The Best Salicylic Acid Cleansers

How we chose: we read the guides on Google’s first page for this search, from Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Wirecutter, and the Reddit threads Google ranks beside them. Then we read the current US label of 49 salicylic acid washes, mostly the Drug Facts on DailyMed, the National Library of Medicine’s database of FDA labels, and kept those with no fragrance, menthol, sulfate or drying alcohol. We did not test them on skin. Our method

What a salicylic acid cleanser does

Salicylic acid exfoliates and unclogs pores (AAD), which is why the AAD says it works best on blackheads and whiteheads. For the bacteria behind red, swollen pimples, the AAD points to benzoyl peroxide instead, covered in our face washes for acne.

In a face wash it stays on your skin for only a minute or so, so the effect is gentle and slow. Studies of cleansers are few and small (Stringer 2018), so judge one after weeks, not days.

The best salicylic acid face wash for your skin type

• Blackheads and whiteheads: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser, 2%.
• Oily skin: CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser, with clay.
• Dry skin: Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser, with shea butter and soybean oil.
• Sensitive skin: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance Free.
• Combination skin: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser or Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser.
• Rough, bumpy texture: Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser, or CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser if your skin is sensitive.
• Chest and back breakouts: Prequel Gleanser + SA as a gentle face-and-body wash; for body acne itself, the AAD suggests a benzoyl peroxide wash, such as PanOxyl’s.
• Gentle daily exfoliation, not acne: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser.
• Cruelty-free: Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser (Leaping Bunny) or The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser (Cruelty Free International).
• Red, inflamed pimples: A benzoyl peroxide wash has the stronger evidence: see our face washes for acne.

Best overall: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Best overall

Check price at Amazon: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

2% salicylic acid with glycerin, zinc PCA and allantoin. No fragrance, menthol, drying alcohol or sulfate.

• 2% salicylic acid
• No added fragrance
• Sulfate-free

Good for: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

• Blackheads, whiteheads and clogged pores
• Oily, combination or normal skin
• A brand certified by Cruelty Free International

Skip it if: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

• Mostly red, inflamed pimples: benzoyl peroxide has the stronger evidence
• You want a big bottle: 5 fl oz

Label facts for The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Acne active

Salicylic acid 2%, in the Drug Facts box

Label

OTC acne drug (Drug Facts box)

Added fragrance

None listed

Drying alcohol

None listed

Sulfates

None listed

Supporting

Glycerin, allantoin, vitamin E and zinc

Cruelty-free certified

Yes, Cruelty Free International

Read from the US Drug Facts label on DailyMed on October 6, 2026. US acne washes print the active’s percentage in a Drug Facts box; their other ingredients may be listed alphabetically, so these label facts report only whether something is there. Formulas change; check your box. Cruelty-free certification: the Leaping Bunny and Cruelty Free International directories on October 6, 2026.

Why we picked it: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

It unclogs pores at full strength: the Drug Facts box prints 2%, the top of the 0.5% to 2% range the FDA allows. Around it are glycerin, zinc PCA and allantoin, and none of the fragrance, menthol or sulfate we screened out. Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire both pick it.

Stores sell it under other names, the Salicylic Acid Acne + Pore Cleanser at Sephora and the Acne + Blackhead Cleanser elsewhere; the carton just says Salicylic Acid Cleanser. Its label allows up to three washes a day, starting with one.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

• A 5 fl oz bottle.
• Salicylic acid has weaker evidence than benzoyl peroxide for red pimples.

The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Check price at Amazon: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser ingredients (the active and 25 inactive ingredients, acne actives marked)

Active ingredients: Salicylic Acid 2%

Inactive ingredients: Water (Aqua / Eau), Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Betaine, Zinc PCA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Allantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Benzyl Alcohol, Coconut Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate

As printed on the US Drug Facts label on DailyMed on October 6, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best for oily skin and blackheads: CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser

Best for oily skin and blackheads

Check price at Amazon: CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

2% salicylic acid with hectorite clay, niacinamide and three ceramides. No fragrance and no drying alcohol.

