Side-by-side comparison

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

Both are exfoliants. They share a 70% active-ingredient overlap, so the real decision is about price, texture and the supporting ingredients. Here's the side-by-side.

70%Active overlap
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?

On price, the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid sits in the Mid-range tier versus Premium for the Paula's Choice — so it's the more budget-led pick if the overlap is what you're after.

The overlap

What they share

At 70% active overlap, these are the ingredients doing comparable work in both formulas:

Salicylic Acid
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

COSRX — 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 — 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

COSRXPaula's Choice
CategoryExfoliantExfoliant
Price tierMid-rangePremium
Best forAcne, Rough Texture, OilinessAcne, Rough Texture, Oiliness
Usage notesEvening onlyEvening only
Active overlap70% — Salicylic Acid
Questions

Common questions

Is the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid or the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant better?
Neither is universally better — they share 70% active-ingredient overlap, so for the actives that drive results they're close. The COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is the more budget-friendly option, while the other may differ on texture, finish and supporting ingredients. Pick based on your skin's priorities rather than a single 'winner'.
What's the difference between the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant?
Both are exfoliants that share Salicylic Acid. Where they differ: they sit in different price tiers (Mid-range vs Premium).
Are the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant dupes for each other?
They share 70% active-ingredient overlap based on published INCI lists, so one can stand in for the other on the actives that matter — chiefly Salicylic Acid. A dupe matches the hero actives, not the full sensory experience, so expect differences in texture, fragrance and exact concentrations.
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 rather than layer both. If you want to use both, treat one as your daytime option and the other for evening, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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66% overlap

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