Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid ingredients

What is the full ingredient list?

Water (Aqua/Eau), Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA.3

• Salicylic acid is the 2% BHA, short for beta hydroxy acid. It dissolves in oil and helps remove dead skin cells from the surface and inside pores, targeting congestion and blackheads.
• Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract is the green tea extract. It provides antioxidant and soothing benefits.
• Methylpropanediol helps hydration and can improve the absorption of ingredients such as salicylic acid. It can leave a smooth, dewy finish.

The supporting ingredients have less glamorous jobs. In skincare formulas, water acts as a solvent; butylene glycol helps retain moisture and supports texture; polysorbate 20 acts as a mild cleansing agent or emulsifier, helping ingredients mix; and sodium hydroxide adjusts pH. These are general ingredient functions, separate from the exfoliating action of salicylic acid.5

Does Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid contain alcohol?

No ethyl alcohol, ethanol or denatured alcohol appears in the complete liquid ingredient list, and Paula's Choice labels the product alcohol free. In cosmetic labeling, alcohol free usually means free of ethyl alcohol, not every member of the alcohol chemical family. Fatty alcohols such as cetyl alcohol have different effects on skin. Cetyl alcohol appears in the separate Australian BHA Lotion formula, not in this liquid formula, so a lotion ingredient list is not interchangeable with the liquid's.256

Does Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid contain fragrance?

No added fragrance is listed, and Paula's Choice labels the liquid fragrance free. The formula can still have a subtle smell from its ingredients, which should fade quickly after application. Fragrance free and unscented are not interchangeable: an unscented cosmetic can contain fragrance added to mask other ingredient smells. If you have fragrance sensitivities, choose fragrance free products and check the complete ingredient list. Sensitivity to other cosmetic ingredients remains possible.17

Why can the liquid feel oily or sticky?

The liquid is oil free, but its glycol content can give it an oily feel. A sticky finish can mean you have applied too much; use a small amount in a thin layer. Its texture is lightweight and liquid, but it exfoliates rather than simply acting as a conventional toner, so looking like water is an unusually modest marketing strategy.14

How do you use it?

1. 1Cleanse your skin, then apply your usual toner if you use one.
2. 2Apply the BHA Liquid gently to your face and neck with your hands or a cotton pad. Avoid the lash line and eyelids. Do not rinse.
3. 3Follow with treatments and moisturiser. You can apply moisturiser directly afterwards. In daytime, finish with sunscreen.
4. 4Start every other day and observe your skin's response. Increase only as tolerated, up to twice daily.

Who is it best suited to?

BHA is especially suited to normal, oily or combination skin with clogged pores and blemishes. If you have a salicylate allergy, check with your doctor before using salicylic acid products. During pregnancy, 1% to 2% salicylic acid is generally considered safe for small areas such as the face; speak to your GP before use.1

Visible changes are not necessarily immediate. Blackhead and whitehead reductions have been measured after one week, with improvements in visible pores and oil control after three weeks. Use those timings as checkpoints rather than deadlines.2