• 2% salicylic acid
• No added fragrance
• Sulfate-free

Good for: CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser

• Oily skin and shine
• Blackheads and clogged pores
• Ceramides and niacinamide in an acne wash

Skip it if: CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser

• Dry skin
• You avoid exfoliating acids: gluconolactone is listed

Label facts for CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser

Acne active

Salicylic acid 2%, in the Drug Facts box

Label

OTC acne drug (Drug Facts box)

Added fragrance

None listed

Drying alcohol

None listed

Sulfates

None listed

Other acids

Gluconolactone

Supporting

Ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin, cholesterol, hyaluronic acid and clay

Cruelty-free certified

No

Read from the US Drug Facts label on DailyMed on October 6, 2026. US acne washes print the active’s percentage in a Drug Facts box; their other ingredients may be listed alphabetically, so these label facts report only whether something is there. Formulas change; check your box. Cruelty-free certification: the Leaping Bunny and Cruelty Free International directories on October 6, 2026.

Why we picked it: CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser

Of CeraVe’s salicylic acid face washes, this is the one for oily skin: the US label says “oil-absorbing technology” and lists hectorite, a clay. Its sibling the Acne Clay-to-Foam Cleanser is also 2%; Renewing SA is a milder cosmetic.

Women’s Health makes it its best overall, and three commenters recommend it in a Reddit thread Google ranks for this search. Shake the bottle first, as the label says.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser

• No contact time on the label.
• Lists gluconolactone, a mild exfoliating acid.

CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser

Check price at Amazon: CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser ingredients (the active and 30 inactive ingredients, acne actives marked)

Active ingredients: Salicylic acid 2%

Inactive ingredients: water, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, glycerin, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, niacinamide, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, PEG-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearate, gluconolactone, sodium cocoyl isethionate, ceramide NP, ceramide AP, ceramide EOP, carbomer, calcium gluconate, triethyl citrate, sodium hydroxide, sodium benzoate, sodium chloride, sodium lauroyl lactylate, cholesterol, coconut acid, tetrasodium EDTA, caprylyl glycol, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, hectorite, phytosphingosine, xanthan gum, acrylates copolymer, benzoic acid

As printed on the US Drug Facts label on DailyMed on October 6, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best for dry skin: Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser

Best for dry skin

Check price at Amazon: Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

2% salicylic acid in a wash with shea butter, soybean oil and glycerin. No fragrance, menthol, drying alcohol or sulfate.

• 2% salicylic acid
• No added fragrance
• Sulfate-free

Good for: Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser

• Dry or dehydrated skin that still breaks out
• Acne-prone skin that feels tight after foaming washes
• A full 2% at a drugstore price

Skip it if: Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser

• Very oily skin: the oils and shea butter add richness
• You avoid soy: soybean oil is listed

Label facts for Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser

Acne active

Salicylic acid 2%, in the Drug Facts box

Label

OTC acne drug (Drug Facts box)

Added fragrance

None listed

Drying alcohol

None listed

Sulfates

None listed

Other acids

Lactic acid

Supporting

Glycerin and shea butter

Cruelty-free certified

No

Read from the US Drug Facts label on DailyMed on October 6, 2026. US acne washes print the active’s percentage in a Drug Facts box; their other ingredients may be listed alphabetically, so these label facts report only whether something is there. Formulas change; check your box. Cruelty-free certification: the Leaping Bunny and Cruelty Free International directories on October 6, 2026.

Why we picked it: Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser

The full 2%, in a wash that also carries lipids: shea butter, soybean and hydrogenated soybean oil, plus glycerin. The bottle calls it an Advanced Moisture Blend and promises 24-hour dryness relief.

Its inactive list is alphabetical, as the FDA allows for a drug, so the list can’t tell you how much of the oils it holds. Lactic acid is on it too.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser

• Lists lactic acid, an exfoliating acid, in an unknown amount.
• No contact time or frequency on the label.

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser

Check price at Amazon: Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser ingredients (the active and 20 inactive ingredients, acne actives marked)

Active ingredients: Salicylic Acid 2%

Inactive ingredients: Benzyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Lauric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate, Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Water

As printed on the US Drug Facts label on DailyMed on October 6, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best for sensitive skin: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance Free

Best for sensitive skin

Check price at Amazon: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance Free (paid link, opens in a new tab)

2% salicylic acid with glycerin and panthenol. No fragrance, drying alcohol, dyes or sulfate.

