Okay, so I’ve been slathering this on my face for three weeks straight because the internet wouldn’t shut up about the new formula. And yeah, they actually did something.
The old version felt like water that evaporated into a sticky ghost. This one sinks in within 15 seconds flat — no film, no residue. That alone is worth the price of admission.
It’s still $35 for 4oz, and Paula’s Choice still claims it’s the “gold standard” for unclogging pores. But the texture change is the real story here.
New Solvent System
They swapped out the old alcohol-heavy base for something that actually hydrates while it exfoliates.
Buffered pH
Still at that 3.2-3.5 sweet spot, but it feels gentler on the skin barrier now.
No Slippery Feel
The old version left a weird silicone-ish slick. That’s gone — it’s just clean, bare skin.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
They kept the star player but demoted some supporting actors. The hero is still 2% salicylic acid at the right pH to actually exfoliate — not just sit there looking pretty. But now there’s a whole hydration squad backing it up.
- Salicylic Acid: The pore-unclogger that actually penetrates oil
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Holds water so you don’t get that tight, stripped feeling
- Green Tea Extract: Calms the redness that BHAs can trigger
- Butylene Glycol: The new solvent that makes it absorb faster
Photo: Clearcut Derby / Unsplash
First swipe: it’s watery but not runny — like a light toner that knows exactly where it’s going. No sting, no burn, just a cool sensation that fades in 20 seconds.
By week two, my chin texture — those tiny bumps that never photographed well — just flattened out. But here’s the surprise: it didn’t dry out my nose like the old formula did. That’s new.
Photo: Fleur Kaan / Unsplash
My pores on my nose look smaller — not gone, but visibly less “strawberry” in the mirror. Blackheads on my chin? Still there, but they’re smaller and less angry. It didn’t fix my hormonal jawline breakout, but it definitely made everything heal faster.
Photo: frank mckenna / Unsplash
The new formula is objectively better — faster absorption, gentler on skin, same results. If you hated the old sticky texture, give this a second shot.