What’s the first step in any anti-acne oily skin regimen? A cleanser that you can lather up with morning and night, and control all that excess oil without drying up your skin. “Nighttime cleansing washes off dirt and excess oil that’s sitting on skin, while morning cleansing will clear off anything that accumulated overnight,” says Dr. Saedi.
OUR SKINCARE EXPERTS HAVE EVALUATED OVER FIFTY OF THE TOP ACNE PRODUCTS for oily skin
This post features 5 carefully chosen acne face washes for oily skin with the most effective results available today. When I say carefully, it means that our listing is based on the methodical analysis of over 2700 real user reviews and in depth understanding of the brands as well as the formulas of their products.
Our team of skincare experts and dermatologists eliminated most of the alternatives out there, and only picked the highest rated and most successful products that work best for oily skin prone to acne.
- Soothe skin with high-quality, naturally derived ingredients
- Deep cleansing that stops acne in its tracks
- Controls excess oil without drying your skin
- Significant results in 4-8 weeks
As a quick shopping tip, here’s a short list of the most important ingredients to look for in your face wash for oily skin: salicylic acid (to exfoliate and remove pore-clogging debris and break up blackheads and whiteheads), glycolic acid (the best at exfoliating and unclogging impurities and excess oil due to it’s tiny molecules), lactic acid (to fight acne and even out skin tone), benzoyl peroxide (to clean out the P. acnes bacteria that contributes to acne), or sulfur (to lessen inflammation).
| BEST ACNE FACE WASHES FOR OILY SKIN IN 2023 | |||
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OUR #1 PICK |
Misumi Clear Skin Salicylic Cleanser |
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VIEW LATEST PRICE → |
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Restorsea Reviving Cleanser |
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Price: $65.00 |
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Nordstrom BPO 5% Cleanser |
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Price: $39.00 |
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Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser |
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Price: $47.00 |
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Ain’t Misbehavin’ Medicated AHA/BHA Acne Cleanser |
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How We Chose the Best Face Wash for Oily Skin
Here are a couple of factors we keep in mind when choosing the best face wash for acne, especially if you have oily skin:
● Quality of Ingredients
A few ingredients to look for in your face wash for oily skin: salicylic acid (to exfoliate and remove pore-clogging debris that cause cystic acne in the first place), glycolic acid (the best at exfoliating and unclogging impurities and excess oil due to it’s tiny molecules), lactic acid (to fight acne and even out skin tone), benzoyl peroxide (to remove the P. acnes bacteria that contributes to acne), or sulfur (to lessen inflammation), and witch hazel (a natural astringent that tightens pores, preventing aggravation of acne and future breakouts.
● Regimen Sets
“I recommend acne kits because sticking to one product line, with products designed to work well with one another, will have the most effective results.” – Jessica Fitz Patrick, Aesthetician and Rodan + Fields Consultant
● Real Customer Reviews and Before & After Pictures
We’ve gathered and evaluated over three thousand real customer reviews. This is a no censoring, no filter skincare review zone. We say it like it is.
● Test Results
Yup, our skincare experts test all our top products on teenagers battling various types breakouts.
● Customer Service and company Policy
We only recommend companies that we trust operate with integrity, are good to their customers and their environment, and have hassle-free return policies and exceptional customer service.
5 Best Face Washes for Acne With Oily Skin 2023
Here are the best creams, washes and cleansers for healing your acne and controlling your oily skin, based on quality review and user experience.
Our Number 1 Pick
1. Misumi Clear Skin Salicylic Cleanser
$33.95 (One bottle should last you 2-3 months.)
Picking the number 1 acne cleanser that’s also perfect for oily skin was surprisingly not a hard choice. After trying over forty of the best rated acne cleansers and face washes for oily skin, we’ve come to a conclusion that Misumi’s Clear Skin Salicylic Cleanser is by far the most powerful face wash for acne on the market, and the most effective when it comes to controlling excess oil. It easily beats out tough competitors like Restorsea, SkinMedica and even huge brands like Proactiv.
This breakthrough oil-controlling formula is a powerful blend of Glycolic acid, Lactic acid, and Salicylic acid, the three ‘miracle acne-fighting ingredients’. The trio work together to unclog and tighten pores, remove impurities that cause acne, and accelerate the skin’s natural healing process (meaning, no severe acne scars)! Best of all, they are naturally-derived and strike the perfect balance between controlling oily skin and drying it out.
The cleanser also incorporates Lavender flower oil which soothes the skin thanks to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps reduce redness and swelling, while making sure your skin doesn’t dry out. It doesn’t lather well, but for the price and results, it’s easily the most well-rounded product, and we’ve decided it’s the winning choice for acne-prone, oily skin.
