With up to 50 million Americans experiencing breakouts at some point, acne is clearly a common skincare concern. And when summer rolls around, breakouts can be even more of an issue when heat and humidity reach a fever pitch. This past couple of years, in particular, acne is likely on the uptick as most folks are dealing with the triple threat — heat, humidity, and masks.
To keep breakouts in check, face washes are a part of your skincare routine that’s non-negotiable. While they spend relatively little time in contact with your skin, in comparison to moisturizers and toners, facial washes are a crucial part of your skincare routine because they do the heavy-lifting to remove dirt, debris, and makeup.
If you’re looking for a facial cleanser to control your acne, we’ve pulled together a list of 5 great products that will help keep breakouts in check.
What To Look For In A Facial Wash
While there is no one size fits all approach for any skincare concern, there are a few things you may want to pay attention to when purchasing a good facial wash for your acne.
The stars of the show, in this case, are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide unclogs your pores, reduces inflammation, and tackles the bacteria that causes acne. Salicylic acid, meanwhile, unclogs your pores, exfoliates dead skin, and keeps the oil on your face to a manageable minimum.
Together both of these skincare powerhouses work beautifully in concert to control acne flareups. But while they’re busy fighting your acne, they have the potential to be a little harsh. So, to keep your skin happy, you’ll also want to make sure your facial wash has some skin-soothing ingredients as well to keep irritation and dry skin to a minimum. Hyaluronic acid, glycerine, and ceramides are always good bets.
Best Facial Cleansers For Acne
Now that you know what to look for, here are 5 of the best facial washes to help keep your acne in check.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash
Neutrogena almost seems synonymous with skin for ance and for good reason. Time tested over decades, it just works. This oil-free acne contains 2% salicylic acid that gets down deep into pores to clear clogged follicles and mitigate oil production. What’s more, it also contains hydrating glycerin.
CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser
CeraVe’s SA cleanser combines acne-fighting salicylic acid with skin-nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and vitamin D for another face wash that’s gentle yet effective. This facial wash was developed with dermatologists, it’s fragrance-free, and maybe as a little bonus, it’s suitable for your face and body.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar
Formulated with 2% salicylic acid, La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar cleanser clears away acne, blackheads, and whiteheads and gently exfoliates your skin. What’s more, it also contains lipo-hydroxy acid, which targets oily skin to remove dirt and debris. This powerful yet gentle cleanser is fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin.
Paula’s Choice Pore Normalizing Cleanser
With salicylic acid as that active ingredient, Paula’s Choice pore normalizing cleanser dissolves oil and pore-clogging dirt, which will lead to unwanted acne breakouts if left unchecked. While powerful enough to keep acne at bay, this formula is still gentle enough for daily use, and it rinses clean, leaving your skin feeling nothing but clean and refreshed.
PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash With Benzoyl Peroxide 10%
With a whopping 10% benzoyl peroxide, PanOxyl’s foaming acne facial wash contains the maximum amount of this powerful acne fighter you can get without a prescription. It promises to rid your skin of existing blemishes and keep new ones from forming. What’s more, this acne facial cleanser is infused with glycerine, so it won’t irritate your skin.
