Paula’s Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant-Facial Exfoliant for Blackheads, Enlarged Pores, Wrinkles & Fine Lines
$14.00
Price: $14.00
(as of Apr 17, 2025 09:03:48 UTC – Details)
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Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
Product Dimensions : 2.52 x 0.75 x 0.75 inches; 1.06 ounces
Item model number : 22016
UPC : 655439020169
Manufacturer : Paula’s Choice
ASIN : B07C5SS6YD
Country of Origin : USA
9 reviews for Paula’s Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant-Facial Exfoliant for Blackheads, Enlarged Pores, Wrinkles & Fine Lines
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$14.00
Audrey S. –
If you actually understand how to use it, it’s amazing.
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.
Kitkat –
Highly recommend for any age; began clearing my skin in one week.
I’m a 76 yo woman who has had problem skin my whole life. I thought it had settled into a manageable level, but I had lots of little clear bumps on either side of my nose almost down to my mouth that I couldn’t get rid of no matter what I used or did. I also had little pimples that would come out at the corners of my mouth, and some weird bumps on my forehead (easily attributable to age). But after reading the reviews for this product, I thought I’d give it a try. I got the travel size to try, but just ordered the large size after a little more than two weeks of use. I started out using it every other day for a week, then went to every day, and now I apply morning and night after cleansing. I can already see a huge difference in my skin overall, but the little clear bumps have all but disappeared, the pimply areas beside my mouth have cleared up, and I must have had a number of clogged pores, because many areas on my face “came to a head,” then cleared up (that’s still happening in a couple areas). The large pores on my nose (which I’ve always hated) are noticeably smaller, and I’ve had no irritation. I usually apply the exfoliant with my finger and let it dry for a bit before applying any creams or serums, but sometimes I put those on right after applying the exfoliant and it doesn’t seem to make a difference. Once my skin is as clear and bump-free as I think it will likely become, I’ll just apply once a day at bedtime. I am honestly blown away at how well this works. I had one clogged pore right below my bottom lip that I’d had for years, and it’s finally opened up completely and is clear now. I have one con: the first couple times I used the exfoliant, it badly dried out my skin to the point I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep using it, but as soon as I applied my night cream, my skin was fine. I would highly recommend buying the travel size to try it out. I’m so glad I did!
Leigha –
Give it Time
I first tried this product three years ago, when I was new to skincare. I didn’t like it when I first tried it, and ended up returning the tiny bottle because I was breaking out everywhere – it was “making my skin worse”. Back then, I was using castile soap on my face and never using moisturizer, thinking that was the answer to oil control. Paula’s BHA was just too intense at the time.I decided to give it another try now that I have a proper skincare routine with some intense actives. I wanted to address closed comedones that were creating texture on my otherwise decent skin. The first week was much like my experience three years ago – new bumps were popping up, and I felt like I took a step backward. I’m glad I didn’t give up though, because those closed comedones that wouldn’t go away for months, have gone away. The initial purging cleared up much faster than my breakouts usually do. I haven’t had a new bump since my skin started to settle down, and my texture is more refined than it has been in YEARS. My goal is to be able to go without makeup. I currently spot conceal old hyperpigmented scars, and those have been able to fade without new dark spots forming.I use it once a day in the AM, shaking a quarter sized amount into my palm and spreading it around. The travel bottle is lasting a surprisingly long time. I’ll be getting the biggest bottle next.
Barbara T. –
It’s very mild, lovely fragrance, and just hoping it’s doing what it says it does
I don’t feel or see any exfoliation but it feels good on the face and I’m hoping it does exfoliate gently as it claims to do. It’s a very popular products.
Rosario R. –
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
Ekaterina Andreeva –
Love this , it really works, skin became much prettier! Will buy again 👍
Keshia P. –
i saw a change in my skin after 2 weeks. the texture was much smoother and my pores appeared smaller.i suggest using it every 2 days and on days you are not using other chemical ingredients – that will dry out your skin.
Dia –
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!
Sidra Manzar –
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..