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Ships from: Amazon Sold by: Paula's Choice Skincare
Paulas Choice--SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant--Facial Exfoliant for Blackheads, Enlarged Pores, Wrinkles & Fine Lines, 4 oz Bottle
Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
Reduced air and/or water in the product or packaging for more efficient transportation.
Compact by Design identifies products that, while they may not always look very different, have a more efficient design. By reducing water and/or air in the product or packaging, these become more efficient to ship. At scale, these small differences in product size and weight lead to significant carbon emission reductions.
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Paula's Choice |
Item Form | Liquid |
Skin Type | Oily, Combination, Dry, Normal |
Product Benefits | Exfoliating, Pore Treatment, Radiant Skin, Blemish Control, Smoothening |
Active Ingredients | Salicylic Acid, salicylic_acid |
About this item
- GENTLE NON-ABRASIVE LEAVE-ON EXFOLIANT: With 2% BHA (Beta hydroxy acid), to unclog & diminish enlarged pores, exfoliate dead skin cells, smooth wrinkles, and brighten and even out skin tone. Combats redness, wrinkles, aging, enlarged pores, and blackheads.
- Dramatically improves skin's texture for radiant youthful even-toned skin. Beta hydroxy acid (BHA, also known as salicylic acid) mimics the natural exfoliation process of younger skin by helping it shed extra layers while unclogging and clearing pores.
- HYDRATE, BRIGHTEN & SMOOTH FINE LINES: Our unique, non-abrasive, leave-on exfoliant is gentle enough for daily use on all skin types. Exfoliates dead skin cells while clearing pores for a more even tone, plus it visibly reduces fine lines & wrinkles.
- Paula's Choice facial exfoliants are gentler on delicate skin of the face & neck than an abrasive face scrub, which can cause micro-tears. A BHA leave-on exfoliator delivers hydration & can exfoliate directly inside the pore & improve how the pore works.
- Paula's Choice Skincare makes products that work. No fragrance, no parabens, no fluff. Just effective, science-backed formulas that target any concern from wrinkles to breakouts.
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Sustainability features
This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
Reduced air and/or water in the product or packaging for more efficient transportation.
Compact by Design identifies products that, while they may not always look very different, have a more efficient design. By reducing water and/or air in the product or packaging, these become more efficient to ship. At scale, these small differences in product size and weight lead to significant carbon emission reductions.
Product Description
How do I know if this product is authentic?
To ensure the authenticity, please make sure you’re purchasing from Paula’s Choice Skincare. The authenticity of any product cannot be guaranteed when purchased from sellers other than Paula’s Choice Skincare.
Can BHA (Salicylic Acid) make my pores smaller?
Due to its ability to clear congestion, BHA can help restore pores to their natural size. If your pores are enlarged due to oily skin, this might result in the appearance of smaller pores.
Focus on sustainability
Small changes in product size & weight lead to lower carbon emissions.
We created Compact by Design to identify products that, while they may not always look very different, have a more efficient design. With the removal of excess air and water, products require less packaging and become more efficient to ship. At scale, these small differences in product size and weight lead to significant carbon emission reductions.
Here are a few of the many ways products can qualify:
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Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Product Dimensions : 1.57 x 1.57 x 5.51 inches; 4 ounces
- Item model number : 22010
- UPC : 784922784827
- Manufacturer : Paula's Choice
- ASIN : B00949CTQQ
- Country of Origin : USA
- Best Sellers Rank: #18 in Beauty & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Beauty & Personal Care)
- #1 in Facial Peels
- #19 in Climate Pledge Friendly: Beauty
- Customer Reviews:
Compare with similar items
This Item Paulas Choice--SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant--Facial Exfoliant for Blackheads, Enlarged Pores, Wrinkles & Fine Lines, 4 oz Bottle | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | $35.00$35.00 | -50% $14.99$14.99 List: $29.99 | $35.00$35.00 | $35.00$35.00 | $44.00$44.00 | $29.00$29.00 |
Price Per Unit | $8.75 / Fl Oz | $3.75 / Fl Oz | $10.61 / Fl Oz | $10.61 / Fl Oz | $44.00 / Fl Oz | $7.25 / Fl Oz |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 3 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 3 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 3 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 3 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 3 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Apr 3 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Value for money | 4.5 | — | 4.1 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 3.8 |
Moisturizing | 3.8 | — | 3.9 | 4.3 | 3.1 | 2.9 |
Sheerness | 4.3 | — | 4.7 | — | 3.6 | 4.3 |
For sensitive skin | 4.1 | — | 4.3 | 4.5 | 3.7 | — |
Scent | 3.9 | — | — | 4.5 | 3.8 | 3.2 |
Sold By | Paula's Choice Skincare | Randomology | Paula's Choice Skincare | Paula's Choice Skincare | Paula's Choice Skincare | Paula's Choice Skincare |
form | Liquid | Serum | Gel | Lotion | Gel | Serum |
