Side-by-side comparison

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid vs Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Both exfoliants contain Salicylic Acid, but each adds something the other doesn't. Here's where they overlap and where they split.

1Shared hero active
COSRX
BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
ExfoliantMid-rangeEvening only
AcneRough TextureOilinessSensitive skinDamaged barrier

4% betaine salicylate — a gentler salicylic-acid equivalent derived from sugar beet — with niacinamide and willow bark water. Better tolerated than a straight 2% BHA, though effectively similar in function for surface blackheads and congestion.

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Paula's Choice
2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
ExfoliantPremiumEvening only
AcneRough TextureOilinessSensitive skinDamaged barrier

The reference-standard 2% salicylic acid exfoliant — formulated at the pH range where BHA actually works (3.2–4.0), with green tea for antioxidant support. Unclogs pores, softens blackheads and smooths texture. The reason so many other BHA products are compared to this one.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

Both contain Salicylic Acid. COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid adds Niacinamide. Pick the one whose extra matches what you're treating. On price, COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is the less expensive option (Mid-range versus Premium).

The overlap

What they share

This hero active appears in both formulas:

Salicylic Acid
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid — top of the list

  • Water~50–80%
  • Betaine Salicy…4%
  • Butylene Glycol~3–10%
  • Niacinamide~2–6%
  • 1,2-Hexanediol~1.5–4%

Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant — top of the list

  • Water~50–80%
  • Methylpropaned…~5–25%
  • Butylene Glycol~3–10%
  • Salicylic Acid2%
  • Polysorbate 20~1.5–4%
  • Camellia Oleif…~1–2%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power LiquidPaula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
CategoryExfoliantExfoliant
Price tierMid-rangePremium
Best forAcne, Rough Texture, OilinessAcne, Rough Texture, Oiliness
Usage notesEvening onlyEvening only
Shared hero activesSalicylic Acid
Questions

Common questions

Is the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid or the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant better?
It depends on what you're treating. Both contain Salicylic Acid; COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid adds Niacinamide.
What's the difference between the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant?
COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid's hero actives are Salicylic Acid and Niacinamide. Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant's are Salicylic Acid and Green Tea Extract. They also sit in different price tiers (Mid-range versus Premium).
Are the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant dupes for each other?
Partly. They share Salicylic Acid, but COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid's Niacinamide isn't in the other, so they aren't full substitutes.
Can I use the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant together?
They both fill the exfoliant slot in a routine, so you'd normally pick one. If you like both, use one in the morning and the other at night, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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1 shared hero active

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