7 Best Paula's Choice BHA Dupes: Comparison & Reviews 2024

• About Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant boosts the skin's tone and texture to enhance a natural glow. This non-abrasive formula is laced with BHA salicylic acid to remove dead skin cells both on the skin's surface and within the pore. Combined with its anti-inflammatory properties, this helps to reduce blemishes and blackheads for a more clarified complexion. 

The addition of Green Tea delivers essential antioxidants to neutralize free radicals and provide anti-aging properties, while Methylpropanediol optimizes the efficacy of the BHA and imparts a dewy, fresh finish. 

This unique leave-on liquid is best applied with fingertips or a cotton pad to the entire face and neck. While many similar products on the market also have a 2% BHA concentration, they don't always have the right pH balance. "Salicylic acid works best at a pH between 3 and 4," says Begoun. Formulas outside of this pH range will be less effective or could significantly disrupt the skin's barrier.

You still can reap the benefits of  salicylic acid without spending a fortune. There are many affordable exfoliants that come with a high percentage of salicylic acid. Let's find out more.

• About Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a keratolytic, meaning it dissolves the bonds that hold dea skin cells together and helps them to shed away more effectively. It's naturally occurring in white willow bark and wintergreen, but most of the salicylic acid used today is synthesized.

Salicylic acid is especially helpful in treating acne due to its ability to penetrate the follicle. It encourages the shedding of dead skin cells from within the follicle, helping keep the pores clear. And keeping the pores clear is the first step in getting all types of blemishes under control. It works best against non-inflamed breakouts and blackheads.

• The Best Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Dupes

| COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

($12.52, up to 4% cashback at Yesstyle)

Key Ingredients:

4% Betaine Salicylate

Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Water

Niacinamide

Hyaluronic Acid

Comparison & Review: 

The Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid is Paula's Choice #1 product worldwide and a cult favorite. Our only real gripe is that it's not the cheapest product in the world. Plus, it can also be a little harsh and end up irritating and drying out the complexion from time to time. 

That's where COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid comes in. Formulated with 4% Betain Salicylate, another form of BHA, this liquid exfoliant gently removes dead skin cells and blackheads inside pores, and promotes healing of blemishes. What's great about Betaine salicylate is that it provides time released exfoliation, meaning it exfoliates the skin long after the product is removed and evaporated. The liquid also contains Willow Bark Extract which has soothing effects on the skin, Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin, and Niacinamide to help brighten the skin. One downside of this product is the smell. It smells kind of like paint. But fortunately it doesn't linger.

We're not the only ones singing its praises either. This budget buy has fans all over TikTok who love it just as much as we do…

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| Revolution Skincare 2% Salicylic Acid Tonic

($10.50/200ml, up to 8% cashback at SkinStore)

Key Ingredients:

Salicylic Acid

Marshmallow Extract

Comparison & Review: 

Lightweight and hydrating, the toner is gentle enough for everyday use to prevent surprise breakouts. Formulated with 2% Salicylic Acid to exfoliate skin and penetrate deep into pores to break up trapped dirt and sebum to stop blemishes in their tracks.

Though the other dupes have a soothing effect, this one contains marshmallow extract — an anti-inflammatory all-star that helps reduce puffiness, redness, irritation, and other skin woes. So if you're dealing with a particularly inflamed complexion, this BHA tonic is for you.

| Naturium BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2%

($17.99/200ml at Taget)

Key Ingredients:

Salicylic Acid

Bioactive Fruit Acids

Comparison & Review: 

A few swipes of this salicylic acid-based toner will give you similar results to Paula's Choice products.

Formulated with encapsulated salicylic acid and bioactive fruit acid, this exfoliator helps to minimises the appearance of wrinkles while maximising the skin's luminosity. This product contains microencapsulated salicylic acid, a keratolytic active for excellent exfoliation, which maintains appropriate pH and offers an enhanced delivery system. The pH level of this formula is 3.50-4.0, to ensure optimal potency and support skin health.

Alcohol- and oil-free, it helps to leave the skin looking more radiant while improving overall tone. Dermatologist tested, Naturium BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2% is suitable for use on a wide range of skin types. 

| Bliss Clear Genius Clarifying Toner + Serum

($17.99/130ml, up to 4% cashback at Walgreens)

Key Ingredients:

Salicylic Acid

Hazel Water

Niacinamide 

Zinc PCA & Cica

Comparison & Review: 

All you have to do is stroll to the drugstore and pick up this Paula's Choice alternative, which delivers the same great glow to acne-prone skin.

This innovative toner and serum from Bliss has a gel-like consistency and a convenient pump-top dispenser, and serves as both a toner and serum at once. Enriched with Bliss' proprietary CLARITY 5 COMPLEX™ with salicylic acid, witch hazel water, niacinamide, zinc PCA & cica, this treatment conditions the skin while delivering concentrated hero ingredients for clear, calm skin, that is not dry or irritated. 

| The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution

($6.50/30ml, up to 4% cashback at Sephora)

Key Ingredients:

Salicylic Acid

Squalane

4-T-Butylcyclohexanol

Comparison & Review: 

Both The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% AnhydrousSolution and Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant have 2% salicylic acid. That's more than enough to do the job.

Remove dead skin cells with The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution, a water-free serum that works to exfoliate the skin and decongest pores. Formulated with squalane, this serum helps to minimise the skin irritation associated with salicylic acid use. It gently exfoliates the skin and works to reduce the appearance of pores.

This is a much simpler formula, so whilst you're not getting those added antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients, the flipside is that you're cutting out the extra ingredients that can be problematic for some skin types. 

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant leaves skin a little shiny. If you're on a budget or can't put up with a shiny feel, The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution is for you.

| Revolution Skincare Targeted Blemish Serum

($7.70, up to 1% cashback at ASOS)

Key Ingredients:

2% Salicylic Acid

Witch Hazel

Comparison & Review: 

Revolution Skincare is another affordable skincare brand that offers powerful products.

Formulated with a highly effective blend of skin-friendly ingredients, Witch Hazel (to soothe skin and reduce excess oil), and 2% Salicylic Acid (a BHA Beta-Hydroxy Acid to target breakouts, enlarged pores, and blackheads), this lightweight and oil-free serum is gentle enough for everyday use and can be applied in a thin layer under foundation and concealer to help tackle blemishes while you get on with your day.

Unlike Paula's Choice BHA Liquid Exfoliant, it has a lightweight, liquid texture that is more suitable for oily skin.

| Pixi Beauty Clarity Tonic

($15.00/100ml, up to 10% cashback at Pixi Beauty)

Key Ingredients:

Glycolic & Lactic Acids

Salicylic Acid (Willow Bark Extract) 

Aloe

Probiotics

Comparison & Review: 

If you want to target on oily and combination skin and want something similar to Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, you must go for this multi-acid formula. This toner harnesses glycolic and lactic acid to effectively dissolve the dead skin cells that threaten to clog your pores, while willow bark extract (a natural form of salicylic acid) exfoliates deep within your pores to ease blemish-causing congestion. True to Pixi's gentle philosophy, it's also infused with aloe to deliver soothing hydration and probiotics to balance and strengthen your skin. 

Because it contains lactic and glycolic acids, you get extra exfoliation and a brighter, more even glow in the end.

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