• 2% salicylic acid
• No added fragrance
• Sulfate-free

Good for: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance Free

• Sensitive, acne-prone skin
• Salicylic acid twice a day
• The fragrance-free version of a drugstore classic

Skip it if: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance Free

• You avoid botanical extracts: chamomile extract is listed
• You want benzoyl peroxide

Label facts for Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance Free

Acne active

Salicylic acid 2%, in the Drug Facts box

Label

OTC acne drug (Drug Facts box)

Added fragrance

None listed

Drying alcohol

None listed

Sulfates

None listed

Supporting

Glycerin and panthenol

Cruelty-free certified

No

Read from the US Drug Facts label on DailyMed on October 6, 2026. US acne washes print the active’s percentage in a Drug Facts box; their other ingredients may be listed alphabetically, so these label facts report only whether something is there. Formulas change; check your box. Cruelty-free certification: the Leaping Bunny and Cruelty Free International directories on October 6, 2026.

Why we picked it: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance Free

Women’s Health and Cosmopolitan pick Neutrogena’s original Oil-Free Acne Wash, but its US label lists fragrance and two dyes, Yellow 5 and Red 40 (DailyMed). Wirecutter names this version instead: a fragrance-free update that cuts through oil, though its testers found it could leave skin a little tight.

It isn’t simply the original minus perfume: the cleansing agents changed and panthenol came in. The bottle says sensitive skin, and the label says twice a day.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance Free

• Chamomile extract is listed.
• Salicylic acid has weaker evidence than benzoyl peroxide for red pimples.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance Free

Check price at Amazon: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance Free (paid link, opens in a new tab)

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance Free ingredients (the active and 14 inactive ingredients, acne actives marked)

Active ingredients: Salicylic Acid (2%)

Inactive ingredients: Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Starch Dodecenylsuccinate, Panthenol, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, C12-15 Alkyl Lactate, Benzalkonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide

As printed on the US Drug Facts label on DailyMed on October 6, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best gentle salicylic acid cleanser: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser

Best gentle salicylic acid cleanser

Check price at Amazon: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

A cosmetic wash, not an acne drug: salicylic acid is 16th of 27, with no percentage printed, beside three ceramides and niacinamide. No fragrance.

• Salicylic acid, no % printed
• No added fragrance
• Sulfate-free

Good for: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser

• Rough, dull or bumpy skin that needs a gentle daily wash
• Mild clogged pores, not acne
• Face and body, as CeraVe says

Skip it if: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser

• You want a set strength of salicylic acid: no percentage is printed
• Real acne: pick a 2% acne wash

Label facts for CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser

Acne active

Salicylic acid, 16th of 27 (no percentage printed)

Label

Cosmetic (no Drug Facts box)

Added fragrance

None listed

Drying alcohol

None listed

Sulfates

None listed

Other acids

Gluconolactone

Supporting

Ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin, cholesterol and hyaluronic acid

Cruelty-free certified

No

Read from CeraVe's US website on October 6, 2026. Labels list ingredients by amount down to 1%, then in any order, so a position is not a percentage. Formulas change; check your box. Cruelty-free certification: the Leaping Bunny and Cruelty Free International directories on October 6, 2026.

Why we picked it: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser

The top answer in a Reddit thread asking for a gentle salicylic acid cleanser calls this one quite gentle. It has no Drug Facts box: it can’t promise to treat acne, and CeraVe doesn’t have to say how much salicylic acid it holds. Cosmopolitan lists it at above 1%, a figure the label doesn’t print.

It also lists gluconolactone, a mild exfoliating acid, and CeraVe says to use it any time of day, on face or body. In another thread, one commenter says it seemed to give them more clogged pores: it is made to smooth skin, not to treat acne.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser

• No percentage printed: it is a cosmetic.
• Not made to treat acne.

CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser

Check price at Amazon: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser ingredients (full list of 27, acne actives marked)

Aqua/Water/Eau, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Niacinamide, Gluconolactone, PEG-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Zea Mays Oil/Corn Oil, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Chloride, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholecalciferol, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin

As printed on CeraVe's US website on October 6, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best for rough, bumpy texture: Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser

Best for rough, bumpy texture

Check price at Amazon: Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

1% salicylic acid with glycolic acid and gluconolactone, in a list of nine inactive ingredients. No fragrance or sulfate.

