9 Acne Cleansers That Will Help Banish Zits & Clear Out Your Pores

Finding the best face wash for acne-prone skin can be a lot of trial & error. Luckily, we’ve rounded up some of the highest-rated on the market for you to shop!

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Whether it’s that time of the month, you have constant breakouts or you have just one big zit that just won’t go away, using the right face wash for acne is incredibly important. If you’re looking to minimize pimples and redness or just use a cleanser as a preventative measure, there are so many different products on the market that are filled with unique ingredients that could either help or hurt your skin, depending on your skin type.

Upgrade your skin routine by reading below about the best face wash for acne and shop your faves!

1. Tatcha The Deep Cleanse: Non-irritating Daily Gel Cleanser

The Tatcha Deep Cleanse is a fan-favorite acne cleanser that will be your go-to after just one use! A daily gel cleanses with natural fruit exfoliant that deeply but gently lifts impurities and unclogs pores while leaving skin soft and hydrated, this face wash is oil-free and lathers into a creamy foam to lift away dirt, oil, and impurities without over-drying. Plus, Tatcha is a company with an incredible cause. With every skincare purchase, they fund girls’ education in partnership with Room to Read, helping to nurture the beautiful minds of incredible girls in Asia and Africa. $38, amazon.com

2. CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Go back to basics with CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser. Developed with dermatologists, CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser is a unique formula that cleanses, hydrates, and helps restore the protective skin barrier with three essential ceramides (1, 3, 6-II). The formula also contains hyaluronic acid to help retain skin’s natural moisture and zaps zits! This rich, hydrating cleanser has a lotion-like consistency. It gently cleanses and removes dirt, oil, and makeup without leaving skin feeling tight or dry. $15, amazon.com

3. Drunk Elephant Beste™ No. 9 Jelly Cleanser

I’m sure you’ve all heard the hype surrounding Drunk Elephant, a new to the market skincare brand that uses ” ingredients that either directly benefits the health of the skin or support the integrity of our formulations,” by focusing on “pH levels, formulations the skin recognizes, a small molecular structure that’s easily absorbed, and effective active ingredients that also support and maintain the skin’s acid mantle.” Drunk Elephant’s Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser is a cult-favorite and for all skin types. A unique blend of mild surfactants and makeup-dissolving emollients, this gentle cleanser is formulated at an ideal, non-stripping pH level of 5.5. Free of SLS, fragrance, essential oils, and silicones. $32, sephora.com

4. Bliss Fab Foaming 2-In-1 Cleanser & Exfoliator with Bamboo Buffers

Treat yourself to soft and smooth skin with this 2-in-1 Cleanser & Exfoliator from Bliss! The Bliss Fab Foaming 2-in-1 Cleanser & Exfoliator provides gentle daily exfoliation while removing dirt, makeup, and grime for refreshed and radiant skin. Tiny bamboo buffing beads slough off dead skin and other impurities without abrading healthy skin while botanical extracts tone and soothe to help keep your skin healthy. The glycerin delivers lightweight moisture so your skin doesn’t feel overly dry or tight but instead feels smooth, clean, and refreshed. Use it morning or night or when your complexion just needs a little pick-me-up. This zit-zapping formula is just what you need for an amazing price! $10, amazon.com

5. Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment

Kiehl’s offers incredible facial products for acne-prone skin, including their Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment. Formulated to help clear blemishes and prevent new ones from forming, this face wash helps purify pores and remove traces of dirt and oil. Inspired by their iconic Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion, this foaming cleanser with Salicylic Acid is an ideal first step in your acne skin care routine. $25, kiehls.com

6. Neutrogena Acne Proofing Daily Facial Scrub with Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment

You simply can’t go wrong with Neutrogena! Their Acne Proofing Daily Facial Scrub literally amps up the skin’s defense against future breakouts! Powered by their ClearDefend Technology, the oil-free formula with skin smoothing exfoliators clears breakouts and is designed to help preserve skin’s essential defenses. Filled with gentle exfoliates to enhance the natural skin renewal process at the surface, this face wash fights breakouts beneath the surface of the skin. Can be used by all skin types. $9, amazon.com

7. Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser

Another super popular skincare company on the rise, Sunday Riley, offers a daily gel cleanser that removes all dirt, oil, makeup, and impurities from your skin while drawing in clean hydration and imparting a healthy glow. The Cermanic Slip Cleanser is a balancing, foaming gel cleanser that pulls out impurities (while pulling in clean hydration) for smaller-looking pores and baby-soft skin. The plant-based product is also fragrance-free, oil-free, and silicone-free. It is vegan and cruelty-free. $35, sephora.com

8. Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening & Exfoliating Daily Facial Scrub

Feel positively radiant and acne-free with Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Skin Brightening & Exfoliating Daily Facial Scrub. The unique formula combines moisture-rich soy extract with microbeads to gently exfoliate while you cleanse, leaving your skin looking and feeling cleaner, smoother, and radiantly healthy. It’s also oil-free, soap-free, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and gentle enough for everyday use. Not to mention, the price is amazing to get perfect skin! $6, amazon.com

9. SkinCeuticals LHA Cleansing Gel

Arguably the best skincare brand on the market, the SkinCeuticals LHA Cleansing Gel worth every penny and all the hype. Made specifically for acne-prone skin, it is a targeted exfoliating cleanser featuring a conditioning surfactant and a 12% concentration of key ingredients combining lipo-hydroxy acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, glycerin, and sorbitol to remove excess oils and makeup, while decongesting pores and brightening skin. Formulated for aging skin prone to breakouts, this deep cleansing gel gently refines the appearance of congested pores and helps to reduce blemishes without drying the skin. SC recommends using twice daily and massaging over your face and neck. $41, skinceuticals.com