Top Acne Face Washes to Prevent Breakouts

An acne bout could be devastating at any age. But, unfortunately, for many people, acne doesn’t stop at the end of the teenage years: it carries on to adulthood as well. In fact, nearly 1 in 7 Americans are taunted by it each year.

And with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s taken a new turn. Maskne or mask-triggered acne has become an added concern for those already troubled by breakouts and even for those who never were.

Whatever the source of your acne worries, keeping it under control is essential to avoid blemishes and undue stress. While medical treatment is crucial to tackling severe conditions, a good face care routine is a must even for those experiencing mild bouts. And a good acne face wash product should be an essential part of this.

Do acne face washes really work?

The answer is a resounding yes, and there are several reasons for this.

If you’re particularly prone to acne, you probably already know that keeping your skin clean is essential. Dirt, grime, oil, sweat, and bacteria trapped inside skin pores are a lethal combination that could spark a breakout when you least expect it. And a good regular face wash will remove all these and deep cleanse your skin to prevent clogged pores.

Now, face washed developed for acne-prone skin will go a step further. They contain specific ingredients to help ease acne and even prevent it. For example, they could include compounds that could reduce skin inflammation caused by bacteria.

So, adding a good acne face wash to your daily personal care routine is an excellent option if you want to tackle breakouts effectively.

What you should check when selecting an acne face wash

The most important thing to note when selecting a product is that everyone’s skin is different. In other words, how your skin responds to a product is unique to you. It could depend on a variety of factors like your genes, environment, or even lifestyle.

So, trial and error would be important when selecting what works best for you. And if a particular face wash works, then stick to it without trying out more products. After all, changing products could cause unnecessary stress on your skin, making acne worse.

Now, having said that, there are so many acne face wash products on the market today. So, where do you begin?

Checking the ingredients on the label is a good start. There are certain ingredients that are frequently used in acne treatments. And many acne face wash products contain these as well. Here are some of the common ingredients to look out for:

• Benzoyl peroxide: Helps fight acne-causing bacteria to reduce acne and rids the pores from dead skin to prevent breakouts.
• Salicylic acid: Has an exfoliating pore-clearing effect to prevent acne. And can also help reduce inflammation during a breakout. 
• Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid: Can exfoliate the skin and boost collagen production to help tackle blemishes.

In addition, it’s important to select a product from a reputable brand. They often have massive R&D units and adopt rigorous quality checks. So, you can rest easy knowing that the acne face wash you’re using is backed by extensive research and high-quality ingredients.

These brands will also invest heavily to get their products to market. The upside of this is that you’ll have plenty of user reviews to make an informed purchasing decision.

Top Face Wash Products for Acne-Prone Skin

1. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Acne Face Wash

If you have super sensitive skin, then this acne face wash by La Roche-Posay is one of the best products to try. It uses 2% salicylic acid as the main acne-fighting ingredient and is formulated to tackle excess oil, fight blackheads, and clear breakouts.

This gel face wash is non comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores and cause acne worries. It’s also free from parabens and fragrances.

La Roche-Posay recommends this gentle medicated, gel cleanser for oily, sensitive, and acne-prone skin.

2. Bioré Charcoal Acne Clearing Face Wash

This Biore product is a liquid face wash with a lower concentration of salicylic acid at just 1%. So, it’s pretty mild and could be a great option for those with mild acne.

Another important ingredient in the formula is natural charcoal, which can deep cleanse pores and draw out excess oil. It’s also dermatologically tested (similar to all other products in this list), non comedogenic, oil free, and vegan friendly.

And according to Biore, this product can give clearer skin in just 2 days, although how well this promise holds up might depend on your skin type.

3. Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Face Wash

Neutrogena has long been a well-known brand for acne treatment. But we didn’t just select this rapid clear face wash for the brand’s long-standing reputation. This product deserved a spot on our list for its effective formula and impressive user reviews.

It contains 10% benzoyl peroxide to reduce redness and the size of the acne and provide rapid relief. That’s a relatively higher concentration, which certainly allows Neutragena to keep its promise of achieving visible results in just 1 day.

Of course, this might not be the best option if you have super sensitive skin. Even Neutragena recommends that you start using it once a day and gradually increase it to 2-3 times if required.

4. CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser

This acne face wash by CeraVe contains 2% salicylic acid to gently exfoliate your skin and remove dead cells and other acne-causing impurities that block pores.

The lightly foaming gel formula also includes purifying clay that absorbs oil and Niacinamide that helps soothe skin. In addition, there are three essential ceramides to restore and preserve your skin’s natural barriers and seal in moisture.

5. Differin Daily Deep Cleanser

If you prefer an acne face wash with a milder concentration of benzoyl peroxide, then you can try this Differin product.

With just 5% benzoyl peroxide, it’s formulated for those with sensitive skin. It’ll allow you to avoid irritation and dryness typically encountered with high concentration formulas.

This face wash is excellent for daily use to remove excess oil and deep cleanse your skin. It also releases a gentle moisturizer to keep the skin moist without clogging pores.

6. Paula’s Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser

This Paula’s Choice product comes with a gentle formula containing only 0.5% salicylic acid. It makes this an ideal product for those with super sensitive skin but would still like to benefit from salicylic acid’s deep cleansing and exfoliating effects. The lower salicylic acid concentration also makes it perfect for daily use to reduce redness and soothe your skin.

It’s even free from parabens, fragrances, and harsh chemicals that often dry the skin.

7. Murad Clarifying Cleanser Acne Face Wash

Murad is a premium brand with a range of skincare products. And this acne clarifying cleaner is part of a skin clarifying regime designed to tackle breakouts and blemishes. But, of course, you can also try it on its own and benefit from its 1.5% salicylic acid formula.

It even contains green tea extracts to soothe the skin from irritation. And there are no parabens, sulfates, petroleum, and animal-derived ingredients that could harm your skin.

Now, keep in mind that Murad products tend to be priced higher than most other face washes on the market. But this cleanser comes in a cream form, so you only need a small amount for daily use. As a result, you’ll likely use it longer than gel formulas, making it worth the investment.

A final thought

Whatever the product you select, how you use it makes a difference when it comes to seeing results. Once you apply the face wash, dermatologists recommend that you massage your face for 30-60 seconds and rinse off thoroughly without leaving any residue.

Also, avoid using several products with different ingredients at once. It could result in skin reactions and can make the acne worse.

In addition, many of the acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid could even have adverse reactions to sun exposure. So, using sunscreen is equally important.

And if you find your breakouts are going out of control, do not hesitate to see a dermatologist.