So, originally this product was supposed to be a part of my Empties volume 2 post, but I decided otherwise. And not because I was that impressed with the product itself (I did like it, don’t get me wrong!), but mostly to introduce you to this brand (if you don’t already know about it). Show Paula Begoun, The Cosmetics Cop, is some sort of guru in the area of cosmetics and skin care. She wrote a bunch of books, and eventually started her own company: Paula’s Choice. When I first started getting into skin care, I was confronted with a load of, what seemed to me, crap online. That’s the word, really. I read “expert” opinions on blogs and websites from people who have no idea what they are talking about, and use scientific terms without the slightest clue what those mean. Luckily, it didn’t take me long to find the website of Paula’s Choice and it appealed to me. The reason is very simple. The website has an extensive encyclopedia about cosmetic ingredients and brands….with references to actual scientific journals, meaning you can look up the original research. Given my scientific background, this way of presenting information, appeals to me a lot more than the jibber-jabber of pseudo experts. You can check out the website here, if you are interested. You can look up pretty much any ingredient in your cream/lotion/serum/whatever, and they provide extensive information about it. It’s fun! 🙂 Anyway, I wanted to try some of their products, and I discovered that they have an online store in the Netherlands (and other countries too, btw). I got a small sample bottle of the Clear Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution with 2% Salicylic Acid:  It costs around €7 for 30ml. This is how Paula’s Choice describe the exfoliant: “What makes this product unique? Clear Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution provides an almost immediate reduction in blackheads, white bumps, and acne by unclogging pores and reducing inflammation with 2% salicylic acid. Unlike most products designed for acne-prone skin, Clear Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution doesn’t use harsh, irritating ingredients such as alcohol, menthol, peppermint, or camphor that can make acne worse. Clear Extra Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution is designed to penetrate deeper into the pore lining than our Regular Strength Clear exfoliant for fast, concentrated results on stubborn, more serious breakouts. Ongoing use can guarantee significantly Clearer, smoother, even-toned skin and can significantly reduce redness from acne lesions. This product is 100% fragrance- and colorant-free with a pH range of 3.2-3.8. Who is this product for? This product is recommended for all skin types experiencing mild to moderate acne, stubborn blackheads, or white bumps. It is suitable for men or women, teens and adults alike. NOTE: Those allergic to aspirin (acetylsalicylate) should not use products containing salicylic acid (beta hydroxy acid).” My thoughts: I used this little bottle for about 2-3 months (once a day, even though they recommend twice), and admittedly I lost some of it during travelling. The bottle definitely isn’t travel-friendly and leaks…perhaps the full-size is better. The exfoliant has no smell and does not irritate or dry out the skin. It feels pleasant and refreshing. For the rest, I cannot be sure how helpful it has been. The thing is that with my current skin care routine, my face already didn’t look all that bad. In fact, I think it looks better than ever. I hardly ever have pimples…maybe one a few days before my period. And as far as blackheads goes, I think there is only one real solution: the beauty salon. For me anyway..maybe my blackheads have decreased, but they are so many in total, that I could never see the difference. Perhaps this exfoliant would have seemed more impressive, if my skin was actually more blemished. Or maybe the exfoliant really did its job in improving the condition of my skin, but I am not giving it enough credit. I will found out soon enough .. ….since for now I won’t re-purchse it. I am still planning try some more of Paula’s Choice products in the future, because I do find this company very compelling. I hope this post was interesting 🙂 Have you ever tried a product from Paula’s Choice? What was it, and what did you think about it? I’d love to gather some more info!!! I am already a loyal user of the PAULA'S CHOICE 2% BHA liquid and have been for many years. However, there are times when I need an extra something to just clear those pores out and get in deep.... About reviewer (108 reviews) Age25-29 SkinNormal, Fair, Neutral HairBlack, Wavy, Medium EyesGreen I received a sample/travel size bottle of this to try when I got the BHA Gel, and I have to say, I prefer this over the BHA Gel. It’s supposed to be stronger but I find they’re both effective at... About reviewer (200 reviews) Age25-29 SkinVery Oily, Medium, Warm HairBlack, Straight, Medium EyesBlack I've tried the regular strength before and I would say this I should not overly different from that, except this leaves a slightly tacky finish compared to the regular strength - something I think... About reviewer (121 reviews) Age25-29 SkinAcne-prone, Medium, Warm HairBlack, Straight, Coarse EyesBrown This is a really good toner and it does help with redness. However, I actually prefer the other CLEAR toner in the white bottle, CLEAR Regular Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution with 2%... About reviewer (830 reviews) Age36-43 