Glowness 2% BHA Serum vs Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Both are leave-on exfoliants with 2% salicylic acid (BHA). Glowness is a 50 ml serum you apply with your fingertips, made for oily and combination skin*, with chamomile, calendula, aloe vera, D-panthenol and horse chestnut. Paula's Choice (now sold in the UK as the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Exfoliating Toner) is a liquid you apply with your hands or a cotton pad, with green tea extract. Choose by format, routine and the ingredient list.

Side by side

	Glowness 2% BHA Serum	Paula's Choice 2% BHA
Salicylic acid (BHA)	2%, plant-derived	2%
Format	Leave-on serum	Leave-on liquid exfoliant (listed in the UK as an exfoliating toner)
How to apply	2-3 drops on fingertips, massaged in, avoiding the eye area	Shaken onto hands or a cotton pad, applied to face and neck
How often to start	Once a day (evening) for the first week, then twice daily if skin feels comfortable	Every other day, then up to twice a day
Skin types named by the brand	Oily and combination skin	All skin types; BHA described as ideal for normal to oily or combination skin
Other key ingredients	Chamomile and calendula extracts, aloe vera juice, D-panthenol, horse chestnut seed extract; niacinamide is in the full list	Green tea extract, methylpropanediol
Alcohol	Alcohol is in the ingredient list, near the end	Stated by the brand as alcohol free
Where to buy	glowness.co.uk and Amazon UK	paulaschoice.co.uk and other retailers

The Paula's Choice column is from the Skin Perfecting 2% BHA product page on paulaschoice.co.uk (https://www.paulaschoice.co.uk/skin-perfecting-2pct-bha-liquid-exfoliant/201-2010.html), read on 12 October 2026 and checked again on 13 October 2026. Formulas and names change, so check the brand's page and the pack before you buy.

What they have in common

Both are leave-on: apply, do not rinse.
2% salicylic acid, the common strength for leave-on BHA exfoliants.
Both brands say to start gradually and to wear SPF in the daytime.

How to choose between them

Format: a serum you pat in with your fingertips, or a liquid on a cotton pad.
Ingredients: read both full lists, not only the BHA, and pick the one that suits you.
Routine: use one BHA exfoliant at a time, not both.

Frequently asked questions

Are Glowness and Paula's Choice 2% BHA the same strength?

Yes. Both contain 2% salicylic acid (BHA).

Which one is better?

Neither is better for everyone. They share the active ingredient and differ in format, size and the other ingredients, so choose by those.

Can I use both?

Use one BHA exfoliant at a time. One exfoliant is enough.

How big is the Glowness bottle?

50 ml.

The Glowness 2% BHA Serum (50 ml) is a leave-on exfoliant with 2% plant-derived salicylic acid, made for oily and combination skin*.

*Based on a 28-day dermatologist-assessed study of 20 women aged 18-35 when used as part of a skincare routine. Individual results may vary.