Dealing with relentless breakouts? Your skin might be trying to tell you something—and your cleanser could be to blame. The best face washes for acne-prone skin contain active ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to treat pimples. Plus, they remove any lingering traces of makeup, dirt, or oil that could cause future acne.
Not all acne-prone skin is the same, though. On top of breakouts, you might have an oily T-zone, dry patches, or sensitivities to certain ingredients. To help you find the cleanser that’s right for you, we spoke with dermatologists and SELF staffers for their recommendations—shop them all below.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: CeraVe SA Cleanser, $16
- Best for Uneven Texture: SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, $48
- Best for Face and Body Acne: PanOxyl Acne Treatment Bar, $11
- Best for Dry Skin: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser, $10
- Best for Oily Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser, $20
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel, $34
In this article
Shop the best face washes for acne-prone skin
And don’t forget to pair them with a good moisturizer.
Best Overall: CeraVe SA Cleanser
CeraVe is a favorite skin care brand among dermatologists and SELF editors because its gentle formulas use active ingredients to get down to business. This cleanser is no exception—it contains salicylic acid to unclog pores and regulate oil, niacinamide to soothe irritation, hyaluronic acid to hydrate, and ceramides to support your skin barrier.
“My face skews oily, but can be dry at times, and this never irritates my acne-prone skin,” says one SELF tester. “It has a smooth, gel-like consistency that morphs into a gentle lather, for that clean but not overly dry feeling. I also love using this on my chest and upper back during the warmer months—all that sweat buildup tends to break me out, and this keeps things looking pretty clear.”
Size: 8, 12, 16 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Hydrating glycerin, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine (cleansing agent derived from coconut oil)
Best for Uneven Texture: SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
SkinMedica
AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
The exfoliating lactic, glycolic, citric, and malic acids (all alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs), plus jojoba spheres, gently buff skin to tackle texture. And salicylic acid—a beta hydroxy acid, or BHA—gets deep into pores to clear out oil and dead skin cells that can lead to breakouts.
“This cleanser was recommended to me by an esthetician after glancing at my dull skin,” SELF’s editor in chief, Jessica Cruel, says. “She prescribed it to help clear the dead skin cells that were getting stuck under layers of sunscreen and sweat, making my skin break out in small little bumps. I’ve been using it since that appointment, and my post-facial glow has been maintained.”
Size: 6 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Hydrating glycerin and panthenol, soothing bisabolol
Best for Face and Body Acne: PanOxyl Acne Treatment Bar
PanOxyl
Acne Treatment Bar
PanOxyl has been a breakout-combating superhero for years, but one SELF writer has a hot take: The bar version, designed for your face and body, is better. “This is my holy grail for breakouts,” Jenna Ryu says. “All I do is lather, leave this on my face for about two minutes, then wash it off. It’s a bit drying (which I don’t mind, as someone with combination skin), but this really minimizes the size of my whiteheads in particular!”
Its star ingredient is benzoyl peroxide, which kills acne-causing bacteria and unclogs pores. Editor tip: Benzoyl peroxide is powerful and can be irritating, especially if you have sensitive skin. So you might want to gradually introduce it to your routine by washing with this once or twice a week at first.
Size: 4 oz | Other notable ingredients: Glycerin
Best for Dry Skin: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser
Neutrogena
Hydro Boost Exfoliating Cleanser
Having acne doesn’t always mean you have oily skin. If you’re trying to tackle dryness and prevent breakouts in one go, try this cleanser from Neutrogena. Noah Gatch, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York, tells SELF that it’s also a great pick for mature skin, which typically needs more moisture as well.
“It offers hydration with hyaluronic acid while gently exfoliating [with glycolic and lactic acids], making it less likely to over-dry aging skin,” he says. Also, its gel-cream formula won’t leave your skin feeling stripped.
Size: 5 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Papaya fruit extracts (contains enzymes that gently exfoliate skin)
Best for Oily Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser
La Roche-Posay
Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser
Reaching for blotting paper throughout the day? Your skin may be over-producing oil, which can lead to acne. Formulated without any exfoliants or drying ingredients, this cleanser can regulate sebum (your skin’s oil) production with niacinamide. It also offers moisturizing and barrier-repairing benefits, thanks to vitamin E and ceramides, respectively.
While seeking out a hydrating cleanser might seem counterintuitive, the last thing you want to do is dry out your skin and cause it to overcompensate by producing even more oil. And this one has a stamp of approval from the experts: “It’s a great gentle gel cleanser for acne—it’s soap-free, pH-balanced, reasonably priced, and a little goes a long way,” Mara Weinstein Velez, MD, board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center, tells SELF.
Size: 1.7, 6.76, 13.52 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Glycerin
Best for Sensitive Skin: Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel
Avène
Cleanance Cleansing Gel
“This is a must have for acne-prone patients with super-sensitive skin,” Dr. Weinstein Velez says. Its acne-fighting hero is Comedoclastin—a proprietary extract derived from milk thistle that reduces the appearance of blemishes. Meanwhile, zinc gluconate and thermal spring water soothe irritation.
Size: 13.5 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Hydrogenated castor oil (an emollient)
How we chose face washes for acne-prone skin
Dermatologists and SELF staffers recommended their favorite face washes that help prevent and treat acne. Then, we pared our list down to the very best option for each skin type and concern. We’re confident there’s a cleanser for everyone on this list, whether you’re tackling blackheads, whiteheads, or closed comedones.
What should you look for in a face wash for acne-prone skin?
“The formulation of a cleanser can make a big difference for acne-prone skin,” Dr. Gatch says. “Gel or foaming cleansers are typically better for oily or acne-prone skin because they help remove excess sebum and impurities without leaving residue.” Cream cleansers, on the other hand, can be too heavy or clog pores, leading to more breakouts, he says.
Derms suggest you keep an eye out for these ingredients while you shop.
- Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that gets down into pores, breaking up sebum and dead skin cells that might otherwise clog them.
- Benzoyl peroxide is an antimicrobial ingredient that kills acne-causing bacteria.
- Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), like glycolic acid or lactic acid, gently exfoliate. They can improve your skin’s texture and tone without causing much irritation.
- Niacinamide is an anti-inflammatory multitasker—it regulates sebum production and can calm irritated skin.
- Soothing ceramides reinforce the skin barrier that acne disrupts.
- Hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe, and glycerin keep skin moisturized (instead of drying it out).
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