Remember the days you couldn’t find a BHA exfoliant to save your skin?
Paula’s Choice took care of that – with a vengeance. Last time I counted, the brand makes 12 BHA exfoliants.
12! How do you even begin to pick one?! Talk about skincare overload! Makes you want to close your eyes, grab one at random off the shelf and hope for the best.
Or you can read my Paula’s Choice BHA Exfoliants comparison guide below. Whatever you prefer…
- What Are BHA Exfoliants And Why Should You Use One?
- Best For Sensitive Skin: Paula’s Choice Calm Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant ($27.00)
- Best Texture: Paula’s Choice Clear Extra Strength Anti-Red Exfoliating Solution  With 2% Salicylic Acid ($29.00)
- Best For Stubborn Blackheads: Paula’s Choice Clear Regular Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution ($27.00)
- Best For Stubborn Acne: Paula’s Choice Resist Advanced Pore-Refining Treatment 4% BHA ($36.00)
- Best For Stubborn Clogs And Bumps: Paula’s Choice Resist BHA 9 Treatment ($43.00)
- Best For Oily And Aging Skin: Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment With 2% BHA ($33.00)
- Best For Body: Paula’s Choice Resist Weightless Body Lotion With 2% BHA ($26.00)
- Best For Oily Skin: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant ($29.00)
- Best For Oily And Dehydrated Skin: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ($29.00)
- Best For Dry, Acne-Prone Skin: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant ($29.00)
- Best For Hard-To-Reach Areas: Paula’s Choice Clear Acne Body Spray With 2% Salicylic Acid ($25.00)
- Best For Advanced Acid Users: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel ($39.00)
- Paula’s Choice BHA Exfoliants Comparison: A Recap
What Are BHA Exfoliants And Why Should You Use One?
Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) are a family of exfoliants. The only member that has a job in the skincare world is salicylic acid.
Salicylic acid rocks because it fights acne and pimples on 3 fronts:
- It exfoliates skin: It dissolves the “glue” that holds skin cells together on the surface of the skin so they slough off instead of getting trapped in the pores. This also makes skin smoother, brighter and more even-toned.
- It unclogs the pores: It’s oil-soluble, so it can get inside the pores and remove all the excess oil, dead cells and other gunk that’s clogging them up and giving you whiteheads, blackheads and pimples.
- It has anti-inflammatory properties: It reduces the inflammation and redness that always comes along with pimples.
I can’t stress this enough: if you have oily or acne-prone skin, a BHA exfoliant is a MUST. You’ll never gonna get rid of those annoying breakouts without it.
If you have any other skin types, AHAs are more suitable for you. I’ve already written about how to choose the best exfoliating acid for your skin type and a comparison of all Paula’s Choice AHAs Exfoliants.
The only exception? If you have dry, normal or sensitive skin that breakouts during your period, adding a BHA exfoliants in the days before it can help. Check out my guide on how to deal with hormonal acne.
Related: Why Salicylic Acid Is The Key To Spot-Free Skin
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that keeps shine and breakouts at bay? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Oily Skin” cheat sheet to get started (it includes product recommendations + right application order):
Need salicylic acid in your skincare routine? Here’s the Paula’s Choice BHA Exfoliants comparison to help you pick the right one:
Best For Sensitive Skin: Paula’s Choice Calm Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant ($27.00)
How much salicylic acid is here?: 1%.
What is it good for?: Mildly clogged pores, redness and sensitive skin.
What else is in the formula?: Soothing ingredients, like green tea and liquorice extract, to reduce redness and irritation.
What’s the texture like?: Lightweight lotion.
Who should use it?: Oily AND sensitive skin.
Where to buy it: Feel Unique, Nordstrom and Paula’s Choice
Related: 9 Soothing Ingredients For Sensitive Skin
Best Texture: Paula’s Choice Clear Extra Strength Anti-Red Exfoliating Solution  With 2% Salicylic Acid ($29.00)
How much salicylic acid is here?: 2%.
What is it good for?: Clogged pores and inflamed skin.
What else is in the formula?: Green tea to prevent wrinkles and soothe skin. It has a lower pH to provide stronger exfoliation that the Regular Strength formula.
What’s the texture like?: Lightweight, silky fluid texture.
Who should use it?: Anyone with stubborn blackheads and inflamed pimples.
Where to buy it: Dermstore, Feel Unique, and Paula’s Choice
Best For Stubborn Blackheads: Paula’s Choice Clear Regular Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution ($27.00)
How much salicylic acid is here?: 2%.
What is it good for?: Clogged pores, mild acne and redness.
What else is in the formula?: Soothing ingredients, like allantoin, to reduce redness and inflammation. It has a higher pH to provide gentler exfoliation than the Extra Strength.
What’s the texture like?: Liquidy, lightweight texture.
Who should use it?: Anyone with mild acne and blackheads.
Where to buy it: Dermstore, Nordstrom, and Paula’s Choice
Related: Allantoin, The Skin Soother You Didn’t Know You Needed
Best For Stubborn Acne: Paula’s Choice Resist Advanced Pore-Refining Treatment 4% BHA ($36.00)
How much salicylic acid is here?: 4%.
