Paula's Choice
2% BHA Lotion ExfoliantA chemical exfoliant built around PHA and AHA, for smoothing and exfoliation.
A chemical exfoliant built around BHA and Salicylic acid, for barrier repair and smoothing.
Brand price
Not recorded · brand's site
Brand price
USD 37.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
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At a Glance
They come out differently on Silicone-free and Pore-clogger-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.
Key Ingredients
Fatty alcohol1
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Benefits
Hydrating4
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Barrier Repair4
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Hydrating4
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dimethicone, Glycerin
Barrier Repair9
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Reduces Irritation4
Eases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Allantoin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Redness Reducing2
Soothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Concerns
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis2
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis5
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Cetyl Alcohol, Lauric Acid, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Stearate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Skin Conditioning
Solvent
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Cleansing
0 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
2 / 2
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Salicylic Acid (in both products)
Preservative
- BHA
- Salicylic acid
- Acne Fighting
- Exfoliating
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
Emulsifying
0 / 1
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Cleansing
4 / 1
- Fatty acids (stearic, oleic, lauric)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →Xanthan Gum
Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Xanthan gum
Learn more about Xanthan Gum →Salicylic Acid
Anti-seborrheic, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Keratolytic, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid is a BHA.
Learn more about Salicylic Acid →Allantoin
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing
Urea, (2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl)-
Learn more about Allantoin →Disodium EDTA
Chelating, Viscosity Controlling
Disodium dihydrogen ethylenediaminetetraacetate
Learn more about Disodium EDTA →Ethylhexylglycerin
Deodorant, Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Ethylhexylglycerin →Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Butane-1,3-diol (CAS No. 107-88-0/ EC No. 203-529-7) (R)-(-)-butane-1,3-diol” (CAS No. 6290-03-5/ EC No. 228-532-0)
Learn more about Butylene Glycol →
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