Bumpy, irritated, dry, and clogged is how I would have described my skin four months ago, as I grapple in finding a solution to clearing my skin. Amid buying ridiculous amounts of different cleansers I bought a Paula’s Choice exfoliator on a whim…and I haven’t needed anything else since.
Within two weeks my clogged-pore skin, which was constantly changing between oily breakouts, under-the-skin-bumps, and patches of dry skin, was completely clear. And it’s all thanks to this magic Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant.
Similar to a toner all you have to do is wipe a soaked cotton pad of it across your face after cleansing, and the salicylic acid soaks into the skin to gently remove the layer of dead skin cells, helping to banish the bumps. Four months down the line I’ve never felt so confident with no makeup and embracing a more natural look.
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The 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is best used between your cleanser and moisturiser and used once or twice a week at first, similar to the recommended use of The Ordinary Salicylic Acid Solution. If you’ve never used Salycylic Acid (or beta hydroxy) you need to slowly increase the amount used, as it’s harsh on the skin – the last thing want is irritation from using too much.
There are so many different reasons why the 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is recommended but the main benefit has to be its pore shrinking and unclogging benefits. My biggest insecurity was the inflamed bumps around my chin and jaw, a very mild form of papules acne (with oil and hormones being the main driving factors).
Now these are almost entirely gone, not only do I get less angry spots but the texture of my skin is smoother. I feel happy to leave the house having only done my skincare and not needing to cover up with heavy foundation and concealer.
The 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is also a key product for radiant-looking skin, as it helps lift away dead skin cells away from the layer of healthy bright skin underneath – and it’s a lot softer than the ‘old fashioned’ and harsh beaded exfoliant scrubs.
I’ve seen a huge improvement in clogged skin and my forehead looks a lot brighter, there’s still work to do on my stubborn acne scars. After my initial first two weeks of using the product, I notice how they had started to fade, and was hoping they’d lift entirely. Four months later and they have significantly reduced, the deep purple tone is now a faded patch of redness.
I’ve rated the Paula’s Choice product four out of five stars, honestly speaking there’s nothing I’d change with the exfoliant itself it really has been key to my skin clearing journey. I’ve kept one-star off for two reasons; the price, at £12 for 100ml it’s not the cheapest, and te second being an air of caution – those with sensitive skin need to take a while to build it up.
The 2% BHA Paula’s Choice Liquid Exfoliant can be bought from Amazon, SpaceNK and the Paula’s Choice site. Alternatively, The Ordinary Salicylic Acid Solution and Medik8 Press and Glow are other clearing options to look at.
