NATURIUM BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2% for oily acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid
Bioactive Fruit Acids
Glycerin
Citric Acid
Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract
High
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few products fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 due to the presence of salicylic acid and citric acid, which offer potent keratolytic action and pH modulation beneficial for managing excess sebum and pore congestion.
- The formula offers excellent exfoliation due to the presence of salicylic acid in a 2% concentration, which is effective for clearing pores and smoothing texture.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients, and presence of soothing ingredients like Glycerin and Tocopherol.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but before your final moisturizer step.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product directly onto clean, dry skin for the best results against breakouts.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use a daily SPF since exfoliating makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
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 a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This product is a great fit for your oily, acne-prone skin because it uses a two percent concentration of salicylic acid alongside citric acid to clear clogged pores, smooth texture, and manage excess oil. It is very unlikely to cause irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing additions like glycerin and vitamin E.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and citric acid make this exfoliant a great fit by clearing pores, smoothing texture, and managing excess oil. Soothing ingredients like glycerin and tocopherol help keep the skin calm and comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing oil levels and calming inflammation. It is well suited for oily, acne-prone skin because it targets pimples while helping keep the skin hydrated and protected.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What do Bioactive Fruit Acids do for oily acne-prone skin?
Bioactive Fruit Acids help clear away dead skin cells that can clog pores, making them useful for oily, acne-prone skin. This type of skin needs ingredients that gently exfoliate and balance oil without causing dryness.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant goes in your evening routine, starting at once a week and slowly building up if your skin tolerates it well. It helps clear pores and smooth texture safely because of the soothing ingredients included in the formula.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by applying them on alternate nights or spacing them out to keep your oily, acne-prone skin comfortable. Using both potent products at the same time may increase the likelihood of dryness or irritation.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliant once a week in the evening, and if your oily acne-prone skin handles it well with good results, you can carefully use it more often. This gradual approach helps you clear pores and smooth texture safely while keeping your skin calm.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to cause clogged pores or breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it features 2% salicylic acid and fruit acids that clear pores and smooth texture, along with soothing ingredients like glycerin to keep irritation low.
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, 2023A 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, 2017Cryotherapy 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, 2010The 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012A 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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