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!”