Paula's Choice • Clear Targeted Acne Relief Toner with 2% Salicylic Acid for all skin types • Toners

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GallardoGlam on 5/15/2013 2:24:00 PM more reviews by GallardoGlam

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I purchased the Extra Stength version of this toner and used it religiously every morning after cleansing with her Clear cleanser. I'll start off by saying that I have weird skin lol...oily, acne prone, extremely sensitive...this stuff broke me out like crazy. I kept chalking it up to a "purge" but you shouldn't purge like that for 2 months...I called and they gave me my money back. I just dont think BHA is for me unfortunately.

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Lapiz on 4/15/2013 9:43:00 AM more reviews by Lapiz

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

For a $20 toner, I expected a lot more. This doesn't work any more effectively than my $9.95 Burt's Bees 1% salicylic acid toner. (Honestly, my Burt's Bees toner does a better job). After nearly 4 weeks of use using this twice a day, it's nearly empty and my skin doesn't look any better than it did a month ago. It did not relieve blackheads nor help combat active acne. It didn't make my skin worse, but it definitely did not improve it. Thus, a neutral 3 rating.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Jocky80 on 2/1/2013 1:06:00 PM more reviews by Jocky80

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I have the normal strenght, and this does miracles for my face. I hate my large pores, and my oily t-zone. My pores get superclogged fast, and my face react to a lot of products, if my face doesn't like it I will end up with big cystic acne on my face.
In the past I have used the 2%Bha liquid, but that did make my face feel greasy and sweatlooking. It can be becauce I use to much of it. I also like the 2% Bha gel from Neutrogena that she oftens recommends. But for everyday use this is HG. I havn't had a big problem with breakouts since I started using this. It helps with my big pores but they are still big, I'm looking into going and doing lasertherapy for the skin and see if that is going to help.

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oooHUNTRESSooo on 12/6/2012 4:03:00 PM more reviews by oooHUNTRESSooo

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I have the extra strength one.
My skin is oily and prone to blackheads and blemishes, but no big inflammations.
I've been using this for a month and I can honestly say this is a holy grail product. Nothing has ever cleared out my skin like this (except for hormonal contraception).
I started noticing results after a few days. My skin was becoming less bumpy, blackeads started to diminish and blemishes became less prominent. Today I have no blemishes. Not one.
I still have some red marks, but not bumps at all. My forehead and chin used to have regular annoying visitors, but this toner took care of them.
I religiously use it twice a day, pour it sparingly onto a cotton pad and massage for a minute. I wait until it absorbs (about 15 minutes) and then continue with moisturizer.
The downside is that it's a bit drying. The weather is now getting a bit colder so my skin needs more hydration than usual. I always make sure I moisturize well after this. I use Avene Hydrance Legere and my skin stays supple and blemish-free.
I cannot stress enough how happy I am that I found this toner. If it continues being this good, I will repurchase it forever.
In case of any changes, I will be sure to update this post.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

yaiza123 on 11/4/2012 10:43:00 AM more reviews by yaiza123

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Black    

Unlike many other users I havent had great results with this product. When I first started using the clear line (cleanser + toner) I had pretty decent results. At first I was kinda worried that it would be too much for my dry, acne prone skin. But since the website said it was for all skintypes, and reading reviews from people with dry skin, I decided to give it a go.
So at first I got decent results, I had less blemishes and blackheads and not much irritation from the product. However after one month of use, my skin apperently couldnt take it anymore. I got like a breakout epidemic, my intire face was covered in them. Also my skin got incredibly dry and it just looked red and irritated. For some help I contacted the customer service and they mentioned that the clear line is often too much for dry skin (Still think they should mention that on their website). So I stopt using this product and after a few days my skin felt a lot better. Now im using the moisture boost line in combination with the 2% bha, which works great. Anyway I definitelly wont repurchase, I gave it 3 lippies tho. Cause I do believe that this product will work greatly for those of us with oily skin, it just wasnt for me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* heather on 10/9/2012 8:32:00 PM more reviews by heather

