Okay, so the internet’s favorite exfoliant got a silent makeover, and the bottle looks identical. But the liquid inside? Completely different vibe.
I dripped the new formula on my hand and it sat there like a lazy puddle of water. The old stuff? It ran like a slippery toner. This new one is stickier, and it dries down with a film that I can *feel*.
It’s still $35 for 4 oz, but Paula’s Choice swapped the formula to be “cleaner.” They removed the old emulsifiers and added a thickener. That’s why it feels different.
New Base, New Feel
It’s now a viscous liquid that feels more like a serum than a toner.
Absorption Lag
Takes a full 90 seconds to sink in, versus the old 10-second vanish.
Pilling Risk
If you layer moisturizer too fast, it rolls off. Annoying.
Photo: Element5 Digital / Unsplash
Don’t panic—the 2% BHA is still there. But they swapped the solvent system, which changes how deep it penetrates.
- Salicylic Acid: Still the pore-clearing boss, but delivery is slower
- Butylene Glycol: New thickener that adds that weird slip
- Water: The main carrier, nothing special
- Sodium Hydroxide: pH adjuster, makes it less stingy
Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash
It feels like applying cold honey water. The old version was like splash-and-go; this one demands you pat it in. I actually had to wait a minute before my serum, which is annoying at 7 AM.
By week two, my skin wasn’t as glassy. The grit on my nose (you know the one) took three extra days to clear. It works, but it’s lazy work.
Photo: Jocelyn Morales / Unsplash
My blackheads are less angry, but the glow is dimmer. If you had the old bottle, you’ll notice the downgrade immediately.
Photo: yunona uritsky / Unsplash
This is a softer, slower version of a classic. It’s fine, but “fine” isn’t why you bought it.