• 1% salicylic acid
• No added fragrance
• Sulfate-free

Good for: Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser

• Rough, bumpy texture with breakouts
• Skin already used to exfoliating acids
• A short ingredient list

Skip it if: Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser

• Sensitive or dry skin: it combines three exfoliating acids
• You skip sunscreen: the label carries a Sunburn Alert

Label facts for Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser

Acne active

Salicylic acid 1%, in the Drug Facts box

Label

OTC acne drug (Drug Facts box)

Added fragrance

None listed

Drying alcohol

None listed

Sulfates

None listed

Other acids

Gluconolactone and glycolic acid

Supporting

Nothing notable

Cruelty-free certified

No

Read from the US Drug Facts label on DailyMed on October 6, 2026. US acne washes print the active’s percentage in a Drug Facts box; their other ingredients may be listed alphabetically, so these label facts report only whether something is there. Formulas change; check your box. Cruelty-free certification: the Leaping Bunny and Cruelty Free International directories on October 6, 2026.

Why we picked it: Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser

The bottle says “4% Glycolic + Polyhydroxy Acids”: on top of 1% salicylic acid, it carries glycolic acid and gluconolactone, a gentler polyhydroxy acid, so three exfoliating acids in one wash. Its label gives the longest contact time of our picks: massage for 60 seconds, then rinse. It also says to try it on one or two small areas for three days first.

Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid, so the label warns that it can make skin more sensitive to the sun: use sunscreen while you use it and for a week after you stop.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser

• Three exfoliating acids at once.
• A 6.3 fl oz bottle.

Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser

Check price at Amazon: Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser ingredients (the active and 9 inactive ingredients, acne actives marked)

Active ingredients: Salicylic Acid 1%

Inactive ingredients: Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sorbitol, Glycolic Acid, Gluconolactone, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Acrylates Copolymer, Disodium EDTA

As printed on the US Drug Facts label on DailyMed on October 6, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best for face and body: Prequel Gleanser + SA Non-Drying Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Best for face and body

Check price at Amazon: Prequel Gleanser + SA Non-Drying Salicylic Acid Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

A cosmetic wash with glycerin first on the list and 1% salicylic acid printed on the front of the bottle, plus zinc PCA. No fragrance or sulfate.

• 1% salicylic acid, on the package
• No added fragrance
• Sulfate-free

Good for: Prequel Gleanser + SA Non-Drying Salicylic Acid Cleanser

• Breakouts on the chest and back as well as the face
• Skin that feels stripped by foaming washes
• A big pump bottle: 13.5 fl oz

Skip it if: Prequel Gleanser + SA Non-Drying Salicylic Acid Cleanser

• You want an acne drug with a Drug Facts box
• You shop on Amazon: its only listing there is a two-pack

Label facts for Prequel Gleanser + SA Non-Drying Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Acne active

Salicylic acid, 6th of 22 (1%, printed on the front of the bottle)

Label

Cosmetic (no Drug Facts box)

Added fragrance

None listed

Drying alcohol

None listed

Sulfates

None listed

Supporting

Glycerin, zinc and prebiotic

Cruelty-free certified

No

Read from Prequel's US website on October 6, 2026. Labels list ingredients by amount down to 1%, then in any order, so a position is not a percentage. Formulas change; check your box. Cruelty-free certification: the Leaping Bunny and Cruelty Free International directories on October 6, 2026.

Why we picked it: Prequel Gleanser + SA Non-Drying Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Glycerin, a humectant that draws water into the skin, comes first on the list, before water, and the bottle says 50% glycerin and 1% salicylic acid, for face and body. Cosmopolitan gave it a Holy Grail Beauty Award, and Marie Claire’s writer uses it on back and shoulder breakouts.

It is a cosmetic, so that 1% is Prequel’s own figure, not a Drug Facts strength. Prequel says to use it morning and night.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Prequel Gleanser + SA Non-Drying Salicylic Acid Cleanser

• Its only Amazon listing is a two-pack.
• A cosmetic: the 1% is the brand's figure.

Prequel Gleanser + SA Non-Drying Salicylic Acid Cleanser

Check price at Amazon: Prequel Gleanser + SA Non-Drying Salicylic Acid Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

Prequel Gleanser + SA Non-Drying Salicylic Acid Cleanser ingredients (full list of 22, acne actives marked)

Glycerin, Water (Aqua), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Salicylic Acid, Inulin, Zinc PCA, Succinic Acid, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 80, Lecithin

As printed on Prequel's US website on October 6, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best cruelty-free: Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser

Best cruelty-free

Check price at Amazon: Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

2% salicylic acid in a short list of 14 inactive ingredients, with witch hazel extract and aloe. No fragrance, drying alcohol, sulfate or soap.

