Body wash is one of the most luxurious parts of showering. I’m a fan of sweet scents that make me feel like I’m in my own personal Bath & Body Works store. But for folks with acne-prone skin, it’s a different story. They need more potent ingredients that target specific concerns and will help clear pesky body breakouts on their shoulders, neck and back. Fortunately, there are many body washes to choose from that deliver results and, even better, won’t break the bank. High-quality ingredients work to banish acne and keep your skin healthy and soothed. Keep reading for our top 10 picks and why reviewers love them.
Best body washes for acne-prone skin:
- CeraVe – Body Wash with Salicylic Acid
- Amazon Basics – Clarifying Pink Grapefruit Body Wash
- Paula’s Choice – Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA
- pHisoderm – Anti-Blemish Body Wash for Acne
- Dove – Love Body Cleanser Acne Clear
- Proactiv – Acne Body Wash
- Botanic Hearth – Tea Tree Body Wash
- 111MedCo – 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Soap Bar
- Differin – Acne Body Wash
- PanOxyl – Antimicrobial Acne Creamy Wash
Top highlights
-
Salicylic acid gently exfoliates and smooths skin
-
Has three essential ceramides
First up is the CeraVe Body Wash with salicylic acid. SA is a beta hydroxy acid, or BHA, that gently exfoliates and smooths your skin with every shower. This wash has three essential ceramides to maintain the skin barrier, and it’s non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores. One Amazon reviewer said they were shocked at how quickly this worked and that almost all of their bacne disappeared. The wash is safe for oily and sensitive skin.
Top highlights
-
Low price point
-
Dupe for a popular Neutrogena acne body wash
The Amazon Basics Clarifying Pink Grapefruit Body Wash is affordable and accessible, with your next bottle just one Amazon order away. This is a dupe for the Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash, as evidenced by the many glowing reviews. The refreshing grapefruit and vitamin C formula fights breakouts without drying out the skin. Plus, the price point is extremely low compared to others on the market.
Top highlights
-
Soothing antioxidants like green tea and chamomile
-
Targets clogged pores
Technically Paula’s Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA isn’t a body wash, but I had to include it. The full-body treatment has 2% salicylic acid and targets concerns such as stubborn bumps, clogged and enlarged pores, dryness, dehydration and dullness. Green tea and chamomile bring out the best in your skin without added discomfort, revealing a smooth and radiant glow.
Top highlights
-
pH-balanced formula
-
Free from oil, soap, alcohol or dyes
Next up is the pHisoderm Anti-Blemish Body Wash, a pH-balanced formula to gently cleanse and clear skin. Like most washes on this list, it has 2% salicylic acid to fight stubborn breakouts in problem areas. Vitamin E, aloe and chamomile work overtime to soothe your skin. Even better? The formula is free from oil, soap, alcohol or dyes.
Top highlights
-
Can be found in most drugstores
-
#1 dermatologist-recommended body cleanser brand
Dove’s Body Love Acne Clear Cleanser has a gel-like feel with a fresh herbal scent featuring notes of garden mint, white eucalyptus and tea tree. It has salicylic acid and bamboo extract to ward off acne. The formula is sulfate- and paraben-free, pH balanced, and has plant-based cleansers. Dove is the #1 dermatologist-recommended body cleanser brand.
Top highlights
-
Tiny exfoliating microbeads
-
Pampering ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter and sweet almond oil
The Proactiv Acne Body Wash works smarter, not harder. Made with vitamin E and small exfoliating microbeads, the all-over treatment sloughs off dead skin and unclogs pores. It’s gentle enough to use every day. Shea butter, cocoa butter and sweet almond oil work to soften and pamper the skin. As Proactiv says, everybody deserves a solution.
Top highlights
-
Also fights bacteria responsible for athlete’s foot, ringworm and toenail issues
-
Made using traditional European techniques
This next selection fights acne and washes away impurities responsible for conditions like athlete’s foot, ringworm and toenail issues. The Botanic Hearth Tea Tree Body Wash has 100% pure tea tree essential oil, sea buckthorn oil and peppermint oil. There are no chemicals and no artificial colors.
Top highlights
-
Biodegradable, low-waste formula
-
10% benzoyl peroxide works to clean out pores
More of a bar soap kind of person? Try the 111MedCo 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Soap Bar with 10% benzoyl peroxide to clean out pores and remove dirt and oil. The formula is biodegradable and low waste, as there is minimal packaging. It’s good for the Earth and good for your body. The bar has no added fragrances, dyes, parabens, lanolin or formaldehyde. Reviewers rave about how it keeps acne at bay and is excellent at controlling odor.
Top highlights:
-
Comes from the maker of the well-loved Differin Treatment Gel
-
Soothing ingredients of shea butter and blue tansy extract
If you’ve suffered from acne for a long time, you’ve probably heard of the renowned Differin Treatment Gel. But did you know there’s a body wash version of it? The Differin Acne Body Wash is made with 2% salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid and blue tansy extract to treat pimples on your chest, back and shoulders. The formula, which is non-comedogenic and gentle, can be used on all skin types.
Top highlights:
-
Contains four humectants and three emollients for maximum hydration
-
4% benzoyl peroxide
The PanOxyl Antimicrobial Acne Creamy Wash is a daily antimicrobial wash for the face and body. With 4% benzoyl peroxide, the pH-balanced formula has four humectants and three emollients for intense hydration. A humectant helps retain moisture in your skin, while an emollient helps soothe and soften. It’s unscented and perfect for folks who are sensitive to fragrance. The wash works to clear existing acne and stop new blemishes from forming.
