Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission for qualifying purchases.
Which are the best body washes and soaps for acne-prone skin?
Can you use acne face wash on your body?
Those are just two of the questions we’ll answer today in our reviews.
To begin, let’s discuss the best body washes for acne-prone skin.
Contents
If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.
pHisoderm designed this body wash to be pH-balanced to protect your skin. When it’s not too acidic or too basic, it prevents dryness and irritation.
It contains salicylic acid, the maximum concentration for over-the-the counter products. The salicylic acid sloughs off dead skin cells and opens up pores. It also contains exfoliating beads to help you clean out clogged pores.
When your pores are clear, they won’t clog with bacteria and swell to form pimples. Your skin will stop producing extra oil.
Other ingredients include aloe, chamomile, and Vitamin E. These calm and strengthen the skin. We feel these are the best body washes out there and is suitable for body acne.
Neutrogena’s body wash is similar to their face wash as it has a pink grapefruit fragrance.
This Neutrogena body clear acne body wash has been tested by dermatologists to clear up and prevent breakouts. It features Micro-Clear technology that sends the salicylic acid and glycolic acid deep into pores to resolve the problem and soothe the skin.
The formula of this acne body wash also has Vitamin C from grapefruit extract. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that promotes healing and slows down aging.
Users like this formula of this acne body wash because it lathers well, rinses easily, doesn’t leave a residue, and keeps their skin clear.
If you want the benefits of Neutrogena’s body wash without the price tag, try this knockoff. Like the original, these body washes for acne has 2% salicylic acid plus papaya and grapefruit extract, also helps exfoliate dead skin cells. We feel this is one of the finest skin-care products.
And here is another knockoff of Neutrogena’s body wash made by Amazon’s company, Solimo.
Again, it features 2% salicylic acid and also has ingredients like papaya and grapefruit to give you a clear skin.
Even Mario Badescu A.H.A botanical body soap smells like grapefruit.
This acne body wash contains ingredients like papaya, grapefruit, ginseng extract, and linden extracts.
The fruits of this body soap provide the alpha-hydroxy acids that naturally exfoliate the skin. We feel this is the best acne body wash out there. It features Micro-Clear technology that sends the glycolic and salicylic acid deep into pores to resolve the problem and to soothe the skin.
Meanwhile, ginseng and linden moisturize and rejuvenate. Again, this A.H.A botanical body soap features 2% salicylic acid and smells like grapefruit, and is suitable for oily skin type and sensitive skin as well, to exfoliate away dead skin cells, giving you clear skin.
Avene’s Cleansing Gel builds on thermal spring water that’s rich in minerals. It adds zinc gluconate to reduce inflammation and monolaurin to regulate sebum.
Together, the components of these acne body washes deep-cleanse the skin and remove excess oil and impurities.
This acne body wash won’t strip the natural moisture or upset the pH balance.
Humane’s body wash is potent. It has 10% benzoyl peroxide, the maximum concentration you can buy over-the-counter.
This acne body wash is not recommended for sensitive skin. On the other hand, it might be just what you need to get rid of moderate to severe acne.
The formula of this acne body wash is vegan and free of parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, propylene glycol, synthetic fragrances and dyes, petrolatum, GMO ingredients, and triclosan.
Try it, and if you don’t love it, contact the company for a full refund. Again, it features 2% salicylic acid and smells like grapefruit. We feel this is the best acne body wash out there and is suitable for sensitive skin as well.
Dr. Song’s acne body wash also has 10% benzoyl peroxide and comes with a 100% money-back guarantee.
If you don’t want to shower with it, you can use it as a spot treatment.
There are no artificial fragrances, sulfates, or parabens in it. It can treat acne on the body, chest, etc.
Era Organics puts several powerful natural ingredients in this cleanser.
Not only does it contain tea tree oil, but it also has aloe, goldenseal, burdock root, St. John’s wort, dandelion, and pomegranate seed oil.
This acne body wash made in the USA and free of parabens, perfumes, and sulfates.
