Paula's Choice reviews and discussion

4.5

91% of reviewers would recommend to a friend

Reviews mention

  • Effective exfoliant results
  • Gentle formulas for sensitive skin
  • Fragrance-free ingredient philosophy
  • Wide, targeted product range
  • Occasional irritation and peeling
  • Sticky or oily textures
  • Leaky, clunky packaging
  • Inconsistent results for some

Paula’s Choice earns largely positive reviews for delivering effective, science‑driven skincare—especially the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, which visibly clears pores, smooths texture, reduces breakouts, and suits many sensitive skins. Reviews also flag weaknesses: some formulas feel too strong or irritating, results can be inconsistent, textures can be sticky or oily, packaging is fussy or leaks, and the aesthetic reads dated—making the brand powerful but not universally effortless.

AI summary based on Thingtesting reviews

214 reviews and posts

  • Was given the opportunity to try Paula’s Choice “ Skin perfecting 2% BHA liquid salicylic acid Exfoliant” and within the first week of adding the product into my skincare routine, there was already a noticeable difference in the appearance of my acne scars. 10 / 10 would recommend!

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  • I have the Salicilic acid toner and i think it is very pricey for the amount given, but it is so worth it. The product does work in the first try, after using you can feel the skin smoother and "silkier".

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    The packaging. I have dificulties opening things

  • I’m on my 5th bottle of the popular exfoliant. It really is soo good. I have sensitive skin and I’m able to use this every other day with other actives if I wanted. I would recommend for any skin type. It changed my skin dramatically within a month.

  • REALLY good skincare. I'm someone who's more into Korean skincare, but Paula's Choice was so talked about in the beauty community that I became curious. I was looking for retinol, vitamin C and BHA Exfoliant so I bought it and got a 30 SPF sample sunscreen with it as well. But unfortunately, this is a little bit on the more expensive side compared to other skincare. I was so surprised at how good the retinol smelt. I normally don't like scented make up but this smells so nice and is not irritating at all. The Vitamin C however idk... it smells like iron. Exfoliant smells like ass but it does make my skin a little smoother before I put on makeup. And that tinted sunscreen?!?! SOOOO nice. Especially if you have oily skin. I'm a combo so it's a little too drying for my cheeks but on my hose and forehead, it feels amazing! A little tip is if you're buying something, they do regular sales. Don't buy it at full price. Subscribe to their emails and get notified of the deals.

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    BHA exfoliant neds to smell better....

  • I love Paulas Choice, I think it provides easy skincare solutions for everyone at a great price point.

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    Sometimes I think their ranges can be overwhelming for a normal consumer.

  • I've first used Paula's Choice in 2019 and felt the impact was definitely worth the price. My favorite is their 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant; I won't use any other exfoliant on my face.

  • Some products have worked incredibly well and others not so much. Their items are on the pricier side so I don't purchases that often. My favourite item of theirs is their BHA acid- the full size has lasted me six months, using it everyday. Whilst it may be pricey it lasts a good amount of time and is very effective so I would recommend the investment. The products I have tried, I have done so through purchasing their tester sizes. I love this about their product line. I appreciate being able to try a product before committing to a full size. They also have sales sometimes and freebies with orders which I also appreciate and why I choose to purchase through their website and not through a distributor. The minis are also perfect for travel If I could purchase from this brand more often I would as I believe it is actually majorly underrated

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    I haven't had a majorly negative experience with them- some of their products haven't worked for me but that is expected with any skincare brand. Formulas are not one size fits all. I would love to see biodegradable packaging from more skincare brands. Their purchasing process through the website could be further streamlined.

  • I am a skincare junkie and have tried dozens of brands. A holy grail product for me is Paula's Choice 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant. It's gentle yet so effective. It's an absolute keeper in my daily routine.