NATURIUM BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2% for mature skin
Salicylic Acid
Bioactive Fruit Acids
Glycerin
Citric Acid
Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract
Average
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for mature skin; other products fit it 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your normal skin due to salicylic acid and citric acid, which provide mild keratolytic action to smooth texture and decongest pores.
- While beneficial for general skin health, the formula lacks sufficient humectant ingredients like glycerin to fully address your hydration needs and target wrinkles and fine lines.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like glycerin and tocopherol.
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
★4.6Overall 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
How well does Naturium BHA Liquid Exfoliant work for mature skin?
This exfoliant works moderately well for mature skin by smoothing texture and clearing pores with salicylic acid and citric acid. However, because it lacks enough hydrating ingredients like glycerin, it falls short of fully targeting wrinkles and fine lines. An exfoliant for mature skin needs strong anti-aging ingredients, rich hydrators, and powerful antioxidants to smooth lines and keep the skin plump.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for mature skin?
Salicylic acid and citric acid make this exfoliant a fit by smoothing texture and clearing pores with mild peeling. To best care for mature skin, a product of this type needs high-quality anti-aging ingredients, potent antioxidants, and plenty of hydrating components to target wrinkles and fine lines.
What does Salicylic Acid do for mature skin?
Salicylic acid helps smooth and firm mature skin by boosting collagen and elasticity while reducing roughness and wrinkles. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used correctly, but this skin type also needs extra hydrating ingredients to stay soft and plump.
What do Bioactive Fruit Acids do for mature skin?
Bioactive Fruit Acids help smooth mature skin by supporting firmness and reducing the look of fine lines. This type of ingredient works best when it also includes antioxidants and deep hydrators to keep dry skin soft and plump.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This exfoliant goes in your evening routine, starting at once a week so you can see how your skin tolerates it. A product for mature skin also needs extra hydrating ingredients like glycerin to fully target wrinkles and fine lines.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this exfoliant with retinol by applying them on alternating nights rather than together to help prevent dryness and irritation. Using them separately helps keep your skin calm while smoothing its texture.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start by using this exfoliant once a week in your evening routine, and carefully use it more often only if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results. This approach helps smooth texture and decongest pores safely while reducing any likelihood of irritation.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on mature skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and features soothing components like glycerin and vitamin E. Reviewer complaints about breakouts or reactions are very low.
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, 2021A 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, 2013A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020A 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, 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, 2024The 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, 2012Topical 20% citric acid lotion increases viable epidermal thickness and dermal glycosaminoglycan content in sun-damaged skin compared to vehicle alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 1997
Why other products fit mature skin better
Topical application of retinol and retinoic acid both increased epidermal thickness and upregulated collagen genes and proteins in human skin, with retinol producing similar histological and molecular changes to retinoic acid alongside a significant reduction in facial wrinkles after 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2016A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
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
How does it fit your skin?
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