BHA 9 Treatment
2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant

Paula's Choice

BHA 9 Treatment

Paula's Choice

2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant

A chemical exfoliant built around BHA and Salicylic acid, for hydration and barrier repair.

A chemical exfoliant built around BHA and Salicylic acid, for barrier repair and smoothing.

Chemical exfoliant
Chemical exfoliant
12 ingredients
25 ingredients

Brand price

USD 45.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

Brand price

USD 37.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site

No retailer listed yet
No retailer listed yet

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.

    Cetyl Alcohol

  • Colloidal oatmeal1

    Finely milled oat — an FDA-recognised skin protectant.

    Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

  • Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)1

    Polysorbate (Tween) emulsifiers.

    Polysorbate 20

  • BHA1

    Beta hydroxy acid — oil-soluble, so it works inside the pore.

    Salicylic Acid

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Show highlights for:

  • Water (in both products)

    Skin Conditioning

  • Butylene Glycol (in both products)

    Humectant

    1 / 0

    • Hydrating

  • Polysorbate 20 (in both products)

    Cleansing

    0 / 0

    • Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
    • Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Cetyl Alcohol

    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

  • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer

    Viscosity Controlling

    0-1 / —

  • Cyclopentasiloxane

    Emollient

    0-1 / —

    • Silicones

  • Sorbitan Stearate

    Emulsifying

    0 / 1

    • Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

    Emollient

    • Anti-Pollution
    • Antioxidant
    • Reduces Irritation

  • Lauric Acid

    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 →

  • Salicylic Acid

    Anti-seborrheic, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Keratolytic, Preservative, Skin Conditioning

    Salicylic Acid is a BHA.

    Learn more about Salicylic Acid →

  • 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 →

  • Avena Sativa Kernel Extract

    Abrasive, Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning, Emollient

    Avena Sativa Kernel Extract is colloidal oatmeal.

    Learn more about Avena Sativa Kernel Extract →

  • 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 →

  • Polysorbate 20

    Cleansing, Emulsifying

    Polysorbate 20 isn't fungal acne safe.

    Learn more about Polysorbate 20 →

  • Disodium EDTA

    Chelating, Viscosity Controlling

    Disodium dihydrogen ethylenediaminetetraacetate

    Learn more about Disodium EDTA →

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