Having suffered from acne for 17 long years, and combination skin, I found Paula's Choice. It was quite by accident, I was searching for a guide for buying cosmetics. That's how I found Beautypedia, and it lead me here. I purchased several samples, and this was by far my favorite exfoliant. I have tried many different products in the past, but I was always left with either dry flakey skin (and pimples) or greasy acne prone skin. The Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant is a little sticky, but the sticky consistency goes away after few seconds. It leaves my skin soft, clear, and more evenly toned. After about a week I noticed my blackheads diminishing, and after two weeks I had no blemishes at all. The liquid becomes depleted too quickly, and the lotion made my skin feel greasy. So, yes, the gel was perfect for me. *** I will NEVER use Clinique's system again! That was by far the worst system I had the misfortune of trying, and they wouldn't honor the satisfaction guarantee. After using the Paula's Choice products I was amazed at how wonderful my skin could look and feel. My regimen Includes: Earth Sourced Cleansing Gel, Earth Sourced Toner, Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant, Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 45(AM), and Earth Sourced Moisturizer (PM).

Having suffered from acne for 17 long years, and combination skin, I found Paula's Choice. It was quite by accident, I was searching for a guide for buying cosmetics. That's how I found Beautypedia, and it lead me here. I purchased several samples, and this was by far my favorite exfoliant. I have tried many different products in the past, but I was always left with either dry flakey skin (and pimples) or greasy acne prone skin. The Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant is a little sticky, but the sticky consistency goes away after few seconds. It leaves my skin soft, clear, and more evenly toned. After about a week I noticed my blackheads diminishing, and after two weeks I had no blemishes at all. The liquid becomes depleted too quickly, and the lotion made my skin feel greasy. So, yes, the gel was perfect for me. *** I will NEVER use Clinique's system again! That was by far the worst system I had the misfortune of trying, and they wouldn't honor the satisfaction guarantee. After using the Paula's Choice products I was amazed at how wonderful my skin could look and feel. My regimen Includes: Earth Sourced Cleansing Gel, Earth Sourced Toner, Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant, Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 45(AM), and Earth Sourced Moisturizer (PM).

This is my HOLY GRAIL skincare product! Since starting this my skin has became so much brighter and i haven't had one break out in the month that i have used this! I have some red marks from pimples back in july (its nov 26) and this hasn't faded them though. but not having any pimples gives this a 5 star rating.

I am 52 and have wrestled with clogged pores on my nose forEVER. This product daily, plus once a week 9% BHA gel changed everthing. Within about 2 weeks the pores on my nose are imperceptible. First time in, oh, about 40 years! Thank you Paula!

Definitely saw some improvement in my skin texture. This product does make a difference, but only giving it 2 stars because it is so sticky! I've also tried the liquid, but I wanted a product I felt would absorb into my skin and keep working. I also tried the lotion, not a big fan of that one either. Best of the three would be the liquid.

I used the liquid for a several months but switched to the gel because I was going through the 2% BHA liquid so quickly. Even though this gel lasts 3-4 times longer than the liquid, I don't think it's as beneficial for my skin. The texture didn't bother me, but once I'm done with this one I'll probably go back to the liquid. Customer Care Response: Thank you for your comments. We will be sure to share your feedback with Paula and her Product Development Manager. They do take customer feedback seriously. In the meantime we are happy to send you a complimentary Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid. If you have any questions or concerns please contact customer care, we are always happy to help!

I bought this product for blackheads on my T Zone. Overall, I'd say I have pretty nice skin, but upclose you can see the dozens of clogged pores and yucky BHs. I heard great things about PC and was confident this would solve the problem. But no, I have just as many clogged pores as the day I started using it. I will, say however, I experienced no drying or breakout purges, which pleased me. Pretty bummed that I haven't seen a single difference in my skin's clarity. I got a whole bottle of this stuff! Anyone want it? Customer Care Response: Thank you for your review. We are sorry to hear you are not noticing the results you were hoping for. There are factors that can keep BHA from improving skin, such as using products not appropriate for your skin type (heavy moisturizers,) or those containing irritating ingredients (bar soaps, fragrances,) or not following a consistent skin care routine. We would like to know more information regarding your skin type and routine to determine what would be best for you to try. Please contact customer care so that we may discuss this further.

I am done fooling around with mechanical scrubs and toners that aren't strong enough. I use this every other day in summer, every third or fourth day in winter and it keeps my skin clear. I am now trying it on bumps on my decollete.

This BHA gel has not only improved my facial complexion, but has also worked to clear up the acne on my back. I use it twice a day on my back. I noticed improvement within a week, and it has really helped to keep my back clearer looking.

