You've probably come across cleansers and body washes made with benzoyl peroxide while shopping for skin care products — after all, it’s one of the most popular ingredients for treating acne-prone skin. If you’re dealing with stubborn blackheads or a mild breakout, I spoke to board-certified dermatologists about how benzoyl peroxide can help to heal your skin and rounded up their product recommendations for you to shop.
How I picked the best benzoyl peroxide products
Experts recommend considering the following when shopping for a skin care product with benzoyl peroxide as its main ingredient:
- Formulation: Benzoyl peroxide can be found in different formulations, including cleansers, body washes, gels, spot treatments and more. In general, the longer a chemical ingredient stays in contact with the skin, the more potent its effect can be — for example, cleansers are rinsed off quickly while spot treatments dry and stay on the skin. But the longer it stays on your skin, the higher the risk for irritation, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mona Sadeghpour. More on how to approach formulations below.
- Additional ingredients: Since benzoyl peroxide can be drying, it should be combined with hydrating and soothing ingredients in a product to help prevent any potential irritation. This includes hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides and niacinamide, according to experts.
- Concentration: The strength of your over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide will range from 2.5% to 10%. The strength you use will depend on your skin type and its tolerance. For example, if you have sensitive or dry skin, you may want to use a product with a smaller concentration to avoid irritation and excessive dryness, according to our experts. Also, if you’re introducing this ingredient to your skin, consider starting with the lowest amount at first, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marguerite Germain.
- Price: My roundup includes products as low as $10 and as high as $56.
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The best benzoyl peroxide products
Listed below are expert-recommended benzoyl peroxide products that can help treat face and body acne. I also included highly rated options that align with dermatologists’ guidance.
Best facial cleanser
This cleanser’s 4% benzoyl peroxide formulation is high enough to pack an acne punch and is combined with ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to help calm the skin and retain moisture, according to Sadeghpour.
Best for cystic acne
If you have cystic acne or mild to moderate acne, consider using this lightweight lotion, which has a 4.6-star average rating from over 2,900 reviews on Amazon. Aside from helping to control oil and breakouts, this treatment has bisabolol and allantoin to help soothe the skin and reduce redness, according to the brand. For the best results, apply the matte-finish lotion to your skin after cleansing twice daily.
Best body wash
This drugstore body wash is an effective treatment for body acne or folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles) because of its high concentration of benzoyl peroxide, according to Sadeghpour. It’s available in two strengths, so you can choose which one would be best for the severity of your acne and your skin’s tolerance level, she says.
Best for skin barrier health
You can use this lotion as a spot treatment on pimples and blackheads up to three times a day in order to help minimize the appearance of pores and reduce oil, according to the brand. Reviewers say that even their sensitive skin can tolerate it, and there is a noticeable difference within a few days of applying it regularly. They also say it can be quite drying, so be sure to follow it up with a moisturizer. This treatment has a 4.5-star average rating from over 600 reviews at Sephora.
Best moisturizing
Aside from being formulated to clear acne within one week of consistent use, this creamy cleanser also hydrates and soothes the skin with the help of glycerin and licorice root. The licorice root also helps reduce any redness linked directly with acne, according to the brand. Reviewers say that while it’s an effective treatment and reduces irritation, it does have a slight scent that isn’t masked by artificial fragrances.
Best soothing treatment
This cleanser is non-irritating because it has soothing and calming thermal spring water to counteract any irritation that benzoyl peroxide might cause, according to the brand.
Best face mask
This mask has 5% benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid to treat acne and uneven texture. NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider uses this product as a spot treatment whenever she gets a breakout. “By the time I wake up in the morning, my skin looks much clearer and my breakouts are significantly reduced,” she says. “It really feels like magic, but it’s just the combination of benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid.”
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How to shop for benzoyl peroxide products
Using a product with benzoyl peroxide can be a great first step to preventing and treating acne. Below are factors experts recommend considering when shopping for one. Some factors are based on personal preference, while others may benefit from a discussion with a board-certified dermatologist.
Formulation
Benzoyl peroxide is available in different formulations, including gels, cleansers, masks, spot treatments and lotions. The option you choose will depend on your preference, whether you want to target a large or small area, and whether you want a leave-on or rinse-off treatment, says Germain.
- Cleansers and body washes: Cleansers (especially those with lower concentrations of BPO) are “easier” on the skin because they can be quickly washed off, says Sadeghpour. They also provide wide protection from new breakouts and control oil over the whole area to which they are applied, according to Germain. Dermatologists frequently recommend BPO washes as part of a multimodal treatment plan for managing acne.
- Masks and lotions: Masks and lotions stay in contact with the skin longer and can be great for combatting acne and covering a large surface. This formulation is best for someone with oily skin. However, those with sensitive skin may have a harder time tolerating these, says Sadeghpour.
- Spot treatments: Using a spot treatment (whether it’s in gel or lotion form) is the best way to test how your skin reacts to BPO.These allow you to target the acne lesion itself without exposing the surrounding skin to potential irritation, she says. If you use a gel spot treatment, use it sparingly and rub it in well — if you see white spots, you are using way too much, says Germain.
Concentration
Some skin care products with benzoyl peroxide have different percentages of the ingredient, including 2.5%, 5% and 10%. It’s important to remember the following when deciding which level of concentration is best for you.
- Affected area: Different parts of the body may vary in how well they can tolerate lower or higher percentages. For example, even those with sensitive skin may be able to tolerate a higher percentage of BPO for body acne because the skin in those areas (back, chest, extremities) is thicker, whereas they may need to stick to lower percentages for treating acne on their face and neck, where skin is thinner. A board-certified dermatologist can help you select the ideal percentage based on your skin type.
- Higher is not always better: According to studies, lower percentages, such as 2.5%, can be just as effective as higher percentages without the added higher risk of irritation that comes with higher percentages, says Sadeghpour.
Additional ingredients
Many times, benzoyl peroxide is formulated with other ingredients to balance out any dryness and irritation. Some soothing and hydrating ingredients include hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides and glycerin.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Marguerite Germain is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Germain Dermatology in South Carolina.
- Dr. Mona Sadeghpour is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a board-certified dermatologist in Pennsylvania.
Why trust NBC Select?
Bianca Alvarez is a former associate reporter at NBC Select. For this piece, she interviewed dermatologists about the benefits and drawbacks of benzoyl peroxide. She also compiled a list of product recommendations based on their guidance.
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