Customer Before and After Picture
Best For: Oily, normal, combination, and acne-prone skin
Pros
- Powerful combination of Lactic, Glycolic, and Salicylic acid
- High concentration of premium quality ingredients
- Calms breakouts and reduces redness and swelling
- Promotes even skin tone and controls excess oil
- Naturally derived, won’t dry your skin
- 60 Day Money Back Guarantee
Cons
- Doesn’t lather like most cleansers
- There are cheaper, but no better options out there
Pro tip: Choose a subscription plan (30 or 60 days) and get 20% savings on the cleanser. Easy cancellation anytime.
2. Restorsea Reviving Cleanser
With skin-brightening vitamin C, this wash is a refreshing way to start off your morning and reduce red marks. However, those of you struggling with more severe acne might want to look elsewhere, because this is a gentle formula – and too gentle for getting your oil under control. And considering its price point ($65.00), perhaps too gentle to a fault – this cleanser is so mild that it won’t even clean makeup. It might not do anything for you, so get it if you feel like experimenting and/or wanna splurge. It will give you a clean feeling though.
Pros:
- Vitamin C will lighten complexion
- Mild formula, suitable for sensitive skin
Cons:
- Won’t make your acne go away on its own
- Pricey
Price: $65.00
3. PCA skin BPO 5% Cleanser
While most cleansers taking aim at oily skin contain just 2% of salicylic acid, PCAskin decided to take no hostages and ramped that up to 5%, which is more than twice. Now, this comes with its own set of benefits, but also a set of problems. First off, this is a really strong, powerful cleanser. It will clean your pores, no question about that – but this formula can also irritate sensitive skin, or dry your skin too much. To mitigate this side-effect, PCA skin have decided to add gluconolactone, an ingredient that calms and moisturizes skin. But while it’s a brave formula, it’s also a risky one. Dig through the reviews and you’ll see people complaining that it dried their skin, or burned their eyes. Make no mistake – if the ‘ordinary’ cleanser is too much for your skin, this one will definitely burn it.
Pros:
- Strong formula with twice the usual concentration of salicylic acid
- Good choice for individuals with robust, non-sensitive skin
Cons:
- Strong formula may be drying
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
Price: $39.00
4. SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser
Мost cleansers stick to a tried-and-true formula of including just one or two acids, but SkinMedica tried something different. And we have to say it works – although not perfectly. While it tries to cleanse and exfoliate at the same time, it’s no substitute for a dedicated cleanser, or an exfoliant that will really get excess oil under control for that matter. However there’s something of everything here: citric acid and other alpha hydroxy acids such as lactic, glycolic and malic acids, as well as salicylic acid, and a beta-hydroxy acid to boot. The first downside? The concentration of these ingredients. The second downside? The price. You can find similar, or even better formulas (such as the Misumi one) for less.
Pros:
- Interesting mix of acne-fighting ingredients
- Good for lightening skin tone and dark spots or acne scars
Cons:
- A diverse cocktail of acids that may irritate, or not work for some
- Pricey
Price: $47.00
5. Dermadoctor’s Ain’t Misbehavin’ Medicated AHA/BHA Acne Cleanser
If you’re looking to help your face become smoother and softer, but also prevent acne, this might be the product for you. On its own, the cleanser is competent, but for the best results you’re going to have to pair it with other products by the same brand which can set you back more than $100. Make no mistake, this is a strong cleanser, with an equally strong aroma which may not be everyone’s cup of tea. However, be aware that this is a cleansing milk. The consistency will not be very effective at controlling excess skin oil. What’s more, the product is much more liquid than other gel-, or cream-type cleansers, meaning you’ll go through the bottle much faster.
Pros:
- Good cleanser for light to medium acne
- Leaves skin smooth and soft
Cons:
- Strong smell which can be off-putting to some
- Liquid “milk” consistency means you’ll finish it sooner compared to the competition
Price: $34.00
Conclusion
If you’re tired of acne or just looking to reduce that oily skin shine try one of the best acne face washes for oily skin we listed here. They will unclog your pores and get rid of inflammation and blackheads. These cleansers are also one of the best ways to reduce excess skin oil, and gently exfoliate your skin to improve its texture, too.
If you’re tired of expensive acne products that overpromise but underdeliver, try one of the top-rated acne treatments for oily skin we’ve recommended here – and let us know what works (or doesn’t) for you! We have tried our best to be objective and tested over a hundred face wash and acne kits, and even OTC treatments recommended by dermatologists themselves. To conclude, we’ve found the most effective face wash for oily skin is the Misumi Clear Skin Salicylic Cleanser. It combines an approachable price with some of the best all-round anti-acne and oil-controlling properties we’ve seen. Here’s a handy reminder why we picked the The Misumi Clear Skin Salicylic Cleanser:
Pros:
✓ Deep pore-penetrating power
✓ Removes impurities, dead cells, and excess oil
✓ Boosts collagen building & Helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles
✓ Soothes and calms angry breakouts
✓ Plus, Misumi offer a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee. Cheers for risk-free shopping!