Alex the Girl
**Please keep in mind that this product contains a lower % of BHA than the Paula's Choice version, but this makes it a good choice for a person just starting to experiment with BHA's and other actives. It doesn't quite have the same "punch" as the Paula's Choice Liquid BHA because of the lower percentage, but those seeking a gentler route may appreciate this. I prefer the Cosrx BHA for the consistancy and packaging, but will ultimately return back to Paula's Choice because of the higher BHA %**
Though the term "Blackhead" is in the name, you can definitely use this formulation all over your face. It is not as drying as other, more intense BHA products. It can help the reduction of blackheads and help heal skin recovering from a breakout, but it likely won't eliminate blackheads completely. For more adequate blackhead treatment, I've found my skin responds to a weekly at-home Lactic Acid peel much better.
The texture is slightly thicker than water, and is dispensed out of a pump. It's very easy to control how much is dispensed from the container. You can apply this with your hands or a cotton pad. I purchased this 6 months ago, and about 1/3 of the bottle is left.
For beginners, I would recommend patch testing an area, such as the inside of your arm, to make sure your skin can handle the active ingredients. If you pass the "patch test", start out once a day to once every other day, to gauge how your skin responds. I find this formulation extremely gentle. It will not replace a spot treatment if you have a big honkin' zit, but it can be used in conjunction with a spot treatment without causing additional irritation in most skin.
BHA's help unglue the dead skin cells that cause traffic jams (breakouts, congestion) on your pores, so if your skin responds well to this, you can expect clearer skin, or at the very least, an expedite of the breakout process. Lke anything else, it's no "magic bullet" and has to be used regularly/in conjunction with the best regimen for your skin type. Your skin may prefer AHA's (such as glycolic or lactic acid) instead, or may hate these acids all together.
This product gets a strong variety of responses from people - many people consider it their HG, while others find it does nothing, and some find it may sting their face, especially if they are using other types of active ingredients. When finding the right skin care products, a fair amount of trial/error is to be expected. But once you figure out what works for you, hold on and don't let go!
Happy skin health!
Imported From: Amazon