Acne Cleansers
The following cleansers are organized by key ingredients. Product information is summarized, with more detailed information, including prices, and in most cases, ingredients, warnings, and user reviews being accessible via the accompanying merchant links.
Salicylic Acid
This oil-free acne scrub contains 2% salicylic acid and utilizes Neutrogena's Microclear™ technology to enhance the salicylic acid's ability to penetrate oil in pores. It also contains glycolic acid and utilizes microbeads that burst when massaged into the skin.
This oil-free foam acne wash is one of Neutrogena's Stress Control products, which utilize skin soothing ingredients such as green tea and cucumber to reduce redness and irritation and are designed to leave the skin feeling soft and smooth, rather than dry and tight.
This foam wash is designed to penetrate deep into the pores. It contains 0.5% salicylic acid and uses Neutrogena's Microclear™ technology to enhance delivery of the active ingredient.
This oil-free acne scrub is another one of Neutrogena's Stress Control products, which utilize skin soothing ingredients such as green tea and cucumber to reduce redness and irritation and are designed to leave the skin feeling soft and smooth, rather than dry and tight.
This product contains 0.5% salicylic acid and uses Neutragena's Microclear™ technology to enhance delivery of the active ingredient into the pores. The scrub also contains glycolic acid and utilizes exfoliating microbeads to clear oil and dead skin cells.
Benzoyl Peroxide
This acne cleanser from University Medical contains 2.25% benzoyl peroxide. This product is claimed to dirt and oil, while exfoliating dead skin cells.
This acne cleanser from PCA Skin® contains 5% benzoyl peroxide. This treatment also contains a number of skin-soothing botanicals, such as Chamomile, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Cucumber Extract, Pro Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, Centella Asiatica Extract, and Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein.
This product contains 10% benzoyl peroxide and is claimed to utilize a pore penetrating technology to deposit the benzoyl peroxide directly into the pores. This effect permits the benzoyl peroxide to act on acne-causing bacteria longer after the product is used.
Sulfur
This acne wash is designed to wash away oil and keep pores from clogging, while soothing the skin.
The product contains colloidal sulfur to absorb oil and act as an antiseptic. It also includes camphor to clear and sooth the skin.
Tea Tree Oil
This product from Desert Essence contains natural ingredients, including organic tea tree oil, which is an antiseptic known to kill bacteria (P.acnes) that cause acne. Using essential oils and botanical extracts, this pH balanced product purportedly enhances overall skin health and appearance.
This cleanser contains no alcohol, artificial detergents, color, or synthetic perfumes and is Vegan friendly.
This cleanser from Desert Essence utilizes different ingredients than the one above, but also contains tea tree oil that kill acne-causing bacteria. This also product utilizes natural extracts that are claimed to have skin soothing properties.
Like the previous product, this cleaner is pH balanced.
Triclosan
This lathering cleanser from Noxzema is designed to remove oil, dirt, and makeup, while using the antibacterial agent, triclosan, to kill acne-causing bacteria. This acne product rinses clean without clogging pores.
Other Cleansers
Formulated for sensitive skin, Clean & Clear's foaming facial cleanser is designed to remove oil, dirt, and makeup without overdrying the skin or leaving any irritating residue.
Cetaphil® produces a number of non-soap cleansers, including this foaming cleanser for normal to oily skin. This nonirritating cleanser is claimed to remove oil, dirt, and makeup without leaving the skin dry or tight. It is non-comedogenic, meaning it will not clog pores.
Alpha Hydrox® produces a number of products containing glycolic acid, which is a potent alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). This cleanser, however, does not contain glycolic acid, though it does contain another alpha hydroxy acid, citric acid.
This non-soap cleanser is designed to be gentle and maintain the skin's moisture, while removing dirt, makeup, and environmental pollutants. It is friendly to acne regimens because it does not leave any irritating or pore-clogging residue. It is also fragrance-free, pH balanced, alcohol-free, and oil-free.