Break Up With Breakouts With The 10 Best Acne Face Washes For Every Skin Type

There are few things more humbling than a surprise breakout. One minute you’re sealing your skincare routine with a smug swipe of lip balm and the next? Boom. A hormonal zit so big it needs its own Google Calendar. Personally, I’ve tried every cleanser and treatment out there for sensitive skin and breakouts — from tea tree oil to TikTok-approved gimmicks — but not all acne face washes are created equal. Some are too harsh, some do nothing, and some are, against all odds, actually perfect.

And because I have combination/dehydrated skin prone to both hormonal breakouts, blackheads, large pores, scars, and perioral dermatitis (a fun combo!), I’ve become an obligatory expert in what works, what irritates, and what just makes you want to cry under fluorescent Sephora lighting (for good or bad). We also spoke to a true dermatological expert to get the deets on what really goes down on your skin when washing with an acne cleanser.

“Acne cleansers are specifically formulated for acne-prone skin, and often contain active ingredients such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide or sulfur that can help reduce breakouts,” Carolyn Stull, MD, NYC-based double-board-certified dermatologist, told the New York Post. “In addition, acne cleansers should be non-comedogenic, meaning they are formulated without ingredients known to clog pores and contribute to acne.”

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So, whether you’re oily, dry, fungal, or just generally fed up, there’s a cleanser on this list for you. I tested them all on my own high-maintenance face and only kept the ones that didn’t betray me. These 11 made the cut.

Additionally, be sure to check out the below Q&A with board-certified dermatologists in the in-depth FAQ section following the top products tested.

Best overall: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser

If you only buy one cleanser for breakouts, let it be this. La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser hits the sweet spot between clinical strength and everyday usability. It contains 2% salicylic acid to unclog pores and target breakouts, plus LHA (a gentler, oil-soluble exfoliant) for smoother skin texture. The gel foams lightly without stripping, and there’s no added fragrance — just a clean, efficient rinse that leaves skin feeling fresh but never tight.

I’ve cycled through dozens of acne cleansers, but this is the only one I consistently come back to. When my jawline flares up around my period, or I see little blackheads forming across my nose and chin, this zaps them before they turn into something messier. And it somehow manages not to piss off my perioral dermatitis, which feels like sorcery.

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Active ingredients: 2% Salicylic Acid, LHA | Best for: Combo, oily, hormonal, or sensitive breakout-prone skin

Best drugstore: CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser

A true unicorn in the drugstore aisle, CeraVe’s acne cleanser is one of the few benzoyl peroxide options that doesn’t leave your skin gasping for moisture. It uses 4% benzoyl peroxide — enough to kill acne bacteria — but pairs it with CeraVe’s signature ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to restore your barrier at the same time. The texture is creamy but washes away clean, making it ideal for both first-timers and veteran acne battlers.

I originally bought this in a panic after a cystic spot showed up the night before an event. I was fully expecting red, flaky fallout, but instead, my skin looked better the next morning. I now use it 2–3x per week around my cycle. It’s shockingly non-irritating and the only benzoyl peroxide cleanser that doesn’t trigger tightness or a breakout backlash for me.

My fellow commerce reporter, Victoria Giardina, stated, “When in doubt, go with CeraVe. It’s one of the best skincare brands I’ve reviewed, as I also love to layer my routine with the AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($14) — one of the best moisturizers with SPF I’ve reviewed — and the Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum ($17). The Acne Control Cleanser tends to leave my skin more matte, which some users may not prefer, though it’s not a dealbreaker. I love how it makes my skin feel and, whenever I want a drugstore recommendation, I always flock to this one.”

Active ingredients: 4% Benzoyl Peroxide, Niacinamide, Ceramides | Best for: Hormonal acne, cystic breakouts, sensitive combo skin

Most gentle: Dr. Ceuracle Tea Tree Purifine 30 Cleansing Foam

If your skin is as high-strung and reactive as mine, meet your new favorite face wash. Dr. Ceuracle’s formula is based on 30% tea tree extract (not just oil) and amino acid–derived cleansing agents that gently purify while soothing inflammation. It’s got the vibe of a classic foaming cleanser but zero of the tight, squeaky aftermath. It’s especially well-suited for people managing both acne and conditions like perioral dermatitis or rosacea.

The first time I used this, I actually said, out loud, “Wait, why is my skin soft?” It gave me the clean I needed after a sweaty day, without even a whisper of dryness. No burning, no redness, no weird tightness around my mouth. Just calm, clean, breakout-free skin that didn’t need a ten-step follow-up.

