Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Toner: a Guru Score of 89%

What the experts use it for.

The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

Clogged or visible pores2 experts

“It really helps with pore size, too.”

Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert, watch at 41:47

Breakouts and acne1 expert

“The exfoliating toner is absolutely one of my favorites. This is literally a holy grail for me and my acne-prone skin.”

Cassandra Bankson, watch at 15:15

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Mad About Skin

735k subs

✓Yay

"I also love Paula's Choice toner, but that one is a lot more expensive, so it's not really a dupe."

Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert

55k subs

✓Yay

"I have a really good toner. I want you to start getting toner by Paula's Choice. It really helps with pore size, too."

Dr. Sam Ellis

903k subs

✓Yay

"Paula's Choice is famous for their 2% salicylic acid. [...] The way I instruct my patients to incorporate a salicylic acid toner into their routine is essentially after they cleanse their face, use either their palms or a cotton pad to gently pat over the areas where they feel like their pores are clogged or enlarged. Wait a minute or two for it to dry down and then just go in with the rest of their skincare."

James Welsh

1.58M subs

✓Yay

"This is a chemical exfoliant, this isn't a toner, a toner is a hydrating product that sometimes nowadays have actives in, I'm going to put this as eight, it's a great product but it's not a toner."

Dr. Shereene Idriss

1.74M subs

✓Yay

"Paula's Choice has more of a toner form salicylic acid, it's at two percent as well. You can put this one on your face as a couple of drops to let it sit on your face without having to wash it off and this one retails for thirty bucks."

Cassandra Bankson

2.46M subs

✓Yay

"The exfoliating toner is absolutely one of my favorites. This is literally a holy grail for me and my acne-prone skin."

Top Pick: exfoliating toner

Doctorly

3.59M subs

✓Yay

"You could use a salicylic acid leave-on product like the one from Paula's Choice which is 2%."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Frequently asked.

What is Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Toner?

A leave-on toner from Paula's Choice containing 2% salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid designed to exfoliate and help clear congested pores.

Is Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Toner worth it?

Yes. All 7 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 89%.

What is Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Toner's Guru Score?

Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Toner holds a Guru Score of 89%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 7 expert reviewers we have collected. It is also Guru Certified, our mark for products that hold broad approval across many expert reviewers.

Who is Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Toner best for?

Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Toner is generally suited to acne-prone skin.

What is Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Toner good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Toner is good for clogged or visible pores (2 experts) and breakouts and acne (1 expert).

Is Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Toner good for clogged or visible pores?

2 experts who reviewed Paula's Choice 2% Salicylic Acid Toner say it is. Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert put it this way: “It really helps with pore size, too.”