While that sounds nice, you might be wondering what those other ingredients can do for you.
For one, St. John’s wort is naturally antibacterial, and so is goldenseal.
Then, dandelion balances oily skin.
If you’re all about natural products, these acne body washes are definitely worth a try.
The Body Shop makes a popular body wash with tea tree oil.
The oil of this acne body wash is made from hand-harvested leaves grown in the foothills of Mount Kenya. It’s a Community Trade product that supports local farmers. We feel this is the best acne body wash out there.
Each ingredient of this acne body wash is explained on the label so that you understand what you’re getting.
CLn’s SportWash is made specifically for athletes. It’s antimicrobial to prevent acne, ingrown hairs, and fungal infections like jock itch.
This acne body wash won’t discolor your towel, and it’s free of artificial fragrances and parabens.
Oddly though, one of the ingredients is sodium hypochlorite. Yes, you read that correctly – it’s bleach.
It turns out that diluted bleach can help clear up skin problems.
Instead of watering down the laundry bleach yourself, try these acne body washes instead.
For best results, massage this acne body wash into your skin and wait two minutes before rinsing.
Are you a fan of essential oils? Then you may appreciate this body wash.
This face and body wash contains several oils plus activated charcoal and bentonite clay.
The result is a skin-smoothing deep-cleansing experience with an invigorating fragrance. It can treat acne on the body, chest, etc.
You can try this face and body wash for 30 days and get your money back in full if you aren’t satisfied. We feel this is the best acne body wash out there.
Highlights include frankincense, clary sage, lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, and tea tree. These are blended in a base of handmade liquid glycerin soap made from plant oils.
If you love the tingly feeling of peppermint on your skin, you might enjoy Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap.
The ingredients are simple: coconut, olive, jojoba, and peppermint oils plus a potassium solution.
There’s nothing synthetic or artificial.
Even the bottle is 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.
We know that not everyone loves liquid body washes. That’s why we included bar soap, too.
Dr. Bronner’s tea tree bars are surprisingly good at making lather and moisturizing the skin.
They have no artificial components, and everything is plant-based.
Moreover, each bar is packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled wrappers.
The SAL3 soap combines salicylic acid with sulfur for the perfect acne-fighting product.
No, this soap with salicylic acid doesn’t smell good. The natural scent is not masked by an artificial fragrance.
But the results are worth it as it treats acne as well as keratosis pilaris, psoriasis, rosacea, and winter itch.
If it’s too drying at first, skip a day between uses. Alternate with a milder non-comedogenic soap.
Some people swear by African Black Soap. It gets rid of blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. It also lessens oiliness.
It’s made from unrefined shea butter, cocoa butter, and palm oil. It also has plantain skin ash to remove impurities and provide gentle exfoliation.
If you can’t make it to Israel this year, bring the Dead Sea to your bathroom. The soap is made with pure mineral mud from Israel.
It works well for baths, washing your face, and also for shaving. The ingredients detoxify the skin.
Happily, it has a pleasant fragrance due to pure essential oils. These include lemongrass, eucalyptus, and peppermint.
Keika’s black soap is larger than the average bar. But size doesn’t matter as much as the effects.
Using it is a spa-like experience.
This exfoliating body wash is handmade from natural oils like coconut, palm, and sunflower.
But the black color comes from activated charcoal. The charcoal and bentonite clay exfoliate and absorb impurities.
The soap also has Himalayan pink salt and essential oils like tea tree, lemongrass, and peppermint. We feel this is the best acne body wash out there.
Up to this point, we’ve reviewed medicated soaps to kill acne bacteria and unclog pores.
Now, let’s look at mild shower gels that won’t trigger acne in the first place. These are designed to prevent body breakouts.
CLn’s Therapeutic Body Wash or body scrub is clinically-proven to diminish redness and heal dry skin. It’s good enough that the National Eczema Association awarded it the Seal of Acceptance.
