Best Cleanser for Acne
The best cleanser for acne depends upon your Baumann Skin Type. This is because the amount of sebum you produce and the strength of your skin barrier determines which cleanser is best for you to unclog pores and prevent and treat pimples. I find that over 80 % of my new patients have been using the wrong cleansers for their acne. Once I put them on the best acne cleansers, they are able to tolerate the rest of their acne regimen better and get faster results. Keep reading to learn if benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or probiotic face washes are best for acne-prone skin.
Best Face Wash to Prevent and Treat Acne
Best Acne Face Wash for Sensitive Skin
There are 4 types of sensitive skin. You should choose your cleanser based on which type of sensitive skin you have. You can have more than one type of sensitive skin which makes choosing a face cleanser for sensitive skin difficult. When you find out your Baumann Skin Type, we take into account which type or types of sensitive skin when we give you our dermatologist-recommended cleanser suggestions in your skin care routine. In general, thee are the types of acne cleansers to look for if you have sensitive or hypersensitive skin.
Pimples and clogged pores only but no redness, stinging or skin allergies
Look for cleansers with a hydroxy acid but match these sensitive skin face washes for acne to whether your ski is oily or dry (Keep reading because I explain this later).
If you have oily skin and no redness, stinging or skin allergies, you may be able to use a benzoyl peroxide cleanser once a day.
Pimples and clogged pores in addition to facial redness or stinging
Look for soothing cleansers with anti-inflammatory ingredients
Avoid benzoyl peroxide cleansers
Salicylic acid cleansers are a great choice if you have oily sensitive skin and acne. These may be too drying for dry skin types.
Pimples and clogged pores with a history of many skin rashes and allergies to skin care products
Look for hypoallergenic products such as the cleansers for allergic acne-prone skin like this product from VMV Hypoallergenics.
Biopelle Tensage Gentle Gel Cleanser
$33.00
Out of Stock
Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 40, (10 ampoules)
$149.60
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 50 (10 ampoules)
$195.00
Out of Stock
Biopelle Tensage Radiance Eye Cream
$95.70
Add to Cart
DermAvance Arnika Forte Capsules
$40.00
Add to Cart
Bioderma Sensibio Foaming Gel Cleanser
$7.19
Add to Cart
Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum
$126.00
Add to Cart
Biopelle Retriderm Serum Plus 0.75% Retinol
$89.50
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Advanced Cream Moisturizer
$89.66
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Daily Serum SCA 15
$149.60
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Gentle Gel Cleanser
$33.00
Out of Stock
Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 40, (10 ampoules)
$149.60
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 50 (10 ampoules)
$195.00
Out of Stock
Biopelle Tensage Radiance Eye Cream
$95.70
Add to Cart
DermAvance Arnika Forte Capsules
$40.00
Add to Cart
Bioderma Sensibio Foaming Gel Cleanser
$7.19
Add to Cart
Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum
$126.00
Add to Cart
Biopelle Retriderm Serum Plus 0.75% Retinol
$89.50
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Advanced Cream Moisturizer
$89.66
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Daily Serum SCA 15
$149.60
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Gentle Gel Cleanser
$33.00
Out of Stock
Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 40, (10 ampoules)
$149.60
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 50 (10 ampoules)
$195.00
Out of Stock
Biopelle Tensage Radiance Eye Cream
$95.70
Add to Cart
DermAvance Arnika Forte Capsules
$40.00
Add to Cart
Bioderma Sensibio Foaming Gel Cleanser
$7.19
Add to Cart
Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum
$126.00
Add to Cart
Biopelle Retriderm Serum Plus 0.75% Retinol
$89.50
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Advanced Cream Moisturizer
$89.66
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Daily Serum SCA 15
$149.60
Add to Cart
Hydroxyacid Cleansers for Acne
Both oily and dry skin types need a low pH cleanser in the morning to treat acne. This is because the bacteria that causes acne does not like being in a low pH environment. Using a low pH cleanser can help lower levels of acne causing bacteria.
