Paula's Choice 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant for oily acne-prone skin
Glycolic Acid Aha
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract
Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Sodium HyaluronateSuperior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best products for oily acne-prone skin.
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 and acne concerns is provided by the high concentration of glycolic acid, which effectively exfoliates and unclogs pores, complemented by sodium hyaluronate to maintain hydration.
- Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice offer soothing benefits, further enhancing the formula's compatibility with your skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risk of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of calming botanical extracts.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers with dry, sun-damaged, or textured skin report significant improvements in smoothness and radiance, often describing the product as a "holy grail" for gently exfoliating without stripping moisture. While highly effective for fading hyperpigmentation and reducing closed comedones, some users find the gel texture leaves a sticky residue or causes temporary stinging upon application.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin is smooth after just using it once”
- “bumps... smooth as a baby”
- “softens skin... remarkably soft”
- “reveals a smoother, brighter... complexion”
Fades hyperpigmentation Often Mentioned
- “helps to even my skin tone”
- “blemishes leave a dark mark... works to eliminate more quickly”
- “fades brown spots”
- “helped my acne scars”
Sticky or tacky finish Often Mentioned
- “dries a bit tacky”
- “slightly sticky”
- “feels like slimy water”
- “leaves the skin slightly shiny”
Hydrating and non-drying Sometimes Noted
- “hydrating and gentle”
- “doesn't dry my skin out”
- “feels soft and hydrated”
- “provides long-lasting hydration”
Reduces acne and bumps Sometimes Noted
- “keeps my face clear”
- “blackheads disappeared in one single use”
- “works for the bumps and pustules”
- “cystic acne... only thing that works”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like butts”
- “bitter smell”
- “smell is somewhat odd”
- “strongly smells of aloe”
Causes irritation/stinging Rarely Noted
- “stung very horribly”
- “mild tingling sensation... slight itch”
- “not for sensi skin”
- “skin began to return to its old oily acne ways”
Price and size concerns Rarely Noted
- “runs out a bit quickly”
- “pricey”
- “bottle lasts forever... [contradicting review]”
Sources: lovi.care, paulaschoice.com.au, sephora.sg, dermstore.com, influenster.com, simpleskincarescience.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Paula's Choice 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant one of the best fits for oily acne-prone skin?
Paula's Choice 8% AHA Gel Exfoliant is one of the best fits because its high concentration of glycolic acid helps clear clogged pores on oily skin while sodium hyaluronate keeps your skin hydrated. It also includes soothing aloe and chamomile extracts to help keep your skin calm and comfortable.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycolic acid makes this exfoliant a great fit for your oily, acne-prone skin by clearing out clogged pores, while sodium hyaluronate keeps your skin hydrated. Soothing ingredients like aloe and chamomile help calm your skin.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
What does Glycolic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear breakouts and smooth oily skin by exfoliating dead surface cells. It may reduce both inflamed and non-inflamed blemishes when used regularly, though a product of this type also needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide or ceramides to keep skin calm and comfortable.
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for oily acne-prone skin?
Aloe Vera Leaf Juice helps calm redness and reduces acne breakouts for oily skin. Studies show it effectively targets acne lesions and lowers redness when used regularly.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2014
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 so you can see how your skin reacts. It is unlikely to cause irritation and helps keep your oily skin clear and hydrated when used this way.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to use your retinol and this exfoliant on different nights rather than together to keep your skin calm and avoid irritation. Using both strong treatments at once can easily overwhelm oily and acne-prone skin, so alternating them on different evenings is a safer choice.
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 tolerates it well and sees good results, you can carefully use it more often. The glycolic acid clears out pores while calming ingredients help keep your skin comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because glycolic acid clears out dead skin and debris while soothing plant extracts calm the skin. It may cause a temporary purging phase as trapped bumps come to the surface.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A combination of dermapen and glycolic acid peel significantly decreased acne scar grades and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to either monotherapy in 30 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Apigenin protects against UVA-induced cytotoxicity and senescence in normal human dermal fibroblasts, decreases MMP-1 expression, and when applied topically as a cream in human subjects, increases dermal density and elasticity while reducing fine wrinkle length, skin evenness, moisture content, and transepidermal water loss compared to control cream.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2016An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Repeated 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 aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Topical chamomile oil combined with a night splint significantly improved the symptomatic and functional status of patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome compared to placebo, while electrodiagnostic parameters showed no significant changes.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2015German chamomile solution applied twice a day healed peristomal skin lesions significantly faster than once-a-day 1% hydrocortisone ointment in colostomy patients, with a mean healing time of 8.89 days versus 14.53 days.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2011Topical chamomile reduces the incidence and delays the occurrence of phlebitis due to amiodarone infusion in coronary care patients compared to a placebo of lanoline.
Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2017Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009Topical application of green tea extract encapsulated chitosan microparticles improved skin elasticity, melanin index, and facial wrinkles compared to a placebo in female volunteers without causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical 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, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Sodium Pca, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyquaternium-10, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
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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