Best facial cleanser for oily acne prone skin

While we’re all striving for glowy, healthy, happy skin, but there will always be some bumps along the way. We’re talking about blemishes and breakouts.

We haven’t got a big enough piece of paper to write down the long list of things that can cause a breakout to get out of hand, although we’re looking at you most of the time, hormones (more on that later).

We’d rather focus on how to treat them, and your best line of defence should always be a powerful yet gentle cleanser.

But where to start? The beauty industry is saturated with products claiming to help blemish-prone skin overnight, but it’s a marathon, not a sprint when it comes to getting that perfect balance between too oily or too dry - which is where we come in.

We’ve tested the top-rated, breakout-busting cleansers out there to find out which ones really deliver on their claims. After some rigorous testing by 470 women (yes, really!), you can find the best cleansers up for the task. Just keep scrolling…

What causes acne?

As with a lot of things to do with our body, acne can be out of our control. Dr Ejikeme, Founder and Medical Director of Adonia Medical Clinic, explains: “Acne is primary driven by genetics but there are environmental aspects that can precipitate or aggravate it”

What could you be doing wrong when it comes to your skin? Turns out quite a bit: “Using occlusive oils, over exfoliation, stress, poor sleep, high sugar diets. When spots do occur, touching and squeezing them can make things worse,” says Dr Ejikeme.

And while we love all the skin transformation videos that creep up on our social media, remember it takes time and a lot of dedication to replenish the skin's delicate barrier, so don't expect results overnight.

Can cleansers make acne worse?

Yes and no. Cleansing is a vital part of any skincare regime but overdoing it - especially with exfoliating acids - is going to cause more problems than it solves.

“Cleansers are very important, as effectively cleansing the skin can ensure make-up, sunscreen, sweat, pollution and debris are removed from the skin, reducing the risk of these leading to inflammation or occlusion of a pore,” says Dr Ejikeme.

Although acids can aid us in our journey to flawless skin, it’s important to pick the right one, at the right percentage. Dr Ejikeme’s favourite? “Salicylic acid is a key ingredient for acne. Choose 2% cleansers and use through the week, ensuring you do not over strip the skin”

There’s also a skincare myth out there that if you’re prone to oiliness, you should cleanse more often than your dry counterparts, but that’s simply not the case. “Acne is not caused by unclean skin. If you have acne-prone skin you should cleanse just as much as everyone else. Twice a day for 30 seconds” advises Dr Ejikeme.

How we test

Our panel of 470 testers tried a range of cleansers formulated for all ages and skin types for four weeks. They aimed to help improve skin texture, control oiliness and help heal and prevent blemishes.

Testers noted how clean each cleanser left the skin, how well it helped control spots, and whether it left skin feeling hydrated.

Ready to see the winners? Scroll this way...

The best acne face washes to rely on now

1

Best cleanser for acne-prone skin

Vichy

Normaderm Phytosolution Purifying Gel Face Wash

2

Best cleanser for controlling oil

Ole Henriksen

Find Your Balance™ Oil Control Cleanser

3

Best cleanser for restoring the skin barrier

CeraVe

Foaming Facial Cleanser

4

Best cleanser for calming breakouts

Avène

Cleanance Cleansing Gel Cleanser for Blemish-prone Skin

5

Best cleanser for a deep cleanse

Murad

Clarifying Cleanser

6

Best cleanser for reducing appearance of pores

REN Clean Skincare

Clarifying Clay Cleanser

7

Best cleanser for combination skin

Caudalie

Vinopure Purifying Gel Cleanser

8

Best cleanser for softer skin

Mario Badescu

Acne Facial Cleanser

9

Best foaming cleanser

Kate Somerville

EradiKate Daily Foaming Cleanser

10

Best budget buy

Garnier

Pure Active 3in1 Clay Wash Scrub Mask Oily Skin

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