Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Face Exfoliant for Blackheads & Pores, 30 ml | Facial Exfoliating Peeling with Salicylic Acid -

Overview

We keep PAULA'S CHOICE 2% BHA Liquid Face Exfoliant for Blackheads on our skin care shelf alongside 40 others, and rank it on rating, review volume and live price rather than on the brand. The manufacturer puts it this way: Fast absorbing liquid exfoliant removes built-up dead skin cells and fights blackheads and breakouts. Primarily an exfoliant, helping shed dead skin on the surface and inside the pore, therefore effective for reducing breakouts and blackheads. It also has soothing properties. That is the maker talking, not us, so read it as a claim rather than a finding. Buyers have it at 4.4 out of 5 from 28,603 ratings. We work out below what that is worth against everything else on the shelf.

Shelf price range checked 26 Sept 2026, 15:37 BST · details

How it compares on the skin care shelf

Across the 41 rated skin care products we track, the middle of the pack sits at 4.6 out of 5. This one scores 4.4. That's inside the bottom quarter of the shelf. It isn't a warning, but better-rated options do sit alongside it at similar money, so you would want a specific reason to pick this one.

Behind that score sit 28,603 ratings, against a shelf median of 12,743. That's a solid enough base to read the score, though not enough to settle it.

Price-wise it falls in the top third of a shelf that stretches £1.80 to £16.70, with £9.37 in the middle. Paying above the middle of the shelf needs a reason the star rating does not supply, because on ratings alone the extra money is not buying an advantage here.

Shelf prices checked 26 Sept 2026, 15:37 BST · details

Worked out from the 41 skin care products we track, not from the brand's own claims. How we rank →

Key features, as the manufacturer lists them

Taken from the product listing via Amazon's product API. These are the seller's claims, not our test results.

• OUR GLOBAL BESTSELLER : Fast absorbing liquid exfoliant removes built-up dead skin cells and fights blackheads and breakouts. Daily leave-on liquid exfoliant with salicylic acid quickly unclogs pores and controls oil for clear, glowing skin.
• WITH SALICYLIC ACID / BHA : Primarily an exfoliant, helping shed dead skin on the surface and inside the pore, therefore effective for reducing breakouts and blackheads. It also has soothing properties.
• BENEFITS : Skin becomes dull and congested when dead skin cells build up on its surface. Unlike harsh exfoliator scrubs, our gentle BHA mimics the natural exfoliation process of younger skin by helping to shed extra layers while unclogging and clearing out pores.
• HOW TO USE : Lightly soak a cotton pad and gently apply over the entire face and neck, including the eye area (avoid lash line and eyelids). Do not rinse. Start slowly: At first, apply every other day and note skin’s response. Then use up to twice daily. For daytime, follow with a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater. For nighttime, follow with the rest of your routine.
• SUITABLE FOR COMBINATION TO OILY SKIN : This peeling is suitable for normal, combination to oily skin types. The liquid texture is ideal for these skin types and penetrates fast into pores, blackheads and pimples. This leave-on exfoliant (also sometimes known as a toner) has an optimal pH range of 3.2-3.8 for maximum effectiveness without irritation.

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