16 Best Face Washes for Acne-Prone Skin, According to Dermatologists
For blemish-prone skin, a great skin-care routine starts with the best face wash for acne. We know there's a dizzying number of facial cleansers on the market, and finding a formula that effectively targets hormonal acne, whiteheads, cystic acne, blackheads, and other blemishes isn't the most straightforward task. So we (and our board-certified dermatologist friends) are here to help. Those with acne-prone skin, in particular, should be laser-focused on finding an acne cleanser that unclogs pores, gently exfoliates, and doesn't exacerbate existing blemishes.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser, $17
- Best for Clogged Pores: Paula's Choice Pore Normalizing Cleanser, $19
- Best Gel Cleanser: Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser, $13
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser, $34
- Best Splurge: SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel, $45
- Best Drugstore: Differin Daily Deep Cleanser, $10
- Best for Blackheads: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Acne + Blackhead Cleanser, $13
- Best for Whiteheads: Avène Cleanance Acne Clearing Gel, $21
Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, has some handy, essential guidelines she abides by. She always recommends gentle cleansers over harsh soaps—especially ones with physical exfoliants — to clear the skin of dirt and excess oil. Don't aggressively rub, scrub, or over-cleanse either (twice a day, morning and night, is perfectly fine) to avoid worsening your skin's condition and encouraging scarring. With that in mind, read on to pick out one of these 16 best face washes for acne to add to your cart and your routine, ASAP.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What ingredients should I look for?
- What if I'm on an acne prescription?
- So, I used a cleanser…now what?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser
Why It's Worth It: La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser has the word "medicated" in its name for good reason. Dr. Chang explains that 2% salicylic and lipo hydroxy acids clear pores and "prevent acne before it even starts," which is as good as a pitch gets.
Editor Tip: As part of a Best of Beauty-winning three-step acne system, this lightly foaming wash is gentle enough to use daily and is even considered a dermatologist-approved product for treating cystic acne.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, lipo hydroxy acids | Who It's For: Acne-prone skin, oily skin
Best for Clogged Pores: Paula's Choice Pore Normalizing Cleanser
Why It's Worth It: In case you weren't aware, 2% is the maximum amount of salicylic acid—one of our favorite acne-fighting ingredients of all time—that can be used in an over-the-counter (OTC) product. Paula's Choice Pore Normalizing Cleanser has a smaller dose of beta hydroxy acid (0.5%, to be exact) which board-certified dermatologist David Kim, MD, says is, "less irritating to the skin but still effective for acne."
Editor Tip: If you have acne-prone, dry skin and are worried about your skin feeling tight or flaky, use this face cleanser once daily and for a gentle, hydrating option in your morning routine.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, panthenol, glycerin | Who It's For: Acne-prone skin, clogged pores
Best Gel Cleanser: Beauty of Joseon Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser
Why It's Worth It: Been burned by high concentrations of AHAs and BHAs? Beauty of Joseon's Green Plum Refreshing Cleanse, formulated with 24% plum water, is a gentler take on formulas targeted toward acne-prone skin. Found across an array of Beauty of Joseon's products, mung bean seed extract is a mild exfoliator that locks moisture into the skin, thanks to its saponin. Plum water, as you might guess, also boosts hydration, so your face feels clean and refreshed, but never tight.
Editor Tip: Follow up your cleanser with Beauty of Joseon's Green Plum Refreshing Toner to get rid of any stubborn dirt or debris lingering in your pores. (The two products are even sold in a set for $26—saving you $5.)
Key Ingredients: Plum water (24%), mung bean seed extract (3%) | Who It's For: Those who prefer gentle physical exfoliation over chemical
Best for Sensitive Skin: Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser
Why It's Worth It: Dr. Green is also a fan of Drunk Elephant's Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, a face wash that gently unclogs pores without over-stripping your skin of its natural oils. This fragrance-free skin-care product contains a blend of mild surfactants, including coconut-based surfactants that are potent with fatty acids, to cleanse without irritating skin.
Editor Tip: Besides its cleansing abilities, this cleanser helps soften skin and retain moisture with glycerin. Due to its cleansing and moisturizing skills, Dr. Green says this face wash works exceptionally well for individuals with oily, acne-prone, and combination skin types.
Key Ingredients: Cantaloupe extract, glycerin, marula oil | Who It's For: Combination, oily, and acne-prone skin
Best Splurge: SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel
Why It's Worth It: SkinCeuticals's LHA Cleanser Gel penetrates pores to exfoliate, purify, and even skin tone. Exfoliating is good for acne-prone skin because it can reduce the appearance of scarring by targeting inflammation and bacteria, and this one is safe to use twice a day if you'd like.
