Every now and then, a skin-care product comes around that checks all the boxes—it’s effective, gentle on your skin, cosmetically elegant, and reasonably priced. The Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is one of those products. Over 13,000 online reviewers give it a glowing 4.5-star rating, and skin-care experts can’t stop recommending it. And right now, you can get this holy-grail product for 25 percent off.
Originally $34, now $29
“I’ve tried lots of salicylic acid products, and this one has just always worked the best for me,” says Michelle Wong, PhD, a cosmetic chemist in Sydney, Australia. “It reduces the appearance of pores, smooths out skin texture, and evens out skin tone. It’s also really good if you are prone to blackheads, clogged pores, and acne. It helps with all of that. It’s a really good chemical exfoliant.”
Salicylic acid is a powerful beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that dermatologists love for acne-prone skin.
“BHAs encourage exfoliation, helping to prevent and treat blocked pores, and also may help diminish some types of superficial hyperpigmentation,” says David Lortscher, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Curology. “Salicylic acid is best for oily skin types. It works by penetrating and dislodging the gunk (sebum) in your pores so that it’s no longer trapped — resulting in a lower chance of triggering an acne breakout.”
What makes the Paula’s Choice liquid exfoliant so special is that it’s so gentle. It uses 2 percent salicylic acid (the strongest concentration you can get OTC) which exfoliates while drawing moisture into the skin. The formula also includes green tea extract to soothe irritation while providing protective antioxidants and fading visible signs of sun damage.
“If you look at the formula, it’s really simple,” she says. “There aren’t that many ingredients, but it just works really well. I’ve used it for 13 years, and it’s just a mystery why it’s so great and no other product on the market seems to be able to compare to it.”
This deal is part of the brand’s Award Winner’s sale. Now through November 20, you can save 25 percent off the products that are so good they won awards.
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