Side-by-side comparison

COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid vs Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel

Both are exfoliants. They share a 66% active-ingredient overlap, so the real decision is about price, texture and the supporting ingredients. Here's the side-by-side.

66%Active overlap
COSRX
BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
ExfoliantMid-rangeEvening only
AcneRough TextureOilinessSensitive skinDamaged barrier

4% betaine salicylate — a gentler salicylic-acid equivalent derived from sugar beet — with niacinamide and willow bark water. Better tolerated than a straight 2% BHA, though effectively similar in function for surface blackheads and congestion.

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Paula's Choice
Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel
ExfoliantPremiumEvening only
Rough TextureDullnessCongestion

A high-strength weekly at-home peel combining 25% AHA and 2% BHA with soothing extracts. Strong resurfacing for experienced acid users; a once-weekly treatment only, with strict SPF the next day.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

On price, the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid sits in the Mid-range tier versus Premium for the Paula's Choice — so it's the more budget-led pick if the overlap is what you're after. The COSRX leans toward Acne, Oiliness. The Paula's Choice leans toward Congestion, Dullness.

The overlap

What they share

At 66% active overlap, these are the ingredients doing comparable work in both formulas:

Salicylic Acid
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

COSRX — top of the list

  • Water~50–80%
  • Betaine Salicy…4%
  • Butylene Glycol~3–10%
  • Niacinamide~2–6%
  • 1,2-Hexanediol~1.5–4%

Paula's Choice — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Glycolic Acid~5–25%
  • Lactic Acid~3–10%
  • Tartaric Acid~2–6%
  • Salicylic Acid~1.5–4%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

COSRXPaula's Choice
CategoryExfoliantExfoliant
Price tierMid-rangePremium
Best forAcne, Rough Texture, OilinessRough Texture, Dullness, Congestion
Usage notesEvening onlyEvening only
Active overlap66% — Salicylic Acid
Questions

Common questions

Is the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid or the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel better?
Neither is universally better — they share 66% active-ingredient overlap, so for the actives that drive results they're close. The COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is the more budget-friendly option, while the other may differ on texture, finish and supporting ingredients. Pick based on your skin's priorities rather than a single 'winner'.
What's the difference between the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel?
Both are exfoliants that share Salicylic Acid. Where they differ: they sit in different price tiers (Mid-range vs Premium); the COSRX targets Acne, Oiliness; the Paula's Choice targets Congestion, Dullness.
Are the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel dupes for each other?
They share 66% active-ingredient overlap based on published INCI lists, so one can stand in for the other on the actives that matter — chiefly Salicylic Acid. A dupe matches the hero actives, not the full sensory experience, so expect differences in texture, fragrance and exact concentrations.
Can I use the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid and Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel together?
They both fill the exfoliant slot in a routine, so you'd normally pick one rather than layer both. If you want to use both, treat one as your daytime option and the other for evening, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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66% overlap

Want a deeper, personalised read? Drop both products into the live comparison tool for an ingredient-by-ingredient breakdown tuned to your skin profile.

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