Acne Cleansers for Dry Skin
The best acne face washes for dry skin have the a humectant hydroxyacid. Examples of hydroxyacids that can be used in acne cleanser for dry skin include:
Glycolic acid
Lactic acid
Phytic acid
Mandelic acid
Polyhydroxyacid
Gluconolactone
Here are examples of hydroxyacids face washes to use in dry acne-prone skin:
Revision Skincare Brightening Facial Wash
$30.00
Add to Cart
Revision Skincare Purifying Cleansing Gel
$45.00
Add to Cart
SENTE Exfoliating Cleanser
$46.00
Add to Cart
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser Gel
$39.00
Add to Cart
ClarityRx Cleanse As Needed 10% Glycolic Cleanser
$45.00
Add to Cart
Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
$44.00
Add to Cart
Neocutis NEO CLEANSE Exfoliating Skin Cleanser
$40.00
Add to Cart
PCA Skin Facial Wash
$40.00
Add to Cart
Replenix Glycolic Acid Resurfacing Cleanser
$37.00
Add to Cart
Replenix Gly-Sal 5-2 Deep Pore Cleanser
$32.00
Add to Cart
Revision Skincare Brightening Facial Wash
$30.00
Add to Cart
Revision Skincare Purifying Cleansing Gel
$45.00
Add to Cart
SENTE Exfoliating Cleanser
$46.00
Add to Cart
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser Gel
$39.00
Add to Cart
ClarityRx Cleanse As Needed 10% Glycolic Cleanser
$45.00
Add to Cart
Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
$44.00
Add to Cart
Neocutis NEO CLEANSE Exfoliating Skin Cleanser
$40.00
Add to Cart
PCA Skin Facial Wash
$40.00
Add to Cart
Replenix Glycolic Acid Resurfacing Cleanser
$37.00
Add to Cart
Replenix Gly-Sal 5-2 Deep Pore Cleanser
$32.00
Add to Cart
Revision Skincare Brightening Facial Wash
$30.00
Add to Cart
Revision Skincare Purifying Cleansing Gel
$45.00
Add to Cart
SENTE Exfoliating Cleanser
$46.00
Add to Cart
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser Gel
$39.00
Add to Cart
ClarityRx Cleanse As Needed 10% Glycolic Cleanser
$45.00
Add to Cart
Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
$44.00
Add to Cart
Neocutis NEO CLEANSE Exfoliating Skin Cleanser
$40.00
Add to Cart
PCA Skin Facial Wash
$40.00
Add to Cart
Replenix Glycolic Acid Resurfacing Cleanser
$37.00
Add to Cart
Replenix Gly-Sal 5-2 Deep Pore Cleanser
$32.00
Add to Cart
Acne Cleansers for Oily Skin
It is easier for oily skin types to tolerate acne face washes, than dry skin types. And the good new is that pily skin types do very well with face washes for oily skin that have salicylic acid.
One common choice is bergamot oil products, an essential oil without lipids that doesn’t clog pores and with antimicrobial properties.
