If you’ve ever woken up to a giant, red, throbbing pimple the morning of something important, you already know the drill: panic, throw everything you own at it, and hope something works. As a beauty editor—and someone who has dealt with breakouts for years—there’s one ingredient I always come back to when things get particularly angry: benzoyl peroxide. It’s definitely not the newest or trendiest acne treatment on the market, but it remains one of the most reliable. Whenever I feel a stubborn zit brewing, chances are benzoyl peroxide is one of the first things I reach for.
If you’ve had the pleasure of dealing with acne (sarcasm very much intended), then you’re probably familiar with the ingredient already. Benzoyl peroxide is the main character in some of the best spot treatments, cleansers, and even lotions because it’s basically an acne-fighting powerhouse. “Benzoyl peroxide is perhaps the best ingredient we have to treat red, angry pimples,” explains board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. “It works by lowering levels of acne-causing bacteria, reducing inflammation in the skin, and helping to open up the pimples themselves.”
All sounds pretty good, right? That’s why we did our due diligence—a boatload of research, ingredient deep dives, and plenty of product testing—to identify the best benzoyl peroxide treatments on the market right now. From fast-acting spot treatments that shrink a breakout overnight to cleansers that help keep acne-causing bacteria in check, keep scrolling to shop the formulas that actually get the job done.
Contents
The Best Benzoyl Peroxide Products
Neutrogena
Stubborn Acne AM Face Treatment
This is an ultralight face cream, gentle enough to use daily. “Micronized 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gets deep into the pores where acne begins, instead of sitting on the surface of the skin, causing irritation,” says Dr. Zeichner. This can be used as a daily full-face treatment to both treat and prevent acne in the morning, and it layers beautifully underneath the rest of your skincare and makeup routine.
Type: Morning lotion
Percentage of Benzoyl Peroxide: 2.5
What I Love: Gentle enough for daily use; Fragrance-free; Oil-free
What I Don’t: May need to work up to a few times daily
Review for MC: “I love anything Neutrogena for its ultra-gentle formulations, so I was excited to see that they had a daily lightweight treatment that wouldn’t dry out my skin excessively like other BP treatments would. I am pleased to say it held up to its claims: my acne significantly improved with zero irritation. It’s become my go-to treatment for acne maintenance.” — Siena Gagliano, Beauty Editor
PanOxyl
10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Foaming Wash
Board-certified dermatologist Anna Karp, MD, names this drugstore face wash as one of her tried and true favorites—especially when pimples are centered on the chest or back. “I love the 10 percent [option] for treating body acne and preventing it,” she says. “Benzoyl peroxide does not develop bacterial resistance, so it is a very effective ingredient.” While the higher concentration is ideal for body acne, it’s worth noting that it might be a little too intense for the face if you have sensitive or dry skin.
Type: Face and body wash
Percentage of Benzoyl Peroxide: 10
What I Love: Can be used for face and body; High percentage of benzoyl peroxide; Contains skin-barrier supporting glycerin to mitigate dryness
What I Don’t: I find it better to use it on my body due to the high percentage of benzoyl peroxide
Review for MC: “I’ve been dealing with persistent chest acne, and it began as soon as I turned 26. My dermatologist recommended this classic body wash, and it’s made a world of difference in my skin.” — Siena Gagliano, Beauty Editor
La Roche-Posay
Effaclar BPO Multi-Target Acne Treatment
Part of the equation when deciding on the best benzoyl peroxide product is determining what else is in the ingredient list. Take this La Roche-Posay spot treatment for example. In addition to having 5.5 percent benzoyl peroxide, Dr. Karp points out that it also includes “hydrating” glycerin. This is just one of the ways the product reduces the possibility of dryness. “It also has micronized benzoyl peroxide, which is less irritating,” explains Dr. Karp.
Type: Spot treatment
Percentage of Benzoyl Peroxide: 5.5
What I Love: Hydrating; Derm-approved; Fast acting
What I Don’t: Might bleach fabrics
Review for MC: “This is the quickest-acting spot treatment I have come across. Whenever I feel a pimple brewing, or am treating an active spot, this baby takes care of it by morning.” — Siena Gagliano, Beauty Editor
Sofie Pavitt Face
Reset Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Mask
Sofie Pavitt is the celebrity esthetician behind some of Hollywood’s best skin. She’s also what I like to call the acne whisperer, thanks to her expertise in acne-prone skin. While most benzoyl peroxide products come in face wash or spot treatment formulations, this one is a mask. It gives skin the moisture it craves while simultaneously balancing oil production in the long term. Simply apply to the problem areas, leave on for five minutes, then rinse and pat dry.
