Paula's Choice
The reference BHA. Clears blackheads and clogged pores better than anything at its price.
A leave-on 2% salicylic acid at the pH it needs to actually work. Because it is oil-soluble it gets inside the pore rather than sitting on top of it, which is why it outperforms scrubs on blackheads. Expect visible change on texture and congestion within a month.
How to use it: Two or three nights a week at most — never daily to start.
Compared across every retailer we track, with per-unit pricing so different sizes are judged fairly.
Save $5.25 by buying from Amazon rather than the most expensive stockist.
| Retailer | Price | Per unit | Shipping | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AmazonCheapest Checked 2 months ago | $33.60−4% $35 | $0.28 / ml | Free | Visit ↗ |
Target Checked 2 months ago | $33.65−4% $35 | $0.29 / ml | $5.99, free over $35 | Visit ↗ |
Ulta Beauty Checked 2 months ago | $33.95−3% $35 | $0.29 / ml | $5.95, free over $35 | Visit ↗ |
Dermstore Checked 2 months ago | $38.85 | $0.33 / ml | $4.95, free over $50 | Visit ↗ |
Prices shown are curated sample data, not a live feed — treat them as illustrative and confirm on the retailer’s own site before buying. skinfrndly earns nothing from these links.
1 key active doing the work here.
skinfrndly is educational and is not medical advice. Recommendations are generated from the answers you gave and general dermatological guidance — they cannot account for your full history. For persistent or severe skin conditions, or before starting anything new during pregnancy, speak to a doctor or dermatologist.