If you need a no-nonsense face wash that cleanses without stripping and works in any acne skincare routine, we recommend the Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser. The simple ingredient list includes gentle cleansers that completely remove sebum, dirt and oil, and hydrators to balance out the formula. It has a silvery, goopy-like appearance, a creamy feel and a gentle lather.

Be warned: While this product is great for sensitive skin, it may be overly drying. You may consider using this face wash only when you need a deep cleanse, and using a lotion-based cleanser the rest of the time. In addition, it isn’t the best at removing makeup (though it is better than other products we’ve tested).

If you want to incorporate salicylic acid into your routine but you have sensitive skin, a rinse-off treatment may be your best bet. We like the La Roche Posay Effaclar Medicated Acne Face Wash because it’s excellent for easily-irritated skin types. The gel-based, fragrance-free formula removes dirt and oil, and the medicated certification means this product is strong enough to be effective.

However, this formula may be overly stripping if you have dry skin, and the salicylic acid may lead to irritation. Some buyers have also noticed that the cap leaks, so you may need to store the bottle on its side.

CeraVe’s Acne Control Cleanser is another great salicylic acid face wash that gently exfoliates and deeply cleanses pores. The gel-based formula has a gentle, foaming lather that helps clear out oil. We also like that it contains niacinamide, which helps soothe and naturally brighten skin.

As with all foaming cleansers, this product may dry out overly-dry skin and create a tight, pulled sensation. Some users have also noted that they don’t notice any difference Also, be careful not to buy the CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser, which contains an undisclosed amount of salicylic acid — so it may not be as effective.

Sometimes, you don’t have to buy a pricey product to achieve results. The Simple Micellar Gel Wash is an effective, budget-friendly face wash that gently cleans your skin, prepping it for acne serums and moisturizer. The gel-based formula works well for most skin types, and we like that it contains a small amount of lactic acid — a chemical exfoliant that helps purge pores.

Since this product is so gentle, it doesn’t do the best job of removing makeup. (We recommend removing makeup with micellar water prior to cleansing your face.) You may also need to double cleanse if you’re trying to remove excess oil or sweat. Note that a few Amazon buyers have experienced quality issues and received used products.

Need a face wash that completely removes oil without irritating or stripping your skin? Try Youth to the People’s Superfood Cleanser. This formula contains gentle cleansers that clear clogged pores and antioxidants like green tea which prevent them in the first place.

However, this product contains fragrance, which can cause irritation. The lather may also lead to dryness, especially if you have very dry skin. This is one of our more expensive recommendations at $39 per bottle.

While it might feel good to use a rich, lathering cleanser to create a squeaky-clean feeling, you may exacerbate oily skin. A face wash like The Ordinary Squalane All-in-One Face Cleanser is a better solution because it uses gentle cleansing ingredients to absorb and remove oil without stripping the skin. It also contains non-comedogenic hydrators like squalane and glycerin to help the skin maintain its natural moisture.

The downsides? This product is oil-based (squalane is an oil), and it takes a bit of work to emulsify the formula and get it working. Many reviewers are also disappointed in the size of the bottle (1.7 ounces).

Acne-prone skin doesn’t necessarily need a deep cleanse every day. If you have dry skin, a moisturizing face wash without foaming cleansers — like the Paula’s Choice Optimal Results Cleanser — may be the best solution to minimizing irritation. This formula uses green tea and chamomile to soothe inflamed skin and hydrators like glycerin to maintain the skin’s moisture.

Note that lotion-based cleansers like this one aren’t great at removing makeup, and they may be overly moisturizing on oily skin. Also, this product is one of our pricier recommendations.

The CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser is a top dermatologist recommendation for many reasons: It’s budget friendly, doesn’t have foaming cleansers (which can irritate and worsen dry skin) and doesn’t strip the skin. It also contains ceramides, which may help repair the skin barrier in cleanser form, and hyaluronic acid which helps the skin retain moisture.

What could be improved: CeraVe updated this product in recent years, resulting in a thinner formula and a slightly stronger “unscented” scent. This cleanser also isn’t great at removing makeup and a few customers have experienced quality issues when buying through Amazon.

If you’re looking for a cleanser as gentle as CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser that removes more oil, try Cetaphil’s Daily Facial Cleanser. It clears out pores more deeply while still providing moisture from ingredients like glycerin and panthenol. We also like that it contains niacinamide, a naturally brightening, anti-acne ingredient.

The downsides: While gentle, this formula may leave a burning sensation if you are cleansing your skin after using a chemical exfoliant. Plus, Cetaphil updated the ingredient list in recent years, so the formula feels a little more oily and less cleansing. Some customers have also experienced quality issues when buying through Amazon.

