This gentle exfoliating toner is a staple in many beauty editors’ bathroom cabinets – including mine – and it has just launching a format that’s perfect for travelling
If you’re interested in beauty and regularly consumer beauty content from magazines, beauty editors and content creators, you’ll know that some products crop up time and time again, cementing themselves as timeless cult classics – and Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is one of these.
Gentle yet effective, this liquid toner expertly helps to unclog pores and minimise blackheads, blemishes and under-the-skin bumps without drying out the skin. I always keep a bottle in my ‘spot SOS’ kit – and now I’ll be making sure that I always have these new Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner Pads, £16, to hand when travelling, too.
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These 10 individual sachets each contain a single-use pad soaked in the famous BHA formula – enough to sweep over the whole face and neck – making them much easier to pack if you’re going to be away from home than a full-size bottle of the toner plus cotton pads.
Paula’s Choice’s clinical tests report that the look of pores and blackheads are significantly reduced after one week of using these, with oil production also more balanced and skin texture improved. Before-and-after shots after three weeks of use also show that skin looks markedly clearer after three weeks.
Although gentle enough to use every day, it’s easy to over-use acid exfoliants, resulting in a compromised skin barrier and potential redness and irritation. If you’re new to using these or the original toner, start by using them once a week, and gradually build up frequency (I still only use it once or twice a week).
Sephora shoppers have been praising these pads for their results and convenience. “These exfoliating pads are legit. I noticed a difference in texture and tone after just a few uses—smoother skin, smaller pores, and fewer breakouts,” one shopper reported. “They’re gentle enough not to sting but strong enough to get the job done. No heavy scent, no sticky residue, and super convenient for travel or lazy skincare nights. If you’re looking for an easy way to keep your skin clear and glowing, these are it.”
“These are great exfoliating pads,” another agreed. “They did a great job at cleaning and clearing my skin up of little blemishes. They are scent free and were big enough to do my whole face and neck. Highly recommend!”
“I’ve used the original Paula’s Choice BHA for years now and love it,” a third review reads. “I don’t have severe acne, just the occasional breakout but have oily skin and blackheads. The toner pads worked just as well as the original toner.”
They do, however, go on to add that “I think I still prefer the toner because it’s less wasteful and more cost effective, but these would be great for travelling as they’re individually wrapped. Overall, I would recommend them if you’re looking for a BHA toner pad!”
If it’s amount of product for your money you’re after, you’re better off buying the bottle; the cheapest place you’ll currently find it is at Cult Beauty with 20%, where a full-size 118ml bottle is down from £35 to £28, and a mini 30ml bottle is now £10.40 instead of the usual £13.
A more sophisticated liquid exfoliant for blemish-prone skin is Skin Rocks’ The Control Acid, £45, which also contains polylysine to help to regulate sebum production.