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Pore exfoliant · #9 skin Generated scene, not a product photo
Paula’s Choice · Skin · Exfoliants

Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Two percent salicylic acid in a short-list, leave-on liquid, sold by the maker to unclog pores and control oil. It has a long record and a tacky finish some owners cannot stand.

4 fl ozLiquidSalicylic acidCamellia oleiferaFragrance-free
$37 MSRPAmazon price not shown
Check price on Amazon →

Amazon link · we earn a commission if you buy · $37 MSRP · Amazon price not shown · verified Nov 1, 2026. More stores appear here as each affiliate program approves the site.

Buy it if

  • You have clogged-looking pores or blackheads
  • You want a leave-on BHA with a very short list
  • You want no added fragrance

Walk past if

  • You hate a sticky finish; owners call this one tacky
  • Your skin is dry; some owners report it dries them out
  • You want the hype to be true; some owners see no change

What's in it

The ingredients that do the work, from the maker’s label.

Salicylic acidCamellia oleifera

Salicylic acid guide →Sulfate-free →Fragrance-free →

Not in it: fragrance, essential oils, drying alcohol, sulfates. Nothing on our flag list.

Full ingredient list, from the maker

Water, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Camellia Oleifera, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA

Known issue

Owners complain of a sticky, tacky finish, and some report drying, itching or weeks of breakouts, while others see no change at all.Sephora and MakeupAlley reviews

What owners say

Filled by the research pass: two or three owner reports from named venues, each linked, each with the date it was read.

If it's not right

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner$13.50 MSRPA big bottle of seven percent glycolic acid for rough texture and dullness. The maker warns it off sensitive or peeling skin, and the burning reviews suggest it means that.CeraVe Moisturizing CreamNo maker list price for this sizeThree ceramides, cholesterol, hyaluronic acid and petrolatum in a thick cream for face and body. The plain standard for dry skin, developed with dermatologists according to the maker.

Sources

  1. Maker page: full ingredient list, 4 fl oz list price, fragrance-free statement.
  2. Sephora reviews, about 5,200: a 4.4 overall, with low ratings citing a sticky feel, itching, breakouts lasting weeks and no results.
  3. MakeupAlley reviews: a tacky finish, dryness after about ten days, and dislike of the bottle's small opening (read from a search excerpt)

Ingredient lists from the maker's label, not our measurements.