I have tweeted and also mentioned this on my Current Summer Skincare routine post, but thought Iโd give you a quick review on it. My skin has always been very good but if I completely leave it to its own devices, it can start feeling a bit congested. Iโve regularly used some sort of salicylic acid (BHA) for years to keep skin unclogged and smooth, but ever since I took a leap of faith last year with Paulaโs Choiceโs, Iโve never looked back.
I really like Paulaโs Choice for their wide variety of no-frills, value-for-money, effective exfoliants (and retinols, but more on that in other post) โ by now, Iโve tried most of their BHAs. If you forced me to just pick one then I think this would be it โ the Resist Weekly Retexturizing Foaming Treatment 4% BHA. To be quite honest, it smells a little like fish and dirt mixed together (good thing it dissipates almost immediately!), but it does a superb job keeping pores absolutely clear.
It contains 4% salicylic acid in an easy-to-apply foam formula. One full pump (pictured above) every 2 to 3 nights is all I need. It seems as though it would sting like hell (that eyewatering burn that you can get!) as it contains double the concentration of acid, but it doesnโt feel so strong on application. I wouldnโt use it if I had sensitive skin, but on normal, combination skin, or oily skin? It works brilliantly. What I like most, I think, is that I no longer feel the need to fit a mild BHA into my skincare routine daily. Because, a highly potent formula once every few days gives me even better results! (My pores donโt get blocked at all, and skin just looks more refined and toned).
The instructions state that you can follow itย with your usual skincare products, but for me, itโs simply a one-step process. I apply it on freshly cleansed skin at night and it isnโt followed by any other product โ my skin feels perfectly fine like that and I rather let it work completely undisturbed. It actually contains a fairly high amount of sodium ascorbyl phosphate (a vitamin C derivative that actually kills acne-causing bacteria!), so I donโt have to layer another product to get my vitamin C fix!
If you have the impression that Iโm rather lazy when it comes to skin care then youโd be right: thatโs why my routine is on the shorter side. I mean, I still do all the necessary (just like I still do my laundry even though I donโt enjoy it!), but I skip something if I feel the result isnโt worth my time and effort. Which is also why I tend to go for concentrated, potent workhorses that tick many boxes. Quite frankly, thereโre other things Iโd rather be doing than going through my morning and bedtime ablutions! If you enjoy a more tactile experience or your skin really needs a specific product then please do go ahead! Mostly Iโll use treatments or serums alone at night if my skin feels absolutely fine afterwards.
I actually bought the Resist BHA Exfoliant Set, but Resist Weekly Retexturizing Foaming Treatment 4% BHA by itself is US$35 for 44ml (1.5 oz). It isnโt cheap โ but Iโve been using mine for over 4 months and I still have over half the bottle left! ย You can also get US$10 off first order over US$15 โย no code necessary, it gets added automatically using the linkย HERE.
Ahh, I canโt delete the pending post (please do it yourself as I mixed some things), I edited it:
Is this the same as salicylic acid as I did not like the process of how SA works, I would have enlarge pores due to product working from inside and then I would have thickend residue come out eventually, or maybe thatโs just in the beginning as the skin clears up, not sure, but as you already pointed out I do have sebaceous filaments on some areas so that would mean it would be a repetead cycle I assume..
Also is there any economical size of BHA for non-delicate skin like arms as I assume it could maybe be more effective than AHA every night (Detclear powder)? THANKS ๐
Salicylic acid is also known as BHA (beta hydroxy acid). Different terms, same thing. It doesnโt caused enlarged pores. Prolonged skin congestion can lead to enlarged pores (as the pores expand themselves to make more room for sebum to flow out). BHA doesnโt caused enlarged pores โ once theyโre enlarged, they just cannot revert back to their original size.
I canโt think of any Japanese options. Paulaโs Choice have a body lotion with 2% BHA. They also have one with 10% AHA (glycolic acid). AmLactin also have a variety of body lotions with 12% AHA (lactic acid).
Thanks for the tips, is there any max content of BHA/AHA that is safe from regulation by not being stated as the DetClear powder doesnโt have any % of AHA stated.
So 2% BHA is equivalent to something like 10% AHA?
Right, thatโs what I was thinking โ prolonged skin congestion โ that led to spots of expanded pores, but I wasnโt sure if for an example now, that I get a โpimpleโ on my forehead every few months/clear skin, although oily, would still cause the prolonged skin congestion hmm, as I do like the fact that BHA doesnโt cause photosensitivity. Thank you for your help! ๐
Hm, I think I need this. Iโve got super oily skin, for an example I use Luna mini (1) everday morning/evening + I use physical exfoliation for beard area 2x per week and if I would scratch my stuble (1.5mm length is my max) I would still caught sebum buildup (I only shave neck and chin as I had regular breakouts otherwise). Weird. I use Biore face wash (โAcne medicatedโ)
What about non-delicate surface, like arms, is there any economical size of BHA, I remember years ago there was one from Acne.org but I had doubts about the quality and product being way too harsh, not sure.
Oh darnit. Iโm a month too late to use that code ;__ ; Iโm so sad!
No worries they always have some sort of code going on. Right now โPRIMPSPRINGโ gives you 20% off you order!
I was just about to ask about shipping. Hurray!
Are there any stores in Tokyo that sell this? Thanks in advance!
No, Paulaโs Choice is online only.
Love your reviews! I canโt wait for your review on her retinoI. Iโve been using the Clean Regular Strength (2% BHA) and the 8% AHA Gel on and off for a year now, but Iโm still congested with black heads on my nose. Would you suggest I try this 4% BHA foam even though I donโt have resilient skin like yours and am slightly sensitive? Thanks.
I think itโs worth a try, especially since the nose is usually a tad more resilient than the rest of the face. I wouldnโt apply it all over โ just on the congested area.
Thanks. Do you know what is the self life like for these BHA products? If Iโm only going to use this for the nose, I would imagine that itโll take me a very long time to finish the bottle. I just looked at my bottles and thereโs no expiration date printed.
โOur BHA and AHAs (and this is also true of our cleansers, toners, non-SPF moisturizers and serums,) are stable for three years unopened, and once opened they must be used within 12 months.โ from Paulaโs Choice FB https://www.facebook.com/PaulasChoice.Inc/posts/10150516402379004
Thanks for the information.
Yay! I loved it too after you helped me fix the damaged bottle issue ๐ It stinks so much but I agree it helps more than the 2%, but I still use the 2%. Does the Resist 2% also smell like fish to you? I hope mine didnโt go bad in the short lapse of time for which I got it in-this july. That would absolutely suck. My BF-for whom I originally bought the set-complains so much about the smell that he almost refuses to use it, when I put it on him, he makes the funniest faces! Poor thing. I actually really like to use a moisturizing sheet mask after my BHAs as a final step.
No, my Resist 2% is completely scent-free. It doesnโt smell like anything.
Aye I guess mine has gone bad! D: I knew it! I ordered samples before the full size and they didnโt smell like anything at all. Guess I have to only order samples from now on.
Seems like you have a bad batch! It shouldnโt go bad so quickly. None of my PCโs BHA products gone bad yet and some have been opened for months.