Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel for mature skin
Aha Alpha Hydroxy Acid
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Glycolic Acid- Salicylic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for mature skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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
- Highly suitable for your normal skin, this formula effectively exfoliates with glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid to smooth texture and regulate desquamation. While it offers general skincare benefits, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target your wrinkles and fine lines.
- The inclusion of Bisabolol and Allantoin provides soothing benefits, ensuring a comfortable experience for your normal skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of calming components.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product in your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well. Always apply SPF the next morning to protect your skin.
- Apply this exfoliant product after cleansing and toner, but before your moisturizer. This ensures the best absorption into your skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant product into your face, avoiding any rubbing. Let it absorb for a minute before moving to the next step.
- Apply this exfoliant product on completely dry skin to get the best results. This helps your normal skin accept the product smoothly.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area while using this exfoliant product. Do a patch test before your first use and avoid mixing it with strong acids.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsUsers with dull, aging, or congested skin frequently report that this peel delivers a "glass-like" finish, significantly smoothing rough texture and minimizing pores.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin has never been so soft”
- “baby soft feel”
- “glass-like finish”
- “removed dry patches”
Instant glow Often Mentioned
- “instant glow”
- “skin looks brighter the next day”
- “radiant healthy look”
- “makeup looks airbrushed”
Gentle for a peel Sometimes Noted
- “didn't irritate at all”
- “no redness after use”
- “gentle despite high percentage”
- “no peeling or downtime”
Pore reduction Sometimes Noted
- “minimizes huge pores”
- “cleared blackheads”
- “unclogs congestion”
- “pores look tighter”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “tube is tiny”
- “wish it came in a larger size”
- “expensive for 1 oz”
- “pricey per use”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like vinegar”
- “strong chemical smell”
- “medicinal scent”
- “mildly unpleasant odor”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “didn't notice a difference”
- “not that good”
- “expected more for the price”
- “no change in wrinkles”
Stinging or tingling Rarely Noted
- “stings slightly upon application”
- “tingling sensation”
- “sensitive skin screaming”
- “burned a little”
Sources: lovi.care, paulaschoice.com, paulaschoice-eu.com, dermstore.com, sephora.co.uk, cultbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Paula's Choice 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel a great fit for mature skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit because it uses glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid to smooth texture and keep skin fresh. It also includes soothing ingredients like bisabolol and allantoin to help ensure a very comfortable experience.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for mature skin?
This exfoliant is a great fit because glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid smooth texture and regulate cell shedding, while bisabolol and allantoin calm the skin for a comfortable experience. These ingredients help keep the skin smooth without harsh irritation.
What does Alpha Hydroxy Acid do for mature skin?
Alpha hydroxy acid helps smooth out rough areas, soften wrinkles, and fade dark spots on mature skin. Regular use may also improve skin thickness and elasticity by supporting collagen over time.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1996The Journal of Dermatology, 2006
What does Bha do for mature skin?
BHA helps mature skin by smoothing out fine lines and improving overall skin texture. Clinical studies show that regular use can significantly increase collagen and elastin levels, helping the skin look firmer and feel much softer.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2025
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This exfoliant treatment goes in the evening routine once a week to start. People who tolerate it well and see good results may carefully use it more often.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
This exfoliant treatment is a great fit for your mature skin, helping to smooth texture and clear dead skin cells safely. Because it is a powerful acid peel, it is best to use it on alternating nights rather than the same night as your retinol to keep your skin calm and comfortable.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliant treatment once a week in the evening, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often. The mix of exfoliating acids smooths texture while soothing ingredients help ensure a comfortable experience with a low risk of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin, as it helps clear away dead skin cells with glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid. It has an excellent safety profile with soothing ingredients like bisabolol and allantoin to keep your skin comfortable and calm.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical application of 1-1.5% glycolic acid suppresses UVB-induced inflammation by modulating NF-κB signaling pathways in human keratinocytes and mouse dorsal skin.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2017A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020Optimized transfersomes loaded with epigallocatechin-3-gallate and hyaluronic acid increased cell viability while reducing lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS, and MMP expression in HaCaT cells, and exhibited higher skin permeation and deposition compared to plain EGCG.
Drug Delivery, 2017Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Cryotherapy 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Aminomethyl Propanol, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid, Isoamyl Laurate, Tartaric Acid, Propanediol, Salicylic Acid, Malic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Clitoria Ternatea Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Mica, Phenoxyethanol
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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