Hormonal acne can affect you at any age, and deep, under-the-skin cysts are the most challenging type of acne to eliminate. While it’s important to work with your dermatologist and primary care doctor to help figure out the cause of hormonal acne, a face wash like the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser can help. This formula removes dirt, SPF and oil without causing irritation, and may also reduce redness and flaking skin.

However, this formula may be drying if you have extremely dry or sensitive skin. It also isn’t the best at removing makeup, and some customers have experienced quality issues when buying through Amazon.

If your skin reacts to just about anything and the CeraVe or Vanicream cleansers don’t work for you, try the First Aid Beauty Pure Skin Face Cleanser. This unscented, sulfate free and alcohol free formula gently removes makeup, oil and dead skin cells. It has a creamy consistency to maintain your skin’s moisture, and ingredients like aloe and allantoin reduce redness.

Unfortunately, some customers have noticed that the formula changed in recent years and they don’t experience the best results from this product anymore. The smell is also off putting for some, as is the price per ounce.

A face wash for sensitive skin needs to tick a lot of boxes — it must be hydrating but not pore clogging, cleansing but not stripping, fragrance free and non-irritating. The Aveeno Calm + Restore Nourishing Oat Cleanser passes with flying colors. We love that the milky consistency removes dirt and oil while leaving the skin moisturized.

This product is so gentle, however, that you may need to cleanse your skin twice to feel a difference. It also isn’t the best at removing makeup and you may experience shipping issues if you order online.

Rosacea and acne is one of the most challenging skin combinations, because the ingredients that help treat breakouts may exacerbate rosacea. If this is your current dilemma, we recommend using a soothing, unscented cleanser like the Paula's Choice CALM Ultra-Gentle Cleanser. We love that it contains prebiotic sugars, which help replenish the skin’s microbiome.

The downsides: This formula lathers, and while it’s extremely gentle, it could still exacerbate very sensitive skin or cause dryness, leading to more acne. We recommend cleansing your skin with this formula just once per day if these are your symptoms.

Salicylic acid is great for reducing the appearance of acne scars, and Murad’s Clarifying Cream Cleanser takes it one step further. The salicylic acid in this formula is in tiny, time-released capsules, so this product helps fade acne scars and prevent future breakouts after you rinse it off. We also like that this formula is unscented and lotion based, so it doesn’t strip the skin.

However, some buyers wished this product felt more hydrating, and others noticed that they didn’t see a difference after repeated use.

Looking for a strong formula that will knock out your acne and prevent future breakouts? Try stepping up your game with benzoyl peroxide instead of salicylic acid. The PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash 4% is a great product to try because it’s affordable and has no-nonsense ingredients. The creamy formula also helps reduce dryness.

However, benzoyl peroxide is difficult for the skin to tolerate, and you may experience redness and peeling — especially if you have sensitive skin. You may need to stop using other acne treatments while you use this product, because you could damage your skin barrier. In addition, some customers have complained that the bottle easily leaks.

Looking for an alternative to PanOxyl? Try the Inkey List’s 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Cleanser. It’s a touch stronger than Panoxyl, and the brand claims that the formula kills 95% of acne-causing bacteria in 15 seconds. This product is great for stubborn and persistent acne (as opposed to the occasional breakout), and it contains a few moisturizing ingredients to reduce dryness.

Of course, this product is still irritating and can cause redness and flaky skin. (If you’re worried about irritation, we recommend using this just a few times a week to start out.) Some buyers also wish that the lotion-based formula foamed and lathered more.

The key to removing makeup at the end of the day is oil, but oil-based cleansers aren’t always good for acne-prone skin. However, the Purito From Green Cleansing Oil stands up to the task by using non-irritating and natural oils, including olive, almond, grape seed and sunflower seed oil. We also like that this product is vegan, cruelty free and made sustainably.

However, almond and sunflower seed oil are common allergens and may cause an allergic reaction — so make sure you perform a patch test before using. We also recommend following this cleanser with a non-oil-based cleanser to reduce the chance of a breakout.

Sometimes, the best makeup remover for acne is simply micellar water — a gentle cleanser made with water, moisturizers and very mild detergents. The Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water is a great product for this purpose because it’s non-irritating, oil free and has a short ingredient list. Many buyers note that it’s also a great everyday cleanser because it is so gentle.

The downsides? This bottle is on the pricier side, and it doesn’t perform as well on waterproof mascara. Some buyers note that they had to use a lot of product to get their makeup off.