I have always liked Paula´s Choice products because not only are they effective and science-based, but they also provide a very pleasant user experience. They feel luxurious (with the price point to attest it) and the new design of the bottles looks very cute. My skincare collection contains products in a whole range of prices. I honestly believe that, in most cases, for every expensive moisturizer or serum out there you can find a cheaper option that does just about the same thing. There are however a few products in my rotation right now that besides doing a good job, also make me feel like I am pampering myself and one of them is the Paula´s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant.
Table of Contents
What I enjoyed about it
- Gives my skin a beautiful glow
- Helps prevent and minimize breakouts
- Treats closed comedones
- Smoothens skin
- Diminishes appearance of pores
- Makes skin look better under makeup
- Lasts a long time
What I disliked about it
- Quite pricey
- Takes one minute to absorb into skin (if applying a lot)
How does healthy skin function?
Skin is divided into three layers, but the most relevant to skincare are the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is made up of multiple layers of flat cells forming a barrier between you and the outside world. These cells are tightly bound together so germs such as bacteria cannot penetrate and reach the tissues beyond. At the bottom of the epidermis there is a layer of cells that continuously divides into daughter cells. Thus the skin regenerates its superficial layer regularly, but this process happens slowly and at a microscopic level and is therefore not noticeable. This rate of regeneration depends on the individual and on other factors such as age.
Why do we need to exfoliate?
If the topmost cell layer of the epidermis fails to slough off, it can create a buildup of dead cells on the surface of the skin which can make it look dull and lead to the formation of clogged pores. Using a chemical exfoliant is going to loosen up the cells of the epidermis, signal to the bottom cell layer to quicken the rate of regeneration and is going to help prevent breakouts. With the skin exfoliated, products applied on the area have a better chance of penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin. Chemical exfoliants have one benefit added compared to physical exfoliation, because they themselves can penetrate deeply into the skin and stimulate collagen production, decreasing signs of aging such as fine lines.
What is a BHA exfoliant?
You might have heard of AHAs, BHAs or PHAs – they represent types of chemical exfoliants called hydroxy-acids. PHAs are a more recent addition to the family and are supposed to offer a more gentle, non irritating alternative to AHAs and BHAs, but at the same time they do not penetrate the skin as deeply. Generally, AHAs (or alpha-hydroxy acids) are recommended for people with dry skin that shows signs of aging, as they work the best by exfoliating superficially and can improve skin moisture. They can generally help only with superficial breakouts. Some of the representatives of this category are glycolic, lactic and mandelic acids.
BHAs (or beta-hydroxy acids) are fat-soluble which makes them perfect for people with combination and oily skin. The strongest compound in this category is salicylic acid and it was originally extracted from willow bark. It has antiinflammatory and antibacterial properties and is generally less irritating than AHAs. Seeing as it is lipid-soluble, it can penetrate deeply into blocked pores and prevent spots from forming. Salicylic acid can also improve signs of aging, but at the same time it can make skin more sensitive to sun so application of sunscreen is advised.
What does the Paula s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant claim to do?
This BHA toner is one of the most popular products in the skincare community right now. It can be definitely considered a cult classic and its popularity has resurged in recent years. Even skincare newbies have heard of it. But the concept of it goes way back to 1995, when Paula Begoun first established her company. Paula had been working in the skincare branch for at least ten years before that, but she also could understand the side of the customer since she struggled with acne and eczema herself. She found the claims of different skincare companies to be exaggerated and not backed by scientific research. So from the beginning the foundation of her brand was to provide great products, but backed by honesty and information. Many would agree that she definitely popularized the concept of evidence-based skincare to the general public and encouraged people to look into ingredients so that they can make educated choices.
The product claims sound like everybody´s dream: it should make your skin exfoliate at a rate that nears the rate of younger skin, thus unclogging and minimizing your pores while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Your skin should be smoother, more radiant, and your skin barrier should be improved, all of that after 4 weeks of use. It should be so gentle that you can use it every day and can even work up to using it twice daily if you prefer to. It also features green tea extract, which is not only soothing, but can also have anti-aging effects and reduce sun damage.
How to use this BHA exfoliating product?
Paula´s Choice has come up with many different types of leave-on exfoliants, both AHAs and BHAs, and they have grouped them up in product ranges that target different types of concerns. So, for example, there is a CLEAR collection that is mainly targeting acne, a CALM collection for sensitive skin and a SKIN PERFECTING version that is kind of a middle thing (acne-prone skin that is dehydrated). My skin definitely fits in the last category and I was looking for a more soothing product since I have other stronger active ingredients in my routine. I also chose it in the liquid version, but based on your skin type and preferences you can also get it as a gel or lotion.
The liquid version is quite as runny as water, so the recommended modality of applying it would be with a cotton pad after cleansing or directly with your fingers. I prefer pouring a small quantity in my palm and applying it with my fingers because I don’t want to waste either product or cotton pads. It is a daily leave-on product, which means that you do not need to wash it off. Afterwards, you can continue your skincare routine as normal, but don´t forget to apply sunscreen daily (even on days you don’t actually use the exfoliant). It is recommended to start introducing it slowly into your routine (they suggest using it at first every other day), but definitely pay attention to how your skin reacts and scale back if needed.
About my skin type
- Acne prone
- Combination skin type – oily around nose and normal to dry everywhere else
- Sensitive
- First signs of aging starting to appear
The pros
The reason why I like using this product is not only because it stops my breakouts from happening (even though it definitely helps with that), but because I feel it improves the overall quality of my skin. It makes me glow and my skin feels soft and clean, but at the same time it is very gentle so it does not damage my moisture barrier. My skin looks smoother, is less oily and closed comedones disappear in time. Makeup looks the best on properly exfoliated skin and this liquid exfoliant makes my foundation sit on my skin better than ever. I admit I also enjoy the luxurious feel to it – not just the look of the bottle, but the actual fluid feels beautiful to apply. I use it daily, though sometimes I skip a few days, because I like to simplify my routine and focus on hydration from time to time. The bottle lasts me a really long time even though I use quite a large quantity of it each morning.
The cons
- The price – although I find that it offers great value for the price, it is definitely up there compared to other, more affordable salicylic acid products.
- Sometimes it takes a few minutes for it to totally set on the skin, which is why I usually wait to apply anything on top of it. This however is a consequence of applying too much product and, while I see how for some people it could be annoying, it doesn’t bother me very much.
Conclusion
Do you want to get into chemical exfoliation and you don’t know what to start with? Do you have dull, uneven skin with big pores and closed comedones? Texture, fine lines and moderate inflammatory acne? Then in my opinion you cannot go wrong with the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. This product is soothing but effective and makes skin look beautiful. If you do struggle with stubborn cystic acne though you should manage your expectations. It might not get rid of your acne but it can help. As a long time acne sufferer I think it’s definitely worth a try. This is genuinely a good product and is a cult classic for a reason. It is quite expensive though, so if you don’t want to commit you can get it in travel size (30 mL) and test it out.
