Aquaphor Healing Ointment vs Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
91 facts in comparison
Based on 380 Reddit opinions. Close race—Liquid ExfoliantPaula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant edges ahead.
380 opinions
Liquid Exfoliant leads by 4pts
VS
73%
B-
Based on
654 Redditors
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
~$12.97
274 opinions
tldr; Reddit generally views Aquaphor as a highly effective occlusive for moisturizing and healing, often compared to Vaseline, though some users may react to its mineral oils.
Check pricesVS
Reddit's Pick
77%
B
Based on
242 Redditors
Winner
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
~$25
106 opinions
tldr; Reddit considers Paula's Choice 2% BHA the gold standard for clearing blackheads and unclogging pores, with one bottle lasting months due to efficient liquid application.
Check prices✓EFF
⭐ING
✋SKI
❤️GEN
💨FRA
60
Points
72
Points
Score by Category
Effectiveness
79%80%
Ingredients
29%—
Skin Feel
40%50%
Gentleness
50%83%
Fragrance
—0%
Why is BHA Liquid Exfoliant better than Aquaphor Healing Ointment?
- Higher Reddit score (77% vs 73%)
- Better skin feel (50% vs 40%)
- Better gentleness (83% vs 50%)
- Gold standard for blackheads
- Clears pores effectively
- One bottle lasts months
Based on 896 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call
Reddit prefers the Liquid ExfoliantPaula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Winning by 4 points (77% vs 73%)
Better skin feel
Better gentleness
Gold standard for blackheads
High confidence (896 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 896 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Healing Ointment
7.3/10
654 mentions
Liquid Exfoliant
7.7/10
242 mentions
EFFECTIVENESS
Healing Ointment7.9/10
Liquid Exfoliant8.0/10
INGREDIENTS
Healing Ointment2.9/10
Liquid ExfoliantN/A
GENTLENESS
Healing Ointment5.0/10
Liquid Exfoliant8.3/10
SKIN FEEL
Healing Ointment4.0/10
Liquid Exfoliant5.0/10
VALUE
Healing Ointment10.0/10
Liquid Exfoliant7.5/10
FRAGRANCE
Healing OintmentN/A
Liquid Exfoliant0.0/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Healing Ointment | Liquid Exfoliant |
|---|---|---|
Effectiveness | 79% | 80% |
Ingredients | 29% | N/A |
Gentleness | 50% | 83% |
Skin Feel | 40% | 50% |
Value | 100% | 75% |
Fragrance | N/A | 0% |
Category Wins
Healing Ointment: 2|Liquid Exfoliant: 2
Head to Head
Healing Ointment: 2|Liquid Exfoliant: 2
Effectiveness
Healing Ointment79%
Liquid Exfoliant80%
IngredientsHealing Ointment
Healing Ointment29%
Liquid ExfoliantN/A
GentlenessLiquid Exfoliant
Healing Ointment50%
Liquid Exfoliant83%
Skin FeelLiquid Exfoliant
Healing Ointment40%
Liquid Exfoliant50%
ValueHealing Ointment
Healing Ointment100%
Liquid Exfoliant75%
Fragrance
Healing OintmentN/A
Liquid Exfoliant0%
Healing Ointment
73%
77%
Liquid Exfoliant
Healing Ointment73%
Liquid Exfoliant77%
Close race - Liquid Exfoliant edges ahead by 4 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Aquaphor Healing Ointment | Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Aquaphor | Paula's Choice |
| Manufacturer | Aquaphor | Paula's Choice |
| Color | 1 Pack | Clear |
| Weight | 0.4375 Pounds | — |
| Height | 8.031 inches | 118ml (4 fl. oz.) |
Key Highlights
Aquaphor Healing OintmentWinner
💧 Effective occlusive for sealing in moisture
🎯 Leaves skin feeling amazing overnight
🎯 Heals chapped lips quickly
⚠ Regular version may cause allergic reactions
🎯 Baby Aquaphor suggested as an alternative for
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Gold standard for blackheads
Clears pores effectively
One bottle lasts months
Worth the price investment
Gentle 2% salicylic acid
Topic Battles
Healing Ointment: 1|Tied: 2|Liquid Exfoliant: 2
✓Effectiveness
Healing Ointment
79%
Liquid Exfoliant
80%
⭐Ingredients
Healing Ointment winsHealing Ointment
29%
Liquid Exfoliant
—
✋Skin Feel
Liquid Exfoliant winsHealing Ointment
40%
Liquid Exfoliant
50%
❤️Gentleness
Liquid Exfoliant winsHealing Ointment
50%
Liquid Exfoliant
83%
💨Fragrance
Healing Ointment
—
Liquid Exfoliant
0%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Best Praise
+11 pts“I ONLY get acne on my chin so I’ve been using Paula’s choice 2% bha liquid exfoliator on my chin 2-3x a week for a little over 2 months now and I’ve noticed a significant reduction in my chin skin congestion and amount of active breakouts. It hasn’t fully stopped the break outs, but my skin does look and feel a lot more smooth for the most part.”
r/SkincareAddiction
ViewTop Criticism
+5 pts“I haaaaaated PC BHA and it was all the rage on this sub when I found it 10 years ago. BHA and slugging. And my skin got so bad I went back to the derm and got tret.”
r/SkincareAddiction
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Best Praise
+68 pts“It looks more like Vaseline than Aquaphor, which is usually an opaque white for me. I think your skin would rather you just buy a new bottle of Aquaphor than roll the dice with the Mystery Jelly™️”
r/SkincareAddiction
ViewTop Criticism
+5 pts“This usually means your under-eye skin doesn’t tolerate heavy occlusives. Aquaphor can trap moisture and debris, leading to milia or small cysts. Switch to a lightweight, non-comedogenic eye product with hyaluronic acid, peptides, or ceramides instead.”
r/SkincareAddiction
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Healing Ointment
Liquid Exfoliant
📈Historical Price Data
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
All-time low: $1.1(2023-03)
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
All-time low: $20.3(2025-11)
Which is Better?
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Wins
77%
Exfoliant
vs
73%
Ointment
Close race, but Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant edges ahead by 4 points based on 896 Reddit opinions.
Why Liquid ExfoliantWinner
- Gold standard for blackheads
- Clears pores effectively
- One bottle lasts months
Why Healing Ointment
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 75%)
- More discussed (654 vs 242)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
34%Positive
Positive
34%Neutral
56%Negative
10%Based on 242 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
31%Positive
Positive
31%Neutral
58%Negative
11%Based on 654 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or Aquaphor Healing Ointment?
Based on 896 Reddit comments, Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant has a slight edge with 77% positive sentiment vs Aquaphor Healing Ointment's 73%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or Aquaphor Healing Ointment?
Both have similar approval ratings (77% vs 73%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant?
Reddit users highlight: Gold standard for blackheads. Clears pores effectively. One bottle lasts months. With 242 mentions and 77% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Aquaphor Healing Ointment?
Reddit users highlight: Effective occlusive for sealing in moisture. Leaves skin feeling amazing overnight. Heals chapped lips quickly. With 654 mentions and 73% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 896 Reddit comments: 242 about Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and 654 about Aquaphor Healing Ointment. Data was sourced from Skincare products community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
380 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/27/2026