Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant with Salicylic Acid, Facial Polish for Enlarged Pores, Wrinkles & Fine Lines, Suitable for Blackhead-Prone Skin, Fragrance-Free

the best liquid exfoliant. if you want glass skin and zeros pores then get this. i’ve used this for over two years now and my skin is brighter, smoother, and i seriously don’t have pores on my face anymore and i know it’s because of this product.

I’ve struggled for YEARS with acne-prone, oily skin, trying product after product with little to no success — until I found this gem! 🌟 From the first few uses, I noticed my skin felt smoother and less congested, and within a couple of weeks, my breakouts were visibly fewer and my pores looked cleaner and smaller. This exfoliant has truly been a miracle for my skin — it unclogs pores, controls oil, and helps keep future acne at bay. My complexion now looks clearer, calmer, and more balanced than it has in such a long time. I also love that it’s lightweight and absorbs beautifully without feeling sticky or harsh. Highly recommend to anyone with oily, acne-prone skin! 💛✨

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.

It feels very gentle on skin and I have started noticing my pores shrink and become less visible.

I’ve been using Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant for several weeks now, and I finally understand the hype. This product actually delivers visible results without being harsh. My skin type: Combination, acne-prone, sensitive Main concerns: Clogged pores, texture, occasional breakout. What I love: Noticeably smoother skin within the first 1–2 weeks Helps unclog pores and reduces blackheads, especially on my nose and chin Very gentle for a chemical exfoliant — no burning or irritation when used correctly Lightweight, water-like texture that absorbs quickly and layers well under moisturizer If you struggle with clogged pores, texture, or stubborn breakouts, this exfoliant is 100% worth it. It’s one of those products that quietly improves your skin over time, and I’ll definitely be repurchasing. Highly recommend! 👏

My daughter has struggled with acne for quite some time, and after consulting with her dermatologist we were advised to use it a few nights a week after cleansing. This product has worked really well, it gently exfoliate without irritation and helps keeps her breakouts under control , we have noticed smoother skin and fewer clogged pores since she started using it . Easy to apply, absorbs quickly and does not fell harsh at all.

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

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

Amazing product! The progress with this takes a few months ...but please be patient! At 33 years old I never thought I’d be free from breakouts and scarring from cystic hormonal type acne. Started using once a day on a cotton pad at night. Skin will sting a tad & be slightly flaky to start after a few days. Skin may “purge” spots as pores are unclogged but this will calm down - trust me! Once skin becomes flaky I then reduced to use all over my face every 3 days, but everyday along my jawline and neck. I follow with a light oil free moisturiser. Honestly, I have used around 2 bottles in 8 months and I get minimal spots now, and they heal very quickly. Any inflammation comes up and I pop a dab of this on! Skin also feels so smooth too. This is a real review!!! It could change your life!!

Really great product and worth investing in. On my second bottle, be sure to only use once or maybe twice a week as I had previously overused it and my skin reacted. But when used once a week I’ve been seeing a real difference in my skin texture and pours !

Perfect product for oily skin. It regulates perfectly the secretion and makes the pores fine.