Active ingredients: Tea Tree Extract, Amino Acid Surfactants | Best for: Sensitive, inflamed, or combo acne-prone skin

Best for oily skin: Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment

This minty blue gel is a godsend for oil slicks. With 1.5% salicylic acid, ginger root, and frankincense extract, it delivers a cooling deep clean that doesn’t over-strip but definitely takes no prisoners. Think of it as your oil-slaying morning wake-up call. The tingling sensation is oddly satisfying, and it visibly decongests skin after just one wash.

I use this when my T-zone is spiraling. It instantly mattifies and leaves my skin feeling clean but not tight. The minty tingle makes me feel like I’m doing something productive before 10 a.m., and with this cleanser, I am.

Active ingredients: 1.5% Salicylic Acid, Ginger Root | Best for: Oily, acne-prone skin

Best for dry skin: Round Lab Dokdo Cleanser

Dry, dehydrated, flake-prone skin needs more than a gentle cleanse — it needs restoration. Round Lab’s Dokdo Cleanser uses mineral-rich deep seawater from Ulleungdo Island, paired with panthenol and allantoin to keep skin calm, hydrated, and free of surface gunk. Despite the hydrating ingredients, it still has enough cleansing power to remove oil and light makeup.

I reach for this when my face feels paper-thin or post-exfoliation. It foams beautifully but never leaves me tight. Even when my skin is red and sensitized (hi, winter), this one brings me back to life.

Active ingredients: Deep Sea Water, Panthenol, Allantoin | Best for: Dry, dehydrated, or barrier-damaged skin

Best for cystic acne: PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash 10% Benzoyl Peroxide

When you’re dealing with painful, under-the-skin cystic acne, sometimes you need the nuclear option. This drugstore classic contains the highest benzoyl peroxide percentage available OTC—10%—and delivers it in a gentle foam. It’s fast, furious, and incredibly effective at killing the bacteria that cause cysts and large-scale breakouts. Bonus: it works on body acne, too.

I don’t use this every day (you shouldn’t), but when I get that telltale deep bump that hurts to the touch, I use this and it’s gone in 48 hours. It will bleach your towels, but it also works better than half the prescriptions I’ve tried.

Active ingredients: 10% Benzoyl Peroxide | Best for: Cystic acne, body breakouts, oily skin

Best for hormonal acne: Acwell Bubble Free pH Balancing Cleanser

This is the rare hormonal-acne cleanser that doesn’t scream at your skin. It’s sulfate-free, non-foaming, and perfectly pH-balanced at 5.5—making it ideal for skin that’s breaking out but also painfully reactive. Its secret weapon? Licorice root extract, which helps fade post-acne marks and brighten dull skin, paired with centella asiatica to calm redness and inflammation. If your breakouts come like clockwork with your period, this is the low-drama, high-performance cleanser you need.

I use this during “that week” of my cycle when my chin becomes a war zone. It doesn’t foam—which was hard to accept at first—but it leaves my skin clean, soothed, and hydrated. After using it for a full cycle, I noticed fewer breakouts and faster healing. Plus, my face didn’t feel like it was recovering from a chemical war zone afterward.

Active ingredients:Licorice Root, Centella Asiatica, Witch Hazel | Best for: Hormonal acne, sensitive or inflammation-prone skin

Best for fungal acne: Illiyoon Ceramide Ato 6.0 Top to Toe Wash

Originally formulated for ultra-sensitive baby skin, this Korean cleanser has quietly become a cult favorite among people battling fungal acne. It’s completely free from esters and fatty acids that trigger malassezia (the yeast behind fungal breakouts), and it contains barrier-restoring ceramides and madecassoside. The texture is silky and gentle, making it ideal for compromised skin that still needs real cleansing power.

I used this on a trip when my forehead turned into a bumpy nightmare (classic fungal acne meets sweat-meets SPF overload). Within a week, the texture was visibly smoother and calmer—and the flakes around my nose disappeared too. I use it all over my body in the summer and as a face wash when I don’t want to guess what’s causing the breakout.

Active ingredients:Ceramide Complex, Madecassoside | Best for: Fungal acne, perioral dermatitis, eczema-prone skin

Best with salicylic acid: Paula’s Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser

This cleanser is the gold standard for salicylic acid fans who don’t want a side of facial trauma. It uses 0.5% salicylic acid—low enough to avoid stinging, but high enough to gently exfoliate and keep pores clean with regular use. Designed specifically for acne-prone skin, it also contains soothing agents that minimize irritation and support skin balance. It’s one of the few SA cleansers that feels like actual skincare, not punishment.

