Refine the complexion with Paula’s Choice Resist Pore Treatment 2% BHA. This leave-on liquid exfoliant is gentle enough for everyday use and helps target multiple signs of ageing while working to unclog and reduce the appearance of enlarged pores.

BHA gently works to refine pores and skin texture to help skin achieve a smoother and healthier appearance. Formulated with antioxidants and peptides, this effective blend also works to protect skin from environmental stressors.

After cleansing and toning skin, apply once or twice daily with a clean cotton pad over the face and undereye area. There is no need to rinse. During the day, follow up with a broad-spectrum sunscreen for best results.

Key Benefits

• Lightweight liquid formula
• BHA works to unclog and reduce the appearance of pores
• Antioxidants and peptides help to renew and protect skin
• Gentle enough for daily use
• Suitable for all skin types

SKU

UK200026825

AQUA, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL (HYDRATION), SALICYLIC ACID (BETA HYDROXY ACID, EXFOLIATING AGENT), PENTYLENE GLYCOL (HYDRATION), BUTYLENE GLYCOL (HYDRATION), POLYSORBATE 20 (TEXTURE-ENHANCING), PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1 (SKIN-RESTORING), PALMITOYL TETRAPEPTIDE-7 (SKIN-RESTORING), DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE (SKIN-SOOTHING), NORDIHYDROGUAIARETIC ACID (ANTIOXIDANT), OLEANOLIC ACID (SKIN-SOOTHING), ETANORULAYH MUIDOS (HYDRATION/SKIN REPLENISHING), ALLANTOIN (SKIN-SOOTHING), TREHALOSE (HYDRATION/SKIN REPLENISHING), PANTHENOL (SKIN-CONDITIONING AGENT), GLYCERIN (HYDRATION/SKIN REPLENISHING), PEG-60 ALMOND GLYCERIDES (TEXTURE-ENHANCING), SODIUM METABISULFITE (STABILIZER), PEG/PPG-17/6 COPOLYMER (SOLVENT), METHYL GLUCETH-20 (HYDRATION/TEXTURE-ENHANCING), BIS-PEG-18 METHYL ETHER DIMETHYL SILANE (HYDRATION/TEXTURE-ENHANCING), GLYCERETH-26 (EMOLLIENT TEXTURE-ENHANCING), SODIUM HYDROXIDE (PH ADJUSTER), CARBOMER (GEL-BASED TEXTURE-ENHANCING), DISODIUM EDTA (STABILIZER), CAPRYLYL GLYCOL (SKIN-CONDITIONING AGENT).

, I mentioned I've been using the Paula's Choice Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment With 2% BHA to help undo the results of neglecting my skin. While most of my

Skincare Wardrobe

is comprised of Korean beauty products and cosmetics from Asia, I can't deny that western skincare is still in the lead when it comes to acids. Specifically, acid exfoliants, chemical peels, and prescription-strength "bring your skin to Snesus" topicals like

azelaic acid and retinol

.

However, with a name like "Paula's Choice Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment With 2% BHA", you would think it was a K-Beauty product, right next to other "ridiculously long product name" titleholders like the "

Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Borabit Ampoule

" and ... well, too many others to list. Interestingly, Paula's Choice does make Asia-exclusive versions of their products, but this isn't one of them.

In this post:

• Product details
• Ingredients & how to apply
• How I was lured away from my usual BHA
• The good and the bad

I'm somewhat reluctantly reviewing this product, because I'm not a big fan of the company, but dodgy science demos and flip-flopping shade parades aside, they make some gooood acids.

Just as a quick reminder: this blog uses both affiliate and non-affiliate links, and if you choose to click the former before you shop, your purchase may contribute a tiny amount to the maintenance of this blog. See full details at the end of this post!

receipts

Product details

Full product name: Paula's Choice Resist Daily Pore-Refining Treatment With 2% BHA. Purpose: A daily-strength beta hydroxy acid chemical exfoliant, enabling you to clear clogged pores, slough off dead skin, and prevent new clogs from forming. Scent: Unpleasant, but hard to describe. It's not super potent, and it doesn't linger, thank goodness. Texture: Like water, which is a key difference from other variations they make. Quantity: 3 oz Rating: 4/5, because it works without drying out my skin too terribly, but they lose a point for trying to demonstrate that layering skincare doesn't impact the pH of their products because their products don't change when you mix them with water. Science fail demerit: that's not

how pH works

. Where to get it:

Paula's Choice Website

(you can get $10 off your first order with this referral code if you need one.) |

Amazon

|

eBay

Repurchase: If they do Black Friday sales or any sort of sale that drops this below $30, yes. Then I will go make a donation of the difference to a science education charity so I can feel less guilty about it.

Ingredients & how to apply

Interestingly, their website goes out of their way to explain purpose of many of the ingredients, perhaps to combat the "if a gradeschooler can't pronounce it, avoid it" anti-chemical marketing hype out there.

