Breakouts? We Found the Best Salicylic Acid Face Washes to Conquer Clogged Pores (2024)

Breakouts? We Found the Best Salicylic Acid Face Washes to Conquer Clogged Pores (1)

If you have oily, acne-prone skin and are on a quest for clearer, healthier skin, then salicylic acid is an important ingredient to include in your toolbox. Classed as a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), salicylic acid dissolves the bonds that hold dull, dead skin cells. This makes way for a deeper pore clean and allows your follow-up toners, serums, and moisturizers to penetrate better.

Hadley King, MD,board-certified dermatologist in NYC and clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University says salicylic acid is excellent for cleansing pores and clearing up cystic acne because it exfoliates the surface of the skin. Jordan C. Carqueville, MD, leading board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist and founder of The Derm Institute of Chicago recommends choosing cleansers with 2% salicylic acid to start. After hours of research, interviews, and testing in the Verywell Testing lab, we assessed cleansers based on ease of use, texture, smell, feel, and effectiveness. Then we compiled our list of the top 12 salicylic acid cleansers for various budgets, skin types, and conditions.

Our Top Picks

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In This Article

  • Our Picks

  • Where We Stand

  • How We Tested

  • What to Look For

  • Our Experts

  • FAQ

  • Why Trust Verywell Health

Pros

  • Gentle enough for daily use

  • Cruelty-free

  • Vegan

Cons

  • Thin consistency

Key Specs

Size: 5 fluid ounces | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide, azelaic acid | Percentage of Salicylic Acid: 2% | Best for: Pore resurfacing, all acne types

Why We Recommend It

Skinfix Azelaic Acid BHA/AHA Cleanser is our best overall pick because it suits a variety of skin and acne types (including fungal acne), is gentle enough for daily use, and is cruelty-free, as well as vegan and gluten-free. In our test on combination skin, this cleanser achieved top marks for effectiveness and feel. The cleanser felt gentle against the skin and had a nice slip to it. The consistency ensured we didn’t need to do a double cleanse, but it also didn’t strip our skin of moisture.

We love that this cleanser features a host of multi-tasking ingredients to suit a range of skincare concerns, including niacinamide, which minimizes pores and regulates sebum production, and azelaic acid, which fights bacteria and diminishes the appearance of post-acne scars.

Keep in Mind

The cleanser is pretty liquidy and runny as it comes out of the tube so it may be easy to overuse, but it becomes more creamy as you rub it in.

Pros

  • 2% salicylic acid

  • Soothing ingredients

Cons

  • Small packaging

Key Specs

Size: 5 fluid ounces | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, zinc, allantoin | Percentage of Salicylic Acid: 2% | Best for: Acne, blackheads, oil control, soothing

Why We Recommend It

Acne-prone skin tends to come with redness and inflammation, which means it’s important to look for products that target the acne and the redness in tandem. The INKEY List Salicylic Acid cleanser is a great option because it contains 2% salicylic acid as well as soothing ingredients like allantoin and zinc. Zinc minimizes oiliness, and allantoin is a moisturizer and calming agent that’s also known to encourage cell turnover.

Keep in Mind

The packaging for this serum looks small at first, but according to the brand you only need to use a raspberry-sized amount of this cleanser, so a little goes a long way.

Pros

  • Contains hydrators

  • Microbead-free scrub formula

  • Mattifying

Cons

  • May be too harsh for irritated acne

Key Specs

Size:5.1 fluid ounces | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, white clay, zinc, pumice stone | Percentage of Salicylic Acid: 2%| Best for: Oil control, acne, blackheads

Why We Recommend It

King recommends Garnier Skin Naturals Pure 3in1 Wash+Scrub+Mask because it offers great value in a high-quality formula. The creamy product includes particles of pumice stones, which allow for gentle physical exfoliation without plastic microbeads. In addition to salicylic acid, it contains humectants and emollients to hydrate and support the skin barrier.

This is a great product for deep exfoliation because it offers blackhead and acne control on multiple levels. The pumice particles act as a physical exfoliator, while the salicylic acid acts as a chemical exfoliant that dissolves the bonds between dead skin cells. If you choose to use this as a mask, the white clay steps in as an agent that keeps oil at bay and draws impurities from the skin.

Keep in Mind

The white clay and pumice stone may be irritating for advanced cases of acne.

