Best Bargain Benzoyl Peroxide Face Washes and Cleansers

Updated on May 01, 2020

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Benzoyl peroxide is often the first over-the-counter (OTC) treatment choice for people with acne, especially mild cases that can be treated with drugstore products. Luckily, you don't have to spend a lot for an effective benzoyl peroxide cleanser.

Most acne treatments dry the skin to some extent, so overuse of these products could cause excessive dryness, peeling, and redness. You may wish to start with a single acne treatment product, and slowly add more if needed. This is especially true if your skin tends to be sensitive or easily irritated.

Part of the battle in treating acne is finding products that work for you. You may need to experiment with several treatment products before finding one that improves your acne. So try not to get discouraged, and aim to be patient.

If you aren't seeing improvement after several weeks of treating your acne with over-the-counter products, don't hesitate to contact your healthcare provider.

Here are some benzoyl peroxide cleansers you may like that won't break the bank.

Clean and Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser

Clean & Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser — Photo from Amazon

If you're looking for a basic cleanser, this one by Clean and Clear fits the bill. It contains 10% benzoyl peroxide, to help reduce the amount of acne-causing bacteria. Use it in place of your regular cleanser once or twice per day.

This is a great cleanser to help reduce oily shine. It can dry your skin, though, so make sure you use an oil-free moisturizer every day.

Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser / Mask

Neutrogena has long been a skin care staple. This cleanser has a clean smell and leaves the skin feeling cool and refreshed. And don't think it isn't effective because it contains less benzoyl peroxide (3.5%) than other options.

PanOxyl 10% Acne Cleansing Bar

If you'd rather have a cleansing bar, you may like this one from PanOxyl. You can use it on your face, as well as the chest, back, shoulders, and other acne-prone areas.

But make sure to use this bar only on those acne-prone areas: There's no sense in using it to cleanse your feet! Using this bar on areas without acne will only lead to unnecessary drying of the skin.

With 10% benzoyl peroxide, it's the highest strength you can get over-the-counter, making it an especially good choice for body breakouts. PanOxyl also offers a 10% Acne Foaming Wash and 4% Acne Creamy Wash that you may prefer for facial cleansers.

Oxy Daily Wash

Oxy Daily Defense Face Wash — Photo from Amazon

The packaging directions recommend using two to three times per day, but that might leave you feeling really dry and flaky. You might want to start off using this product just once per day, and slowly work up to twice daily if your skin can handle it. You may also want to try Oxy Face Wash Sensitive, with 5% benzoyl peroxide.