• 2% salicylic acid
• No added fragrance
• Sulfate-free

Good for: Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser

• Shoppers who want a Leaping Bunny certified brand
• Oily and combination skin
• Knowing exactly what is in it

Skip it if: Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser

• Dry skin: there is little glycerin
• You avoid witch hazel: it is listed

Label facts for Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser

Acne active

Salicylic acid 2%, in the Drug Facts box

Label

OTC acne drug (Drug Facts box)

Added fragrance

None listed

Drying alcohol

None listed

Sulfates

None listed

Supporting

Glycerin

Cruelty-free certified

Yes, Leaping Bunny

Read from the US Drug Facts label on DailyMed on October 6, 2026. US acne washes print the active’s percentage in a Drug Facts box; their other ingredients may be listed alphabetically, so these label facts report only whether something is there. Formulas change; check your box. Cruelty-free certification: the Leaping Bunny and Cruelty Free International directories on October 6, 2026.

Why we picked it: Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser

Good Molecules is Leaping Bunny certified, and this is the only label we read that prints the percentage of every ingredient: on the carton, salicylic acid is 2.0%, glycerin 0.8% and witch hazel extract 0.2%. The directions say to massage it in for 20 to 30 seconds.

The carton marks this version 1.1: Good Molecules raised its pH to 4.8, reduced the propanediol and added hydrolyzed corn starch.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser

• Glycerin is under 1%.
• A 5 fl oz bottle.

Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser

Check price at Amazon: Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser ingredients (the active and 14 inactive ingredients, acne actives marked)

Active ingredients: Salicylic Acid 2%

Inactive ingredients: Water, Propanediol, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Lauryl Glucoside, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Sodium Citrate, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Gluconate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Sorbic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder

As printed on the US Drug Facts label on DailyMed on October 6, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Best splurge: SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser

Best splurge

Check price at Amazon: SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)Check price at SkinMedica: SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

A cosmetic gel with salicylic acid 5th of 20, right after water, glycerin and two mild cleansing agents, plus bakuchiol and bisabolol. No fragrance or sulfate.

• Salicylic acid, no % printed
• No added fragrance
• Sulfate-free

Good for: SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser

• 20 ingredients and no added fragrance
• Oily or combination skin
• Morning and evening use, as SkinMedica says

Skip it if: SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser

• You want a set strength of salicylic acid: no percentage is printed
• You want a drugstore price

Label facts for SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser

Acne active

Salicylic acid, 5th of 20 (no percentage printed)

Label

Cosmetic (no Drug Facts box)

Added fragrance

None listed

Drying alcohol

None listed

Sulfates

None listed

Supporting

Glycerin, bisabolol and licorice

Cruelty-free certified

No

Read from SkinMedica's US website on October 6, 2026. Labels list ingredients by amount down to 1%, then in any order, so a position is not a percentage. Formulas change; check your box. Cruelty-free certification: the Leaping Bunny and Cruelty Free International directories on October 6, 2026.

Why we picked it: SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser

We looked for a pricier salicylic acid wash with no added fragrance, no sulfate and a short list, and this is the one we found: salicylic acid comes right after water, glycerin and two mild cleansing agents. Sunday Riley’s wash, a pricier pick in two of the guides, lists lavender flower water (see also considered).

SkinMedica's page cites a small study of this cleanser used together with its acne treatment, so it says little about the wash alone. SkinMedica prints no strength.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser

• Expensive for a wash.
• No percentage printed: it is a cosmetic.

SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser

Check price at Amazon: SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)Check price at SkinMedica: SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser ingredients (full list of 20, acne actives marked)

Aqua/Water/Eau, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Bakuchiol, Bisabolol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sapindus Mukorossi Peel Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Dextrin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide

As printed on SkinMedica's US website on October 6, 2026. The list printed on your box is the one that counts.

