9 Best Acne Face Washes, Tested and Reviewed for 2024
Whether you're dealing blackheads and whiteheads or stubborn hormonal acne, there's a solution for you.
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I've dealt with breakouts on and off for the last decade, and I've tested and reviewed just about every acne product—from clarifying face serums to pore-purifying face masks—as a result. Surprisingly, one of the most effective types of acne products I've tried over the years are acne face washes. A face wash may seem like a NBD thing, but trust me when I say that the right acne face wash can work wonders, and the wrong one can totally wreak havoc on your face. That's why I rounded up the 9 best acne face washes (with the help of two dermatologists and a board-certified aesthetician), below. Here's a quick peek at some favorites:
Our top picks for best acne face wash of 2024:
Best Acne Face Wash with Benzoyl Peroxide
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Wash with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide
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Best Gentle Acne Face Wash
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Facial Cleanser with Pro-Vitamin B5
Read more
Keep reading for the entire list of the 9 best acne face washes of 2024, complete with pros and cons and customer reviews. There's an option for every skin type and acne type (from clusters of cystic breakouts to the occasional whitehead) on the list, so you're pretty much guaranteed to find the perfect fit for your specific needs.
Pros
- Even though it contains salicylic acid, it's gentle enough for sensitive skin types
- Can be used on face and body
Cons
- Some testers say it's not super effective on cystic acne
A 2023 Cosmo Acne Award winner, this editor-favorite acne face wash helps clear up breakouts but without drying or stripping your skin. “I’ve tried so many acne cleansers in the past and they’ve always left my skin dry and flaky, but Avène’s gentle formula does exactly the opposite. It has 2 percent salicylic acid to degunk pores and keep the cystic acne around my chin from flaring, and it’s also filled with hydrators to keep my skin barrier intact," writes Cosmo's associate shopping editor Daisy Maldonado.
- Size: 6.7 fl oz
- Format: Gel
- Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, thermal spring water
Glowing customer review: "I use this everyday and it has really helped with my breakouts and bumpy texture. I like how it foams up but doesn't make my face feel tight or dry."
Pros
- Contains the highest amount of benzoyl peroxide you can get OTC
- Effective for treating all types of facial acne and even bodne
Cons
- May stain or bleach towels
A favorite of dermatologist Shari Marchbein's, this acne face wash from CeraVe uses 10 percent benzoyl peroxide to kill acne-causing bacteria on the skin to prevent breakouts. "Benzoyl peroxide is by far one of the most effective over-the-counter ingredients for treating acne on the face and body, but it can be drying," says Dr. Marchbein. "That's why I like this option from CeraVe—it combines benzoyl peroxide with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to help soothe skin and maintain a healthy skin barrier."
- Size: 5 fl oz
- Format: Cream
- Key ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
Glowing customer review: "Usually these types of products excessively dry out my face if use them persistently, but I’ve used this every day and my face is still hydrated."
Pros
- Mild formula is safe for sensitive skin or anyone using strong topicals
- Sulfate-free, fragrance-free, dye-free, and essential oil-free
Cons
- Some reviewers say it doesn't fully remove makeup
Not all acne face washes need to contain strong actives to be effective. In fact, dermatologist Claire Wolinsky often recommends simple, gentle cleansers for her acne-prone patients—especially if they're using a topical cream or retinol to treat acne. One of my favorite gentle cleansers is this pick from Neutrogena. The no-foam formula won't strip or dry you out (like some overly aggressive acne face washes are known to do) and leaves skin feeling clean, soft, and hydrated after your rinse thanks to conditioning vitamin B5.
- Size: 16 fl oz
- Format: Liquid
- Key ingredients: Vitamin B5
Glowing customer review: "I love this cleanser. I have acne prone skin and I use adapalene gel, so I need a cleanser that is not going to strip my skin barrier before I use my retinoid! It honestly feels soothing to use too. I use this alone in the morning and then I double cleanse at night with a deep oil cleanser and then this. It’s wonderful!"
