Head to head
Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant vs The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Same comparison whichever way you searched it: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution vs Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant.
The bottom lineThe Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution does more across the board (it leads on hydration, barrier repair, anti-aging), while Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is the simpler, more pared-back pick.
Reach for The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution if you want the actives; Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.
Answer nine questions and the app picks between them for your skin.
Paula's ChoiceSkin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ExfoliantSee every ingredient in Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, decoded
The OrdinaryGlycolic Acid 7% Toning SolutionSee every ingredient in Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, decodedWhich should you pick?
Pick Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant if
- you are dealing with breakouts and oiliness
- you prefer a simpler, more minimal formula
Pick Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution if
- your barrier feels stressed and needs the support
- plump, lasting hydration is what you want
- you want the more affordable option
What each delivers
Side by side
| Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant | Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Exfoliant | Exfoliant |
| Key actives | Salicylic acid (BHA) | Glycolic acid 7%, Glycerin, Sodium PCA |
| Texture | A middleweight lotion, enough to comfort without feeling heavy. | A middleweight lotion, enough to comfort without feeling heavy. |
| Fragrance | None detected | None detected |
| Feeds Malassezia | 1 measured / none inferred | 1 measured / none inferred |
| Pregnancy | No flagged actives | No flagged actives |
| Ingredients | 8 listed | 42 listed |
| Price | ~€35 | ~€9 |
What's in one but not the other
The two labels share 1 of the 49 ingredients between them. The actives are where they part company.
What each one adds acts on The stratum corneum for Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and The stratum corneum, Not established for The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. That is the layer each is understood to act on, not how deep it travels.
Only in Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Both
nothing
Only in The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is a different bottle only for: glycolic acid, glycerin, sodium pca, urea, ginseng root extract, fructose. They share nothing.
The molecule doing the work
Better for…
- Fine lines & firmnessGlycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
- Breakouts & congestionSkin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
- Dryness & dehydrationGlycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Who each suits
- Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
- one named active, so no type two of them agree on · avoid with compromised barrier, pregnancy (at high strength) and very sensitive skin
- The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
- dry, normal · avoid with compromised barrier, rosacea, sensitive skin and very sensitive skin (at high strength)
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is the cheaper of the two (~€9 vs ~€35).
Ready to pick one?
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And if you keep both?
Most people reading a comparison are choosing. If you already own both, the question is a different one, and it has an answer.
Use these with care.
Two exfoliants at once is usually one too many, and a common cause of irritation.
Pick one, and alternate days if you want to use both.
Common questions
Is Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution better for fine lines & firmness?
For fine lines & firmness, The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is the stronger pick by our read of the two formulas. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution does more across the board (it leads on hydration, barrier repair, anti-aging), while Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is the simpler, more pared-back pick. Reach for The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution if you want the actives; Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.
Which is cheaper, Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution?
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is the cheaper of the two (~€9 vs ~€35).
Can I use Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution together?
They are both exfoliants, so you would normally pick one rather than layer both in the same step. You can keep both and alternate them (morning and night, or on different days) if you like variety, but you do not need two.
Compare it with…
9 duels are built for this exfoliant, The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution and The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution among them: type a name, or pick one below.