Every pick, side by side

What each US label shows, including its directions

Pick	Acne active	Label	Added fragrance	Contact time on the label	How often, per the label	Where to buy
The Inkey List Salicylic Acid CleanserBest overall	salicylic acid 2%	OTC acne drug	None listed	None given	One to three times a day; start once	Check price at Amazon: The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
CeraVe Acne Control CleanserBest for oily skin and blackheads	salicylic acid 2%	OTC acne drug	None listed	None given	Twice a day; shake well first	Check price at Amazon: CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne CleanserBest for dry skin	salicylic acid 2%	OTC acne drug	None listed	None given	Not stated; use less if dry or peeling	Check price at Amazon: Cetaphil Gentle Clear Pore Clearing Acne Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance FreeBest for sensitive skin	salicylic acid 2%	OTC acne drug	None listed	None given	Twice a day	Check price at Amazon: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, Fragrance Free (paid link, opens in a new tab)
CeraVe Renewing SA CleanserBest gentle salicylic acid cleanser	salicylic acid (no % printed)	Cosmetic	None listed	None given	Any time of day, face and body	Check price at Amazon: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily CleanserBest for rough, bumpy texture	salicylic acid 1%	OTC acne drug	None listed	Massage 60 seconds	Not stated; test on a small area for 3 days first	Check price at Amazon: Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
Prequel Gleanser + SA Non-Drying Salicylic Acid CleanserBest for face and body	salicylic acid 1% (on the package)	Cosmetic	None listed	None given	Morning and night, face and body	Check price at Amazon: Prequel Gleanser + SA Non-Drying Salicylic Acid Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
Good Molecules Acne Foaming CleanserBest cruelty-free	salicylic acid 2%	OTC acne drug	None listed	Massage 20 to 30 seconds	Morning and night (carton icons)	Check price at Amazon: Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel CleanserBest splurge	salicylic acid (no % printed)	Cosmetic	None listed	None given	Morning and evening	Check price at Amazon: SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)Check price at SkinMedica: SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

Salicylic acid cleanser: an acne drug or a cosmetic?

A US wash sold to treat acne is an over-the-counter drug. Its Drug Facts box prints the active ingredient and its strength, and the FDA allows salicylic acid from 0.5% to 2% (21 CFR 333). Six of our picks carry that box. A wash without it is a cosmetic, whatever its name: it can’t claim to treat acne, and it doesn’t have to say how much salicylic acid it holds.

Three of our picks are cosmetics: CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser, Prequel Gleanser + SA and SkinMedica Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser. So are some washes the guides list with a strength. Cosmopolitan calls Sunday Riley’s Breakout Breakup a 2% cleanser, yet its US page shows a cosmetic list with no Drug Facts box and salicylic acid 16th of 35. A cosmetic list runs by amount only down to 1%, after which ingredients may come in any order (21 CFR 701.3), so a position is not a percentage. To read the rest of a label, see how to read an ingredient list.

Which salicylic acid strength: 0.5%, 1% or 2%?

The strengths printed on our picks’ Drug Facts labels, plus Paula’s Choice’s: 0.5% (Paula's Choice), 1% (Neutrogena Stubborn Texture) and 2% (The Inkey List, CeraVe Acne Control, Cetaphil, Neutrogena Fragrance Free and Good Molecules). Prequel prints 1% on the front of its cosmetic bottle; CeraVe Renewing SA and SkinMedica print none.

For acne, 2% is the most a US acne product may hold, and it is the strength with a trial behind it: in a small 1989 study (30 people, two weeks on each wash), a 2% salicylic acid wash cut blackheads and whiteheads significantly where a 10% benzoyl peroxide wash did not (Shalita 1989). Women’s Health quotes a dermatologist who suggests sensitive skin try a lower strength. We found no study comparing strengths in washes. If 2% dries you out, use it less often before you switch.

The bigger picture is modest. The AAD’s 2024 guidelines give salicylic acid a weaker, conditional recommendation than benzoyl peroxide’s, because its studies are fewer and less certain (Reynolds 2024); for red, inflamed pimples, see our face washes for acne.

BHA, willow bark and LHA: what counts as salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid, and “BHA” on a front label usually means it: Skinfix’s 2% BHA Cleanser prints 2% salicylic acid in its Drug Facts box. Two look-alikes are different ingredients. Willow bark extract is a plant extract, and the FDA’s acne rule names salicylic acid, not willow bark (21 CFR 333.310). Women’s Health’s pick for sensitive skin, iS Clinical’s Cleansing Complex, uses willow bark instead, as the magazine says, so it is not a salicylic acid wash.

Capryloyl salicylic acid (LHA), in La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar washes, is another molecule, and our label data never counts it as salicylic acid. Stronger salicylic acid is not for washing either: plasters with 12% to 40% are wart removers (21 CFR 358.110), never for the face.

