Side-by-side comparison

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel vs The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

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
Paula's Choice
Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel
ExfoliantPremiumEvening only
Rough TextureDullnessCongestion

A high-strength weekly at-home peel combining 25% AHA and 2% BHA with soothing extracts. Strong resurfacing for experienced acid users; a once-weekly treatment only, with strict SPF the next day.

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The Ordinary
Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
ExfoliantBudgetEvening only
CongestionOilinessAcne

A straightforward 2% BHA in a lightweight watery base with a little witch hazel. Effective pore and blackhead exfoliation at a rock-bottom price; the simple base means less of the soothing buffer found in pricier BHAs.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

Both contain Salicylic Acid. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel adds Glycolic Acid. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution adds Witch Hazel. Pick the one whose extra matches what you're treating. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel is the better fit for rough texture and dullness; The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution for oiliness and acne. On price, The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution is the less expensive option (Budget versus Premium).

The overlap

What they share

This hero active appears in both formulas:

Salicylic Acid
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Glycolic Acid~5–25%
  • Lactic Acid~3–10%
  • Tartaric Acid~2–6%
  • Salicylic Acid~1.5–4%

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Salicylic Acid~5–25%
  • Hamamelis Virgi…~3–10%
  • Propanediol~2–6%
  • Glycerin~1.5–4%

● 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

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant PeelThe Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
CategoryExfoliantExfoliant
Price tierPremiumBudget
Best forRough Texture, Dullness, CongestionCongestion, Oiliness, Acne
Usage notesEvening onlyEvening only
Shared hero activesSalicylic Acid
Questions

Common questions

Is the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel or The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution better?
It depends on what you're treating. Both contain Salicylic Acid; Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel adds Glycolic Acid; The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution adds Witch Hazel.
What's the difference between the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel and The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution?
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel's hero actives are Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid and Green Tea. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution's are Salicylic Acid and Witch Hazel. They also sit in different price tiers (Premium versus Budget).
Are the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel and The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution dupes for each other?
Partly. They share Salicylic Acid, but Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel's Glycolic Acid and The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution's Witch Hazel aren't in the other, so they aren't full substitutes.
Can I use the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel and The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution 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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