Maskne (noun): Maskne is a skin condition that is characterized by red pimples, due to frequent usage of a face mask.

Can you believe that this is my first review of 2020? Between moving to a new home, getting stuck in a foreign country and you know, the ongoing pandemic, I just haven’t been able to test out new products recently. Thus, it’s only befitting that the product I’m going to be talking about is one that most of us can use right now.

Although I’m thankful for protective face masks (seriously, I’m SO grateful that a piece of cloth can keep me safe from COVID-19), they have been causing a few painful flare-ups on my cheeks and chin. Since I’m currently not living at home and don’t have my usual skincare stash on hand, I decided to order a bottle of the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant to see if it could help me out with my zits. Here is my review.

The product comes in a grey, plastic bottle with a white, screw-on cap. Once you take off the cap, you will notice a tiny hole through which the liquid comes out. Honestly, I would have preferred a dropper or nozzle type of packaging as often enough, too much product oozes out. The directions for use and the ingredients are mentioned on the back of the bottle.

On the formula front, this exfoliant is a crowd-pleaser. Although it has a runny consistency, it also has a slightly oily feel to it, which helps the formula spread easily across the skin. The clear liquid dries down invisibly, without feeling too tacky. Once you layer your moisturiser atop of it, the stickiness disappears completely. Since my skin is used to chemical exfoliants, this salicylic acid-based formula did not cause any tingling. I usually shake the bottle 2 to 3 times to get an adequate amount of solution out so that I can apply it all over my face. When I use it as a spot treatment, 1 shake is more than enough to cover all my zits. However, if you are new to using acids or have sensitive skin, I would recommend carrying out a patch test first. Another major plus point is that this formula is fragrance-free. It does have a faint scent of alcohol to it, which dissipates after a few seconds. 

I’ve been testing this product out since March (reminder, we are in July now), and have been very impressed with the results. Just like it promises, this formula unclogs my pores and shrinks zits visibly in literally 2 days. It has also worked wonders on the blackheads on my nose and has definitely made my face smoother over time. Whilst I have heard of people complaining that it dries their face out, I haven’t faced any such issues on my combination skin. Although the brand says that you can apply it twice a day, I’ve found that nightly applications are my sweet spot. Just remember to always follow up with sunscreen the next morning as beta-hydroxy acids like salicylic acid can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun.

All in all, this is a solid product to add to your skincare regime. Not only does it speed up the healing time of active blemishes, but actually works to keep new ones from cropping up. Since we do be responsible and wear our face masks for the foreseeable future, I’m going to stock up on a few more bottles of this magical solution.

Price: USD 29.50

Key Ingredients: Butylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract and Polysorbate 20

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