NATURIUM BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2% for oily skin
Salicylic Acid
Bioactive Fruit Acids
Glycerin
Citric Acid
Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract
Superior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best products for oily skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by salicylic acid and citric acid, which offer potent keratolytic action and pH modulation to effectively address oily shine and cleanse pores. Glycerin and tocopherol further support your skin by providing soothing benefits and antioxidant protection, ensuring a balanced and comfortable experience.
- The 2% concentration of salicylic acid delivers exceptional chemical exfoliation, targeting excess oil and promoting a smoother skin texture.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product as part of your PM routine once a week. Start slowly and build up frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb fully. Avoid any harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the exfoliant directly onto completely dry skin to get the best balance and results. Clean, dry skin helps the product work evenly.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area when applying. Be sure to use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily while using exfoliating acids.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsUsers with oily, combination, and acne-prone skin generally praise this exfoliant for effectively clearing blackheads and smoothing texture without the drying side effects common to other BHAs. While many consider it a gentler, more affordable alternative to premium competitors, a minority of users found it ineffective for severe congestion or experienced persistent breakouts.
Highlights
Improves texture and acne Mostly Mentioned
- “cleared my blackheads in a week”
- “skin looks glass-like and smooth”
- “helped with closed comedones”
Gentle and non-drying Often Mentioned
- “didn't dry out my skin like others”
- “zero stinging or burning”
- “leaves skin feeling plush, not stripped”
Great value Often Mentioned
- “unbeatable for the price”
- “great dupe for expensive brands”
Lightweight, non-sticky finish Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs much better than Paula's Choice”
- “no sticky film left behind”
- “layers well under makeup”
Breakouts or reactions Rarely Noted
- “caused a rash on my cheeks”
- “breakouts never stopped”
- “ruined my skin barrier”
Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
- “did absolutely nothing for my pores”
- “saw no change in blackheads”
- “too gentle for my stubborn acne”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “leaked in my travel bag”
- “cap doesn't seal properly”
- “dispenses too much product at once”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like saliva”
- “has a weird funk to it”
- “scent is slightly off-putting”
Sources: lovi.care, naturium.com, spacenk.com, skinsort.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Naturium BHA Liquid Exfoliant one of the best fits for oily skin?
This exfoliant is one of the best fits for oily skin because salicylic acid and citric acid target excess oil, clean out pores, and smooth skin texture while keeping it comfortable. Glycerin and tocopherol also help soothe the skin and provide antioxidant protection. It has an excellent safety profile with very low risk of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid and citric acid make this exfoliant a great fit for your oily skin by clearing away oily shine and cleaning out pores. Glycerin and tocopherol also help by calming the skin and keeping it comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What do Bioactive Fruit Acids do for oily skin?
Bioactive Fruit Acids help oily skin by clearing out pores and cutting down on extra oil and blackheads. This kind of skincare product needs ingredients that control oil and gently clear away dead skin to keep pores clean and clear.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This exfoliant goes in your evening routine as a treatment step, used once a week to start and carefully used more often if your skin tolerates it well. It helps clear pores and smooth texture on oily skin, while glycerin and tocopherol keep your skin calm and balanced.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by alternating nights or applying them at different times, as using both at once may cause dryness or irritation on oily skin. Start slowly to see how your skin feels, and always follow up with a gentle moisturizer.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliant once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin feels comfortable and tolerates it well, you may carefully use it more often. It helps clear away excess oil and smooth your skin texture safely without causing irritation.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it uses salicylic acid and fruit acids to clear oil from pores and smooth texture, supported by a very safe formula with soothing ingredients. Studies show that salicylic acid treatments help control oily skin and reduce breakouts without irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Topical 20% citric acid lotion increases viable epidermal thickness and dermal glycosaminoglycan content in sun-damaged skin compared to vehicle alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 1997
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Diglycerin, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Microcitrus Australis Fruit Extract, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chondrus Crispus, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Phytate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenylpropanol, Tocopherol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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