Editor Tip: Brendan Camp, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, says the SkinCeuticals Purifying Cleanser is another great option if you'd like to skip the salicylic acid. is a nourishing cleansing gel that contains glycolic acid, one of the best exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids that'll target clogged pores, dullness, and uneven skin tone all at once.
Key Ingredients: LHA, glycolic acid, salicylic acid | Who It's For: Acne-prone, oily, or combination skin
Best Drugstore: Differin Daily Deep Cleanser
Why It's Worth It: As the first prescription acne drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for over-the-counter (OTC) use, Differin is still as reliable as ever. For example, the Daily Deep Cleanser is affordable and highly effective at keeping acne at bay — a winning combination.
Editor Tip: The formula contains 5% benzoyl peroxide, which Dr. Chang says is a maximum-strength dose that is "still gentle and generally well-tolerated." She also notes that the chemical compound has been shown to reduce inflammation and kill acne-causing bacteria. Just take your time thoroughly rinsing off the cleanser, as it could stain your towels.
Key Ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide, glycerin | Who It's For: Oily, acne-prone skin
Best for Blackheads: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Acne + Blackhead Cleanser
Why It's Worth It: The best-selling cleanser from The Inkey List works on the face and body (shout out backne) to reduce acne blemishes and excess oil. It helps to unclog pores, remove dirt, and naturally exfoliate. No need to revamp your entire routine, either: This treatment can be layered with other skin-care favorites like vitamin C serum, retinol, sunscreen, and hyaluronic acid.
Editor Tip: The Inkey List is now making this cleanser in an XL bottle, so once you fall in love, stock up with a supersized bottle.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, zinc compound, allantoin | Who It's For: Oily, acne-prone skin
Best for Whiteheads: Avène Cleanance Acne Clearing Gel
Why It's Worth It: Avène products are French pharmacy staples, and for good reason. Their 2% salicylic acid Cleanance Acne Clearing Gel targets excess oil to help get rid of blemishes, whiteheads, and blackheads without stripping the skin barrier. You can apply it morning and night, massaging in gentle circles into damp skin.
Editor Tip: It's best to use this cleanser with lukewarm water, because hot water can be irritating.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, lactobacillus ferment lysate, betamine and saccharide isomerate, spring water| Who It's For: Acne-prone skin
Best Fragrance-Free Cleanser: CeraVe Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser
Why It's Worth It: Dr. Chang and Dr. Kim, offer up CeraVe's Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser as one of their top choices, but Dr. Kim points out that CeraVe doesn't disclose its percentage of salicylic acid. However, both doctors agree it's a gentle cleanser that removes dirt and excess sebum from pores.
Editor Tip: Formulated with skin-restoring ceramides and calming niacinamide to protect and repair the skin barrier, as Dr. Chang acknowledges, this fragrance-free option is a pretty safe bet. After all, you can cop a sizable eight-ounce bottle for less than $15 at the drugstore.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, ceramides, niacinamide | Who It's For: Oily skin, clogged pores, acne-prone skin
Most Soothing Formula: KraveBeauty Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser
Why It's Worth It: This gentle, non-stripping cleanser serves serious hydration. Vitamin B5 and sodium PCA do the heavy lifting when it comes to moisturizing, and the green tea oil gives the formula an antioxidant-rich boost. If oiliness is contributing to your acne, this is a great daily cleanser to try.
Editor Tip: The original formula contained almond oil, but it's since been reformulated to be 100 percent nut-allergy safe.
Key Ingredients: Sodium PCA, hemp oil, matcha, vitamin B5 | Who It's For: Dry, oily, sensitive, or acne-prone skin
Best for Active Breakouts: Rosen Earth Cleanser
Why It's Worth It: Rosen's Earth Cleanser keeps its ingredient list short and simple, with no fillers in sight. This creamy, slightly foaming cleanser combines pore-clearing Fuller's earth clay, zinc oxide, and antibacterial eucalyptus oil to keep breakouts at bay. Not to mention, niacinamide makes a special appearance to reduce inflammation and minimize the appearance of large pores.
Editor Tip: Dermatologists have previously said zinc-heavy clay can benefit people managing acne that looks like red, angry papules. It acts as both an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory to soothe skin.
Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, niacinamide, tea tree oil, earth clay | Who It's For: Cystic acne, clogged pores
Best for Inflammation: Versed Keep the Peace Acne Calming Cleanser
Why It's Worth It: Another affordable acne-busting face wash is Versed's Keep the Peace Acne Calming Cleanser. It's spiked with 1.5% salicylic acid (close to the maximum allowed), so Dr. Kim notes it "gives that extra oomph for people with oily skin."