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

This is the "regular strength" stuff. I am not acne-prone, but I believe in effective exfoliation and have used the PC 2% liquid exfoliant (same formulation as the Clear Extra Strength toner) occasionally for years. I've recently upped my exfoliation/brightening regimen (part of an effort to reduce and prevent my hormone-induced melasma) with stronger AHAs and wanted to add a layer of BHA for pore clarity, as I'm having to use richer moisturizers to combat dry spots. I used PC's hydroquinone/BHA gel but saw no results and didn't like the texture. I'm out of the 2% BHA liquid, so I ordered the trial size of this, due to its gentler formulation. Seems to be effective and hasn't caused any peeling or flaking. The formulation and texture is certainly an improvement (watery, not sticky) and this liquid has no smell at all, which I like. I will finish the trial size and if things progress well, reorder the larger size.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

alf04 on 10/1/2012 5:20:00 PM more reviews by alf04

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I love this toner! It really helps my acne prone skin from new breakouts. I am at the 4 bottle now, I still have breakouts but this helps a lot !! I think I can't live without this stuff anymore! Seriously amazing!!!

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mom2sam on 9/6/2012 6:57:00 PM more reviews by mom2sam

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

For two weeks out of every month, this toner is my BFF. It is a toner with 2% salicylic acid and is safe even for rosacea. It is fragrance free, another plus for those of us with sensitive skin. The first two weeks of my cycle, my skin is pretty great, but by the 14th day, it begins the decline due to hormones. I then switch up my cleanser to the Paula's Choice (PC) Clear Cleanser and use this toner - twice a day, followed by PC 1% BHA Gel in the morning and the breakouts pretty much do not happen. When I don't follow this routine, I end up regretting it, often ending up with unsightly blemishes.

I wish this line had been around when I was a teenager. When my son gets older, I will definitely have him using the PC Clear line. But if you can only afford one new product, the toner would be one to try with your current cleanser and other products. It really keeps acne at bay, reduces the pore size by cleaning out the debris and eliminates blackheads. Do not use it close to the eyes because it can make them puffy/irritated.

I wish it were a little cheaper. The toner is $19.95 for a 4 oz. bottle, but I watch the Paula's Choice website for sales - she's always discounting one of her products, and so I buy a couple of bottles at the same time when it's 20% off. If you don't like it, their customer service is great and will let you return it for your money back.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Lalatrue on 8/30/2012 4:38:00 PM more reviews by Lalatrue

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

Actually I am using a 2% BHA toner from PB, but it has an identical formula and I just like its packaging more than of Clear toner. Well, 2% might be harsh for sensitive skin. I first used it only 2 times a week, then 3 times, then every other day and now use it daily. This will exfoliate! So from time to time you have to use a good peeling. This will not remove all your blackheads if you use wrong, very pore-clogging products, but in combination with a smart routine (by this I mean minimum clogging ingredients in your creams and makeup) it will help your skin look very healthy. And it has zero alcohol, unlike many other BHA products (combination of BHA with alcohol is a killer even for my very oily skin).

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

scruffmuffin8u on 8/27/2012 12:37:00 PM more reviews by scruffmuffin8u

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I have sensitive acne prone skin. My acne is considerably mild but as most of us know, acne in any form is annoying and frustrating to deal with. I purchased the regular strength version of this along with the rest of the three step system. At first, I believed this was causing my skin to become worse. I never thought my face could handle SA because every time I used it I seemed to break out more. BUT I forced myself to use this every morning for a month and a half and I must say my skin has definitely cleared up. I use about 20 drops on a cotton ball and swipe gently over my face and neck. It is very light weight and absorbs quickly.

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haight on 8/7/2012 12:37:00 PM more reviews by haight

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I'm now on my second bottle of the 2% BHA/salicylic acid liquid that Paula's Choice puts out, and I use it along with acne.org's 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. That combination is a winner for me, and for my sister. Both of us used to have bad, acne-afflicted skin for all of our teenager-hood and part of our adulthood, but we finally, actually found our magic bullet. I used to wonder if a solution to acne really existed - I would put so much hope into each new product I would try, and almost none of them ever worked. If they did, they only worked a little bit and only for a short amount of time. I've been using the salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide combination for several years now, and it still works, and my skin still is clear and looks great. I think for all but the most severe acne cases, this product along with a gentle cleanser will help you immensely. I started out with the 1% concentration because my skin tends toward being sensitive, then I used 2% BHA/salicylic acide every other day, and now in the summer I can use it twice a day, every day. I really can't recommend it enough. I honestly think everyone with acne should use it, because they probably wouldn't ever use anything else. Paula's Choice lately has been having a lot of promotions, and I've been able to get my bottles on sale. They are pricier than drugstore products, but I really recommend investing in them - wait for a sale, and/or save up the money you would have spent on ineffective drugstore products. Paula's Choice customer service is great, too, so if it doesn't work for you, you'll get taken care of, and your money won't go to waste.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