Pros

  • Cleanses without drying

  • Supports skin barrier

Cons

  • Not cruelty-free

  • Not suitable for daily use on sensitive skin

Key Specs

Size: 8 fluid ounces | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid | Percentage of Salicylic Acid: 2% | Best for: Hydrating, acne, blackheads, psoriasis

Why We Recommend It

CeraVe is a tried and true brand because of its no-frills, dermatologist-developed range. Their Renewing SA Cleanser offers packaging that allows you to easily dose and pump the gel-to-foam formula. While it contains 2% salicylic acid, the cleanser also delivers ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides, so you can cleanse without overly stripping your skin.

We also love that this option is budget-friendly as it comes in a large bottle for a relatively small price and can be found at most retail drugstores. To top it off, this facial cleanser is safe for those with psoriasis so if you're suffering from the skin condition while also battling acne, this could be a good option for you.

Keep in Mind

This cleanser is not certified cruelty-free, so if this is important to you, scroll through to search for one of the others on this list that ticks that box. Additionally, although the formula is well-balanced in terms of hydrators and exfoliants, this product is best for normal skin. If you have sensitive skin, limit use to once or twice per week or opt for something gentler.

Pros

  • High percentage of active exfoliants

  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Contains fragrance

Key Specs

Size: 1.7 fluid ounces | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, agave acid, avocado oil | Percentage of Salicylic Acid: 2% | Best for: Skin resurfacing, all acne types, brightening

Why We Recommend It

King personally recommends Charlotte Tilbury Super Radiance Resurfacing Facial Cleanser because it contains both salicylic acid and glycolic acid to gently exfoliate. It also features the humectants glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which are powerful hydrating ingredients that draw environmental moisture into the skin. It also offers emollients like avocado oil and sunflower seed oil and anti-inflammatory ingredients like aloe vera to soothe the skin.

For people with acne, this facial treatment features the all-important 2% salicylic acid as well as several other exfoliating acids.

Keep in Mind

This product is quite intensive compared to other products on our list, so it should be treated as a mask or treatment rather than a cleanser. But, for this reason, many users will be able to apply it once a week and still see results.

Pros

  • Pore refining

  • Minimizes growth of certain skin bacteria

  • Retexturizing

Cons

  • Fragrance may not be suitable for sensitive skin

Key Specs

Size: 7.5 fluid ounces | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, snow ear mushroom, bisabolol | Percentage of Salicylic Acid: Not listed | Best for: Acne, blackheads, oil control, smoothing

Why We Recommend It

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta AHA/BHA Daily Cleansing Gel is one of our tested products that received top marks on combination skin for performance, design, and skin feel. Less than one pump is enough to dispense the right amount of product, and it cleanses without leaving a film behind.

The formula is designed for all skin types, but it’s particularly great for oily skin because of its balancing properties. The cleanser features a mix of exfoliating acids that refine and retexturize your pores while still being gentle enough to use twice daily. It also features farnesol, which prevents breakouts caused by certain skin bacteria, as well as bisabolol to soothe and calm acne.

Keep in Mind

This cleanser contains jasmine fragrance, which some might find too strong. Additionally, the clear gel is slightly sticky at first, but spreads easily when it comes into contact with water.

Pros

  • Provides both chemical and manual exfoliation

  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • May be too harsh for red, irritated, or inflamed skin

Key Specs

Size: 2.5 fluid ounces | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, vitamin E | Percentage of Salicylic Acid: Not listed | Best for: Pore resurfacing, all acne types

Why We Recommend It

Nip + Fab Salicylic Fix Scrub is a great option for those who struggle with minimizing blackheads because it exfoliates at a chemical and mechanical level. The salicylic acid targets acne, blackheads, and oil, meanwhile the volcanic rock gently cleanses away excess makeup, dirt, and sebum.

This product is a great choice for those looking to try out a scrub on a budget. Thanks to the addition of glycerin and vitamin E, it also has moisturizing and antioxidant properties, so it shouldn’t be overly drying, even for sensitive skin.

Keep in Mind

People with inflamed acne may do better to avoid this scrub until redness and inflammation subside.

Pros

  • Features multiple active ingredients

  • Anti-inflammatory

Cons

  • Adds another step in the skincare routine

Key Specs

Size: 6 fluid ounces | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide, willow bark extract, vitamin C | Percentage of Salicylic Acid: 2% | Best for: Pore resurfacing, all acne types, brightening, acne, blackheads, oil control

Why We Recommend It

King suggests Face Reality sal-C Toner because it’s a hardworking toner with additional active ingredients to target various concerns. Not only does it contain salicylic acid, but it also features glycerin to hydrate the skin, niacinamide to help with tone, texture, and hydration, and vitamin C to offer brightening and antioxidant properties. The versatile ingredient list makes this toner a great option for combination skin.