These are dermatologist-recommended salicylic acid cleansers for acne prone oily skin types:
PCA Skin Dry Skin Relief Bar
$62.00
Add to Cart
Replenix Gly-Sal 5-2 Deep Pore Cleanser
$32.00
Add to Cart
Revision Skincare Papaya Enzyme Cleanser
$32.00
Add to Cart
Revision Skincare Purifying Cleansing Gel
$45.00
Add to Cart
CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser for Normal Skin
$14.22
Out of Stock
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Acne Wash
$12.99
Out of Stock
La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Brightening Deep Cleanser
$26.99
Out of Stock
Murad Clarifying Cleanser
$34.00
Add to Cart
Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Daily Care Foaming Cleanser
$49.00
Add to Cart
PCA Skin Blemish Control Bar
$62.00
Add to Cart
PCA Skin Dry Skin Relief Bar
$62.00
Add to Cart
Replenix Gly-Sal 5-2 Deep Pore Cleanser
$32.00
Add to Cart
Revision Skincare Papaya Enzyme Cleanser
$32.00
Add to Cart
Revision Skincare Purifying Cleansing Gel
$45.00
Add to Cart
CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser for Normal Skin
$14.22
Out of Stock
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Acne Wash
$12.99
Out of Stock
La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Brightening Deep Cleanser
$26.99
Out of Stock
Murad Clarifying Cleanser
$34.00
Add to Cart
Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Daily Care Foaming Cleanser
$49.00
Add to Cart
PCA Skin Blemish Control Bar
$62.00
Add to Cart
PCA Skin Dry Skin Relief Bar
$62.00
Add to Cart
Replenix Gly-Sal 5-2 Deep Pore Cleanser
$32.00
Add to Cart
Revision Skincare Papaya Enzyme Cleanser
$32.00
Add to Cart
Revision Skincare Purifying Cleansing Gel
$45.00
Add to Cart
CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser for Normal Skin
$14.22
Out of Stock
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Acne Wash
$12.99
Out of Stock
La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Brightening Deep Cleanser
$26.99
Out of Stock
Murad Clarifying Cleanser
$34.00
Add to Cart
Obagi CLENZIderm M.D. Daily Care Foaming Cleanser
$49.00
Add to Cart
PCA Skin Blemish Control Bar
$62.00
Add to Cart
Benzoyl Peroxide Cleansers for Acne
Benzoyl peroxide cleansers also lower the amount of acne causing bacteria on the skin, but these can be hard to tolerate unless you are an oily resistant Baumann Skin Type.
In most cases, you will only be able to use these one time a day on your face.
Benzoyl peroxide cleansers can be used on the body such as the back and buttocks to treat stubborn acne in these areas. In fact, benzoyl peroxide cleansers are the best body washes for body acne.
Here are some examples of benzoyl peroxide cleansers:
Replenix BP 10% Acne Wash + Aloe Vera
$27.00
Add to Cart
Replenix BP 5% Acne Wash
$27.00
Add to Cart
Jan Marini Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% Acne Treatment Wash
$57.00
Add to Cart
Murad Acne Body Wash
$44.00
Add to Cart
PCA Skin BPO 5% Cleanser
$46.00
Add to Cart
Replenix BP 10% Acne Wash + Aloe Vera
$27.00
Add to Cart
Replenix BP 5% Acne Wash
$27.00
Add to Cart
Jan Marini Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% Acne Treatment Wash
$57.00
Add to Cart
Murad Acne Body Wash
$44.00
Add to Cart
PCA Skin BPO 5% Cleanser
$46.00
Add to Cart
Replenix BP 10% Acne Wash + Aloe Vera
$27.00
Add to Cart
Replenix BP 5% Acne Wash
$27.00
Add to Cart
Jan Marini Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% Acne Treatment Wash
$57.00
Add to Cart
Murad Acne Body Wash
$44.00
Add to Cart
PCA Skin BPO 5% Cleanser
$46.00
Add to Cart
Prebiotic and Probiotic Cleansers for Acne
There is not yet enough known about which bacteria are the healthiest to be on the skin and control acne. For this reason, I do not recommend prebiotic and probiotic face washes to treat acne. We have so many other options!
How to Find the Best Acne Cleanser for My Baumann Skin Type
There are many types of face cleansers to treat acne- but they are just one part of a complete skin care routine for acne. You may need two different cleansers to treat your acne. You can learn more here about why you may need two different cleansers, one for the am and one for the pm.
The acne cleanser you choose will affect other products in the skin care regimen, so you need to consider what other products you will use. You see- products affect the efficacy and side effects of acne treatments. Using a low pH cleanser, for example, will increase the amount of retinoid that is absorbed in the skin. This means that the cleanser you choose will determine what strength of retinoid you should use.
We can help! Once you know your Baumann Skin Type, we will give you an exact acne skin care routine with steps. You will be able to choose from a list of cleansers for your morning and evening skin care routine.
You can be confident that these cleansers are right for your skin type. If you follow the entire routine recommendations, you can be sure that the acne cleanser you choose works well with other acne treatment products in the regimen.
