Finding the Best Acne Face Washes

While most people associate pimples with puberty, acne can hit at any age and it affects people well into adulthood. For women, breakouts can even start up during perimenopause and menopause. But before you reach for medicated serums and creams, we strongly encourage you to look at your cleanser first. A good acne face wash is the foundation for a great routine.

So, where should you begin? Maren Locke, MD, who goes by The Budget Dermatologist on social media, recommends that you first narrow your search by considering gentle cleansers. If you want something stronger (ie. a formula that has acne-fighting ingredients) choose chemical exfoliation over physical. “[Chemical exfoliation] means allowing the topical acid to gently dissolve the layer of dead skin cells and dislodge the pore-clogging debris rather than using microbeads or products with gritty textures,” says Dr. Locke. “Often, physical exfoliators … can be too harsh and strip away the skin’s protective barrier. This barrier damage can result in increased inflammation and trigger acne breakouts.”

As such, our product guide lists both traditional gentle face washes and medicated face washes with chemical exfoliants. We have not recommended any cleansers with physical exfoliators.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Acne Face Washes

Though a great acne face wash can do wonders for your skin and prevent future breakouts, it isn’t a miracle worker. Other factors are at play, including your exercise routine, sleep habits, diet, medical conditions and tap water. It’s important to think about each of these external and internal factors before switching your cleanser to something new. We also recommend speaking with your primary care provider or a dermatologist to help you see the full picture of your skin health.

In addition, it’s important to decide whether you want your cleanser to have active ingredients or not. Active ingredients like salicylic acid work beautifully to clear clogged pores, but they can also be drying and irritating. However, they may be ideal in wash-off form which minimizes sensitivities. Whether you choose a cleanser with active ingredients or a no-nonsense, gentle face wash, we recommend using salicylic acid in just one product in your skincare routine to start.

What Are the Different Types of Acne Face Washes?

Acne face washes come in three main forms: foam, cream or lotion and gel. All three forms may have active ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to help control breakouts.

Foam

A foam cleanser is any cleanser that lathers and foams when you rub it into your skin in circles. These cleansers can be thick and creamy or light and airy depending on the other ingredients in the formula. If you have dry or sensitive skin and want to try a foam cleanser, we recommend using one that feels thick and creamy. Even then, you may run into excessive dryness.

Cream/Lotion

Cream and lotion-based cleansers don’t have foaming agents or traditional cleansing ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate. Instead, they rely solely on hydrating ingredients to help slough off dead skin cells and remove excess oil. Cream and lotion cleansers are best for people with sensitive and dry skin, though they don’t cleanse the skin deeply or remove makeup well. If you use a lotion cleanser, you may want to have a deep-cleaning face wash on hand for days full of SPF, makeup or sweat.

Gel

Gel cleansers have a clear, jelly-like formula that doesn’t contain any oils. They may contain hydrators and foaming agents, though not always. In addition, many dermatologists recommend them for acne-prone skin because they do an excellent job of drawing out oil and clearing pores. However, they may exacerbate dry skin, especially if they contain foaming agents.