Paula's ChoiceSKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant-Facial Exfoliant for Blackheads, Enlarged Pores, Wrinkles & Fine Lines

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.

Fantastic at retexturizing and exfoliating your skin. Removes spots and milia, refines pores, stops ingrown hairs and inflammation, reduces wrinkles and even improves deep wrinkles. I use it twice a day on face, neck, chest and arms. Smooths rough elbows and knees too. It’s the first thing I put on after cleaning and before moisturizer. At night I use this then moisturizer followed by Differin Gel to really keep my skin in good condition and reduce wrinkles. This Paula’s Choice product is the very best thing I do for my skin. It also zaps acne like crazy. A little goes a long way so it’s an excellent buy. The small travel size lasts me two months and I’m a heavy user. Highly recommend.

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.Update:My recent order of this product smells and feels totally different from the last. My last order had strong smell and oily feel, where my recent order has no scent and does not leave oily residue. The font on the packaging is also different. The smell is so distinctly different between the two bottles that I can’t help but feel like something is off with the product. This stuff is too expensive to buy from Amazon. Going to purchase directly from Paula next time.

I brought this 2 weeks ago along with the Paula Choice face wash. I have a lot of sebum built up on my cheeks and the center of my forehead. I must say this stuff is helping all the built up to rise. I still have along ways to go but I will buy this again but I wish the bottle was bigger.

I’ve been using Paula’s Choice BHA for only 2 days, and I decided to try it because I’m currently going through a really intense breakout that’s been very frustrating. The texture is light, absorbs quickly, and doesn’t feel sticky. So far, I haven’t experienced any irritation, which is great since I have sensitive skin.I know it’s too early to see real results, but I have high hopes based on all the positive reviews. I’m looking forward to seeing improvement with continued use, especially in calming my skin and reducing the breakouts. I’ll update my review later on.