What is it good for?: Stubborn pimples and very clogged pores.
What else is in the formula?: Antioxidants to prevent premature wrinkles and soothing ingredients, like oats, to calm down inflammation.
What’s the texture like?: Lightweight serum.
Who should use it?: Anyone who tried lower doses of BHA without seeing results.
Where to buy it: Nordstrom and Paula’s Choice
Best For Stubborn Clogs And Bumps: Paula’s Choice Resist BHA 9 Treatment ($43.00)
How much salicylic acid is here?: 9%. Use it as a spot treatment only!
What is it good for?: Very clogged pores, stubborn blackheads, milia seeds and patches of dry skin.
What else is in the formula?: oothing ingredients, like oats, to reduce redness and irritations.
What’s the texture like?: Light serum.
Who should buy it?: Anyone who’s already tried everything for clogged pores, blackhead and milia without results.
Where to buy it: Nordstrom and Paula’s Choice
Related: Milia Seeds: What They Are And How To Get Rid Of Them
Best For Oily And Aging Skin: Paula’s Choice Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment With 2% BHA ($33.00)
How much salicylic acid is here?: 2%.
What is it good for?: Clogged pores, smoother skin and dull complexions.
What else is in the formula?: Humectants to hydrate skin, soothing ingredients to reduce irritation, and peptides to improve skin’s texture.
What’s the texture like?: Lightweight, liquid texture.
Who should use it?:Â Mature dehydrated oily skin.
Where to buy it: Paula’s Choice and Selfridges
Related: What Are Humectants And Why Should You Use Them?
Best For Body: Paula’s Choice Resist Weightless Body Lotion With 2% BHA ($26.00)
How much salicylic acid is here? 2%.
What is it good for?: Clogged pores on arms, legs and the rest of the body and smoother skin.
What else is in the formula?: Antioxidants to fight premature wrinkles (your body needs them too!).
What’s the texture like?: Lightweight, fast-absorbing lotion.
Who should use it?: Anyone with body acne or keratosis pilaris.
Where to buy it: Dermstore, Feel Unique and Paula’s Choice
Best For Oily Skin: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant ($29.00)
How much salicylic acid is here?: 2%.
What is it good for?: Clogged pores, uneven skintone and dull complexion.
What else is in the formula?: A sprinkle of antioxidants to prevent premature wrinkles.
What’s the texture like?: Water-light gel.
Who should use it?: Anyone with oily or acne-prone skin who prefers gel textures.
Where to buy it: Dermstore, Feel Unique and Paula’s Choice
Related: Common Antioxidants Used In Skincare Products
Best For Oily And Dehydrated Skin: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ($29.00)
How much salicylic acid is here?: 2%.
What is it good for?: Clogged pores, uneven skintone and rough texture.
What else is in the formula?: Humectants (they attract water from the air into the skin) to hydrate and green tea to soothe and fight free radicals.
What’s the texture like?: Liquid, slightly tacky, leaves skin a little shiny.
Who should use it?: Best for oily or acne-prone skin that’s also dehydrated.
Where to buy it: Dermstore, Paula’s Choice and Selfridges
Related: Dry VS Dehydrated Skin: What’s The Difference?
Best For Dry, Acne-Prone Skin: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant ($29.00)
How much salicylic acid is here?: 2%.
What is it good for?: Unclogged pores, dull and rough complexion, and dehydrated skin.
What else is in the formula?: Humectants to hydrate skin and antioxidants to prevent premature wrinkles.
What’s the texture like?: Lightweight lotion.
Who should use it?: Mature, dry and acne-prone skin.
Where to buy it: Feel Unique, Paula’s Choice and Selfridges
Related: How To Treat Dry, Acne-Prone Skin
Best For Hard-To-Reach Areas: Paula’s Choice Clear Acne Body Spray With 2% Salicylic Acid ($25.00)
How much salicylic acid is here?: 2%.
What is it good for?:Â Breakouts on your body.
What else is in the formula?:Â Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin and skin-soothers to calm down redness.
What’s the texture like?: Lightweight, fast-absorbing sprays.
Who should use it?:Â Body breakouts you can’t reach easily.
Where to buy it: Dermstore and Paula’s Choice
Best For Advanced Acid Users: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel ($39.00)
What AHAs are here?: Glycolic, lactic, mandelic, tartaric, and malic. Oh, and salicylic acid, too.
What is it good for?: Boosting collagen, fading away dark spots, and refining pores.
What else is in the formula?: Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin and skin-soothers to calm down irritations and redness (this exfoliant is pretty harsh).
What’s the texture like?: A liquidy gel.
Who should use it?: Only women who have build tolerance to acids over the years. This stuff is very harsh and it will irritate your skin if it isn’t used to acids.
Where to buy it: Paula’s Choice
Related: Why You Need Hyaluronic Acid, No Matter Your Skin Type
Paula’s Choice BHA Exfoliants Comparison: A Recap
Still confused? Here’s my quick 3 step process to pick the right Paula’s Choice BHA Exfoliant for you:
Step 1: Identify The Right Line For Your Concerns
- If oily skin and breakouts are your only concerns, go with the Clear line. It’s made for this.
