Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant vs Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
91 facts in comparison
Based on 493 Reddit opinions. Close race—Liquid ExfoliantPaula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant edges ahead.
493 opinions
Liquid Exfoliant leads by 4pts
VS
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 pricesVS
73%
B-
Based on
1,009 Redditors
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
~$5.48
387 opinions
tldr; Reddit highly recommends Vaseline for its exceptional healing, moisturizing, and occlusive properties, often favored by dermatologists and praised for its affordability.
Check prices✓EFF
⭐ING
✋SKI
❤️GEN
💨FRA
72
Points
76
Points
Score by Category
Effectiveness
80%73%
Ingredients
—67%
Skin Feel
50%50%
Gentleness
83%88%
Fragrance
0%—
Why is Original Petroleum Jelly better than BHA Liquid Exfoliant?
- Better value (100% vs 75%)
- Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
- ⏱ Heals skin fast and effectively
- Works as an effective, affordable occlusive
Based on 1,251 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 effectiveness
Gold standard for blackheads
Clears pores effectively
High confidence (1,251 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 1,251 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Liquid Exfoliant
7.7/10
242 mentions
Petroleum Jelly
7.3/10
1,009 mentions
SKIN FEEL
Liquid Exfoliant5.0/10
Petroleum Jelly5.0/10
GENTLENESS
Liquid Exfoliant8.3/10
Petroleum Jelly8.8/10
FRAGRANCE
Liquid Exfoliant0.0/10
Petroleum JellyN/A
EFFECTIVENESS
Liquid Exfoliant8.0/10
Petroleum Jelly7.3/10
VALUE
Liquid Exfoliant7.5/10
Petroleum Jelly10.0/10
INGREDIENTS
Liquid ExfoliantN/A
Petroleum Jelly6.7/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Liquid Exfoliant | Petroleum Jelly |
|---|---|---|
Skin Feel | 50% | 50% |
Gentleness | 83% | 88% |
Fragrance | 0% | N/A |
Effectiveness | 80% | 73% |
Value | 75% | 100% |
Ingredients | N/A | 67% |
Category Wins
Liquid Exfoliant: 1|Petroleum Jelly: 3
Head to Head
Liquid Exfoliant: 1|Petroleum Jelly: 3
Skin Feel
Liquid Exfoliant50%
Petroleum Jelly50%
GentlenessPetroleum Jelly
Liquid Exfoliant83%
Petroleum Jelly88%
Fragrance
Liquid Exfoliant0%
Petroleum JellyN/A
EffectivenessLiquid Exfoliant
Liquid Exfoliant80%
Petroleum Jelly73%
ValuePetroleum Jelly
Liquid Exfoliant75%
Petroleum Jelly100%
IngredientsPetroleum Jelly
Liquid ExfoliantN/A
Petroleum Jelly67%
Liquid Exfoliant
77%
73%
Petroleum Jelly
Liquid Exfoliant77%
Petroleum Jelly73%
Close race - Liquid Exfoliant edges ahead by 4 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant | Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ingredient | 2% Salicylic Acid (BHA) | — |
| Key Supporting Ingredient | Green Tea Extract | — |
| Skin Type | Normal, Oily, Combination | — |
| Texture | Lightweight liquid | — |
| PH Level | 3.5 | — |
Key Highlights
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
Vaseline Original Petroleum JellyWinner
🏆 Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
⏱️ Heals skin fast and effectively
💰 Works as an effective, affordable occlusive
🎯 Leaves skin feeling amazing overnight
💧 Excellent for extremely dry skin when layered
Topic Battles
Liquid Exfoliant: 1|Tied: 2|Petroleum Jelly: 2
✓Effectiveness
Liquid Exfoliant winsLiquid Exfoliant
80%
Petroleum Jelly
73%
⭐Ingredients
Petroleum Jelly winsLiquid Exfoliant
—
Petroleum Jelly
67%
✋Skin Feel
Liquid Exfoliant
50%
Petroleum Jelly
50%
❤️Gentleness
Petroleum Jelly winsLiquid Exfoliant
83%
Petroleum Jelly
88%
💨Fragrance
Liquid Exfoliant
0%
Petroleum Jelly
—
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 Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
Best Praise
+49 pts“My dermatologist won’t let me put anything on my face after any minor surgery by Vaseline. Not even aquapore- just Vaseline. My skin healed so fast. Supposedly to remove stitches it take 4-7bdays, but my skin healed up so fast they have to remove the stitches in 3 days tops. Any wound, dryness - this is all that doctors recommend. My mom also swears that putting light Vaseline on your face and rinsing it before you get out of the shower and applying make up after, your make up will be vibrant and last longer. She was an actress in the 70s and this is how the production make up artist does her make up.”
r/SkincareAddiction
ViewTop Criticism
+11 pts“I guess whoever who hasn't tried it yet, give it a go . But I've since learned during the winter trying to combat dry air, that dabbing a a little Vaseline a bit around my face, causes my face to break out like crazy the next day. Oh the night of, it is shiny and moist and lovely. But the next day, big ol bright red zits”
r/SkincareAddiction
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Liquid Exfoliant
Petroleum Jelly
📈Historical Price Data
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
All-time low: $20.3(2025-11)
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
All-time low: $2.29(2022-05)
Which is Better?
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Wins
77%
Exfoliant
vs
73%
Jelly
Close race, but Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant edges ahead by 4 points based on 1,251 Reddit opinions.
Why Liquid ExfoliantWinner
- Gold standard for blackheads
- Clears pores effectively
- One bottle lasts months
Why Petroleum Jelly
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 75%)
- More discussed (1,009 vs 242)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
34%Positive
Positive
34%Neutral
56%Negative
10%Based on 242 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
28%Positive
Positive
28%Neutral
62%Negative
10%Based on 1,009 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
Based on 1,251 Reddit comments, Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant has a slight edge with 77% positive sentiment vs Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly's 73%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
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 Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
Reddit users highlight: Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor. Heals skin fast and effectively. Works as an effective, affordable occlusive. With 1,009 mentions and 73% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,251 Reddit comments: 242 about Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant and 1,009 about Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly. 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.
493 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/26/2026