How to use a salicylic acid cleanser

1. Begin with one wash a day. The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Cleanser’s label says to, because skin can dry out, and others say to cut back if it does; go to twice a day only if your skin stays comfortable.
2. Use your fingertips, not a cloth. Washcloths, sponges and hard rubbing irritate skin (AAD). Blackheads aren’t dirt, so don’t try to scrub them out: the AAD says scrubbing only makes acne worse.
3. Leave it on as long as the label says. Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser says 60 seconds and Good Molecules Acne Foaming Cleanser 20 to 30 seconds; most give no time. A dermatologist quoted by Cosmopolitan suggests a minute or two, while a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist says a wash needn’t stay on long.
4. Patch test first. Before using a new acne product all over, the FDA suggests trying it on one or two small spots for three days, because rare allergic reactions can be serious.
5. Add one acne treatment at a time. Every acne drug label warns that dryness and irritation are more likely with another topical acne medication; see which ingredients not to mix, and our retinol picks if you use one at night.
6. Moisturize if you get dry. The AAD says to moisturize after washing if your skin feels dry; see our face moisturizer picks.
7. Wear sunscreen with acid washes. Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser also has glycolic acid, and its label carries a Sunburn Alert; see our mineral sunscreen picks.
8. Judge it after 6 to 8 weeks. That is how long the AAD says to give an acne product.

Also considered

• 

  La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser

  Cosmopolitan says almost every dermatologist recommends it, and it is 2% salicylic acid. Its carton says fragrance-free, but the list has menthol, and sodium laureth sulfate 2nd, right after water.

  Check price at Amazon: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
• 

  Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser

  Cosmopolitan’s best overall: 0.5% salicylic acid, the lowest strength the FDA allows, with no fragrance. But sodium laureth sulfate is on its list.

  Check price at Amazon: Paula's Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
• 

  Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash

  The original lists fragrance, 10th of 18, and two dyes, Yellow 5 and Red 40. Buy the Fragrance Free version instead.

  Check price at Amazon: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash (paid link, opens in a new tab)
• 

  Sunday Riley Breakout Breakup Salicylic Acid Cleanser

  Picked by Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire. Its US list is a cosmetic’s, with no Drug Facts box: salicylic acid is 16th of 35, and lavender flower water and isopropyl alcohol are listed.

  Check price at Amazon: Sunday Riley Breakout Breakup Salicylic Acid Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
• 

  Murad Acne Control Clarifying Cleanser

  Cosmopolitan’s pick for oily skin and a near-pick in Wirecutter’s cleanser test, but fragrance, limonene and menthol are on its list.

  Check price at Amazon: Murad Acne Control Clarifying Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
• 

  Peach Slices Acne Clarifying Cleanser

  Our cruelty-free pick in the face washes for acne guide: 2% salicylic acid and Leaping Bunny certified. Here Good Molecules gets the nod for its shorter list, 14 inactive ingredients to 19, and its printed percentages.

  Check price at Amazon: Peach Slices Acne Clarifying Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
• 

  Skinfix 2% BHA Cleanser

  Marie Claire’s pick passes our label checks: 2% salicylic acid with glycolic acid, azelaic acid and niacinamide, and no fragrance. On Amazon we found it only from a reseller, so there is no link here; Skinfix sells it directly.

• 

  Byoma Blemish Acne Clearing Cleanser

  Another Marie Claire pick that passes our checks: 2% salicylic acid in a creamy wash with a ceramide and glycerin. A good swap for our dry-skin pick; its label says to massage it in for 1 to 2 minutes.

  Check price at Amazon: Byoma Blemish Acne Clearing Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
• 

  CeraVe Acne Clay-to-Foam Cleanser

  2% salicylic acid with kaolin clay and three ceramides, and no fragrance; the label lets you use it as a wash or a mask. A clay alternative to our oily-skin pick.

  Check price at Amazon: CeraVe Acne Clay-to-Foam Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)
• 

  Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser

  A gentler cosmetic cousin of our texture pick: salicylic acid 10th of 23, with mandelic acid and gluconolactone, and no fragrance. No percentage is printed.

  Check price at Amazon: Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser (paid link, opens in a new tab)

An acne routine works on the days you do it

Avina keeps your morning and evening routines with your real products and records the days you did them, so you can give a new acne wash a fair trial before you judge it.

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