7 Best Over-the-Counter Face Washes for Acne

Should I use over-the-counter face washes for acne? Washing your face is absolutely key in making sure your skin stays healthy and blemish free. With many brands adding ingredients like salicylic acid, activated charcoal, and witch hazel to their products, keeping your skin clear is now easier than ever.

For some people, acne can be completely contained by their shower routine, making treatment rather easy. Though others still struggle with clearing up their skin, a good skin care routine including a daily cleanse with face wash is certainly beneficial to almost everyone.

Best Over-the-Counter Face Washes for Acne

7 The Best Over-the-Counter Face Washes to Clear Acne

Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser

A little more expensive than some of the other options, the Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser is a wonderful choice if you have oily skin. The foaming cleanser works to deeply clean your pores, reduce oil production, and reduce the appearance of shiny skin all in one step.

The maximum strength formula cleans the skin from the inside out using a cocktail of scientifically proven acne fighting ingredients like saw palmetto, cooling mint, and pore-minimizing salicylic acid. It is also refreshing and leaves your skin feeling soft and thoroughly cleansed.

Budget Friendly Options

Bioré Charcoal Acne Clearing Cleanser for Oily Skin

A drugstore staple, the Bioré Charcoal Acne Clearing Cleanser for Oily Skin is a classic choice that has been time tested to help keep your skin bacteria free and clean. The product’s manufacturer claims that the gel wash deeply penetrates the user’s skin to fully clean out blocked pores with ease, preventing new acne formation and treating existing breakouts at the same time.

Ingredients like known acne fighters salicylic acid and activated charcoal work alongside the brand’s skin purifying blend, backing up their claims from a scientific standpoint. Ideal for oily skin, the company claims that users will experience an improvement in the quality of their skin in just two days, an absolutely incredible feat that, if true, can be literally life changing.

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Daily Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, it can be quite difficult to find a cleanser that does not irritate your face. Neutrogena kept this struggle in mind while creating their Ultra Gentle Hydrating Daily Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin.

The non-comedogenic creamy formula is moisturizing and uses skin nurturing ingredients to prevent any dryness or irritation for sensitive and normal skin types alike. The unique formula is oil-free, soap-free, and hypoallergenic, making it great for those looking to avoid any harsh chemical additives.

Neutrogena claims that the wash is even safe for those who have eczema or rosacea, something that many comparable products cannot succeed in being. If you have sensitive skin, this wash is certainly worth checking out, especially if you are hoping to not break the bank.

Yes To Tomatoes Daily Pore Scrub

If you have not spent the last few years living under a rock, chances are you have heard of the Yes To line of skincare products. Beginning with their well loved Yes To Cucumbers line, the brand has branched out to include other ingredient driven releases like Yes To Cotton, Yes to Blueberries, and Yes To Pomegranate.

If you have acne prone skin, the Yes To Tomatoes Daily Pore Scrub is an amazing choice to help deep clean your pores and remove any bacterial build up from your skin.

The scrub uses tomato extract, which aids in increasing your skin’s cell turnover rate, alongside salicylic acid and powdered bamboo exfoliants to gently scrub your face, revealing clear, fresh skin in just one use. As an added bonus, the scrub is also gentle enough for daily use, making it a perfect in shower skincare addition.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Pink Grapefruit Pore Cleansing Acne Wash and Facial Cleanser with Vitamin C

A time tested classic, the Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Pink Grapefruit Pore Cleansing Acne Wash and Facial Cleanser with Vitamin C is an amazing choice for those on a budget. The oiless cleanser contains pink grapefruit extract to help balance your skin’s pH and regulate oil production.

The addition of salicylic acid helps to clear your skin and prevent future breakouts, as well. Together, these two powerful ingredients have created a powerful cocktail of acne fighting formulation that has launched the pink product as a household name.

You can pick up a bottle at pretty much any market or drugstore, making it one of the most easily accessible face washes, as well. Plus, since its oil free it is safe for most skin types!

Differin Daily Deep Cleanser

Differin has been a staple in many acne care routines across the world for years. With products like their spot treatment gel, the brand has proven itself to be a powerful ally in the battle for clear skin. The Differin Daily Deep Cleanser claims to clear with all of the power of benzoyl peroxide based cleansers but without any of the harsh dryness and irritation.

It contains five percent peroxide, the perfect level that many dermatologists recommend due to its mix of effectiveness and gentleness. The cleanser is also moisturizing, making it a great choice for combination and dry skin types. It comes as no surprise that Differin has been a popular choice for over 1996 due to its exemplary treatment range and high quality ingredient listings.

Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser

Lastly, if you have sensitive skin you can always count on the Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser to help keep acne breakouts and blemishes away. The formula is gentle due to the brand’s efforts to product an oil-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic product that nourishes the skin as it cleans, leaving you face feeling smooth and evenly toned.

Where many other cleansers may be drying, this product takes steps to moisturize the skin, making other products sink in more easily. This provides a boost to the rest of your skin routine, making follow up products like toners and serums even more effective!

Final Thoughts

The market is totally saturated with tons of different products all claiming to be the best of the best. If you are looking for a new face wash, the best thing you can do is shop around and try out several to see what works for your skin.

Everyone is different and each person’s skin needs different things, so perhaps consider picking up travel size washes until you find your perfect match. Good luck!