I started using this when I realized that most SA cleansers were making my skin angrier, not better. This one? It’s like the steady partner who doesn’t make a scene but always shows up. It keeps my skin smooth and clear, and I can use it twice a day without dryness or rebound breakouts. Total staple.

Active ingredients:0.5% Salicylic Acid, Panthenol | Best for: Combo or sensitive skin with clogged pores

Best clean/vegan option: CLEARSTEM GENTLECLEAN Vitamin Infused Calming Wash

If you’ve ever wished your cleanser could double as a calming serum, this is it. CLEARSTEM GENTLECLEAN isn’t just another “clean” face wash — it’s a skin-soothing, acne-safe, barrier-loving dream. It’s formulated without pore-clogging ingredients (zero comedogenics, even the sneaky ones) and is free of sulfates, parabens, and artificial fragrance. Instead, it leans into healing and hydration with a vitamin-rich formula featuring green tea, Reishi mushroom, and panthenol to calm inflammation, while turmeric and Vitamin C help brighten and defend against environmental stress.

I started using GENTLECLEAN when my skin was totally over it — raw from accidental over-exfoliating, breaking out in weird patches (hi, perioral dermatitis), and flaking around my nose. This cleanser felt like a sigh of relief. No stinging, no redness, no residue. It became my go-to not just during recovery weeks but even on good skin days. I love that it’s acne-safe but doesn’t feel like “acne skincare.” It just feels luxe, clean, and actually nurturing.

Active Ingredients: Green Tea, Vitamin C, Reishi Mushroom, Turmeric, Panthenol | Best for: Dehydrated, sensitive, acne-prone, or post-procedure skin

Product comparison

How we tested

To build this list, I personally tested 20+ acne face washes over the course of one year — on my own skin, which is not the kindest testing ground. Here’s what I was working with:

• My skin type: Combination (oily T-zone, dry cheeks)
• My skin concerns:
  • Hormonal acne (deep, jawline cysts like clockwork)
  • Dehydration (tight, flaky patches especially around the nose and mouth)
  • Perioral dermatitis (recurring irritation around my chin if a product is too stripping or includes triggering ingredients like SLS or strong essential oils)
  • Clogged pores/texture (congestion around the nose, forehead, and chin)

Here’s how I tested each product:

I tested each cleanser for a minimum of seven consecutive days — often longer — rotating based on my skin’s needs that week (breakouts, barrier repair, etc.). Each was paired with my usual routine: double cleansing at night, a gentle moisturizer, and daily sunscreen. I tracked everything from breakout activity and post-cleanse skin feel to how well each formula played with actives like vitamin C or retinol. I also noted ease of use (foam, rinse, scent, makeup removal) and long-term impact, like texture, redness, and healing time. I focused on the following:

• Breakout activity (new pimples? old ones healing?)
• Skin feel after cleansing (tight, soft, inflamed, soothed)
• Interaction with other products (did it play well with actives like vitamin C or retinol?)
• Ease of use (how it foamed, how it rinsed, how it smelled, whether it removed makeup/sunscreen)
• Long-term impact (texture improvement, less redness, faster healing time, etc.)

Criteria for making the cut:

• Did not worsen breakouts or dermatitis
• No stripping or tightness afterward
• Effective at doing what it claimed to do (whether that was calming inflammation, unclogging pores, or controlling oil)
• Didn’t annoy me to use (this matters—if it smells bad or feels like glue, I won’t keep reaching for it)

If it passed all that? It made this list. If it broke me out, dried me out, or triggered a chin rash, it went straight to skincare jail. I tested every single product like I was reviewing it for a friend with the same complicated skin and the same low tolerance for nonsense.

Bottom line: These cleansers were tested in real-world conditions — my bathroom, my stress levels, my PMS — and only the ones that worked made it above.

An FAQ on Acne Cleansers

Ahead, two board-certified dermatologists deliver the intel on acne cleansers. Here, you’ll find how to shop for one, ingredients to scout out, and more.

What is an acne cleanser?

“Acne cleansers contain active ingredients that treat and prevent acne,” Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, a board-certified cosmetic, medical and surgical dermatologist specializing in laser rejuvenation at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York and clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College, plainly told The Post. “Some common such ingredients include salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and sulfur.”

What’s more, acne cleansers typically contain active ingredients that work to exfoliate the skin, decrease oil production and reduce concentrations of bacteria that contribute to acne.

What are the benefits of using an acne cleanser?

“Regular use of an acne cleanser can help minimize clogged pores, improve skin texture and reduce breakouts,” Dr. Stull listed. “In addition, by exfoliating dead skin cells, cleansers prepare the skin for topical treatments and allow them to be absorbed more effectively.”

