Head to head
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant vs The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA
Same comparison whichever way you searched it: The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA vs Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant.
The bottom linePaula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA land in much the same place on performance, so value decides it: The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA does the same job for less.
Paula's ChoiceSkin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ExfoliantSee every ingredient in Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, decoded
Which should you pick?
Pick Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant if
- you are dealing with breakouts and oiliness
- you prefer a simpler, more minimal formula
Pick Lactic Acid 10% + HA if
- your barrier feels stressed and needs the support
- plump, lasting hydration is what you want
- you want the more affordable option
What each delivers
Side by side
| Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant | Lactic Acid 10% + HA | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Exfoliant | Exfoliant |
| Key actives | Salicylic acid (BHA) | Glycerin, Lactic acid 10%, Crosslinked sodium HA |
| Texture | A middleweight lotion, enough to comfort without feeling heavy. | A middleweight lotion, enough to comfort without feeling heavy. |
| Fragrance | None detected | None detected |
| Fungal-acne safe | Not likely | Likely |
| Pregnancy | No flagged actives | No flagged actives |
| Ingredients | 8 listed | 15 listed |
| Price | ~€35 | ~€13 |
What's in one but not the other
Only in Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Both share
No active in common.
Only in Lactic Acid 10% + HA
The molecule doing the work
Better for…
- Breakouts & congestionSkin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
- Dryness & dehydrationLactic Acid 10% + HA
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA is the cheaper of the two (~€13 vs ~€35).
Ready to pick one?
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Common questions
Is Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA better for breakouts & congestion?
For breakouts & congestion, Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is the stronger pick by our read of the two formulas. Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA land in much the same place on performance, so value decides it: The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA does the same job for less.
Which is cheaper, Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA?
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA is the cheaper of the two (~€13 vs ~€35).
Can I use Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA together?
They are both exfoliants, so you would normally pick one rather than layer both in the same step. You can keep both and alternate them (morning and night, or on different days) if you like variety, but you do not need two.
Compare it with…
All 6 comparisons
- Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant vs The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
- Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant vs The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
- Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant vs The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
- Lactic Acid 10% + HA vs The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
- Lactic Acid 10% + HA vs The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
- Lactic Acid 10% + HA vs The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution