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Acne, a common skin issue affecting individuals of all ages and sexes, can negatively impact one's quality of life. If you're dealing with acne, we understand how troublesome it can be to find skincare products, like face washes, that can help promote clearer and healthier skin.
Join us as we explore what face wash is good for acne. We collaborated with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Meg Sison for a guide with expert insights to help you find the ideal face wash for acne, including options for oily and sensitive skin, reducing acne scars, and fading dark spots.
Dr. Sison is a board-certified dermatologist who practices in the Philippines and sees both medical and cosmetic dermatological cases on skin, hair, and nails.
Rica is a writer and editor for mybest PH who first joined the team in October 2020. She mostly writes lifestyle titles, especially ones that tap into fashion, beauty, food, arts, and hobbies. Though she's someone who dabbles in whatever sparks her interest, Rica spends most of her free time fangirling, watching races, and playing with her dogs.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Facial washes, as long as they contain ingredients that can target your skin type, can definitely help address acne concerns. Remember, cleansing is the most essential step in one's skincare routine.
Facial washes can help address active pimples. However, they are not enough to treat hormonal or cystic acne. For more severe acne, it is recommended to consult a board-certified dermatologist for proper guidance.
For severe acne, your board-certified dermatologist may prescribe oral medications such as combined oral contraceptive pills, antibiotics, spironolactone, or oral isotretinoin.
When choosing a face wash for acne, checking its ingredients list is crucial. You must ensure it contains known acne-fighting components and is free of ingredients that aggravate acne and related concerns. Continue reading our buying guide for more information and insights from a board-certified dermatologist.
When choosing a face wash for acne, it's important to look for ingredients that are known to have the ability to address acne and related concerns. One ingredient you can look for is salicylic acid. A salicylic concentration of 2% or less is effective for exfoliating the skin's surface to slough away dead skin cells and excess oil that can clog pores and contribute to acne formation.
Another ingredient to look for is benzoyl peroxide, which has antibacterial properties. It combats acne-causing bacteria by releasing oxygen into the pores, creating an oxygen-rich environment where bacteria cannot thrive. It also helps eventually minimize the infection and inflammation associated with acne.
Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are both known to be effective ingredients for acne. Remember to start low and slow when using these two ingredients to avoid irritation!
Traditional cleansers have the tendency to strip the skin of its natural moisture, eventually causing dryness and sensitivity - and this is one thing you should avoid if you have dry skin. A face wash that can provide gentle cleansing is your best option if you have a dry skin type.
Look for face washes with moisturizing or hydrating ingredients, like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. Glycerin can prevent excessive drying during cleansing, while hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin by drawing and retaining moisture from the environment. Lastly, ceramides help prevent moisture loss and maintain the skin's barrier.
It is important for facial washes to have moisturizing properties to counteract the drying effects of surfactants in cleansers.
Salicylic acid, an example of an exfoliating ingredient, is highly beneficial for those with oily skin. It’s an oil-loving ingredient (oil-soluble), so it can penetrate the pores easily.
To maintain a healthy skin barrier and prevent dryness and irritation from occurring. It's best to avoid facial washes strong surfactants such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate. While these effectively remove impurities from the skin's surface, they can also be more harsh and drying.
Instead, you can opt for facial washes that use mild surfactants such as Cocamidopryl Betaine and Lauryl Glucoside to avoid stripping the skin barrier. They have the ability to cleanse the skin without overly disrupting its natural moisture and lipid barrier.
Avoid facial washes with high pH and strong surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate to prevent skin dryness and irritation.