- If your oily, acne-prone skin is also dry/dehydrated, opt for the Skin Perfecting line. It’s hydrating and exfoliating at the same time.
- If you have oily, mature skin, try the Resist line. It’s loaded with antioxidants to prevent wrinkles.
- If your oily skin is sensitive and easily irritated, the Calm Redness Relief line is your best option. All those soothing ingredients help you calm down irritations and redness.
Step 2: Work Your Way Up
It’s easy to think “more is better.”
But, when it comes to exfoliation, more usually stands for “more irritating.”
Do your skin a favour and start with the lowest concentration you can find. Only if that’s not enough to get rid of those stubborn blackheads or white patches of skin, upgrade to something stronger.
Step 3: It’s All About Texture
By this point, you should have narrowed down the choice to only a handful of exfoliants. Now it’s all about personal preference: do you prefer a lightweight gel or a silky lotion? A toner or a serum?
Figure that out and you’ve found your exfoliant.
Thank you for this. I’ve been using Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid (my first Paula’s Choice product) for two months now, and am not seeing any results at all. The blackheads have not moved or lessened at all. I don’t have glaring or very pronounced blackheads but they are there. A pimple also sprouted a couple of days ago. I’m so disappointed that for some reason my skin doesn’t like it. I have another bottle (bought at a sale), which I’m giving to a friend who may have better luck with it.
JD, mmmm if the blackheads haven’t disappeared you may need a higher dose. There’s always the chance they’ve become so hardened, you’ll need manual extractions.
Hi
Only percentages of 2% and below seem to be available in the uk, is this correct?
Thank you
Elle, yes that is correct.
I was about to buy the skin perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant but then I noticed in the ingredients the Tetrasodium EDTA, isn’t it very bad?
Elisa, depends on whom you skin. It’s derived from formaldehyde so that’s enough for the natural brigade to make a fuss about it. Scientists found it’s safe in low concentrations in cosmetics as it can’t penetrate skin anyway.
I think I am going to skip it , I prefer to avoid this ingredient… what could it be another good option for dry skin but a bit oily in the t zone just to get rid of the very heated blackheads and big pores on the nose and chin? Better a BHA alone to put only in the t zone (and an AHA on different days) or an exfoliant that contains both BHA and AHA ? Any particular brand? Thanks so much, I find your articles very interesting!
Elisa, both are good options. One doesn’t work better than another, it’s what works best for your lifestyle. Are you ok with using two products or do you prefer the convenience of having both in the same product? Drunk Elephant Glycolic Night Serum and Nip + Fan Glycolic Fix Gel have both. The latter is cheaper, but it has a tendency to peel.
Is it the T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum? I cannot find it, maybe in the US has another name.
Did you try the HONEYMOON GLOW AHA resurfacing night serum with hydrating honey + gentle flower acids? This one as well has a combination of both but I am not sure the BHA are powerful enough do get rid of the blackheads (1% BHA: Natural salicylic acid from willow bark)
Elisa, yes T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum. The Honeymoon Glow isn’t a bad product but it probably won’t work as fast because it uses a salicylic acid derivative.
Thank you for answering, you are so helpful with all of the information you provide with your blog! I will probably buy the drunk elephant but it’s soo expensive!
Elisa, my pleasure! Have you considered getting a mini set so you can try a few products without spending a fortune?
I didn’t know that they make a mini set, great idea!!
Thank you for writing this guide! I’ve been planning to buy one of PC’s BHA exfoliants for a while but I haven’t figured out which one to get. I bought a few samples of the Skin Perfecting Liquid Exfoliant and I hate how it leaves my skin shiny. I also got a few samples of the Gel Exfoliant and I thought it also looked a little shiny, though not as much as the liquid one. I have super oily skin with acne (stubborn forehead pimples that are taking forever to go away and a few blackheads that aren’t very noticeable). An employee a therapist Sephora told me last year that my skin looked dehydrated. I can definitely see that because before a lot of the times I washed my face it felt very tight afterwards and then it would get super oily not even an hour later. But recently it doesn’t feel tight anymore after I wash it – I think it’s because I’m using a better face wash (just using samples from Sephora to try to find a new, better one – lately, it’s Amira’s Clarifying Cleanser).
All of this to say that I’m not sure whether to get the BHA in the Clear line or Skin Perfecting line. Help please!
Paloma, as it’s just a matter of texture, try a sample of both and see which one you like best. 🙂
Dear, which of these exfoliant would you suggest for sensitive acne-prone combination skin type (dry cheeks, oily T zone)?
Thank you in advance.
Vana, try the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid. It’s a classic and works well for combo skin.
Thanks Gio for writing this,I just came across your article when I am looking to replace clinique salicylic acid toner with PC. I am thinking to give SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA GEL EXFOLIANT a shot as I already have oily/acne prone skin and don’t want shiny look. I apply HA moisturizer from TO brand and it’s working fine with Clinique toner. Can you please tell me if i can still use ordinary HA moisturizer with PA BHA gel as well.
Many thanks in advance.