Finding bleach stains on towels while using benzoyl peroxide face wash is almost a rite of passage for people with acne-prone skin. Sixty years after benzoyl peroxide was approved for acne, drugstores still fill shelves with benzoyl peroxide cleansers and treatments, and for good reason—they work.
Why Benzoyl Peroxide?
Whether you are looking for your first acne treatment, or are struggling with different acne regimens and skincare and want to go back to something tried and true, a gentle benzoyl peroxide face is an effective option.
Benzoyl peroxide works best on red inflamed pimples which are caused by acne-causing bacteria thriving on oily blockages in pores. When you put benzoyl peroxide on your skin, it releases oxygen into your pores, killing the anaerobic bacteria.
Too much benzoyl peroxide can cause skin irritation, but fortunately low percentage benzoyl peroxide products are well tolerated and shown to work. Using a face wash with benzoyl peroxide for a few minutes before thoroughly rinsing is also gentler on your skin than a benzoyl peroxide leave-on treatment.
Best Benzoyl Peroxide Face Wash
The number one thing to remember about benzoyl peroxide is to start low and slow. Pick a low percentage face wash and slowly increase how often you use it before trying anything stronger. At the first sign of irritation, back off and give your skin a break. Also remember to be careful around fabrics and use white towels or paper towels after washing with benzoyl peroxide.
We’ve included our top picks for benzoyl peroxide face wash below in order of gentlest to strongest.
Acne Free Oil-Free Acne Cleanser with 2.5% Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide and Ceramides
This cleanser from Acne Free is both gentle and affordable. It uses 2.5% of micronized benzoyl peroxide to penetrate into your pores, getting to the source of acne causing bacteria. Its creamy texture and the addition of glycerin and ceramides help keep your skin moisturized while you target and prevent breakouts, making it an easier treatment to stick with long term. Although it contains a low percentage of benzoyl peroxide, be careful, it will still have a bleaching effect on any fabrics it comes in contact with.
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Acne Cleanser with 2.6% Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide
Cetaphil's benzoyl peroxide cleanser in their Gentle Clear line is a great option for anyone trying to maintain the difficult balance between effective acne treatment and sensitive skin. It's designed to start showing visible results in just one week while also helping to maintain your skin barrier. With 2.6% micronized benzoyl peroxide, it can work on bacteria where it's needed without overloading your skin. Added licorice root and zinc in a creamy formula help to soothe sensitive skin and also reduce oil production.
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser with 4% Benzoyl Peroxide, Niacinamide, and Ceramides
CeraVe is known for their effective yet gentle skincare products and their 4% benzoyl peroxide cleanser is a great example of this. It starts as a creamy texture but transforms into a foam that can cleanse oil and impurities on your skin while benzoyl peroxide goes to work against bacteria deep in your pores. The addition of niacinamide calms skin while hyaluronic acid helps to hydrate and ceramides restore and maintain your moisture barrier.
Naturium Cream Cleanser with 5% Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide and N-Acetyl Glucosamine
Naturium's cream cleanser has a moderate strength of 5% micronized benzoyl peroxide to clear and prevent breakouts without overpowering. It cleanses your skin without stripping it by ensuring an appropriate ph balance of 5.0-6.0 to help maintain your skin's hydration. The amino sugar N-acetyl glucosamine is added to the formula to help minimize dryness which is a common concern when using benzoyl peroxide.
PanOxyl Acne Treatment Bar with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide for Face and Body
Panoxyl's 10% benzoyl peroxide cleansing bar gives you the maximum over-the-counter strength of benzoyl peroxide in a convenient bar form. While powerful, this bar is ph balanced to keep your skin soft even as it cleans and fights bacteria. This benzoyl peroxide bar can be particularly helpful for treating and preventing body acne in the shower, just be sure to let it sit on the skin for a minute before rinsing it off.
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Gentle Cleanser with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide, Niacinamide, and Ceramides
CeraVe's maximum strength benzoyl peroxide cleanser contains the highest over-the-counter concentration of 10% benzoyl peroxide to target acne-causing bacteria. This lightly foaming cream formula can be used on your face and also as a body wash to clear body acne. While very strong, it contains niacinamide to soothe, hyaluronic acid to hydrate, and ceramides to help restore your moisture barrier.
