Do you have a product in your skin care routine that you cannot live without? Paula's Choice Clear Regular Strength 2% BHA is definitely my holy grail product. This is an anti-redness exfoliating solution with 2% salicylic acid. Plenty of dermatologists advice adding a chemical exfoliant to your skin care routine as it has many benefits.
There are two types of ingredients which have an exfoliating effect:
1. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA): glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid etc.
2. Beta hydroxy acids (BHA): salicylic acid.
Glycolic acids are supposed to be meant for the older and drier skin. While salicylic acid is more efficient for oily skin, acne prone skin because salicylic acid is able to penetrate deeper into the pores.
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| Ingredients |
INGREDIENTS: Water, Dipropylene Glycol (slip agent/penetration enhancer), Salicylic Acid (Beta Hydroxy Acid, exfoliant), Pentylene Glycol (slip agent), Polysorbate 20 (emulsifier), Butylene Glycol (slip agent), Glycerin (skin-identical agent), (water-binding agent), Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (anti-irritant), Allantoin (anti-irritant), Panthenol (skin-conditioning agent), PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer (solvent), Methyl Gluceth-20 (skin-conditioning agent), Glycereth-26 (thickener), Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane (skin-conditioning agent), Sodium Hydroxide (pH adjuster), Sodium Metabisulfite (stabilizer), Tetrasodium EDTA (chelating agent).
Salicylic acid is mentioned as the third ingredient, so you know that there's a sufficient amount in the exfoliant to be effective. On the website of Paula's Choice I found that the exfoliant has a pH between 3.6-4.1, which is the right pH for an exfoliant to be effective. When the pH is too high, the exfoliant loses its effectiveness and when the pH is too low, it will irritate your skin.
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| Claims and instruction on how to use it |
Paula's Choice claims three things:
- Prevents breakouts and fades red marks.
- Unclogs and minimizes enlarges pores.
- Non-drying, light-as-water texture.
I've been using Paula's Choice exfoliant for 6 months now and I can definitely a difference in how my skin looks and feels. It's absolutely non-drying and the texture is indeed just like water. Because it is so water-like, it absorbs into my skin very fast. I heard that the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel leaves a greasy layer on the skin, this is not the case with the Clear Regular Strength exfoliant.
However, I unfortunately didn't notice any difference in pore size during 6 months of usage. But the most important thing for me is the first claim; preventing breakouts and fading red marks. After one month, I hadn't really notice a difference, now I have significantly less break outs and white heads. I still sometimes have pimples and some redness, but it became less.
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| Texture |
As you can see in the picture above, the texture is very watery and liquid. So to avoid I waste any product (as it is quite expensive) I pour a little amount in the palm of my hand and then apply it to my face. The frequency of application totally depends on your own skin. You can use it every night or only once a week. For my skin, I noticed it worked best when I applied it every other night. Otherwise it would be too drying for my skin.
Conclusion: I've already said it's my holy grail and I already purchased a new bottle of it. It helps to prevent breakouts and leaves your skin feeling very smooth! I've convinced my sister to use it as well, and now she uses it every day. The only disadvantage of this product is that it is quite expensive in my opinion. The product comes in a bottle of 118 ml (4.0 fluid ounces) and costs €29.90, but I would definitely recommended it those with acne prone skin!
Labels: Skin care