SkinSensitive, Fair, Neutral HairBlond, Straight, Medium EyesBlue Works the same as the original bha liquid. I really like it. About reviewer (65 reviews) Age19-24 SkinCombination, Fair-Medium, Not Sure HairBrown, Other, Other EyesGreen This is the third time I've tried a Paula's product. Three strikes, it's out. I bought this because I developed a few small red bumps under my skin and thought it would clear it up quickly. I... About reviewer (11 reviews) Age44-55 SkinAcne-prone, Medium HairOther EyesOther HG PRODUCT FOR MEEE!! My skin cleared up after using this, but i guess u only need to use this in the night before bed time, i found this dry out my skin when i used in the day time... About reviewer (6 reviews) Age19-24 SkinSensitive, Fair-Medium HairBrunette EyesBrown I have combination skin with many blackheads oll over my face, some small pimples here and there and quite some redness. Unfortunately, this product did not help with any of that, quite the... About reviewer (8 reviews) Age19-24 SkinAcne-prone, Fair-Medium HairBrunette EyesBrown Love!! This BHA has completely transformed my skin. It instantly made my skin so much better, then about a week later I began a horrible purging period. It lasted about 6 weeks but I knew it was... About reviewer (2 reviews) Age25-29 SkinCombination, Fair-Medium HairBlond EyesGreen Ugh, I wanted this to be my miracle product but it did absolutely nothing for me. Background information: 7 years ago I went through an accutane course because my skin did not respond to any... About reviewer (68 reviews) Age30-35 SkinAcne-prone, Fair, Warm HairBlond, Straight, Fine EyesHazel Let me tell you that this stuff is a miracle in a bottle! I that Paula knows what is effective and is after results and not profit. That is why I chose this. In the first week I broke out HORRIBLE!... About reviewer (32 reviews) Age30-35 SkinOily, Fair-Medium, Cool HairBrunette, Wavy, Fine EyesBlue I started using this one a while back and am rather impressed. It doesn't remove my blackheads completely but I never expected that. However, my pores are visibly smaller and my blackheads are... About reviewer (280 reviews) Age36-43 SkinCombination, Fair, Cool HairBlond, Straight, Medium EyesGreen Love this product...everything I use is Paula's Choice products, they are amazing and I have finally cleared my acne! :) I did have a coupon for $10 for other reviewers to use but it got deleted! About reviewer (13 reviews) Age25-29 SkinAcne-prone, Fair-Medium, Not Sure HairBlond, Straight, Fine EyesGreen Brief Overview: Holy grail product for my hormonal acne, works much faster then other PC BHA products and seems more targeted. The texture is oily but after 4 minutes wait it absorbs in... About reviewer (2 reviews) Age30-35 SkinAcne-prone, Fair-Medium, Not Sure HairBrunette, Other, Other EyesGreen I was getting some random breakouts (mostly jaw and a little on my cheeks- cell phone areas though) and nothing seemed to work. I got a sample of this from Paula's Choice out of desperation and... About reviewer (331 reviews) Age30-35 SkinCombination, Other HairBrunette EyesHazel LOVE this stuff. It's the only salicylic acid I've ever used that doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. About reviewer (3 reviews) Age25-29 SkinCombination, Fair HairBlond EyesBlue Paula is keeping my skin as young and even toned, as possible for years. Try all her products and read her reviews to gain a serious insight into cosmetic industry and crap sold out there. This... About reviewer (44 reviews) Age SkinOther, Other, Not Sure HairOther, Other, Other EyesOther This product is amazing. I would always follow up my makeup cleansing with an application of this expoliant on a cotton pad, and it removed the leftover dirt, oil, and dead skin as I had never seen... About reviewer (7 reviews) Age30-35 SkinOily, Fair, Warm HairRed, Curly, Medium EyesBlue I HAVE THE DELUXE SAMPLE AND AM CURRENTLY STILL USING IT. This has a licorice-like smell it reminded me of those watered down mouthwashes you get from the hospital. There is licorice in here ,and... About reviewer (272 reviews) Age25-29 SkinNormal, Fair, Cool HairBrunette, Straight, Fine EyesBrown My skin: adult hormonal acne since 25 years back. Severe melasma from old bc-pills... I like this. You will feel a little "greasy" right when you put it on your face cause it takes such a time... Can you use BHA 2% everyday?FAQ: How often can I use 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant? Here are some tips from Deb, our Global Director of Skin Care Knowledge: 1. Start slowly (2-3x per week) & see how your skin responds. Can be used up to 2x daily, but everyone's skin is different. Is 2% BHA effective?2% BHA is effective for regular, daily, at-home use, but you can experiment with higher and lower strengths to discover what works best for your skin (4). If you have more stubbornly clogged pores or advanced signs of aging, you may find a higher percentage is your skin's sweet spot for getting more dramatic results. Is 2 BHA the same as salicylic acid?Quite simply put: there is no difference between the two. Salicylic acid is a type of BHA, long referred to as beta-hydroxy acid. The active ingredient is a chemical peel that is obtained from white willow (Salix alba). How long does it take for 2 BHA to work?Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant reduced my breakouts by ~70% after 3 days of using it at night! Note that timing is different for everyone. After 7 days of use, my skin felt smoother and softer. |
