Versus

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid Versus Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant - EU

Exfoliator
Exfoliator
Korean Brand South Korea
American Brand United States

Updated on July 18, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe exfoliators. They have a total of 1 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin and reducing pores

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Humectant, Masking, Skin Conditioning

Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:

  • It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
  • It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
  • It helps improve product application.
  • It has mild preservative properties.

Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.

When to use

1,944 Routines
26% use in am
74% use in pm
57% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
126 Routines
34% use in am
67% use in pm
54% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid 10 ingredients

3.7 /5
from 39 ratings
Absorbs Well (13) Light (12) Works Well (11)
sword's avatar

sword

1 year ago
Review

Gently Exfoliates
I decided to try a leave-on exfoliator rather than an exfoliating cleanser because I noticed I kept getting irritation from exfoliating cleansers. This Cosrx one is really gentle and pleasant. It takes a few minutes for it to absorb into my skin, but afterwards I get very little irritation and my skin texture and pore appearance have definitely improved.

#great value
#light
#no scent
#works well
v22's avatar

v22

6 months ago
Review

My favourite COSRX product. Pores appear smaller after a few hours. Was not expecting sebaceous filaments to disappear. I usually use one pump of liquid and put it directly on my T-zone and leave it to do its magic for about a few hours before applying moisturiser. (Putting moisturiser right after reduces its effectiveness from my personal experience.)

#great value
#light
#absorbs well
#no scent

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant 9 ingredients

3.4 /5
from 66 ratings
Expensive (22) Works Well (18) Irritating (10)
asud1's avatar

asu d

11 days ago
Review

i bought this for my very visibly clogged pores in my nose and i honestly cant say i liked it it kind of has an oily feeling on the skin and it just didnt do the job - thoigh i have to say i might have over-used it i used it every second night after obly havibg used it for a few weeks and it may have triggered my acne/closed comedones (but not sure if it was this product or the sunscreen i was Show more

#expensive
#doesn't work
linnakjellman's avatar

Linkje

2 months ago
Review

I love this, a big favourite and Holy Grail of mine since somewhere between 2016-2018! I used to use it every day, now I only use it 1-2 a week and that is usually enough!

Lately though I’ve usually been switching it up with other salicylic acid toners (because of the price of this) and most I’ve tried have worked fine, or even very well, even though this is the best! But it’s not such a big Show more

#expensive
#oily
#light scent
#works well