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Alex Paula's Choice
Courtesy of the writer

How cult fave Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant changed my skin

The 2% BHA product has gained a frenzied following for the wonders it does for blemish-prone skin, all at a super affordable price

Alex Peters is a freelance writer who contributes to Dazed Beauty, Vogue, and other titles on the ever-expanding parameters of beauty and identity. Although in theory she likes the idea of a queer mullet, she is currently rocking the latest lockdown trend: Kajillionaire hair. Here, she shares her choice for Product of the Week – a weekly round-up of the Dazed Beauty team and wider community must-have buys.

WHAT IS IT?

Brand: Paula’s Choice 
Product: Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Price: £28 

WHY SHOULD I CARE?

It’s liquid magic. It’s worth its weight in gold. Now that we’ve found each other, we will never again be parted. 

Paula’s Choice 2% BHA is a cult product that I stupidly had never tried until last summer. A leave-on exfoliant, it’s ideal for blemish-prone, oily, or combination skin types and works to remove dead skin cells and reduce blemishes and blackheads, while keeping the skin soothed and hydrated. The brand says it can be used up to twice a day, however, I personally stick to using it every second day. 

As someone with oily, blemish-prone, sensitive skin, this product has been a god-send. It has really helped clear up the hormonal breakouts I get across my chin and done a lot for the texture I have particularly around my cheeks. My skin looks and feels so much better. My tone is more even, my complexion seems brighter, and when I look at my skin in the morning I actually feel pretty happy. Overall, I’m obsessed.

I would recommend this product to pretty much everyone, and have been, although as it turns out most of the time I needn’t have bothered – half my friends were already using it and swearing by it. One said it had done wonders to clear up her acne and the results were noticeable immediately, while another simply described it as crack. 

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS

If this product was a person it would be… Buffy Summers, here to save the day.

It sounds like… “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac because it is dreamy and it gives you skin that will make you feel like you’re skateboarding around as the sun sets while sipping on your favourite beverage. 

If I could go back in time and give this product to anybody it would be... my younger self, I wasted so much time not using it!