The 7 Best Cleansers for Acne-Prone Skin of 2025, Hands Down
Breakouts can render your skin red, inflamed, and angry, and while you may think that an easy way to shrink them is by scrubbing them away with harsh cleansers packed with drying ingredients, it’s the opposite. Acne-prone skin requires gentle TLC to help it get back on track, and the best cleansers for acne are those that unclog pores while gently exfoliating the skin, all without worsening existing pimples or causing new ones to arise. Ahead, we’re sharing the best ones that do the job, helping to put you one step closer to the clear skin of your dreams.
Our Top Picks
Best for oily skin: Replenix Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Wash Best for brightening: Eminence Stone Crop Gel Wash Best for blackheads: Kate Somerville Eradikate Daily Foaming Cleanser Best for minimizing pores: Eminence Organics Skin Care Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser Best for gentle exfoliation: Tracie Martyn Amla Purifying Cleanser Best for added moisture: Dr. Loretta Microexfoliating Cleanser Best to prevent breakouts: Eminence Organics Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam
Key Ingredients in Cleansers for Acne-Prone Skin
Acne-prone skin requires different treatment than other skin types, and the ingredients that respond best to it may not be suitable for individuals with dry or sensitive skin. Some of the most effective ingredients in cleansers that work well for acne-prone skin to clear up blemishes and prevent the formation of new ones include:
Benzoyl peroxide: Targets acne-causing bacteria Salicylic acid: Helps penetrate through oil and clean out the pores while dissolving blackheads Glycolic acid: Helps lighten hyperpigmentation from past breakouts Niacinamide: Absorbs excess sebum, prevents clogged pores and helps hydrate the skin Azelaic acid: Soothe inflammation Tea tree oil: Acts as an antiseptic to tackle bacteria and reduce inflammation Green tea extract: Helps to soothe inflamed skin and regulate oil production
Best Cleansers for Acne-Prone skin
Best for oily skin: Replenix Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Wash
$29.50
Get shiny, oily skin under control with this medical-grade benzoyl peroxide cleanser. Not only does it kill acne-causing bacteria while detoxifying the pores, but it also helps to balance the skin’s sebum levels without irritating or drying out the skin.
Key Ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide
Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone
Skin Benefits: Unclogs pores, destroys acne-related bacteria, prevents new blemishes from forming, doesn’t irritate or dry out the skin, maintains the skin’s optimal pH levels, soothes the skin
Beauty Insider Tip: Start by using the cleanser once a day and slowly work your way up to twice daily
Best for brightening: Eminence Stone Crop Gel Wash
$48.00
Acne often brings about post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that’s hard to treat but not impossible. To brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of unwanted discoloration, this tough-on-dark-spots-but-gentle-on-the-skin cleanser works overtime to even out the skin’s tone while washing away impurities and reducing the look of breakouts, leaving behind only a radiant glow.
Key Ingredients: Stone crop, shea butter, chamomile
Skin Type: Normal, oily, sensitive
Skin Benefits: Cleanses the skin without drying it out, reduces the appearance of buildup on the skin, washes away impurities, leaves the skin looking clearer, smoother, and brighter
Beauty Insider Tip: The cleanser doubles as an eye makeup remover when diluted with water and used in a gentle circular motion
Best for blackheads: Kate Somerville Eradikate Daily Foaming Cleanser
$45.00
Bothersome blackheads don’t stand a chance against this daily-use pore-cleansing face wash. Loaded with sulfur to prevent new breakouts while treating existing ones, this creamy cleanser minimizes excess oil on the skin without overdrying the skin for results you can see and feel.
Key Ingredients: Sulfur, oat extract, rice bran, honey, botanical extracts
Skin Type: Oily and acne-prone
Skin Benefits: Clears up blackheads, sebaceous filaments, and pimples, prevents new breakouts from occurring, supports clearer skin
Beauty Insider Tip: Use the cleanser as a mask to target sebaceous filaments when you leave it on the skin for a few minutes before rinsing it off the skin
Best for minimizing pores: Eminence Organics Skin Care Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser
$48.00
Treat your skin to this cream-to-gel cleanser if enlarged pores and breakouts are a problem. Counting cucumber and tea tree oil as key ingredients, this face wash targets oily skin and acne, reducing the symptoms associated with both without stripping the skin of its much-needed moisture.
