Is Paula S Choice 2% BHA Body Smoothing Spot Exfoliant Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe?
Review the flags Standard: Fungal Acne (Malassezia)
Fails safety standards
1 of 32 flagged (1 high-risk, 0 watchlist) — Score 7.0/10
Cosmetiqly Score 7.0/10
Flagged ingredients & clinical citations (1)
The following ingredients in this formulation conflict with Fungal Acne (Malassezia) standards:
Polysorbate 20 HIGH Concern
Polyoxyethylene sorbitan ester directly hydrolyzed by Malassezia lipases into free fatty acids that support yeast proliferation.
Citation: Mayser P, Grimmig D, Krämer HJ. Different utilization of neutral lipids by Malassezia furfur and Malassezia sympodialis. Med Mycol. 1998;36(6):395-402.
Complete INCI formulation (32 ingredients)
Deduplicated| # | Ingredient | Status for Fungal Acne (Malassezia) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aqua | Pass |
| 2 | Butylene | Pass |
| 3 | Glycol | Pass |
| 4 | Cetyl | Pass |
| 5 | Alcohol | Pass |
| 6 | PPG-14 | Pass |
| 7 | Butyl Ether | Pass |
| 8 | Salicylic Acid | Pass |
| 9 | Dimethicone | Pass |
| 10 | Tocopheryl Acetate | Pass |
| 11 | Chamomilla Recutita (Matrucaria) Flower Extract | Pass |
| 12 | Epilobium Angustifolium (Willow Herb) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract | Pass |
| 13 | Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract | Pass |
| 14 | Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract | Pass |
| 15 | Bisabolol | Pass |
| 16 | Allantoin | Pass |
| 17 | Cyclopentasiloxane | Pass |
| 18 | Cyclohexasiloxane | Pass |
| 19 | Dimethiconol | Pass |
| 20 | PEG-40 Stearate | Pass |
| 21 | Sorbitan Stearate | Pass |
| 22 | Polysorbate 20 | Flagged (HIGH) |
| 23 | PVM/MA Decadiene Crosspolymer | Pass |
| 24 | Polyacrylamide | Pass |
| 25 | C13-14 Isoparrafin | Pass |
| 26 | Laureth-7 | Pass |
| 27 | Disodium EDTA | Pass |
| 28 | Sodium Hydroxide | Pass |
| 29 | Hexylene Glycol | Pass |
| 30 | Caprylyl Glycol | Pass |
| 31 | Ethyhexylglycerin | Pass |
| 32 | Phenoxyethanol | Pass |
Evaluated alternative Skincare options (10/10 Score)
The following formulations in this category have been individually evaluated and contain zero Fungal Acne (Malassezia) flags:
Other safety checks for 2% BHA Body Smoothing Spot Exfoliant
Data Provenance & Reviewer Information
- Data Source: Open Beauty Facts · Barcode:
0655439007962(Verify on Source) - Last Data Verification: 2026-11-13
- Editorial Supervisor: Cosmetiqly Research Team, Editorial Team
- Report an Error: If an ingredient list is inaccurate, submit a correction with product packaging proof (72-hour SLA).
Important Disclaimer: This review is an automated toxicological and dermatological screening for educational purposes. It is not medical or dermatological advice. Chemical safety depends on user skin condition and exact concentration. Always patch-test new products.