Disclaimer: These products are recommendations made by our team at mybest Philippines. Our expert, Dr. Meg Sison, is not affiliated with, nor is she endorsing any of the brands we mention below.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | Details | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acne-Fighting Ingredients | Moisturizing Ingredients | Fragrance-free | SLS-free | Net Weight | ||||||
1 | CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser | From ₱1,350 High Mid | Gentle Cleanser for Exfoliating and Hydrating Rough and Bumpy Skin | Salicylic Acid | Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid | unknown | unknown | 237g | ||
2 | COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser | From ₱354 Low Mid | Your Gateway to Salicylic Acid Products | Salicylic Acid | Glycerin | unknown | unknown | 150g | ||
3 | PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash | From ₱1,129 High Mid | Benzoyl Peroxide-Infused Face Wash That Curbs Acne-Causing Bacteria | Benzoyl Peroxide | Glycerin | unknown | unknown | 170g | ||
4 | Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser | From ₱770 High Mid | Exfoliating Foam Wash That Also Soothes Acne Inflammation | Salicylic Acid | Glycerin | unknown | unknown | 148g | ||
5 | Celeteque DermoScience Acne Solutions Cleansing Gel | From ₱270 Low Mid | Exfoliates and Reduces the Appearance of Acne at the Same Time | Salicylic Acid | French Spring Water, Propylene Glycol | unknown | unknown | 50g | ||
6 | Klued 2% Salicylic Acid Gentle Cleanser | From ₱349 Low Mid | An Unscented Cleanser With Multiple Benefits | Salicylic Acid | Glycerin, Ceramide | unknown | unknown | 120g | ||
7 | Neutrogena Deep Clean Acne Foaming Cleanser | From ₱245 Low Mid | A pH-Friendly Face Wash for Blemish-Free Skin | Salicylic Acid | Glycerin | unknown | unknown | 100g | ||
8 | Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30Days Miracle Cleansing Bar | From ₱435 Mid | An Exfoliating Anti-Acne Soap for Clear and Glowing Skin | AHA, BHA | Organic Olive Oil, Argan Oil | unknown | unknown | 95g | ||
9 | Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser | From ₱1,250 High Mid | Decongest Your Skin With This BHA Face Wash | Salicylic Acid | Glycerin | unknown | unknown | 177g | ||
10 | Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser | From ₱294 Low Mid | Best Dermatologist-Tested Cleanser for All Skin Types | None | Glycerin | unknown | unknown | 118g |
CeraVe's Renewing SA Cleanser can help address various skin concerns. Apart from working as a cleanser that washes out accumulated dirt and grime, you can also use it as a gentle exfoliator to remove dead skin cells. It is infused with salicylic acid that helps unclog pores for smoother and softer skin.
It also comes with ceramide that aids in restoring and maintaining your skin's barrier to lock in moisture and shield it from environmental stressors. Another plus is that it has a non-irritating, non-comedogenic, and fragrance-free formula, which suits various skin types, including those with sensitive and acne-prone skin.
Acne-Fighting Ingredients | Salicylic Acid |
---|---|
Moisturizing Ingredients | Ceramides, Hyaluronic Acid |
Fragrance-free | unknown |
SLS-free | unknown |
Net Weight | 237g |
Salicylic acid is one of the best ingredients to treat acne, which is commonly associated with oily skin. Besides exfoliating the deeper layer of your skin to remove sebum, dirt, and other bacteria that cause flare-ups or breakouts, it also reduces the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads. Now, you can get all that and more with this face wash cleanser by COSRX.
It contains a 0.5% salicylic acid solution—an amount that is effective yet gentle enough to prevent damaging the skin barrier. It is also formulated with tea tree oil bark that has antibacterial and calming properties, and willow bark and Saccharomyces to moisturize the skin. Lastly, reviewers love this product because it does not sting or cause itchiness and drying.