Key Ingredients: Cucumber juice, yogurt, sweet almond milk, tea tree oil, willow bark extract, antioxidants
Skin Type: Oily and problematic skin
Skin Benefits: Cleanses the skin while lending a calming effect, improves the appearance of blemishes, reduces pore size, detoxifies and purifies the skin
Beauty Insider Tip: Mix a small amount of the cleanser with water and massage it into the skin and neck for a few minutes before removing it with a damp washcloth.
Best for gentle exfoliation: Tracie Martyn Amla Purifying Cleanser
$68.00
Acne-prone skin requires regular exfoliation to keep the pores free of dead skin cells, a contributor to breakouts. Often called “liquid gold,” this sulfate-free gentle exfoliating cleanser removes debris and impurities from the skin without disrupting its barrier function, helping to prevent future breakouts.
Key Ingredients: Indian gooseberry, Hawaiian green papaya enzymes, lactic acid
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefits: Brightens the skin, provides a gentle exfoliation, promotes a more even-looking skin tone, reduces future breakouts, cleanses without stripping the skin
Beauty Insider Tip: Leave the cleanser on the skin for a few minutes for enhanced exfoliating and brightening effects
Best for added moisture: Dr. Loretta Micro-Exfoliating Cleanser
$38.00
Prevent the skin from becoming dry and rough with this noncomedogenic exfoliating cleanser. Perfect for acne-prone skin, it gently yet effectively exfoliates away dead skin cells, oil, sweat, and debris without disrupting the skin’s pH levels or stripping it of moisture. Instead, skin emerges soft, smooth, bright, and clear with each wash.
Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycerin, coconut oil, aloe leaf juice, willow bark extract
Skin Type: Oily, dry, normal, mature
Skin Benefits: Removes skin cell buildup, detoxifies the skin to improve luminosity and clarity, leaves skin clearer, brighter, hydrated, and refreshed
Beauty Insider Tip: Use the cleanser morning and night for optimal benefits and results
Best to prevent blackheads: Eminence Organics Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam
$49.00
Get shiny, oily skin under control with this medical-grade benzoyl peroxide cleanser. Not only does it kill acne-causing bacteria while detoxifying the pores, but it also helps to balance the skin’s sebum levels without irritating or drying out the skin.
Key Ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide
Skin Type: Oily, acne-prone
Skin Benefits: Unclogs pores, destroys acne-related bacteria, prevents new blemishes from forming, doesn’t irritate or dry out the skin, maintains the skin’s optimal pH levels, soothes the skin
Beauty Insider Tip: Start by using the cleanser once a day and slowly work your way up to twice daily
FAQ
What types of cleansers are the best for acne-prone skin?
You might think that a squeaky-clean feeling is what’s best for acne-prone skin, but truth be told, it’s not. Rather than stripping away the skin’s natural oils and disrupting its moisture barrier, the best cleansers for acne-prone skin are non-comedogenic ones that gently cleanse and purify the skin while adding hydration. Part of a well-rounded skincare routine also includes the regular use of an exfoliating cleanser, and acne-prone skin is no exception to this rule. Liquids and gels pair well with oily and acne-prone skin, as do those containing proven anti-breakout ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, witch hazel, and tea tree oil. Also, ensure your cleanser contains a hydrating component, such as glycerin, ceramides, or hyaluronic acid, to keep it happy and healthy.
The Bottom Line
Finding the right cleanser to cut through oil and dirt yet leave the skin feeling perfectly balanced is no easy feat. And when it comes to finding the best cleansers for acne-prone skin, it’s even trickier. That’s because this skin type demands a lot from a face wash—think cleansing, brightening, hydration, and prevention. Before using any cleanser on your skin, ensure it meets the demands of acne-prone skin types to help clear up blemishes and put your skin on the path to healthy skin.
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and beauty expert with more than 16 years of experience. She previously held the title of Executive Beauty Editor at NewBeauty magazine, where she reported on beauty, plastic surgery, anti-aging, health and wellness. She was also instrumental in the launch of the beauty supplement brand Hush & Hush. A self-professed beauty junkie and retinol and sunscreen pusher, Elise knows what’s new, what works and who’s the best to go for every procedure under the sun. Follow Elise on Facebook, Instagram, and on her beauty blog, elisetabin.com
