Paula’s Choice 2% BHA is salicylic acid. The usual Korean “dupe” is not.
The original is a short leave-on liquid of 2% salicylic acid at a low pH. Roundups still paste COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid next to it. COSRX’s labeled BHA is 4% betaine salicylate. That is a different molecule. Anua’s 2% BHA toner is the Korean product that actually lists salicylic acid.
What the original actually is
| Product | Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant |
|---|---|
| Labeled BHA | 2% salicylic acid |
| INCI we checked | Water, methylpropanediol, butylene glycol, salicylic acid, polysorbate 20, camellia oleifera leaf extract, sodium hydroxide, tetrasodium EDTA |
| pH window in retailer / lab writeups | About 3.2–3.8, often cited near 3.5 |
| US price we checked | $37 for 4 fl oz / 118 ml (Paula’s Choice site, August 2026) |
| Job in a routine | Leave-on liquid exfoliant after cleansing, before moisturizer |
Salicylic acid is oil-soluble. At this percentage it is also the usual over-the-counter cap in the US. The rest of the bottle is a short solvent/pH system plus a green-tea extract. Presence of salicylic acid on an INCI is still not a dose; here the brand prints the dose.
Formula match
Anua BHA 2% Gentle Exfoliating Toner
Anua’s US page names the active as 2% BHA (salicylic acid). Independent INCI lists put salicylic acid fourth, after water, dipropylene glycol, and 1,2-hexanediol. That is the same molecule and the same stated percentage as Paula’s Choice.
It is not the same bottle. Anua is a longer toner: tea tree, willow bark extract, several hyaluronic-acid salts, panthenol, and ceramides show up on the list. Texture, extras, and pH are not published as a single number we could verify. Formula match here means the lead acid, not a twin vehicle.
Anua listed it at $18 for 150 ml on the brand site. Ulta listed $20. YesStyle listed about US$24.62 in late August 2026.
Job match, different BHA
COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
This is the product people still paste under “Paula’s Choice dupe.” COSRX and YesStyle describe 4% betaine salicylate, not 2% salicylic acid. Betaine salicylate is a salicylate salt used as a milder BHA. A supplier claim that often gets copied is that you need about twice as much of it to stand in for salicylic acid. That is a manufacturer talking point, not a head-to-head trial of these two bottles. It is enough to kill the “4% beats 2%” line.
Retail INCI lists agree on willow-bark water as the first ingredient, then solvents, betaine salicylate, and niacinamide. Some US listings (Ulta, Olive Young) also show arginine. YesStyle’s current list shows betaine and sodium hydroxide instead. The BHA name does not change: it is still betaine salicylate.
COSRX.com listed the 100 ml bottle at $17.50 (US$25 before discount) in August 2026. Ulta listed US$25. YesStyle had the same product up; shipping to a given country may be blocked.
Side by side
| Paula’s Choice 2% BHA 118 ml | Anua BHA 2% toner 150 ml | COSRX BHA liquid 100 ml | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labeled BHA | 2% salicylic acid | 2% salicylic acid | 4% betaine salicylate |
| Also notable | Green-tea extract, very short INCI | Tea tree, ceramides, several HA salts | Willow-bark water, niacinamide, panthenol |
| Price checked | $37 | ~$18–25 | ~$18–25 |
| On this site | Original | Formula match | Job match |
Related exfoliation comparisons
“AHA/BHA” is a broad category; the active and its labeled form still need checking:
- Drunk Elephant Framboos Korean alternatives — a stronger AHA/BHA blend versus separate Korean job matches.
- Sunday Riley Good Genes vs COSRX AHA 7 — lactic acid versus glycolic acid.
What this page is not saying
We are not saying Anua equals Paula’s Choice on skin, and we are not saying COSRX is useless. We are saying the Korean liquid that actually lists 2% salicylic acid is Anua, and that calling COSRX a 2% BHA dupe is a category error. Acids are not interchangeable by the letters “BHA.” Use sunscreen with any of them. This is not medical advice.
Sources
- Paula’s Choice official 2% BHA page: product identity, $37 / 4 fl oz, salicylic-acid positioning, pH range and current product details, checked 26 August 2026. INCI as listed on brand / independent explainers (water, methylpropanediol, butylene glycol, salicylic acid, polysorbate 20, camellia oleifera leaf extract, sodium hydroxide, tetrasodium EDTA).
- Anua US product page: “2% BHA (Salicylic Acid).” Ulta ingredient list starts aqua, dipropylene glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, salicylic acid. Brand $18 / 150 ml; Ulta $20; YesStyle about US$24.62, late August 2026.
- COSRX official and YesStyle product copy: 4% betaine salicylate. Olive Young US INCI (May 2026): willow bark water, butylene glycol, betaine salicylate, niacinamide, 1,2-hexanediol, arginine, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate, xanthan gum, ethyl hexanediol. YesStyle currently lists betaine and sodium hydroxide in place of arginine. COSRX.com $17.50 (US$25 list) / 100 ml, August 2026.