Keep in Mind

Technically this product is a toner, not a wash, so it might add another step to your skincare routine, which may bother some of the skincare minimalists out there.

Pros

  • Formulated with botanicals

  • Moisturizing

Cons

  • Only contains 0.5% salicylic acid

Key Specs

Size: 5 fluid ounces | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, tea tree oil, glycerine | Percentage of Salicylic Acid: 0.5% | Best for: Pore resurfacing, all acne types

Why We Recommend It

If you have dry skin and are searching for a cleanser that doesn’t make the condition worse, COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser may do the trick. Carqueville suggests that the best salicylic acid cleansers have a 2% concentration, but if that’s too strong for your skin, the lower concentration in this product might be just the thing your skin needs.

The Korean skincare staple brand has formulated this product with 0.5% salicylic acid as well as tea tree oil, an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ingredient that can calm mild to moderate breakouts. The cleanser is also formulated with glycerine to moisturize as it cleanses.

Keep in Mind

If you need a stronger cleanser, this probably isn’t the best choice due to the lower salicylic acid content.

Pros

  • Fragrance-free

  • Dermatologist-tested

Cons

  • Not cruelty-free

Key Specs

Size: 6.7 fluid ounces | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, lipohydroxy acid, glycerine | Percentage of Salicylic Acid: 2% | Best for: Pore resurfacing, blackheads, all acne types

Why We Recommend It

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser is another product that was personally recommended by King. It contains 2% salicylic acid and is also fragrance-free, which makes it a good option for sensitive skin. The formula contains lipohydroxy acid, an exfoliant offering skin-renewing properties. And though it's oil-free, it contains glycerine so it will cleanse without overly stripping your skin.

Keep in Mind

The paraben-free formula is suitable for sensitive skin, but if you find it irritating, discontinue use or try using it less frequently.

Pros

  • Dermatologist-recommended

  • Suitable for sensitive skin

Cons

  • Contains dyes

Key Specs

Size: 9.1 fluid ounces | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, aloe vera extract | Percentage of Salicylic Acid: 2% | Best for: Acne-prone, oily, dry, pore resurfacing

Why We Recommend It

Cystic acne is the most severe and difficult type of acne to treat, and most people need to manage it with a multi-pronged approach. Neutrogena Oil-Free Salicylic Acid Acne Washis a tried-and-true option that’s consistently recommended by dermatologists. The face wash has a relatively simple formula that features 2% salicylic acid as well as soothing extracts such as aloe vera.

We love that this acne wash comes in a large bottle and lasts a long time, even with regular use. The product also features what Neutrogena calls its MicroClear technology, which is designed to help boost the delivery of salicylic acid.

Keep in Mind

The cleanser contains artificial dyes, so it might not be the best choice for very sensitive skin types.

Pros

  • Two-in-one product

  • Cruelty-free

Cons

  • Not suitable for very sensitive skin

  • May increase sun sensitivity

Key Specs

Size: 13.42 fluid ounces. | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, papaya enzymes, glycerin, oat kernel extract | Percentage of Salicylic Acid: 2% | Best for: Managing acne and smoothing keratosis pilaris

Why We Recommend It

AcidEnzyme Cleanser Exfoliating Face & Body Cleanser is a two-in-one face and body wash. It comes recommended by King, who notes it has a great mix of AHA and BHA exfoliants as well as some important hydrators. The 2% salicylic acid concentration is combined with a formulation of papaya enzymes to clear, smooth, and brighten the skin, as well as glycerin and oat kernel extract to hydrate and support the skin barrier.

This combination of ingredients makes the cleanser intensive enough to address keratosis pilaris and various skincare concerns on your body’s thicker skin surfaces. However, it’s also gentle enough to clean and protect the skin on your face, and the formula is free from endocrine-disrupting phthalates and parabens, as well as benzoyl peroxide and formaldehyde.

Keep in Mind

This product features a BHA ingredient which may increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so be sure to apply a high-SPF sunscreen as a final step in your skincare routine.

Where We Stand

Based on our research and lab testing, we chose Skinfix Azelaic Acid BHA/AHA Cleanser as our top pick. This powerful but gentle cleanser is good for all types of skin and acne and can be used daily. It’s also cruelty-free, vegan, and gluten-free. We’ll continue to research and test new products as they catch our eye, so be sure to check back often for our updated recommendations.

How We Tested and Reviewed Salicylic Acid Cleansers


While researching salicylic acid cleansers, we looked out for products that have a 2% salicylic acid concentration and a good mix of moisturizing ingredients. We also chose cleansers that are dermatologist-recommended or tested.

