15 Affordable Salicylic Acid Cleansers to Help You Fight Acne - $20 or less
Salicylic acid (SA for short) is one of my favorite ingredients to use when treating and preventing new acne breakouts.
Salicylic acid is considered a beta hydroxy acid or BHA for short. BHAs are oil-soluble, which basically means they can travel deeper into the skin layers to do their job. This is great because salicylic acid can go deep into your skin and clean out the oil, dead skin cells, and gunk that can cause your pimples. This is perfect if you have oily skin!
But what if you have dry or sensitive skin? Salicylic acid may be too drying or irritating for your skin…..but before you block salicylic acid from your life, that’s not the case for everyone.
Your skin may like a lower concentration/strength of salicylic acid (1% or less) or a salicylic acid product that has skin-loving and soothing ingredients like aloe, ceramides, and glycerin. Your skin may also be cool with using these products a few times a week instead of every day.
That’s why I’ve compiled a list of some of the best salicylic acid cleansers for you to check out. There’s a variety of concentrations of SA (from 0.5% to 2%) and formulas that are more creamy, gel-like, or foamy. Other ingredients are also highlighted to help you decide which cleanser to go with. Each product image is linked so you can learn more about the product; the links are not affiliate or sponsored links.
And the best part is that all of these cleansers range from $8 to $20!
1. La Roche-Posay
Effaclar Medicated Acne Face Wash
Price: $16 for 6.7 fl oz
Concentration of SA: 2%
Features:
Helps remove excess oil
Contains glycerin to help keep skin from overdrying
Gel based
2. Bliss
Clear Genius Cleanser
Price: $15 for 6.4 fl oz
Concentration of SA: Unknown
Features:
Vegan and cruelty free
Contains niacinamide (minimizes appearance of pores) and zinc PCA (reduces oil production and redness)
Gel based
3. DERMA-E Acne Deep Pore Cleansing Wash
Price: $17 for 6 fl oz
Concentration of SA: 2%
Features:
Vegan and cruelty free
Contains glycerin to help moisturize skin
4. Versed Keep the Peace Acne-Calming Cream Cleanser
Price: $18 for 4 fl oz
Concentration of SA: 1.5%
Features:
Cruelty free, vegan and “pregnancy-safe” (according to Versed’s website)
Contains blue tansy (anti-inflammatory and soothes skin) and glycerin
Cream based
5. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Cream Cleanser
Price: $10 for 6 fl oz
Concentration of SA: 2%
Features:
Oil-free and noncomedogenic (won’t clog pores)
Contains glycerin and glycolic acid (exfoliates dead skin cells to reveal smoother skin)
Cream based
6. Clearasil Rapid Rescue Deep Treatment Wash
Price: $10 for 6.78 fl oz
Concentration of SA: 2%
Features:
Can start visibly clearing skin in as little as 12 hours (according to Clearasil’s website)
Contains glycerin and soothing helichrysum italicum extract
Cream based
7. Clearasil Gentle Prevention Daily Acne Face Wash
Price: $8 for 6.5 fl oz
Concentration of SA: 1%
Features:
Contains soothing aloe vera and glycerin
Cream based
Related skincare posts:
8. CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser
Price: $15 for 8 fl oz
Concentration of SA: 2%
Features:
Contains skin-calming niacinamide, ceramides to help maintain your skin’s natural protective barrier, and oil-absorbing hectorite clay
No fragrance, no parabens
Gel based
9. CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser
Price: $15 for 8 fl oz
Concentration of SA: Not provided on CeraVe website
Features:
Contains gluconolactone to gently exfoliate for smoother skin, and hydrating hyaluronic acid and ceramides to prevent overdrying
Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic
Gel based
10. Aveeno Clear Complexion Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser
Price: $9 for 6 fl oz
Concentration of SA: 0.5%
Features:
More gentle formula for dry, sensitive acne-prone skin
Contains moisturizing glycerin
Foam based
11. Paula’s Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser
Price: $15 for 6 fl oz
Concentration of SA: 0.5%
Features:
Contains soothing and moisturizing panthenol and glycerin
Gel based
12. BLK/OPL EVEN TRUE Blemish Control Bar
Price: $8 for 4 oz
Concentration of SA: Not provided on BLK/OPL website
Features:
Contains glycerin and shea butter
Cruelty free and vegan
Bar (good option to use when traveling)
13. The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Acne + Pore Cleanser
Price: $11 for 5 fl oz
Concentration of SA: 2%
Features:
Contains glycerin, zinc PCA to help limit oil production, and moisturizing betaine
Gel based foaming cleanser
14. Cetaphil Gentle Clear Clarifying Acne Cream Cleanser
Price: $10 for 4.2 fl oz
Concentration of SA: 2%
Features:
Fragrance free and paraben free
Contains soothing and moisturizing aloe vera
Cream based
15. Urban Skin Rx Clear Skin Cleansing Bar
Price: $16 for 2.0 oz
Concentration of SA: Not provided on Urban Skin Rx website
Features:
Paraben free and cruelty-free
3-in-1 pore-clarifying cleanser, mask, and exfoliator
Contains a blend of azelaic acid, kojic acid, niacinamide, and alpha arbutin to help with breakouts and dark spots
Did you see a salicylic acid cleanser that you might consider adding to your skincare routine?
Salicylic acid is a great ingredient when you’re trying to combat acne but please remember it’s not for everyone and that’s completely okay. There are a bunch of other acne-fighting ingredients out there, like benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids, sulfur, azelaic acid, and more! Which ingredient do you want to see a list of products of next? Let me know in the comments.
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Take care,
Mimi