Paula's choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant
Works for
3 of 4 advertised claims delivered
Exfoliation1 ingredient credited for this claimStrong support
“Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant”
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: salicylic acid.
Anti-blemish2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“It also shrinks clogged pores, diminishes the appearance of wrinkles, and improves skin tone.”
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: salicylic acid. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Anti-aging1 ingredient credited for this claimModerate support
“It also shrinks clogged pores, diminishes the appearance of wrinkles, and improves skin tone.”
This product contains vitis vinifera seed extract. This ingredient might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
Evens skin tone1 ingredient credited for this claimLimited support
“It also shrinks clogged pores, diminishes the appearance of wrinkles, and improves skin tone.”
This product might help improve the skin tone through exfoliation. In other words, it helps to speed up the shedding of cells from the upper layer of the skin, and this might help reduce hyperpigmentation.
Anti-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · 4 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
This product contains antioxidants (vitis vinifera seed extract) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
The following ingredients - camellia sinensis extract, epilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extract also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy4 flagged ingredientsLow risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Camellia sinensis extract~22–34%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Tea extract. Might be helpful in neutralizing free radicals in skin
More about Camellia sinensis extractSalicylic acid~1.25–2.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
More about Salicylic acidWater~4.2–6.3%
Methylpropanediol~3.5–5.2%
Butylene glycol~2.6–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolPolysorbate 20~2.1–3.2%
Salicylic acid~1.2–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used for skin exfoliation. It has an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effect, helps to unclog pores, prevent blemishes and speed up healing of the existing ones. Sometimes referred to as a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid)
More about Salicylic acidPhytosphingosine~1.5–2.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of lipid that is naturally present in skin. It might help in repairing skin barrier function and has anti-bacterial effect
More about PhytosphingosineHydroxyethylcellulose~1.1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures
More about HydroxyethylcelluloseVitis vinifera seed extract~1–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A plant extract that contains resveratrol and other anti-oxidant compounds that can help neutralize free radicals, reduce inflammation in skin and even out its tone. Can be also used to stabilize the product formulation
More about Vitis vinifera seed extractCamellia sinensis flower extract~0.5–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Epilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extract~0.45–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might contain antioxidants
More about Epilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extractBisabolol~0.35–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
More about BisabololSodium hydroxide~0.15–0.6%
Tetrasodium edta~0.05–0.2%
Ingredient list view
Unknown, Camellia sinensis extract, Salicylic acid, Water, Methylpropanediol, Butylene glycol, Polysorbate 20, Salicylic acid, Phytosphingosine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Vitis vinifera seed extract, Camellia sinensis flower extract, Epilobium angustifolium flower/leaf/stem extract, Bisabolol, Sodium hydroxide, Tetrasodium edta
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| Paula's choiceSkin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel ExfoliantYOUR PRODUCT | CeraVeBlemish Control Gel Moisturiser with 2% Salicylic Acid & Niacinamide for Blemish-Prone Skin | AcneFree Dermatology Inspired CareBlackhead Removing Scrub With Charcoal | Kate SomervilleEradiKate™ Blemish Mark Fading Gel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 83% | 77% | 74% |
| Price | $16.00 | $14.54−$1.46 | $8.99−$7.01 | $75.50+$59.50 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 2 of 6 | 2 of 6 | 2 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Niacinamide | Glycolic Acid | Niacinamide |
| Irritancy | Low | Low | Low | High |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
"Paula's choice - Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant" is effective for: Anti-inflammatory, Exfoliation and Anti-blemish
This moisturizer could be helpful for: Anti-aging, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- As a plus, this moisturizer also contains Ceramides (phytosphingosine 1.50% - 2.30%). Ceramides are a type of lipids that our skin produces itself. They are a building block of the skin's barrier. Ceramides used in skincare are synthetic or extracted from plants. They work well for softening the skin surface and "patch holes" in the skin's barrier.
- Salicylic acid (1.20% - 1.90%) in this product will have an exfoliating effect and help smooth the skin. We, however, do not recommend using a moisturizer with Salicylic Acid daily to avoid over-exfoliating.
Price
The product retails for 35.00£ in the United Kingdom and for 16.00$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 9 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Salicylic acid as a peeling agent: a comprehensive reviewncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2Beta Hydroxy Acidsfda.gov
- 3A review of toxicity from topical salicylic acid preparationssciencedirect.com
- 4
- 5
- 6
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