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I had red, patchy skin until I used this cult-favorite $13 exfoliant
For as long as I can remember, my skin's had its fair share of red spots and dry, scaly patches that no cream or serum has been able to improve. It always looked like I'd come from the gym, even if I'd just taken a nap, and I figured I'd have to keep applying tons of foundation and concealer over these areas in hopes that they would be less noticeable. That is, until I tried the cult-favorite Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It's become a holy grail skin-care product — and at $13? So affordable! Here's my review:
I'd heard raves about this product for a long time — it has nearly 61,000 perfect ratings on Amazon, after all! — but as far as my aforementioned dry skin was concerned, I didn't think an exfoliant would be the best fit. Spoiler alert: I was wrong!
What makes this unassuming product so popular? For starters, it contains the powerhouse ingredient beta hydroxy acid — also known as salicylic acid — which has a slew of benefits for your complexion. It works by removing layers of dead skin cells to reveal the new, fresh-looking cells underneath for an all-around glow. Not only does it target redness and promote a more even skin tone, it can also remove blackheads to minimize the appearance of large pores and help smooth out wrinkles and fine lines.
Another plus? Because it's a liquid exfoliant, it's much less abrasive than a scrub — which my sensitive skin is eternally grateful for. Now I can slough away all of the dry, dead skin cells without worrying about scratching up my face. In fact, I apply it every morning and haven't broken out once! It's also paraben- and fragrance-free so you won't have to worry about irritation due to added scents. Thanks, Paula!
I'm usually skeptical when I hear about products that supposedly "work overnight," but trust me when I say that within a day of trying the Paula's Choice Liquid Exfoliant, the redness on my face was nowhere to be found. Check out the before and after photos above! I applied it after cleansing and followed up with my daily moisturizer and sunscreen. At night, I washed my face and applied another moisturizer, went to bed and woke up amazed by how even my skin looked. In a word, it was (at the risk of sounding like a cliché) glowing.
One thing to note is that, as with many exfoliants, you might feel a slight tingling or burning sensation when first applying it, but even my sensitive skin quickly adapted. Within a few days I barely noticed any stinging. In my opinion, it's a small price to pay for such a workhorse of a product that has completely changed my skin for the better. But don't take my word for it — just hear what some of the thousands of happy Amazon shoppers have to say!
You glow, girl
"I’m a 65-year-old female who has struggled with broken-out, red and flaky patches on my nose and forehead for 30 years," said one five-star reviewer. "I accidentally came across Paula’s Choice Liquid Exfoliant...My face is completely healed! My pores are small. My nose isn’t swollen anymore. My skin glows...I highly recommend this wonderful miracle product."
Large pores no more
One happy shopper was impressed by how well the exfoliant reduced the look of their pores: "Love, love, love this product! I am 61, and this product made the biggest change to my skin. I always had big pores and bumps under the skin that I could not get rid of, no matter what I did. I started using the 2% BHA and started seeing results within 2–3 weeks. I have smaller pores and NO more bumps!"
Wrinkles, beware
"Better than Botox!" raved one ecstatic fan. "It literally cleared up my pores, tightened and smoothed them, erased mild wrinkles and even significantly smoothed out my terrible scowl line and forehead wrinkles completely. My skin has not felt this great and healthy, nor has it looked this good, in several years. Mind you, I've spent hundreds on skin-care products that didn't do anything really, and I have hormonal acne, scarring, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles and loose, saggy skin that nothing helped."
Whether you're tired of experiencing redness flare-ups and enlarged pores or want to smooth out fine lines and even out your skin tone, I highly recommend trying this wonder in a bottle for yourself. You can opt for the $13 travel-size bottle to start — though I have a feeling you'll be adding the full-size version to your cart as soon as you try it out. A more radiant complexion awaits!
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
