Cosmetiqly Ingredient Safety
Paula S Choice · Skincare

Is Paula S Choice 2% BHA Body Smoothing Spot Exfoliant Pregnancy & Lactation Safe?

Review the flags Standard: Pregnancy & Lactation

Pass with caution (watchlist items present)

1 of 32 flagged (0 high-risk, 1 watchlist) — Score 8.5/10

Cosmetiqly Score 8.5/10

Flagged ingredients & clinical citations (1)

The following ingredients in this formulation conflict with Pregnancy & Lactation standards:

Salicylic Acid MODERATE Concern

High concentrations (>2%), chemical peels, and widespread body applications are avoided due to potential salicylate toxicity; low-concentration rinse-off products are generally monitored.

Citation: Chien AL, Qi J, Rainer B, et al. Treatment of Acne in Pregnancy. J Am Board Fam Med. 2016;29(2):254-262.

Complete INCI formulation (32 ingredients)

Deduplicated
# Ingredient Status for Pregnancy & Lactation
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 Flagged (MODERATE)
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 Pass
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 Pregnancy & Lactation 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.