Cetaphil’s body scrub has won awards and is often recommended by dermatologists. You can use it on both your face and body as it removes makeup but won’t dry out the skin.
One of the best benefits is that your skin won’t feel tight or itchy after you wash. It won’t leave a residue, and it won’t strip the natural protective oil. Make sure you are gentle enough while applying this and is suitable to treat acne.
On the downside, this exfoliating body wash/ body scrub has parabens and sulfate. We feel this is much better than the Proactiv deep cleansing, Daily deep cleanser, and Cerave body wash. These are designed to prevent body breakouts.
For the ultimate anti-allergy body wash, you need Vanicream’s Free and Clear Cleanser.
The list of chemicals this body scrub doesn’t contain is longer than the list of ingredients and it also removes excess dirt and oil.
Interestingly, it proves that you don’t need much to keep your skin clean and is suitable for dry skin types and is much better than the Daily deep cleanser
Sebamed’s wash makes sure to remove excess dirt and oil without clogging pores or drying out your body.
This exfoliating body wash is excellent if you’re trying to heal a nasty breakout, and the acne meds are causing irritation. It’s also good for psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema. Apply it gently on the irritated areas to see the results.
It has a pH value of 5.5, which is ideal for the skin. And this body wash contains plenty of vitamins like Vitamin E and vitamin C and moisturizing ingredients.
On the downside, it contains parabens. Happily, this is less of a risk as it’s not a leave-on product and is suitable for dry skin types. These are designed to prevent body breakouts. It also unclogs pores and controls oil production.
Three of the best ingredients for clearing up acne include benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and sulfur.
Each one has pros and cons.
Benzoyl peroxide clears up breakouts by killing the acne that causes pimples.
It works quickly, too.
In just a few days, you’ll see fewer blemishes.
The cons include dryness, redness, irritated skin, and bleaching of fabric dye.
If you overdo it with the benzoyl peroxide, your skin is likely to peel and swell.
To avoid problems, start with a weaker concentration, like 5%, or don’t use it every day at first.
Salicylic acid unclogs pores and exfoliates the skin.
It reduces inflammation and shrinks pore size.
On the downside, it takes a few weeks to get acne under control.
It can make your skin sting and dry it out.
Sulfur stinks, but it’s a time-tested remedy for acne.
People have been using it for more than 2000 years to treat their skin.
It unclogs pores and sheds dead cells.
Like other remedies for acne, it can be very drying.
Tea tree, also known as melaleuca, is a homeopathic remedy for skin problems like acne and athlete’s foot.
There’s evidence that it’s effective against blemishes, although it may work more slowly.
Never take it internally – only use it topically. It may cause a burning sensation and redness.
It’s easier to clear out body acne or bacne when you use a body wash made to treat it.
For example, if you use a shower gel with benzoyl peroxide, let it sit on your skin for a few minutes before you rinse (5).
And don’t give up on your new salicylic acid body wash for at least a month because it needs time to make changes to your skin.
Then, follow these other tips to prevent pimples:
Unload your body acne, starting with the way you bathe.
Switch to an acne-fighting soap and enjoy healthier skin. Choose a product that contains acne-fighting ingredients like glycolic and salicylic acid (alpha hydroxy acid).
Active acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid will kill acne bacteria and unclog pores.
Give your new acne wash time to work as it may take a few days to a few weeks to clear up the problem.
Let us know in the comments below which one you tried and how it’s working for you.
Sources:
1. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601026.html
2. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a607072.html
3. https://www.acne.org/sulfur-for-acne.html by Dan Kern,
4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/expert-answers/natural-acne-treatment/FAQ-20057915?p=1 by Brent Bauer, M.D,
5. https://www.aad.org/back-acne
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3666086/ by Caitriona Ryan, et al.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Join Our Newsletter For The Latest Updates!
This article provides details about the best body wash ad soaps for acne prone skin I enjoyed reading this article and would suggest others it as well. Thank you for this article! This is really very informative for us and look forward to more such in the future for all of us.