10 Best Face Washes For Acne
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Image | Courtesy of Featured Brands / Illustration by TSD
It’s fair to say that acne is a common skin condition that often emerges through puberty due to a change in hormones.
I had acne pretty bad in school which was made worse by ‘slicking’ a gelled fringe onto my face (yes! it was a thing back then).
I didn’t carry the condition into adulthood, but, according to The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), many adults do suffer from acne - particularly women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s.
WHAT CAUSES ACNE?
According to the NHS UK website, “acne is caused when tiny holes in the skin, known as hair follicles, become blocked” which could be from oils, dead skin cells, or bacteria.
Women are more likely to have acne compared to men due to frequent changes in hormone levels caused by periods, birth control and pregnancy.
Many endocrine disorders cause a hormonal imbalance that can trigger acne - polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common ones.
OTHER TIPS TO KEEP ACNE AT BAY
Keep pillow covers fresh — Pillow covers can be a breeding ground for bacteria if you do not keep them clean.
Remove make-up completely before bed — It might be tempting to crawl into bed after a night out, but leaving make-up on can clog the pores and lead to a break-out.
Use oil-free make-up — As oils clog pores and can leave your face looking greasy, opt for oil-free make-up that will also help to mattify your face.
Stay hydrated with water — Drinking lots of water helps to eliminate toxins and bacteria from the skin.
Eat a healthy diet — Fighting acne works better from the inside out, according to Healthline, “eating a wholesome, balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy protein sources, and whole grains” is the best advice to get rid of acne.
But if you need an extra boost to fend off acne breakouts, using a facial wash that has been specially formulated to prevent and tackle acne might be what you’ve been missing all along.
Check out these top 10 face washes for acne.
1. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser
Best Bits |
✔ Suitable for all skin types
✔ Great price (for the size)
✔ Soap-free & paraben-free
Overview | The Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser from La Roche-Posay transforms into a rich lather making it super easy to massage the gentle formula into the skin, eliminating impurities and oils.
Without removing essential moisture from the skin, this cleanser which also contains ‘Thermal Spring Water’ aims to leave the skin feeling clean and refreshed.
2. Rosen Earth Cleanser
Best Bits |
✔ Anti-bacterial properties
✔ No fillers
✔ Suitable for all skin types
Overview | Rosen’s Earth Cleanser is a creamy, slightly foaming cleanser with a small yet mighty ingredients list.
It contains Fuller’s earth clay which has been shown to unclog and tighten pores and improve skin radiancy. Zinc oxide to treat and prevent irritation and redness, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory Eucalyptus oil to soothe the skin and inhibit fungi and bacteria growth.
3. Bioré Charcoal Acne Clearing Cleanser
Best Bits |
✔ Absorbs oils and clears breakouts
✔ Made with natural charcoal
✔ Great for oily skin types
✔ Very good price
Overview | The salicylic acid in this Bioré Charcoal Acne Clearing Cleanser aims to break down dead skin cells and oils from the pores so that they can be easily released, while the charcoal acts as a magnet to draw out dirt and improve skin complexion - a powerful duo!
And you can’t scream at the price either!
4. Kate Somerville Eradikate Daily Foaming Cleanser
Best Bits |
✔ Purifies and protects without over-drying
✔ Balances oil production
✔ Prevents future breakouts
Overview | This medicated daily foaming cleanser from Kate Somerville has been formulated with 3% sulphur.
Sulphur is an age-old anti-acne ingredient (going back many centuries) to treat mild to moderate acne. It penetrates the skin to remove excess oil and dirt due to its antimicrobial properties.
5. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash
Best Bits |
✔ Dermatologist-recommended
✔ Uses MicroClear technology
Overview | This dermatologist-recommended Oil-Free Acne Wash from Neutrogena contains 2% salicylic acid to help fight and prevent acne breakouts while cleansing the skin.
The MicroClear technology that it uses has been clinically proven to blend “salicylic acid with sebum dissolvers in a synergistic microgel complex to deliver the medicine to the source —deep within the follicle” clearing up acne, pimples and blackheads in no time.
6. Dr.Jart+ Ctrl-A Teatreement Cleansing Foam
Best Bits |
✔ Australian Tea Tree Leaf Extract
✔ Ideal for oily, blemish-prone skin
✔ Balances pH levels
Overview | Anyone with Korean #skincaregoals may fall in love with this Teatreement Cleansing Foam from Dr.Jart+.
Rich in Australian Tea Tree Leaf Extract and Niacinamide, this exfoliating cleanser aims to soothe blemish-prone areas, reduce pore size, balance your skin's pH, and prevent emerging breakouts.
7. Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
Best Bits |
✔ Free from dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, parabens, lanolin, formaldehyde, & other preservatives
✔ Accepted by the National Eczema Association
✔ Dermatologist-tested
Overview | Vanicream is completely free from any junk including artificial fragrances and sulphates, which is good news for sensitive skin. This dermatologist-tested cleanser is gentle and won’t irritate your skin.
Yet, it still promises to remove excess oil and dirt from your pores and the soothing glycerin acts as a humectant to ensure that your skin can retain some hydration and relieve dryness.
8. CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
Best Bits |
✔ Fragrance-free
✔ Ideal for sensitive, normal to oily, and blemish-prone skin
✔ Good price
Overview | Developed with dermatologists, the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser has been specially formulated with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to maintain the skin’s protective barrier.
If your oily skin is the cause of your acne, this cleanser promises to gently remove excess oil without leaving your face feeling dried out.
9. Tata Harper Clarifying Cleanser
Best Bits |
✔ 100% Natural ingredients
✔ Vegan and cruelty-free
✔ Does not dry the skin
Overview | Tata Harper’s Clarifying Cleanser deeply cleans the skin, soothes redness and balances oil to leave a comfortable matte finish that doesn’t dry out the skin.
Made from 100% natural ingredients, this cruelty-free formula includes willow bark, calendula and borage leaf extracts to draw out impurities and reveal a radiant complexion.
10. Innbeauty Project Foam Around Clarifying Daily Cleanser
Best Bits |
✔ Ideal for oily and combination skin types
✔ Free from parabens, sulphates, phthalates, BPA, mineral oil and any other nasties
✔ 100% Vegan
Overview | The Foam Around Clarifying Daily Cleanser from Innbeauty Project has a powerful ingredients list including green coffee bean extract which is rich in fatty acids that help to protect and give a vibrant glow and salicylic acid to deep clean and unclog pores.
The mighty formula also contains AHA's to exfoliate dead skin cells to improve texture and tone, and BHA's to dissolve blackheads and clean debris from pores.