HeatWaves on 7/5/2012 10:29:00 PM more reviews by HeatWaves

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I have perfect skin thanks to this product. I break out when I eat chocolate, but I eat it anyways. My mom got me this product because her friend works for paulas choice. I was sceptical at first. My only complaint is that I run out of the toner 5 times fast than the cleanser and spot treatment.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

emysiu on 7/5/2012 2:16:00 PM more reviews by emysiu

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

UPDATE (30 July 12): Just purchased my second bottle. I really love this stuff. In conjunction with the acne fighting treatment from Paula's Choice, they've done a great job at keeping away clogged pores. No complaints, except that I do run out of this toner much faster than I do with the treatment.

ORIGINAL REVIEW (5 July 2012):
I'd been using Clean & Clear's Pore cleansing toner for sensitive skin, but it was just not doing the trick. This is far more effective, with a higher percentage of salicylic acid, but still not drying. It cleans my face of anything leftover from cleansing, without stripping it completely. It's only been a few days, but this along with the Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment from Paula's Choice, my skin looks really clear and smooth. The prices are reasonable, comparable to Clinique. I definitely will repurchase!

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dawnsiow on 6/20/2012 4:25:00 AM more reviews by dawnsiow

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

It's an okay toner; it didn't cause any breakouts but didn't do anything for my acne either. I'll probably finish the bottle but won't repurchase.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

PromiscuousGayCroMagnon on 5/25/2012 7:48:00 AM more reviews by PromiscuousGayCroMagnon

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

All of my skincare is from the Resist line and its been going well but I kept hearing so many things about this product i had to purchase it. This gem is the boost to me having better skin. It got rid of the last few pimples i had on my face. Love it

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

moushka26 on 5/23/2012 9:19:00 PM more reviews by moushka26

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This is an HG product for my aging, blackhead prone skin. Blackheads have been the bane of my existence since I was twelve (fifty years ago). PC's new Clear Toner has eliminated 95% them. It's lightweight and doesn't leave any residue on my skin so other products and makeup apply smoothly. Great product!

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slyrivkah on 5/20/2012 1:42:00 AM more reviews by slyrivkah

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I use this in conjunction with Paula's normalizing cleanser and her RESIST barrier repair moisturizer at night. It is excellent. I haven't had a blackhead or pimple in 2 months. In the morning I use Elta MD UV Clear Sunscreen. I switched to all of these products around the same time, so I can't identify one as the primary source of my improvement, so I'm reviewing all 4.

I pour some product on a cotton pad, swipe around my face, neck, chest, and upper back/shoulders, and even on my arms where I have KP.

I used to use a 15% SA product once a week or so, but did not have the same results as using this product daily.

I'm planning to repurchase indefinitely!

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momominky on 4/24/2012 7:40:00 PM more reviews by momominky

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

Fantastic stuff which has made more difference to my skin than any other product. Lightweight, non-greasy and has all but eliminated my hormonal acne. The 2% liquid/clear extra strength is a tad stronger, but this is so much more versatile and wearable under makeup.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

caligrl16 on 2/29/2012 5:30:00 PM more reviews by caligrl16

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I love this toner! I have used this for almost a year now and it has significantly cleared up my skin. It makes my pores look smaller in the sense that my pores are cleaner and therefore they look smaller. It has also overall calmed down my skin and my redness. I have repurchased this twice, and will continue to do so as it is the best toner I have tried.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Tashi09 on 1/21/2012 5:50:00 AM more reviews by Tashi09

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I am a long time user of Paula's 2% BHA Liquid, which is pretty much HG. I didn't really like waiting for that oily feeling to go away, but I could deal. Because it works! This stuff is even better because it dries right away and you can move on with your routine quicker. I think it works just as well to keep blackheads under control.

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No