Of all the beauty buys worth snapping up in Amazon’s Prime Day sale, Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant remains the gold standard. TikTok can’t get enough of it – the hashtag #PaulasChoiceBHA has amassed over 58 million views (and counting) over the past couple of years – and 1.25 million units are now sold globally each year.
But long before it went viral, beauty editors and skincare experts were calling it a holy grail for clearing pores, smoothing texture and calming breakouts. It actually launched back in 2000. Which was welcome, really. As a beauty writer, one of the most common complaints I hear about is an uneven or blotchy skin texture – closely followed by a dislike of stubborn acne scaring. Both of which I can relate to. So, a product which promises smooth skin, glow, and small, unclogged pores? Paula's Choice had us listening.
Why are we telling you about this now? Well, it's 20% off until 23:59 on 11th July as part of Amazon's Prime Day sale – one of the best Prime Day beauty deals we've seen. Consider this your very convenient reminder to add it to basket before the clock runs out. When we say “run, don't walk”, we mean it.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant: at a glance
- Price: £35 at full price, but it's currently reduced to £28 in the Prime Day sale. BUY IT NOW.
- Alternative stockists: Sephora and Cult Beauty.
- Size: 118ml – but you can pick it up in a mini, 30ml size.
- Key ingredients: 2% salicylic acid (BHA), green tea extract, methylpropanediol (for deeper penetration and hydration).
- What it does: Unclogs pores, smooths skin texture, reduces redness and blemishes, and helps prevent future breakouts.
- Best for: Oily, combination and blemish-prone skin types.
- Tested by: Georgia Brown, Freelance Commerce Writer, and Denise Primbet, ex-GLAMOUR staffer and now GLAMOUR Contributor.
- Tested for: Over a year – it's a staple in my skincare routine.
- Pros: Thousands of glowing reviews, packed full of highly efficacious ingredients, effectively smooths skin texture.
- Cons: Can be quite harsh on sensitive skin. Also, it's expensive, but you can buy it in a miniature size or as one of the best Prime Day deals.
- The verdict: “The GLAMOUR team has tried and loved countless exfoliants over the years, but this one continues to rise to the top. Its lightweight, leave-on formula genuinely delivers on its promise to unclog pores, smooth uneven texture and reduce redness – all without irritation. Several editors swear by it for keeping breakouts at bay and maintaining that hydrated glow between facials. It’s one of the few skincare products we find ourselves repurchasing on repeat - and yes, we’re collectively stocking up while it’s still 20% off.”
Meet the reviewer: Georgia Brown, GLAMOUR's Freelance Commerce Writer
As someone with combination, breakout-prone skin, I’m always looking for products that can gently exfoliate without causing irritation or dryness. I don’t deal with cystic acne, but I do get regular congestion and hormonal breakouts, especially around my chin and jawline. I look for formulas that feel lightweight, absorb quickly, and actually make a visible difference in my skin texture and clarity, ideally without disrupting the rest of my routine.
- Skin type: Combination and blemish-prone.
- Top skin concerns: Congestion, uneven texture, hormonal breakouts.
- Skin sensitivity: Mildly sensitive, prone to redness.
To ensure that I wasn't just testing the product on one skin type, I also called in the help of Denise Primbet. Denise is GLAMOUR's former Beauty Commerce Writer who has tested her fair share of face scrubs, toners and other similar products in her time. Denise also tested the product for a month, and has kept it in her regular skincare regimen ever since.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant: how we tested
I’ve been using Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant for well over a year now, weaving it into both my morning and evening routines depending on what my skin needs. After cleansing, I sweep a small amount across my face using a cotton pad (though sometimes I press it in with my hands), followed by moisturiser. I typically use it 2–3 times a week, but when my skin’s feeling congested, I’ll bump that up to daily use. I’ve tested it through heatwaves, hormonal breakouts and winter dryness, and every time, it leaves my skin noticeably clearer, smoother and more balanced, without any irritation. It’s one of the few skincare products I consistently finish - and immediately repurchase.
GLAMOUR Beauty Writer, Denise Primbet, adds: “My skin loves this formula (side note: I even have my husband hooked on this, and that's saying something…).”
