Let me start by saying this : my skin and dry climates do not get along. After spending a painfully dry winter in New Mexico (even drier than my usual base in Denver), my skin was not happy, tight, irritated, and looking dull no matter how much I moisturized. That was my wake-up call. I dove headfirst into skincare research and decided to overhaul my routine with Paula’s Choice products.

One of the first things I picked up? The famous Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It’s one of those products everyone seems to love, and I figured, why not? At 31, with combo/dry skin, blackheads in my T-zone, and a bit of redness and pigmentation, I had plenty of reasons to give it a go.

First Impressions : Too Much, Too Soon

Here’s the thing : I got excited. Really excited. I used it a few nights in a row and… oof. Big mistake. My skin freaked out, itchy, bumpy patches showed up around my cheeks and forehead. I hadn’t used salicylic acid in ages, and clearly, my sensitive skin wasn’t ready for daily exfoliation.

After that little episode, I hit pause, gave my skin a break, and tried again but this time just once a week. And that made all the difference.

What It Actually Does (For Me)

Before 

After

When I use it sparingly, it works really well. I apply it with a cotton pad, focusing mostly on my T-zone where my pores tend to get clogged. Since using it consistently (but carefully), I’ve noticed way fewer blackheads and my pores look more refined. My skin also feels smoother, like it got a gentle reset.

However, it doesn’t do much for the hormonal breakouts I get around my chin and ears though that’s probably because I’m not using it often enough to really make a dent there.

Is It Worth It?

I'm already more than halfway through the bottle after about two and a half months, and that’s just using it once a week. I can see how someone using it more regularly would go through it pretty quickly. It’s a great product, but I’m still curious about trying other acids that might be a better fit for my sensitive skin.

Also worth noting : it didn’t completely blow me away like I hoped it might. It’s solid, dependable, and clearly works but I wouldn’t call it a miracle worker (at least not for me).

Final Thoughts

If you’ve got stubborn blackheads and are okay with some trial and error to figure out what your skin can handle, this is worth trying. Just don’t go overboard, especially if your skin leans dry or sensitive like mine. A little really does go a long way, and in this case, restraint = results.

What I liked :

Clears out my T-zone like a champ

Smooths texture noticeably

Doesn’t sting or burn when used sparingly

No strong fragrance

What I didn’t love :

Irritated my skin when I used it too often

Doesn’t really help with hormonal acne

Goes quickly, even with once-a-week use

Bottom line? Good product, just not a perfect fit for every skin type. But if you’re fighting clogged pores and want something that actually works as this is a strong contender.

Stay tuned! I'll be back with other products of Paula’s Choice :)