CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser vs Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
84 facts in comparison
These products are from different categories (Curly hair products vs Skincare products), so direct comparison may not be meaningful.
Based on 111 Reddit opinions. Close race—Liquid ExfoliantPaula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant edges ahead.
111 opinions
Liquid Exfoliant leads by 4pts
VS
73%
B-
Based on
14 Redditors
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Limited Data
~$16.97
5 opinions
tldr; Reddit opinions on the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser are mixed (60% positive across 14 mentions). Consider your specific needs and priorities.
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⭐VAL
100
Points
72
Points
Score by Category
Value
100%75%
Why is BHA Liquid Exfoliant better than Foaming Facial Cleanser?
- Higher Reddit score (77% vs 73%)
- Gold standard for blackheads
- Clears pores effectively
- One bottle lasts months
Based on 256 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call
Reddit prefers the Liquid ExfoliantPaula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Winning by 4 points (77% vs 73%)
Gold standard for blackheads
Clears pores effectively
One bottle lasts months
High confidence (256 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 256 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Facial Cleanser
7.3/10
14 mentions
Liquid Exfoliant
7.7/10
242 mentions
VALUE
Facial Cleanser10.0/10
Liquid Exfoliant7.5/10
SKIN FEEL
Facial CleanserN/A
Liquid Exfoliant5.0/10
GENTLENESS
Facial CleanserN/A
Liquid Exfoliant8.3/10
FRAGRANCE
Facial CleanserN/A
Liquid Exfoliant0.0/10
EFFECTIVENESS
Facial CleanserN/A
Liquid Exfoliant8.0/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Facial Cleanser | Liquid Exfoliant |
|---|---|---|
Value | 100% | 75% |
Skin Feel | N/A | 50% |
Gentleness | N/A | 83% |
Fragrance | N/A | 0% |
Effectiveness | N/A | 80% |
Category Wins
Facial Cleanser: 1|Liquid Exfoliant: 3
Head to Head
Facial Cleanser: 1|Liquid Exfoliant: 3
ValueFacial Cleanser
Facial Cleanser100%
Liquid Exfoliant75%
Skin FeelLiquid Exfoliant
Facial CleanserN/A
Liquid Exfoliant50%
GentlenessLiquid Exfoliant
Facial CleanserN/A
Liquid Exfoliant83%
Fragrance
Facial CleanserN/A
Liquid Exfoliant0%
EffectivenessLiquid Exfoliant
Facial CleanserN/A
Liquid Exfoliant80%
Facial Cleanser
73%
77%
Liquid Exfoliant
Facial Cleanser73%
Liquid Exfoliant77%
Close race - Liquid Exfoliant edges ahead by 4 points
Key Specs
| Spec | CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser | Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant |
|---|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | 3 Essential Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide | — |
| Skin Type | Normal to Oily Skin | Normal, Oily, Combination |
| Texture | Gel-based, transforms into a foam | Lightweight liquid |
| Formulation | Non-drying, non-irritating, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, paraben-free | Fragrance-free, Paraben-free |
| Brand | CeraVe | Paula's Choice |
Key Highlights
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Solid community reputation
Frequently recommended
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid ExfoliantWinner
Gold standard for blackheads
Clears pores effectively
One bottle lasts months
Worth the price investment
Gentle 2% salicylic acid
Topic Battles
Facial Cleanser: 1|Tied: 0|Liquid Exfoliant: 0
⭐Value
Facial Cleanser winsFacial Cleanser
100%
Liquid Exfoliant
75%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 1 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 CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Best Praise
+2 pts“Thank you, the routine suggestions are really helpful and ill give it a shot! I dont think i can swing the olaplex but ill look into similar products. The cerave sounds perfect. I didnt have a good understanding of scalp health either, so i really appreciate the info and the help”
r/curlyhair
ViewTop Criticism
+1 pts“that's how ceraVE did me i used it for 2 days and it cooked the back of my head flakes everywhere i was about to go to a dermatologist about it but then hopped off and it went away pretty quickly”
r/curlyhair
View2 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Facial Cleanser
Liquid Exfoliant
📈Historical Price Data
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
All-time low: $10.43(2019-10)
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%
Cleanser
Close race, but Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant edges ahead by 4 points based on 256 Reddit opinions.
Why Liquid ExfoliantWinner
- Gold standard for blackheads
- Clears pores effectively
- One bottle lasts months
- More discussed (242 vs 14)
Why Facial Cleanser
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 75%)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
34%Positive
Positive
34%Neutral
56%Negative
10%Based on 242 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
21%Positive
Positive
21%Neutral
65%Negative
14%Based on 14 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser?
Based on 256 Reddit comments, Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant has a slight edge with 77% positive sentiment vs CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser's 73%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser?
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 CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser?
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser has 14 mentions on Reddit with 73% positive sentiment. It's frequently discussed as a solid option.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 256 Reddit comments: 242 about Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and 14 about CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. Data was sourced from Curly hair 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.
111 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/15/2026