Which bha...Paula’s choice or The Ordinary?

[Tinks15]

Am I right in thinking that the Paula’s choice bha exfoliant is pretty much the same as TO Aha 30% & the bha 2% peeling solution (bright red stuff) is pretty much the same? Or are they completely different?

Also; which is the better one?

Unless you're talking about different products from the ones I am thinking of, the Paula's choice is a leave-on product and the Ordinary is a mask (needs to be rinsed)

They are both exfoliants, but I wouldn't say they're interchangeable.

I use Paula's choice every morning (followed by a few other products and an SPF50), and I do the Ordinary mask once a week at night (then I just moisturise after) and use retinol on the other nights. I used to suffer from cystic acne, blackheads, whiteheads, the lot. After a few months of this regime my skin has never looked better!

Thanks @AntennaReborn, sounds like my skin, it bloody depresses me the state of it.

Yeah I was aware TO is a mask & the Paulas choice you leave on I just wasn’t entirely sure if they did the same thing or I should invest in them both.

Can I ask, do you have to be careful what you put on your skin incase it breaks you out?

They’re not exactly the same. The other ingredients are likely to be different or in diff quantities. I think Paula’s choice may have a better formulation than as the ordinary is pretty basic. I’m generalising as I haven’t used these specific products yet but have tried many others from the brands

@Tinks15

Thanks *@AntennaReborn*, sounds like my skin, it bloody depresses me the state of it.

Yeah I was aware TO is a mask & the Paulas choice you leave on I just wasn’t entirely sure if they did the same thing or I should invest in them both.

Can I ask, do you have to be careful what you put on your skin incase it breaks you out?

Yes I would advise to proceed very carefully with new products and only add one at a time in your routine, wait 3-4 weeks, then add another.

Some products like retinol will make your skin purge at first, so it gets worse before it gets better.

It took me months of trial and error to find the routine that works for my skin, but it's definitely worth taking your time with it so you know exactly which products are best for you.

If you're new to using AHA / BHA, maybe start with Paula's choice, the formulation is quite gentle. Then if you tolerate it well add a weekly mask.

Whatever you do, make sure you use a good SPF during the day, acids (and retinol) make your skin more sensitive to sunlight

I use the paula’s choice but only 2-3 times a week I find that’s enough for me and more would be stripping my skin and would take me back to oily skin cycle (your skin gets stripped of oils and produces more oil to repair itself) I’ve found limiting these type of products has changed my skin hugely. Be aware of the purge using any products like this and use spf. My understanding is that the paula’s choice has a much more gentle formulation and the ordinary one is a mask that should be used carefully and sparingly. Cosrx do an aha bha toner that I think is more gentle.

Just in case you weren’t aware you can buy a travel size of the PC so the price isn’t too different to TO. I find the travel one still lasts ages.