Review: Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant




As a teenager I tried a few salicylic acid facial washes that promised clear skin but always fell short.  I assumed this popular anti-acne ingredient was something that worked well for others but not for me because I was in some unlucky minority that didn't respond well.  My troubled skin was still relatively good at the time so I didn't have a strong motivation to figure out why salicylic acid did nothing for me.  Fast forward into my 20s and I realized it was worth looking into again.  A few google searches revealed what many skincare bloggers already knew: salicylic acid is pretty much only effective at pH 4.0 or below.  In other words, the foaming cleansers I'd used in my teens were too alkaline for its main ingredient to effectively keep the breakouts at bay.  What a waste!

Even with this new knowledge it took me some time to decide on buying Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant.  What finally tipped me into being interested was finding out the pH of this product was between 3.5 and 3.9, an excellent range that is perfect for beta hydroxy acid (BHA), or salicylic acid, to work its magic. Most products can require several weeks to be effective (the time needed for skin turnover) but within 1-2 weeks of using this liquid I saw jaw-dropping positive results! =D


The straightforward tube is made of a hard plastic with a small round opening that controls the flow really well.  This is perfect since I like to skip the cotton pads and dispense the liquid onto my hands before applying to my face.  Cotton pads tend to tug at the skin and irritate the troubled areas too much.  Skipping them also lets me conserve product so it's not getting soaked up before it reaches my skin.


There really isn't a fragrance, but I do smell something... a mild chemical scent?  Whatever it is, it's light and easy to ignore.  The texture is slightly more viscous than water but it is very much a liquid.  I chose this formulation rather than gel or lotion because it had the shortest ingredient list and seemed the most squee-worthy in the blogging community.  I also wanted something fast-absorbing that wouldn't sit on my face for ages while I was trying to get ready to leave the house.  Sleeping a few minutes more versus waking earlier to layer on extra skincare products.... pretty no-brainer for this little piggy. =P

The product claims to "create radiant, even-toned skin; reduce redness & build collagen and unclog & diminish enlarged pores" via "exfoliating the skin's surface and inside the pore, reshaping the pore lining, unclogging pores and improving skin cell turnover rate."  This is a pretty heft set of claims for salicylic acid but one that the science actually backs up and, thankfully, my happy skin can verify!

I applied this liquid once in the morning and then gradually worked up to twice per day when I didn't have any peeling or adverse effects.  As to performance I was shocked at how much smoother and less red my cheeks could appear with only 1-2 weeks of use.  Eventually my forehead and nose also caught up, revealing less obvious pores and a softer appearance.  After several weeks of daily use the hyperpigmentation from my old acne spots was so much lighter I wanted to fist pump every morning I looked into the mirror!  I've been told my face appears younger than ever and now, 6 months later, I continue to credit this awesome product for cutting my breakouts in half and helping me maintain an even complexion.  My skin will still break out around my lower cheeks and chin, but the upper half of my face is practically acne-free!

It's also surprising how long-lasting this product has been for me.  A little goes so far that, after half a year of use, I estimate I have a quarter to a third of the original 4 oz. left.  Even though I've assigned "Holy Grail" status to other products before, this one really takes the cake and my criteria for achieving HG status has now been raised.

I ordered this liquid during a sale with a promo code + referral code for $10 off so only paid $9 instead of the usual $26.  If you're a new customer wanting to use my referral link for a $10 discount, you'll help me get $10 credit toward future Paula's Choice purchases. :)


06/19/16 UPDATE
 
So I've been using Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid for 2 years now and other than a brief few weeks trying out another brand's BHA (a less than awesome experience you can read about here) my love for this product continues unabated! =)  I think I'm on bottle 4 or 5 now and I've cut down to using it only once a day (in the morning) because I find that just as effective as 2x/day.  Even after I started my PocketDerm/Curology prescription my skin never finds this liquid BHA too harsh and I continue to happily recommend it to everyone I know!

Summary
  • Packaging:     4/5 (hygienic; easy to control flow; opaque)
  • Smell:              4/5 (not delicious but pretty mild; easy to get used to)
  • Performance:  5/5 (Holy Grail status for life!)
  • Value/Price:   5/5 ($10-28 depending on sales, promo codes/referral link)
  • Recommend? YES (even if you have no acne your skin can still benefit!)
  • Repurchase?  Definitely! 

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