Pros
- Soap-free, sulfate-free, dye-free, fragrance-free
- Excellent value for the quality and size of the bottle
Cons
- Low-foam cream texture may not be the best choice for oily skin
Another excellent gentle cleanser for acne-prone skin, this pick from La Roche-Posay not only removes makeup, build-up, and debris on the skin, it actually helps moisturize it too. The magic? A trio of barrier-friendly hydrators and soothers, including thermal spring water, ceramides, and niacinamide. It's a great choice for the winter season when skin tends to be drier, or for anyone using a retinoid for their acne or even taking oral Accutane.
- Size: 13.53 fl oz
- Format: Cream
- Key ingredients: Thermal spring water, ceramides, niacinamide
Glowing customer review: "This fragrance-free formula provides a refreshing cleanse without irritation, leaving my skin clean, moisturized, and noticeably improved in texture. A total game changer for my dry, acne-prone skin."
Skinfix Acne+ 2% BHA + Azelaic Acid + Niacinamide + AHA Cleanser
Pros
- Helps treat all forms of acne, including fungal and hormonal acne
- Helps fade dark spots from old breakouts
Cons
- High number of actives means this may not be the best choice for sensitive skin
I've tested acne face washes, and this is one of my absolute favorites for keeping the hormonal acne around my chin and cheeks in check. The combo of glycolic and salicylic acids help remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, while niacinamide helps control excess oil production and azelaic acid helps minimize acne-causing bacteria on the skin and soothe irritation. There's even some calming green tea extract and zinc in the formula, which is especially helpful since hormonal acne is often angry, red, and inflamed.
- Size: 5 fl oz
- Format: Liquid
- Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, azelaic acid, niacinamide
Glowing customer review: "This product is AMAZING! I have been having random breakouts on my face in my forehead and cheek areas, which have been driving me crazy! After washing my face ONCE I saw a difference the next morning! Must try!"
Pros
- Testers (myself included) say it's gentle enough to use twice a day
- Helps control excess oil and shine
Cons
- Contains fragrance
If blackheads and/or whiteheads are your primary form of breakouts, then this is the acne face wash for you. It's gentle enough to be used twice a day thanks to a low-dose of salicylic acid that gently unclogs pores and removes excess oil without stripping your skin. I love the way the formula leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed post-cleanse, but never tight or irritated. And I swear after using it everyday for two weeks, the blackheads around my nose were significantly less noticeable.
- Size: 6.7 fl oz
- Format: Gel
- Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, zinc and copper minerals
Glowing customer review: "I purchased this for blackheads on and around my nose. I have been using it daily in the mornings for about a month now. My skin definitely looks smoother and the blackheads are mostly gone. The few that remain are much smaller and not as noticeable. I plan to use it for 90 days and hopefully they will be gone altogether."
Pros
- Made with organic, plant-based ingredients
- A great choice for all skin types—including oily and super sensitive
Cons
- Needs to be stored in a soap dish so it doesn't get mushy
You may be sus about bar soap for your face, but this stuff is the real deal. It's made with organic and all-natural ingredients, including black Australian clay to balance your skin, Dead Sea mud to reduce inflammation, and coconut milk to create a rich, creamy lather as you wash. I store it my shower and use it to cleanse my face, chest, and back. It keeps my face and body breakouts in check and leaves my skin nice and moisturized too.
- Size: 2.25 oz
- Format: Bar
- Key ingredients: Black Australian clay, Dead sea mud, coconut milk, jojoba oil, mango butter
Glowing customer review: "I purchased this product because I have very sensitive skin and I'm trying to combat perioral dermatitis and really crappy adult acne that's been going on for 10 years now. My skin doesn't like fragrances, alcohol, and come to find out over the course of the lockdown it really hates most soaps because of the SLSs. Heck, it even hates water past a certain temperature. This product however is one of the very few things I can put on my face and it not react negatively to. It comes as a fairly small bar, but a little goes a long way for sure with this product, so I foresee it lasting me a good long while."
Cons
- Testers with sensitive skin said it was too drying
Dr. Marchbein loves AHAs and BHAs in a face wash for treating both acne and acne scarring. AHAs (like glycolic acid) are great for fading post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or the dark marks left behind after a breakout, explain Dr. Marchbein. On the other hand, BHAs (like salicylic acid) penetrate deep into oil glands to help unclog pores and treat mild comedonal acne such as blackheads, she explains.