While exfoliating the skin, a quality acne cleanser may reduce bacteria which, in turn, helps clear pores, and/or reduce inflammation, per Dr. Murphy-Rose.

What ingredients should I look for in an acne cleanser?

Acne cleansers often contain exfoliants such as salicylic or glycolic acid, or antibacterial agents such as benzoyl peroxide. “While these agents can effectively cleanse the skin of excess sebum and debris, they can also cause irritation, particularly in patients with sensitive skin,” Murphy-Rose said. “It’s important to select products with low enough concentrations of these active ingredients to avoid excessive irritation, which can compromise skin barrier function.”

A breakdown of these active ingredients is as follows:

• Salicylic acid: A beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that has a keratolytic effect, meaning it helps exfoliate dead skin cells to prevent clogged pores and improve skin texture. In addition, salicylic helps regulate sebum production and can be a good choice for those with oily, acne-prone skin.
• Glycolic acid: An alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that exfoliates by breaking down cellular connections called desmosomes in the outermost layer of skin. In addition, glycolic acid can stimulate collagen production and is a humectant, meaning it can attract and bind water to improve skin hydration.
• Benzoyl peroxide: An oxidizing agent that reduces levels of Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), a type of bacteria that lives within pores and contributes to acne formation. Benzoyl peroxide also helps prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of C. acnes that can arise with long-term use of antibiotics.
• Sulfur: A mineral that contains antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

What ingredients should I avoid in an acne cleanser?

According to Stull, avoid comedogenic or pore-clogging ingredients like oils, butters and tocopherol (vitamin) that occlude skin. “Also avoid skin irritants like fragrance, dyes, parabens and common allergens that can increase inflammation contributing to breakouts,” she added.

What allows an acne cleanser to be foaming?

“Foaming cleansers contain surfactants that form foam when mixed with water, helping to lift dirt and oil from the skin,” Stull explained. “They are best for oily or combination skin and may be too harsh for dry or sensitive skin types.”

Many foaming cleansers also contain sulfates, which can effectively remove dirt and oil but may be irritating to sensitive skin, Murphy-Rose warned.

What are the best acne cleansers for oily skin?

According to Stull, look for translucent gel cleansers that contain an acne-fighting active like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Above all, salicylic acid is the clear-cut winner as it “can help regulate sebum production,” Murphy-Rose added.

What are the best acne cleansers for sensitive skin?

“Those with sensitive skin should select acne cleansers with lower percentages of active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or glycolic acid to avoid excessive irritation,” Murphy-Rose advised. “Opting for a cream or gel-based formula, and avoiding products containing potential irritants such as fragrance, may also be helpful. Cleansers with a lower pH, closer to the normal range of human skin (5.4-5.9) are generally less irritating than those with a higher pH.”

More, Stull recommended an oil-free, hypoallergenic hydrating cleanser containing barrier-supporting ceramides is best for sensitive skin. “Usually, I recommend use of a non-active gentle cleanser to be paired with a skincare routine that contains a leave-on product with an acne-fighting active (like an OTC retinoid or low concentration salicylic acid),” she shared.

What is hormonal acne?

“Hormonal acne may appear as papules, pustules, or deeper cystic lesions most commonly in a jawline and temple distribution. It may be associated with menstrual cycle flares,” Stull said.

Hormonal acne is acne that is triggered by fluctuations in hormone levels and can be associated with high levels of androgens like testosterone. “Hormonal acne can arise in puberty, in association with menstrual cycles, during pregnancy or during menopause,” Murphy-Rose added. “It’s also commonly seen in a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).”

This type of acne is typically characterized by tender cysts or papules affecting the perioral region chin and jawline. “These pimples are often deeper than typical whiteheads or blackheads,” Murphy-Rose explained. “When it comes to treatment, best results are often seen when topicals are combined with oral therapies like spironolactone or contraceptive pills.”

When searching for a cleanser suited for hormonal acne, it’s important to understand that the hormonal fluctuations that trigger acne prior to a menstrual cycle can also make the skin more sensitive. “Because of this, gentle cleansers that do not excessively dry or irritate the skin are best,” Murphy-Rose recommended.

What is cystic acne?

Cystic acne often affects the face, chest and back with deeper reddish nodules that may be painful and have an increased tendency to scar, according to Stull. As far as acne washes go, she recommends looking for “translucent gel cleansers that contain an acne-fighting active like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.”

It’s characterized by inflammatory, painful cysts and nodules underneath the surface of the skin. “This type of acne is also more likely to result in scarring, and can have a significant psychological impact,” Stull noted.

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Victoria Giardina, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include testing the best vitamin C serums on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos of 2025. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.