Acne-Fighting Ingredients | Salicylic Acid |
---|---|
Moisturizing Ingredients | Glycerin |
Fragrance-free | unknown |
SLS-free | unknown |
Net Weight | 150g |
Acne-Fighting Ingredients | Benzoyl Peroxide |
---|---|
Moisturizing Ingredients | Glycerin |
Fragrance-free | unknown |
SLS-free | unknown |
Net Weight | 170g |
Acne-Fighting Ingredients | Salicylic Acid |
---|---|
Moisturizing Ingredients | Glycerin |
Fragrance-free | unknown |
SLS-free | unknown |
Net Weight | 148g |
Acne-Fighting Ingredients | Salicylic Acid |
---|---|
Moisturizing Ingredients | French Spring Water, Propylene Glycol |
Fragrance-free | unknown |
SLS-free | unknown |
Net Weight | 50g |
With 2% salicylic acid, this cleanser helps clear acne, blemishes, and dead skin cells while unclogging your skin’s pores. Another thing that sets this cleanser apart from others is that it has minimal ingredients and is free from fragrances, parabens, and sulfates, making it suitable for sensitive skin.
It also has three other key ingredients that give multiple benefits to the skinーceramides for the skin’s moisture barrier renewal, allantoin for soothing and calming, and zinc PCA for removing excess oil. Moreover, it has a skin-friendly pH level of 5.5, which will not strip your skin of its much-needed moisture.
Acne-Fighting Ingredients | Salicylic Acid |
---|---|
Moisturizing Ingredients | Glycerin, Ceramide |
Fragrance-free | unknown |
SLS-free | unknown |
Net Weight | 120g |
Acne-Fighting Ingredients | Salicylic Acid |
---|---|
Moisturizing Ingredients | Glycerin |
Fragrance-free | unknown |
SLS-free | unknown |
Net Weight | 100g |
Here's your match if you want a face wash that'll clear out impurities from all layers of your skin! With its AHA, BHA, and PHA ingredients, this cleansing bar can remove dead skin cells from the topmost layer of the skin, exfoliate from deeper within the skin, and even prevent the skin from losing moisture.
The best part? This cleanser does all of that while still being gentle to the skin. It also has added 2% niacinamide, resulting in a brighter and more even complexion. Lastly, it has natural oils and extracts, like tea tree and Houttuynia, to nourish and hydrate your skin and leave it glowing from within! Reviewers also love that it leaves a cooling effect on the skin.
Acne-Fighting Ingredients | AHA, BHA |
---|---|
Moisturizing Ingredients | Organic Olive Oil, Argan Oil |
Fragrance-free | unknown |
SLS-free | unknown |
Net Weight | 95g |
Acne-Fighting Ingredients | Salicylic Acid |
---|---|
Moisturizing Ingredients | Glycerin |
Fragrance-free | unknown |
SLS-free | unknown |
Net Weight | 177g |
Coming from a brand that many Filipinos trust, this cleanser from Cetaphil gently cleans no matter what your skin type is! It is packed with hydrating ingredients like niacinamide, panthenol, and glycerin, so it will not leave your skin feeling dry and flaky. These ingredients also help protect your skin barrier so it is free from irritation, roughness, and tightness.
The best thing about this cleanser is that dermatologists have tested it, so it also works for people with sensitive skin or skin conditions like eczema or rosacea. Moreover, it is free from fragrances and parabens and is non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic. With all that said, it's a foolproof and safe choice for anyone.
Acne-Fighting Ingredients | None |
---|---|
Moisturizing Ingredients | Glycerin |
Fragrance-free | unknown |
SLS-free | unknown |
Net Weight | 118g |
If you want to learn more about acne and how to fight it, Dr. Meg Sison shares her tips on how to care for your skin better!
Cleansing should be done during the morning, evening, and after exercise.
Make sure to use moisturizers to restore the skin barrier, and apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 during the day.
The right product can help you alleviate your skin concerns and have your skin look and feel better. Check out these articles to achieve brighter and clearer skin!
Re-editor: Rie N., R. Victoriano
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: CeraVe|Renewing SA Cleanser
No. 2: COSRX |Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser
No. 3: PanOxyl |Acne Creamy Wash
No. 4: Good Molecules |Acne Foaming Cleanser
No. 5: Celeteque |DermoScience Acne Solutions Cleansing Gel
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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