Acne can result in a real loss of confidence at any age. The good news is there are a number of steps you can take to prevent new pimples and deal with existing blemishes. A combination of sufficient rest, healthy eating, and a good acne face wash can go a long way in helping you battle breakouts.

While it’s important to be conscientious about what you put into your body, your skin care routine can also make a huge difference in dealing with existing and future breakouts. Regular cleansing is essential to wash off all the dirt and excess oils from your skin. The question is, how do you find a good face acne wash that will effectively cleanse and combat blemishes without irritating sensitive skin?

Key ingredients for acne-prone skin

The skin care market is full of thousands of products to help you deal with acne and blemishes with new “miracle” ingredients cropping up all the time. Navigating the terminology and knowing which ingredients will be most effective at helping you battle your acne can be a struggle. If you’re dealing with acne-prone skin, you might feel compelled to buy multiple products with a slew of active ingredients to help get rid of it, but this can ultimately do more harm than good as you may end up drying out your skin, causing your skin’s natural oil production to go into overdrive, resulting in an even more vicious breakout cycle.

The trick is to use a few products with proven active ingredients. Here are two of the best known and most widely tested active ingredients to know about when searching for a good acne face wash:

Salicylic Acid 

Derived from willow bark, salicylic acid is a natural beta hydroxy acid with great exfoliating and antibacterial properties. It’s often used in products for acne-prone skin because it is so effective at unclogging pores and removing dead skin cells and trapped bacteria that lead to acne. This hardworking ingredient helps fight future blemishes by penetrating deep into pores for a truly deep clean.

Salicylic acid is also great for battling pimples as it reduces sebum secretion. Sebum is an oily substance secreted from the sebaceous glands that helps naturally moisturize skin and hair; however, excess sebum production is a common cause of breakouts.

If you’re looking for a good face wash for acne-prone skin, look for salicylic acid for its expert exfoliation and ability to thoroughly cleanse. PharmaClear® Acne Treatment Cleanser contains 2% salicylic acid to target p. Acnes bacteria, dead skin cells and excess sebum in your pores that may lead to future breakouts.

Benzoyl Peroxide 

Benzoyl peroxide (also known as BPO) is a powerful exfoliating agent that penetrates pores to destroy acne-causing bacteria. As with salicylic acid, you can get BPO in different concentrations depending on the severity of your acne.

The major advantage of using a face wash with benzoyl peroxide is that you’re likely to see quick results. In fact, you may notice an improvement in your acne within a week of using a BPO product; however, benzoyl peroxide can irritate sensitive skin and lead to dryness and peeling if overused.

At Pharmagel we’ve chosen to use salicylic acid over benzoyl peroxide in our acne face wash. This is primarily due to the fact that salicylic acid is much less likely to result in dryness or irritation with frequent use. It works well for both regular and sensitive skin types, making it suitable for most acne sufferers.

Skincare ingredients to avoid for acne-prone skin

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate 

Once a popular surfactant in many cleansers, sodium lauryl sulfate has been shown to dry out skin over time. It strips skin of its natural oils, resulting in a compromised protective barrier. Skin that feels taut or tight after cleansing is a sure sign that those natural protective lipids have been washed away.

Isopropyl Myristate 

This ingredient is often used in skincare products for its moisturizing properties, but it is also highly comedogenic. With frequent use it can clog up pores over time, leading to breakouts and skin irritation.

Coconut Oil 

There is no shortage of natural remedies attributed to coconut oil; however this wonder ingredient is also comedogenic and can result in clogged, inflamed pores. While it may not cause trouble for those with dry skin, it’s best to avoid facial products with coconut oil if you have oily or acne-prone skin.

Acne-prone skin cleansing tips

Anyone dealing with acne is aware of the importance of regular skin cleansing. Here are some of our top tips to help you clean your acne-prone skin effectively:

Choose a cleanser that's specifically formulated for acne-prone skin 

Dealing with the root cause by getting an acne face wash should be your first step when combatting acne.

Although the skincare world is heavily populated with products designed specifically for acne-prone skin, many people still choose to use a face wash without an active acne-fighting ingredient. Active ingredients such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are essential to help you deal with your existing breakouts and prevent future ones. They’re more powerful than milder cleansing ingredients as they can penetrate deep into your pores to deal with dead skill cells, sebum, and p. Acnes bacteria that leads to acne and inflammation.

Don't be too tough on your skin 

When we get blemishes or acne, our natural impulse is to try and treat them aggressively. Some people may even attempt to scrub them away. This could be one of the worst things that you can do for your acne: aggressive cleansing and exfoliating can result in scars that take months, or even years, to fade.

Treat your acne-prone skin gently. Excessive scrubbing will only serve to irritate and inflame the skin further. Gently massage your face wash using your fingertips and rinse with lukewarm water. Pat your skin dry (no rubbing!)

Steer clear of an extensive skincare routine 

It may be tempting to buy a whole load of skin care products to combat your acne, but this could further exacerbate the issue. Keep it simple by investing in a good acne face wash and an effective lightweight, moisturizer. If you choose the right products and care for your skin using the right techniques, you will see improvement over time. Yes, it will take time to see results. But patience is essential when dealing with acne-prone skin.

Use only lukewarm water 

While a hot shower may feel soothing at the beginning or end of a long day, it’s best to avoid using hot water to wash your face. Hot water can strip away the natural oils from your skin very quickly. Using lukewarm water to cleanse your face will leave natural oils intact, resulting in skin that feels softer than when rinsed with water that is too hot or too cold.

Milder products can be highly effective when paired with an acne face wash 

Not all products that are beneficial for acne-prone skin need to have harsh chemicals or an active ingredient. In fact, using multiple products with powerful ingredients can actually have a negative effect. If you’re using an acne face wash with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, we’d recommend using a gentle toner after your cleanse. The Botanical Tonique® Mist is great for acne-prone skin as it contains zero alcohol. It provides lightweight hydration while soothing inflamed skin with its blend of plant-based ingredients, including cucumber and aloe.