on your skin. It just turns sticky and [...] feels off and weird. Even though the spray version [...] was more convenient, it was still sticky."
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"Two percent BHA Liquid, I still love it, still use it. I'm still going with this. We're basically married now. We're celebrating our 13th anniversary. This is my default exfoliant for exfoliation night. It just works so well on my skin to make it smoother and clear out my pores and refine that texture."
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"I've personally found that my pores look a lot less noticeable when I've been consistently using salicylic acid. My favorite is Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid."
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"My favorite one actually isn't too bad, it's the Paula's Choice one which comes in a mini 30 ml bottle for 15, which is surprisingly cheaper than the inky list and revolution 30 ml ones for Australians at least. I think it is just a much better formula."
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"Paula's Choice is just still really dominating when it comes to salicylic acid formulas. This is still the best formula I've tried and it's the one that I keep going back to. This is the skincare product that I've had the longest relationship with. I [...] love using this for keeping my pores clear and getting rid of those little gray dots on your nose and the pores. I put this on with my fingers and I mostly put it on my T-zone a few times a week at night."
"Twenty years ago, she created products because there weren't others out there that actually met her needs. Most people don't know this about Paula's Choice. The author, Paula Bergen, is a beauty author. She actually started her career as a writer, making books about places you can make out. [...] She's like an OG influencer. She's the OG influencer. This gets a full pass, even if you pay full price for it. It is so worth it."
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"Twenty years ago, she created products because there weren't others out there that actually met her needs. Most people don't know this about Paula's Choice. The author, Paula Bergen, is a beauty author. She actually started her career as a writer, making books about places you can make out. [...] She's like an OG influencer. She's the OG influencer. This gets a full pass, even if you pay full price for it. It is so worth it."
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"Beta hydroxy acid or salicylic acid is oil soluble, which makes it perfect for hot humid weather because it's going to use that oil to get into the skin and then help dissolve the oil. I would only recommend this at night and you want to wear sunscreen with it because this is an exfoliant. I am very acne prone so my skin loves this already, but especially for the hot heat and the hundred degree weather and the climate this is amazing."
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"The Paula's Choice is one of my favorites. It is a BHA toner so it's great for blackheads and acne, but it can be very strong if you're looking for something that is slightly more gentle but still really potent."
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"This Paula's Choice BHA exfoliating liquid is one of my favorites. [...] It is absolutely glorious, wonderful, and exfoliating. [...] I have like five of them because I use them all the time. This is brilliant and wonderful and my pores love it, but my wallet does not."
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"The Paula's Choice BHA liquid exfoliant is one of my favorite exfoliators. It is amazing if you have active acne, blackheads, sebaceous filaments, [...] and the like. I can't believe they bundled these together as minis for seventeen dollars. This is a limited edition set and it's amazing as the cornerstone to an acne-friendly routine. But as you know, the Paula's Choice BHA liquid should not be used every day; maybe use this two to three times a week."
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"If you're looking for something you can just swipe across your face, [...] this stuff is so good and it is intense, so be warned. It can be a little bit much for some people, but about one to three times a week this toner is phenomenal. I especially get a lot of texture right here on my chest. I get a lot of blackheads, a lot of sebaceous filaments. If I just take a little bit of this on my hands or on a cotton pad [...] and I just swipe it in here, it helps these areas so freaking much."
What the evidence says.
Independent of what the gurus think, this is what
the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.
A leave-on liquid exfoliant with 2% salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA), designed to clear out pores and smooth the look of skin texture.
Is Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant worth it?
Mostly yes. 28 of the 32 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 89%.
What is Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant's Guru Score?
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant holds a Guru Score of 89%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 32 expert reviewers we have collected. It is also Guru Certified, our mark for products that hold broad approval across many expert reviewers.
Cheaper alternatives the gurus rate.
Lower-priced masks and peels the gurus still rate highly, versus this mid-range pick.
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