Image: paulaschoice.com
Paula's Choice
2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant
A chemical exfoliant built around BHA and Salicylic acid, for barrier repair and smoothing.
Brand price
USD 37.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · on the brand's site
From the brand
What the brand says about this product. Our ingredient analysis follows below.
The brand recommends it for
- Dry skin
- Sensitive skin
- Fine lines & wrinkles
- Dullness
- Large pores
- Uneven texture
How to use
Apply 1-2 pumps over entire face and neck, including the eye area (avoid lash line and eyelids) after cleansing and toning. Do not rinse. Start Slowly: Apply every other day and note skin's response. Then use up to twice daily. For daytime, always finish with SPF 30+ . For nighttime, follow with the rest of your routine .
Caution
If you have a salicylate allergy, check with your physician before using any products that contain salicylic acid.
What's inside
Ingredients List
7 trigger at least one check · 18 trigger none
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Polysorbates (Tween emulsifiers)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Fatty acids (stearic, oleic, lauric)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
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.
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.
Smoothing9
Refines rough or uneven texture.
Allantoin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Salicylic Acid
Antioxidant2
Shields skin from free radical damage.
Anti-Pollution5
Helps defend against airborne pollutants.
Allantoin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dimethicone, Glycerin
Concerns
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 Explained
Click on any ingredient to learn more about it
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →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 →Cetyl Alcohol
Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emollient, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Controlling
Cetyl Alcohol isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetyl Alcohol →Salicylic Acid
Anti-seborrheic, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Keratolytic, Preservative, Skin Conditioning
Salicylic Acid is a BHA.
Learn more about Salicylic Acid →Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Viscosity Controlling
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer is a copolymer of ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate and vinylpyrrolidone monomers
Learn more about Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer →Cyclopentasiloxane
Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent
Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone.
Learn more about Cyclopentasiloxane →Sorbitan Stearate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Sorbitan Stearate →Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Fragrance, Humectant, Oral Care, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Skin Protecting, Tonic, UV Absorber
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract is an extract of the leaves of the Tea, Camellia sinensis, Theaceae
Learn more about Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract →Lauric Acid
Cleansing, Cleansing, Emulsifying
Lauric Acid may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Lauric Acid →
Dupes
- Paula's Choice Regular Strength Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution With 2% Salicylic Acid63% match
- Paula's Choice 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant61% match
- Paula's Choice BHA 9 Treatment61% match