active ingredients | Salicylic Acid, salicylic acid | Salicylic acid, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid | 2.0% Salicylic Acid (BHA); Green Tea, Willow Herb, & Grapeseed Extracts, salicylic acid | 2.0% Salicylic Acid (BHA); Licorice Root, Green Tea, & Oat Extracts, salicylic acid | 25% Alpha Hydroxy Acid Blend + 2% Salicylic Acid (BHA), salicylic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid | Salicylic Acid, salicylic acid |
skin type | Combination, Dry, Normal, Oily | All | Normal, Dry, Combination, Oily | Normal, Dry, Combination, Oily | Normal, Dry, Combination, Oily | Combination, Dry, Normal, Oily |
weight | 4 ounces | 0.15 kilograms | 3.3 ounces | 0.3 pounds | 1 ounces | 4 ounces |
product benefit | Exfoliating, Blemish Control, Pore Treatment, Smoothening, Radiant Skin | Exfoliating | Exfoliating | Exfoliating | Exfoliating | Exfoliating, Blemish Control, Pore Treatment, Smoothening, Radiant Skin, Redness Reduction |
target gender | unisex | female | unisex | unisex | unisex | unisex |
Videos
Videos for this product
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Day 5 using Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting Exfoliant
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0:51
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This is why this exfoliant has a cult following
Alex Chan
Important information
Safety Information
We carefully formulate our products without artificial dyes or fragrances to minimize the risk of sensitivity. To ensure this is the right product for you, please always patch test & note skin's response over the next 48 hours prior to use. If you have a salicylate allergy, check with your physician before using any products that contain salicylic acid.
Ingredients
Water (Aqua), Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA
Directions
Gently apply using fingers or a cotton pad over entire face and neck, including the eye area (avoid lash line and eyelids) after cleansing and toning. Do not rinse. Start Slowly: Apply every other day and note skin's response. Then use up to twice daily. For daytime, always finish with SPF 30+. For nighttime, follow with the rest of your routine. If you have a salicylate allergy, check with your physician before using any products that contain salicylic acid.
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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- 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.
However, this has been a game changer for my after shower routine. I know many reviewers have their ways they like to apply it or add it to their skin care routine. But for me, I do my usual face wash in the shower or sink, pat my skin dry and then apply this serum directly all over my face and neck. My skin has never been so soft. The first time using it my face tingled a bit as I'm sure it was murdering whatever was on my skin that didn't need to be there. After a week of use, I kept touching my face and remarking how soft it felt. I actually didn't mind my bf touching my skin for once. It does actually remove dead skin and I can feel it when I rub my fingers over it. Sometimes there is a little flaky but it's doing its job. It keeps my skin hydrated and I personally only use it once a day. Some may use it more often. It lasts a long time and you don't need a lot either.
Fair price to pay for this serum. It's a game changer and finally something I'll buy again and again. As for the "taste", it's not a pleasant taste if you happen to get some on your mouth. Just wipe with a damp cloth and carry on. Good job, Paula!
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in Brazil on March 15, 2024
After tons of research and paying almost $50 for it, I figured I'd give this product an honest try.
Opening the bottle I thought, "how much could a thin watery liquid really improve the sebaceous filaments and blackheads on my nose?" I was wary about whether Paula's choice stuff would actually work considering I've tried so many different products to deal with my strawberry nose.
But I tried it out and gave it an honest go.
After about the 3rd day I noticed my pores were considerably empty. They were still the same size, but no longer filled with oily blackened gunk.
I was pleasantly surprised, yet suspicious.
After so many trials with other products that ended in disappointment I was cautious about whether this was actually working or not, or if the results would last. Even still, I noticed a drastic improvement in my pore's appearance.
Then a coworker commented on my skin. She said it was looking "amazing" and particularly my nose was looking incredible. She inquired about what I was using.
I'm a 30 year old man and this was an unsolicited observation about the pores on my nose. I've tried so many different things to deal with the large gunk pores on my nose (derma rolling, retinoid creams, glycolic acid peels, facial cleansers, exfoliants, etc...) however this 2% salicylic acid exfoliant has worked the best thus far.
After doing some research I found out that BHA acid (salicylic aid) is a small enough molecule to penetrate deep into the pores and chip away at the dense hardened oil buildup thats inside the pores which gives them their distended appearance. Its been over a week now, and my pores are looking as empty as they've ever looked and are also shrinking.
I exfoliate with an abrasive sponge in the shower and hope that continuous use of this product, along with regular exfoliation, will result in small looker pores.
Even though its been only over a week I notice drastic improvements in my pore's appearance.
Reviewed in India on March 6, 2024
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