Product Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Dipropylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid (beta hydroxy acid exfoliating agent), Pentylene Glycol (hydration), Butylene Glycol (hydration), Polysorbate 20 (texture-enhancing), Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (skin-restorings)[sic], Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (skin-soothing), Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid (antioxidant), Oleanolic Acid (skin-soothing), Sodium Hyaluronate (hydration/skin replenishing), Allantoin (skin-soothing), Trehalose (hydration/skin replenishing), Panthenol (skin-conditioning agent), Glycerin (hydration/skin replenishing), PEG-60 Almond Glycerides (texture-enhancing), Sodium Metabisulfite (stabilizer), PEG/PPG-18/4 Copolymer (solvent), Methyl Gluceth-20, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane (hydration/texture-enhancing), Glycereth-26 (emollient texture-enhancing), Sodium Hydroxide (pH adjuster), Carbomer (gel-based texture-enhancing), Disodium EDTA (stabilizer), Caprylyl Glycol (skin-conditioning agent).

I've periodically pH tested this exfoliant to see if it underwent any changes over time, and it's stayed consistently at the correct range of just below pH 4. From what I've read, PC buffers their acids, making them more stable.

The site directions for application are:

Apply once or twice daily after cleansing and toning. Lightly soak a cotton pad and apply over the entire face, including the eye area (avoid the lower lash line and eyelids). Do not rinse. For daytime, follow with a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 25 or greater.

I don't follow them. (Oooo, rebellious!) At $33 a bottle, there's no way I'm wasting it on soaking a cotton square. And a cotton pad, no less? Nope. Since it has the consistency of water, it can be tricky to apply with your hands without it running everywhere.

I splash a few drops into my cupped palm, and then immediately stick my cheek down into it, then spread it over that side of my face with my palm and fingers. Then I repeat on the other side. I tend to apply it to each cheek/side of my face, and then down my t-zone (forehead, nose, around my mouth, chin) paying extra attention (and sometimes extra product) to my nose and the tyrannical sebaceous filaments that rule the pores there with a gritty fist.

I like to give it a good 20 minutes to chill on my skin, although it's not strictly necessary, because I want to extract the maximum benefit from it + it tends to loosen crud from my pores that I want to wipe away with a toner-soaked cotton pad before applying my next skincare steps.

How I was lured away from my usual BHA

So how did I end up using a product from a company that had famously dragged Korean beauty in the past? (Sadly, the page in question has now been taken down, and PC has launched several K-Beauty-inspired products since.) After

trying 11 BHAs in the name of science and skincare

, fellow

Snailcaster

Tracy of

Fanserviced-b

sent me a birthday box of skincare, featuring her favourite PC acids to try. As someone who manages to snapchat chemical peels after a long night of drinking and has an acids routine that makes my pores blanch, I trusted her recommendations, and I was not disappointed.

Her package also included some other interesting things, such as this BHA body exfoliant and the AHA exfoliant I'm using as a

spot treatment while I'm purging breakouts

. She also sent me a bottle of their fancypants Vitamin C serum so I could compare it to our mutual standby, the

OST C20 Vitamin C serum

, which meant she didn't need to test it herself. Full review is pending, but spoilers: it felt gross and broke me out, and is more than 4x the price.

The good and the bad

With all the aforementioned concerns over the company's shady behaviour, not to mention the sketchy appropriation of a study unrelated to topical skincare to support an anti-alcohol-in-skincare-stance (but I digress, and leave that tangent to

cosmetic chemist Kind of Stephen

's future post on that bit of dodginess), you might wonder why I'm favourably reviewing this product at all. Also, it's expensive. I'm not into expensive, unless it's

packaged so beautifully I have an eyegasm

every time I reach for it on my counter. So, why does it get a good review? Frankly, it's some good sh*t.

For me, a good chemical exfoliant should be:

• In the right pH range (less than 4.2)
• The required concentration of BHA to exfoliate (2% and up)
• A stable pH that does not widely change over time
• Minimally irritating or drying
• Effective at declogging my pores and preventing new ones
• Cosmetically elegant on the skin

This hits all of those requirements. The watery texture might be a pain to apply, but it feels weightless and ultra comfortable on the skin. (If I had very dry or sensitive skin, I would stick with my old staple, the Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, available on:

Amazon

|

eBay

|

Jolse

|

Bisou Beauty Bar

|

KoreaDepart

|

RoseRoseShop

.) This product might be too drying for those with very dry skin, but for oily, combination, acne-prone or clog-prone skin, this texture is a relief.

I'm also digging the fact that it's available on

Amazon for cheaper than the official website, or the same price on Prime

. Here's crossing my fingers for a black friday sale, so I can grab my next bottle.

Have you found a BHA that has a similar consistency, concentration, and pH as this product? Hit me up on

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**Disclaimer: All products I review on my blog are 100% purchased with my own money, with a single exception of a press sample I tested & reviewed in 2015 which swore me off of them forever. Personal gifts from friends & family will also be identified, as it was in this post. This blog contains both affiliate and non-affiliate links, and clicking the former before you shop means that this blog may receive a small commission to assist in this blog supporting itself. Please see my Contact Info & Disclaimer policy for more information.

How long does it take to see results from Paula's BHA?

It took time to see results but I could tell it was working after the third week. Along with using the products I changed my habits, better eating more water, and doing research and adding better skincare into my routine.

What is the difference between skin perfecting and resist?

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.

How do you use Paula's Choice resist?

Smooth a few drops onto face, neck and eye area before moisturizing (or use alone). For optimal results, use AM and PM. For daytime, follow with a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or greater.

Does Paula's Choice really get rid of blackheads?

I have been using Paula's choice exfoliating 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid Liquid for a month now . I use it once a day (PM) and I can say that backheads are all gone !