What does the Paula's Choice 2% BHA liquid exfoliant do?
In case you're unfamiliar, Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA is a fast-absorbing, leave-on liquid exfoliant that promises to remove built-up dead skin cells both on the surface of your skin and deep inside your pores to help you achieve smooth and even complexion over prolonged use. Think: smaller pores, brightened skin and a reduction in acne scaring.
This is a pretty sizeable claim, of course, but when you take a closer look at the formulation, the ingredients do support it.
The star of the show is salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (or BHA) which is commonly-used ingredient found in skincare products aimed for acne-prone skin. It deeply penetrates beyond the skin's surface, and thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, has been found to dissolve oil, remove grime and therefore reduce the appearance of blackheads, redness and blemishes on its way.
This product works for all skin types, although it's been proven to work particularly well on oily and acne-prone skin types, and while it is quite potent, it's one of the more gentle exfoliators you might find among similar products.
Aside from BHA, the lightweight formula also features methylpropanediol, which will aid absorption to maximise the benefits of every ingredient while increasing hydration. Plus, it also has green tea extract, which is known for its antioxidant properties to soothe and protect blemish-prone skin.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant: GLAMOUR road test
I breezed through my teenage years with barely a blemish, so when adult acne hit in my mid-twenties, it completely knocked my confidence. I was suddenly dealing with angry hormonal breakouts and a constant cycle of flare-ups that no product seemed to help – and many even made worse.
I ended up stripping my skincare routine right back to the bare minimum: a gentle cleanser, a barrier-friendly moisturiser, and this. The Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant was one of the only products that actually made a difference. It helped unclog my pores without irritating my skin, calmed the redness, and slowly but surely brought my complexion back under control.
After cleansing, I will dispense a few drops of the exfoliant onto a cotton pad, and lightly sweep said pad across my entire complexion. I pay particular attention to my T-zone, which is where I experience my most severe clogged pores – sometimes giving more of scrub in those areas. I don't find it to sting on application – in fact, I find it refreshing and cooling. It does leave behind a slight oily residue (one reason I wouldn't wear it under makeup), but after leaving it to settle for a couple of minutes, I can continue with moisturiser application. You could also apply a hyaluronic acid serum or similar in between the latter two steps.
FAQ: How often should you use Paula's Choice BHA?
If you're new to BHA, start slow by applying every other day, then move on to once day in a week's time (if your skin doesn't react, of course). I'd recommend using it in the evening, rather than during the day.
As per the instructions on the bottle, you can move to using it twice a day after this. I don't – I stick to a vitamin C serum and sunscreen for face in the morning, only – but if you fancy it, ensure you apply a broad-spectrum SPF afterwards always.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant: the verdict
I've been using this exfoliant twice-three times a week, for over a year, and I have seen a huge improvement in my skin. I am fortuitous to test a lot of products as part of my job, so most of what I test doesn't get recommended to anyone. This, however? I recommend it to all of my friends. My skin feels brighter, clearer and more unclogged than it has been in years.
When the wider GLAMOUR team put it to the test, we found it worked just as well across different skin types, smoothing texture, speeding up spot recovery and making skin look clearer, calmer and more even over time.
It’s one of those rare formulas that genuinely lives up to the hype.
More of the best beauty deals to shop in the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale:
- 63% off: L'Oréal Paris 2.5% Hyaluronic Acid and Caffeine Eye Serum, WAS £31.99 £11.87
- 57% off: COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, WAS £23.99 NOW £10.40
- 54% off: Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara, WAS £12.99 NOW £5.99
- 32% off: Shark FlexStyle Limited Edition Teal 5-in-1 Air Styler & Hair Dryer, WAS £319.99 now £218.49
- 29% off: ghd Platinum + Professional Hair Straighteners, WAS £239 NOW £169.99
- 25% off: COLOR WOW Extra Strength Dream Coat, WAS £32 NOW £24
- 20% off: BYOMA Hydrating Starter Kit, WAS £14.99 NOW £11.99
Your ultimate beauty haul awaits.
For more beauty content from Glamour UK Freelance Commerce Writer Georgia Brown, follow her on Instagram @geeleighbee.