I really like this BHA product. It really gets in there and cleans out the pores. All the little blackheads around my nose disappear after a week of using this and it does tighten up the skin a little. To think I used to scrub my skin with one of those drug store exfoliant clothes before using topicals. The one thing I noticed about this one is it is a bit sticky and shiny so use less of it and maybe add some powder overtop of it. I plan on using the liquid because I want to use it more like a toner under moisturizer during the day. Currently I'm using it at night because of the shine. Im also using tretinoin from time to time during the day to get a good exfoliation going. So i'll switch them when i start the BHA liquid during the day. You can't use the two at the same time. Customer Care Response: Thank you for your review. We wanted to comment on your review, and mention that you can use Retinol with any of our BHA or AHA exfoliants. We encourage you to contact customer care if you would like to discuss your routine and we are happy to provide you with more information about the products and how they work!

This product works, but not as well as I had hoped. I guess after reading reviews I was expecting a miracle for my extremely stubborn clogged pores and closed comedones.

I like the texture, I don't notice a smell and I love the packaging with the pump bottle. It does what it says it does, and I've been using it for years except for the times I was pregnant or breastfeeding.

I ordered a sample of this to try. However, I can't get over the smell. I emptied my sample packet into a small plastic jar. While the jar is closed, it smells like nail polish but when it's open, it smells like drinking alcohol. I can't over the smell. It's just so bad. I'm glad that it also doesn't work for my skin. It's a bit drying for me because I have dry skin. But I wanted to try it out anyway. I'm glad I did. Maybe I just have a sensitive nose. Customer Care Response: Thank you for your review. Rest assured that even though the smell of this product is not to your liking, we guarantee it is safe and free of contamination. Paula's Choice goes through significant lengths to ensure that our products are gentle, effective, and stable. One of the challenges of having a fragrance-free line is that we cannot use perfumes to keep consistency in scent from batch to batch. Even though we use identical ingredients in each product formula, the raw materials themselves may vary slightly in odor and color. Sometimes these particularly naturally derived ingredients may be stronger than expected depending on where the crops were harvested. If you would like to contact customer care we are happy to discuss your skin type as well as send samples of some other Exfoliant options!

Man I really wanted to love this but have used it for 3 months and have seen no improvement on my blackheads or pores. I can't use any benzoyl peroxide treatments so I thought this would be my answer. 2 months into this I added the Skin Balancing Oil Reducing Cleanser and Pore reducing Toner but I see little to no improvement in my skin with these products. They aren't harsh at all though which is nice. I am going to probably have to switch to a new brand because as much as I wanted to become a loyal Paula's Choice customer these products just aren't working for me. Customer Care Response: Thank you for your review. We are sorry to hear you have not noticed better results. The amount of time it will take to see improvement really can vary from person to person and ultimately depends on the extent of the condition or concern they are trying to address as well has how they are using the products. Some consumers will notice results promptly while others will notice results over the course of a few weeks or months. Ultimately, we would love for you to continue use the product to see how it will work for you but in the meantime will issue an in house credit for the product and encourage you to contact customer care so that we may discuss your skin type and how the product was being used.

I love this product! I tried the liquid version before, and it was a little bit too harsh (also felt oily on my skin). I switched to the 2% AHA gel for awhile and really liked that, but I had some stubborn closed comedones that the AHA simply can't touch. (I'm 45, have struggled with acne since I was 13.) I recently decided to give this gel a try. I've only been using it for about a week now, and my skin looks fabulous. It is smooth and clear. I hope I never have to go without this product!

Out of all of the three samples of the 2% BHA this worked out the best for me! I have not come across a more beautiful product than this. I have honestly suffered with acne since 14 and this, along with Paula's Benzoyl peroxide and AHA and my breakouts are gone! All I have left are red marks and I know they will fade with time. I don't usually write reviews but I had to with this product it is that good. The only thing I will say is to start off slowly introducing this in your skin care routine. I use it once a day and my skin feels so smooth it's incredible.

This product works wonders on my skin. It has definitely exfoliated and cleared up my clogged pores all over my face. As other reviewers have complained, the product's residue is sticky and make up doesn't apply as well over the residue. However, a little bit of this gel does go a long way. I normally use half a pump on my face during the day and a full pump at night. Using a makeup primer over this product helps foundation go on more smoothly. Plus, I also have the added benefit of not needing as much makeup anymore because I hardly get zits since I started using this gel. I would give this product 5 stars if it wasn't as sticky. It's something I can live with but it would be nice if it went on with less residue.