Type: Treatment mask
Percentage of Benzoyl Peroxide: 5
What I Love: Mitigates dryness with its hydrating ingredients; Includes kaolin clay, a known acne fighter; A ton of product comes with it
What I Don’t: It can irritate skin if you leave it on for more than the recommended time
Customer Review: “I noticed my skin was congested around my jawline, and I used this mask. Washed it off, applied a gel moisturizer, and went to sleep. I could tell a difference in my skin texture by morning. No more little bumps, and my larger zits had flattened! I use this once a week now.” — Sofie Pavitt Face
Jan Marini
Skinsolutions Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Lotion 10%
If you’re unable to tolerate most benzoyl peroxide products due to drying side effects, allow me to suggest this lotion from Jan Marini. The 10 percent micronized benzoyl peroxide (remember, micronized is more effective) can be irritating. But because it’s buffered by emollients, your skin will feel hydrated and soothed. Pretty good deal, right? That said, 10 percent is the max, so if you do experience side effects, try scaling back to every other day.
Type: Lotion
Percentage of Benzoyl Peroxide: 10
What I Love: Maximum strength while still prioritizing moisture to minimize irritation; Meant for use all over the face
What I Don’t: Can stain sheets
Customer Review: “Due to the seizure medication I take, I suffer from cystic acne, and I am constantly on the lookout for effective acne treatments. I am absolutely thrilled with this product! In fact, I have already purchased more because I never want to be without it. This product is amazing! Ever since I started using it, I haven’t experienced any breakouts.” — Dermstreet
Obagi
Clenziderm M.D. Therapeutic Lotion
Can’t be bothered with a multi-step routine? Still want to get rid of your acne? Instead of layering on different products, streamline your acne-fighting skincare routine with a benzoyl peroxide treatment and moisturizer duo, like this one from Obagi. It has a 5 percent formulation that targets breakouts—and prevents new ones—as well as a non-comedogenic, uber-hydrating base that keeps your skin barrier in shape. I’ll leave you with this takeaway: Drying out your skin is not the solution; it will only make matters worse.
Type: Lotion
Percentage of Benzoyl Peroxide: 5
What I Love: Multi-purpose product; Hydrating and gentle, so it won’t wreck your skin barrier
What I Don’t: Most expensive option on this list
Customer Review: “I was first introduced to this brand by my mom, who uses a few of their products. I came home for a visit after a super stressful week at work (and my period), and my skin was a straight-up hot mess… just an explosion of breakouts. She made me try it the first night I was there, and by the time I left (3 days later), I looked like a different person. I bought my own bottle when I got home. I use it all the time, even just for a little blemish popping up, this is the stuff to clear combination skin.” — Bluemercury
Differin
Acne Face Wash With 5% Benzoyl Peroxide
Developed in tandem with dermatologists, this 5 percent benzoyl peroxide cleanser will offer a multitude of benefits. The micronized benzoyl peroxide gets to work deep in the pores, and as a result, it not only helps prevent acne from forming but also reduces oil production and keeps shine to a minimum. Let’s call it a win-win-win. There’s also a bit of glycerin in the mix, which is a non-comedogenic and very lightweight moisturizer. To incorporate this baby into your routine, I suggest starting off once a day. If you can tolerate it, up your use to twice a day. If you experience irritation, scale back to every other day.
Type: Cleanser
Percentage of Benzoyl Peroxide: 5
What I Love: Available at most drugstores; Most affordable option on this list; No-frills treatment that’s safe for reactive skin if they can tolerate benzoyl peroxide
What I Don’t: Not a good option to take off makeup
Customer Review: “This worked so well for my skin. It took about three months before I noticed a real difference, but now it just takes one or two washes, and my skin starts clearing up again! And it makes my skin feel so soft and smooth.” — Amazon
CeraVe
Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser
Whether your skin is oily, dry, sensitive, or somewhere in between, I feel confident recommending this face wash. With four percent benzoyl peroxide, it’s going to do the lord’s work on the acne front. But it’s all the other good ingredients inside that really get me going. Niacinamide (which does everything and then some) boosts the cleanser’s acne-fighting properties, reduces pore size, and balances the skin. Then ceramides swoop in to keep the skin barrier intact and deliver an extra dose of hydration.