I personally love this acne face wash from Community Sixty-Six, which combines AHAs and BHAs to exfoliate and niacinamide to soothe and brighten. After I use this, my skin always feels smoother, clearer, and my pores less noticeable too.
- Size: 5 fl oz
- Format: Gel
- Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide
Glowing customer review: "I enjoyed this cleanser a lot, as I have really oily skin. It leaves my skin cleared and soft, and the matte packaging is really good. I would def repurchase!"
Pros
- Powder formula is travel-friendly and won't leak in your bag
- Contains enzymes, which are great for mild exfoliation
Cons
- Pricey for a face wash (even though testers say it lasts forever)
This face wash is truly such a treat to use. The texture is great (it starts off as a super-fine powder and then when you add a little water it turns into a creamy foam) and the way it makes my skin look and feel post-cleanse is 10/10. The combo of exfoliating enzymes work to remove dead skin cells and free skin from excess oil and sebum to boost smoothness and clarity, white ascorbic acid has an antioxidant effect that helps brighten and firm.
- Size: 2.6 oz
- Format: Powder
- Key ingredients: Enzymes, ascorbic acid
Glowing customer review: "This is such a good cleansing powder. I absolutely love the texture and the way it makes my skin feel afterwards! It is easy to use and it is refreshing. I have been using this in the morning and it has been my go-to. Definitely a must buy."
What face wash is best for acne?
The best face for acne largely depends on your skin type, the severity of your acne, and the other products in your skincare routine. According to Dr. Wolinsky, an acne face wash salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide is great for treating mild acne."Once the acne is more substantial and requires actual acne medications, like retinoids or topical antibiotics, I prefer gentle hydrating cleansers," says Dr. Wolinsky, adding that "acne treatments can be difficult to tolerate (usually drying or irritating the skin) and we don’t want a face wash to compound that irritation."
Overall though, our experts say that the best acne face washes are fragrance-free, sulfate-free, and contains skin barrier-friendly ingredients (like ceramides and hyaluronic acid) to offset any potential dryness.
How do you use an acne face wash?
Acne face washes are used a bit differently than regular face washes. According to licensed aesthetician Jordan Samuel Pacitti, acne cleansers with active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid should be left on the skin for 90 seconds or so. "This gives the ingredients a chance to work before rinsing them off," explains Pacitti.
And in my experience, most acne face washes aren't the best at removing makeup, so you may want to use an oil-based cleanser to remove any makeup first, and then go in with your acne face wash.
How do a I choose a face wash for acne?
Think about the other products in your routine.
If you're already using topical actives to treat your acne, you may not need an acne face wash with actives too. "Someone with more severe breakouts might benefit from a more aggressive approach by using a cleanser, treatment. and cream with acne-fighting ingredients; however, for someone else, the effect of combining products may prove to be too much and lead to further irritation and frustration," says Pacitti. If your skin is sensitive or you're already using a strong topical, a gentle face wash for acne (like Neutrogena's and La Roche-Posay's above) is probably your best bet.
Keep an eye out for these key ingredients.
If you decide to use an acne face wash with active ingredients, our experts say that salicylic acid (BHAs), benzoyl peroxide, and/or sulfur should be on the ingredient list since they're all excellent and treating and preventing breakouts. Other helpful ingredients include AHAs (like glycolic acid, mandelic acid, and lactic acid), azelaic acid, willow bark extract (a mild BHA), niacnamide, and oil-absorbing clays.
Meet the experts:
- Shari Marchbein, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Niche Dermatology in New York, NY, who specializes in cosmetic and medical dermatology. Dr. Marchbein is also a clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone in New York City.
- Claire Wolinksy, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and St. Ives brand partner who treats both medical and cosmetic skin concerns at her practice in New York, NY.
- Jordan Samuel Pacitti is a licensed aesthetician and founder of Jordan Samuel Skin, a skincare line that focuses on simplicity with a less-but-better approach.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from the best retinol eye creams to the best lasers for acne scars. She’s an authority in all skincare categories but an expert when it comes to acne face washes. She regularly tests and analyzes acne face washes for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top dermatologists and estheticians to assess new formulas and brands.
Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for more than a decade at Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.
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