Editor Tip: Ringing in a pH range of 5.2 to 6.2 (close to the skin's usual pH of 5.5), this foaming cream cleanser also packs anti-inflammatory and antibacterial blue tansy to reduce signs of redness and keep skin happy.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, blue tansy, apple fruit extract | Who It's For: Oily skin, redness
Best Cleansing Bar: DamDam Snow Mushroom Salt Cleanser
Why It's Worth It: Here's a 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner from J-beauty brand DamDam. The Snow Mushroom Salt Cleanser is a solid, waterless cleansing bar, which means lower-waste and longer-lasting. It has a refreshingly simple ingredients list: Snow mushroom (which acts like hyaluronic acid), salt, and plant fiber for that good, foaming action.
Editor Tip: For double the scrub, the cleansing bar fits into an (included) exfoliating glove to polish your skin gently. Our testers say it "yielded the smoothest results, bar none."
Key Ingredients: Snow mushroom, salt, plant fiber | Who It's For: All skin types, clogged pores, dullness
Best for Dark Spots: Hyper Skin Gentle Brightening Cleansing Gel
Why It's Worth It: Hyper Skin's AHA cleanser relies on gentler mandelic acid to sweep away pimple-causing bacteria, plus other antibacterial botanicals like willow bark extract. Not only is this cleanser good for people with acne, but it also works on hyperpigmentation and overall dullness.
Editor Tip: The brightening cleanser is also formulated with soothing, protective antioxidants and botanicals like vitamin E, cucumber extract, aloe, and arbutin.
Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid, licorice root, willow bark extract, vitamin E | Who It's For: Dullness, acne-prone skin
Best Foaming Cleanser: Hero Cosmetics Exfoliating Cleanser
Why It's Worth It: Unsurprisingly, a brand responsible for award-winning pimple patches also created an effective acne-fighting cleanser that's won us over. Meet Hero Cosmetics' Clear Collective Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser, a jelly-to-foam (via dissolving konjac jellies that activate the foam) and fragrance-free formula infused with a long list of good-for-skin ingredients.
Editor Tip: Two types of alpha hydroxy acids (or AHAs), glycolic and mandelic acid, dissolve dead skin upon contact while willow bark extract gently resurfaces. Enzymes found in pineapple and yuzu fruit extracts also aid in chemical exfoliation and unclogging pores.
Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, mandelic acid, fruit enzymes, gluconolactone, willow bark extract | Who It's For: All skin types
Most Iconic: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash
Why It's Worth It: Chances are, you've tried Neutrogena's Oil-Free Acne Wash at least once in your lifetime. This drugstore MVP contains salicylic acid, a chemical exfoliator known as one of the key ingredients for minimizing breakouts.
Editor Tip: This cleanser contains a maximum of 2% salicylic acid to pack a punch on breakouts, but soothing ingredients like aloe help counteract the active acne-fighter's potentially irritating effects.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, aloe vera | Who It's For: Oily skin, clogged pores
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients should I look for in a face wash for acne?
Dr. Chang tells us to look out for two powerhouse ingredients: salicylic acid, a type of beta hydroxy acid (or BHA) that "goes deep into the pores to clear them from excess oil and dirt," and benzoyl peroxide, which guards against inflammation and kills acne-causing bacteria. Milder ingredients include tea tree oil or green tea, which also provide skin-soothing benefits.
David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, keeps it real when it comes to face washes marketed toward acne-prone skin. Facial cleansers are naturally washed-off so, while helpful, they're not the most critical aspect of an acne-targeted routine as a more intensive spot treatment.
What if I'm on an acne prescription?
Dr. Kim himself went through two rounds of the acne treatment Accutane, which informed his advice to patients on prescription treatments. He strongly advocates that a good prescription topical or systemic regime patient can use any cleanser, including those not specifically designed for acne. But, he adds, "If a patient has very mild acne and is only using over-the-counter (OTC) topicals, adding an acne-specific cleanser can be helpful."
So, I used a cleanser…now what?
As for follow-up tips, always apply any acne medications immediately after cleansing to allow the active ingredients to work their magic, which Dr. Chang says can take up to 6 to 12 weeks of continued daily use. And never forgo moisturizing. Rather than clogging your pores, a lightweight cream will ensure your skin stays hydrated and protected, especially if you're using a drying topical medication. Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in West Islip, New York, recommends avoiding layering retinoids, as well as products that contain fragrance and alcohol, on top of acid-laced cleansers — because these pairings can lead to dryness and irritation.
Meet the experts
- Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City
- David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City
- Brendan Camp, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City
- Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in West Islip, New York
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best face washes for acne, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: formula, which acne concerns are targeted (whiteheads, blackheads, cystic acne, etc.), skin type, price point, and efficacy. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
More acne-friendly skin care this way:
- 16 Best Acne Spot Treatments for Getting Rid of Pimples Fast
- The 19 Best Korean Skin-Care Products for Acne
- 5 Dermatologists with Acne Share Their Own Skin-Care Routines
Now, watch Alix Earle's 10-minute makeup routine for acne-prone skin:
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