Type: Cleanser
Percentage of Benzoyl Peroxide: 4
What I Love: The gentlest formula on this list; Niacinamide evens skin tone, and ceramides support the skin barrier
What I Don’t: Not as powerful as other formulas, so it may take longer to see benefits
Customer Review: “I love this product, and I cannot live without it. This face wash is super gentle (I am saying that as someone who has broken out after using many other facewashes in the past), and I love the way it feels on my skin (it makes me feel fresh and clean!). The cream doesn’t have much of a smell (just kind of smells like cream, if that makes sense). After using this for the past five months, my skin has never looked better! I try to keep my skincare to a minimum, but this has become an essential part of my routine.” — Amazon
What to Look for in a Benzoyl Peroxide Product
- Percentage of Active Ingredient
When you’re shopping for a benzoyl peroxide product, you’ll notice that almost every product identifies a certain percentage on the label, typically ranging from two to 10 percent. That begs the question: Which percentage is ideal? “More is not necessarily any better,” says Dr. Zeichner. “In fact, the higher the concentration, the more likely the product is to cause irritation. Studies have shown that 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide is as effective in treating red, angry pimples as 5 or 10 percent, but less irritating.”
The best benzoyl peroxide products can be broken down into two camps: wash-off formulas and leave-on formulas, which are designed to sit on the skin for an extended period. While the latter will provide more continuous treatment, a wash is a great option for acne management, body treatment, or anyone who experiences irritation from leave-on formulas.
“Washes are a great option, especially if you are treating large surface areas like your chest and back,” says Dr. Zeichner. “Even though these products are called washes, they really should be used as short-contact therapies. I tell my patients to apply them in the shower and let them sit on the skin while they sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to themselves. This allows enough contact time for the benzoyl peroxide to get into the skin.” Because a cleanser is a short-term treatment, a higher concentration (closer to 10 percent) is ideal to maximize benefits.
The Side Effects of Benzoyl Peroxide
While benzoyl peroxide is one of the best ways to treat acne, it’s not without side effects—it can cause red, itchy skin. “True allergic reactions to benzoyl peroxide are quite rare, and most reactions are caused by direct irritation, either because too much was used or too high a concentration was applied,” explains Dr. Zeichner. To keep irritation to a minimum, he recommends using no more than a pea-sized amount of a leave-on formula for your entire face. It’s also key to use a moisturizer that’ll keep skin hydrated and balanced during an acne treatment.
If irritation with a product persists or worsens, consult a board-certified dermatologist.
Why Trust Marie Claire
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
Meet the Experts
As the Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Dermatology, Dr. Zeichner has a broad interest in medical and cosmetic dermatology as well as clinical research. His specialty is the treatment of acne, as well as the cosmetic rejuvenation of the aging face. Dr. Zeichner treats general skin conditions, including eczema, rosecea, psoriasis, and skin cancer. In addition, he is well-versed in the use of Botox and dermal fillers, as well as lasers and chemical peels.
Anna Karp, DO, is a board-certified dermatologist at the Skin Institute of New York (SINY®). Dr. Karp specializes in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology, and she treats adults and children at SINY’s® three offices in New York City’s West Village and Bay Ridge and Park Slope in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Karp is a native New Yorker, growing up on the South Shore of Long Island. After graduating magna cum laude with her bachelor of arts degree in Biology from the State University of New York at Binghamton, she went on to earn her medical degree from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City. She then completed dual residencies in Family Medicine and Dermatology at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, New York. During her residency, Dr. Karp presented at a number of local and national conferences, and she published several articles in peer-reviewed journals. She also served as Chief Resident during the final year. Dr. Karp is an active fellow and member of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, and the American Medical Association. As a highly skilled dermatologist, she focuses on providing the highest level of individualized and compassionate care to all her patients.