I made the mistake of ordering two of these bottles under the classic packaging. I had been using the Neutrogena Acne Stress Control with success, only to find that it was not available any more, so I gave Paula's a try. My 60 day guarantee expired after I used up my stock pile of the Neutrogena and tried the Paula's 2% BHA gel. SO...this gel is VERY STICKY! I cannot apply my foundation even within an hour of the application of this gel because it balls up and collects on your skin. So much for smooth make-up application. I am so disappointed...Customer Care Response: Thank you for the review. We are sorry to hear that this product did not work for you. We would suggest applying less of the product and allowing it to absorb longer or applying it just in the evening. We do have a liquid option availble to and will still accept the products back for an exchange, your account has been noted with this information. Please contact customer care with any questions.

Though I don't mind the stickiness mentioned in many of the past reviews, I found this product to be much less effective than the liquid. Applying the gel isn't as hassling, though, so I may end up just using this. Customer Care Response: Thank you for your review. We will certainly pass along your comments and feedback about the texture to Paula! Please contact customer care with any questions.

I was really excited to try this product based on the great reviews I read. Unfortunately it was not for me, the texture was sticky and after a couple weeks of using it, I hardly saw a difference. Maybe I'll give the liquid a try, I might have to keep looking. Customer Care Response: Thank you for your review. We are sorry to hear you have not noticed better results. The amount of time it will take to see improvement really can vary from person to person and ultimately depends on the extent of the condition or concern they are trying to address as well has how they are using the product(s). Some consumers will notice results promptly while others will notice results over the course of a few weeks or months. We encourage you to contact customer care so that we may discuss your skin type and how the product was being used, as well as what type of results you are looking for. We look forward to hearing from you and assisting you further!

I purchased this product in the classic packaging when it was on sale for 50% off; however, I will definitely pay full price for it once I run out of my supply. The texture is perfect for applying because none of the product is wasted on an applicator such as a cotton ball. The gel does take a little while to absorb, but this is to be expected with any type of gel exfoliant. I love that the product has antioxidants and anti-irritants included in the formula. I typically apply this product after washing my face in the morning and evening. It's gentle enough to be used twice a day, every day. I find that I can get around the product's stickiness by waiting around five minutes to apply my sunscreen/moisturizer after applying the BHA gel. This time allows the gel to effectively absorb into my skin. Overall, I highly suggest it for pretty much everyone, especially those that struggle with blackheads.

I had high hopes that this product would work for me, but was disappointed after using it. This product is VERY sticky upon application and the stickiness does not disappear. I even applied a small amount to my forearm to see if I got the same reaction and it, too, was very sticky. Given the cost of return postage, it doesn't pay to return it. Customer Care Response: We're sorry this wasn't a fit for you; we do have lighter liquid options which you may consider. We will leave an in house credit for this product on your account which may be used on a future phone order by calling: 1-800-831-4088 and send samples of our liquid version to try. Please contact customer care with any questions.

I wear this during the day, as I use Retin A at night. I've really tried to figure out how to wear this product without looking super shiny and sticky, but I have not been successful. I've decided to throw in the towel and try a different formula. On a happier note, this product does make my skin look fabulous. On the nights when I don't use Retin A, I also use the liquid 10% glycolic acid, which I love. Customer Care Response: Thank you for your comments. We will be sure to share your feedback with Paula and her Product Development Manager. They do take customer feedback seriously. In the meantime we will credit you for this product and are happy to send you samples of other BHA textures to try if you would like. Please contact customer care with any questions or to discuss other BHA options.

I ordered the gel by mistake and don't like it at all. I usually get the lotion and I love it. It has done wonderful things for clearing my skin! Customer Care Response: Thank you for your review. All the products have a 60 day guarantee so feel free to return the gel and request an exchange for the lotion. Please contact customer care with any questions, we are happy to help.

I'm sure this probably works great since I trust Paula to use the best, most effective ingredients, but I can't get past the sticky feel and shiny look. I keep trying samples of this over the years. I would love to replace the silky smooth drugstore BHA I use with a Paula's choice product since the drugstore product has artificial scent and coloring, but this one is not it. The liquid is better but still oily, and I use it at night. I have used the CLEAR BHA toner (non-extra strength) before and may go back to that eventually. Customer Care Response: Thank you for your review. We suggest applying less of the gel to see if it helps it absorb quicker and feels better on your skin but if it does not the CLEAR Regular Strength Targeted Acne Relief Toner would be the best option as it feels like water on the skin and absorbs fast. Please contact customer care with any questions, we are happy to help.