We also tested three salicylic acid cleansers in the Verywell Testing Lab. Each product was sampled by one of our editors with combination or oily skin. The cleansers were rated based on their performance in several categories, including the following:

  • Ease of use: How easy the product was to dispense and apply to our skin
  • Texture: What the cleanser felt like on our skin (creamy, liquidy, foamy, etc.)
  • Smell: Whether the cleanser contained any fragrance, and how strong the smell was
  • Feel: How our skin felt after use and whether or not it felt hydrated
  • Effectiveness: How thoroughly the product cleaned our skin and approved its appearance

Two of the three tested products scored high enough to be included in this roundup, including our best overall winner. Keep in mind that the testing results were based on a single face wash, so they don’t reflect performance over time.

What to Look for in a Salicylic Acid Cleanser

  • Percentage of Salicylic Acid: According to Carqueville, when shopping for a salicylic wash, one of the key things to look out for is the percentage of the active ingredient. The most common strength percentage in face washes will be 2%, which is a safe and effective concentration for normal, oily, and acne-prone skin types. If you have dry or sensitive skin, opt for a less intense cleanser with 0.5% to 1% salicylic acid. The picks in this lineup range from 0.5%-2% salicylic acid.
  • Other Ingredients: Since salicylic acid is drying, cleansers often contain hydrating and moisturizing ingredients, as well as some other key ingredients that will target specific concerns. Niacinamide is often included because it helps regulate the skin’s oil production, improving skin texture and maintaining moisture levels. Similarly, look out for formulas that contain hyaluronic acid, a powerful hydrator that occurs naturally in the body, as well as glycerin to soften and moisturize. Other formulas may contain glycolic acid and vitamin C to brighten the skin’s appearance.
  • Intended Use: Salicylic acid is a well known pore-clearer that’s largely intended for oilier skin types. Since the active ingredient is available in different percentages, it’s possible to find a formula for different skin types. Those with more normal skin may find a product with a lower percentage of salicylic acid will suit them. Most of the products in this list are suitable for daily or twice-daily use. It’s important to take note of how your skin feels after using the cleanser and to always follow up with an appropriate moisturizer.

Our Experts

  • Hadley King, MD, board-certified dermatologist in NYC and clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University
  • Jordan C. Carqueville, MD, a leading board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist, and founder of The Derm Institute of Chicago

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do salicylic acid face washes really work?

    This largely depends on your skin type and particularly on your acne type. Salicylic acid cleansers are great for mild to moderate acne. For those with more persistent acne, such as cystic acne, salicylic acid cleansers should be one of several tools in your toolbox. If you choose a higher salicylic acid concentration (around 2%), Carqueville says you should see your skin get brighter and clearer in one to two weeks.

  • Can you use a salicylic acid cleanser every day?

    Both dermatologists we spoke to say it’s possible to use a salicylic acid cleanser every day, whether that means using the maximum 2% concentration or something less potent. Since salicylic acid is a drying ingredient, it’s important to nourish your skin barrier after use with a hydrating serum or moisturizer.

  • What percentage of salicylic acid is best?

    According to Carqueville, it’s important to use active ingredients in the highest concentration possible. With over-the-counter products, that means 2% salicylic acid.Carqueville says if you’d rather not use 2% of the active ingredient on a daily basis, you can use a lower concentration or decrease the frequency of use.

  • When should you not use a salicylic acid cleanser?

    Carqueville says anybody with rosacea or eczema should avoid salicylic acid, as it’ll likely irritate the skin even further. It’s also possible to overuse acids, resulting in a chemical burn, which is characterized by persistent redness, itching, and sensitivity. If these symptoms last for more than seven days, consult a board-certified dermatologist.

Why Trust Verywell Health

Isabella Ubaldi regularly contributes to Verywell Health’s sister site, Health.com. She is a freelance writer with a keen personal interest in the science of skincare. Having previously worked on advertising campaigns for global beauty conglomerates and been a makeup devotee for the past 20 years. She now prioritizes researching high impact, minimal fuss skin products. Isabella has researched, written about, and worked for a range of global and independent clients and health topics, such as the best moisturizing body washes and how “femtech” is helping fill the gap in our medical understanding of women’s bodies. Her curiosity about the world feeds her interest in helping people reduce the shopping noise and make decisions that just might improve their quality of life or make the everyday a little bit sweeter.

Breakouts? We Found the Best Salicylic Acid Face Washes to Conquer Clogged Pores (2024)

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