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Invest In These Acne Body Washes for Clear Skin From Head to Toe
Skin care for the neck down is just as important.
As if cracking the code to treating facial acne, particularly hormonal acne, isn’t already an impressive feat, finding the correct formulas to prevent breakouts from appearing all over your body is the actual test of resilience. The research becomes lengthier, products become more expensive, and stress is relentless—but it doesn’t have to be. I’ve long struggled with acne, so I understand firsthand that it requires a lot of trial and error with products and a few in-office visits to find a sense of peace. I found solace in body washes specifically designed for acne-prone skin.
A quick reminder: Breakouts can occur any and everywhere. Just as we reach for a powerful cleanser or pimple patches whenever a breakout emerges on our face, there are plenty of body washes that target stubborn acne on the back, chest, shoulder, arms, and more. “An acne body wash is a type of body wash designed to treat and prevent acne,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Purvisha Patel tells ELLE.com. Because the skin on our face is different from our bodies, the two areas need to be treated differently. “The body has acne called folliculitis, and areas that are shaved often get small follicular infections,” she adds. Many body washes contain chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid, which gently exfoliates the skin to clear up acne and prevent any incoming breakouts, as well as other skin-saving ingredients.
Before you reach for any abrasive scrubs that can further damage your skin, we asked Dr. Patel to recommend the most effective formulas on the market and perused customer reviews to find the 10 best acne body washes that give you clear skin from head to toe.
Pros
- Decongests the skin to prevent irritation
Cons
- Takes a while to see results
As the name suggests, The Perfector, by the internet’s favorite rising skin care brand Naturium, gently exfoliates away impurities to reveal smoother, clearer, healthier skin. The fragrance-free formula is a godsend for those who have sensitive skin. It is a slow burn, but the long-term results are worth the wait.
Active ingredients: Salicylic acid
Size: 16.9 fl oz
Amazon star rating: 4.4/5 stars
An ELLE Editor says: “Nothing has cleared my body acne faster than this Naturium body wash. My breakouts probably scream in fear whenever they feel this salicylic acid-infused gel formula on my skin. It’s gentle, effective, and fragrance-free.”—Nerisha Penrose, beauty commerce editor
Kosas Good Body Skin AHA + Enzyme Exfoliating Body Wash
Pros
- Gentle enough for daily use
Cons
- Scented
Thanks to a wonderful blend of fruit enzymes and powerful AHAs, your skin is stripped of the bad stuff, such as dead skin, clogged pores, and dark marks, to reduce frequent breakouts.
Active ingredients: Glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acid
Size: 9 fl oz
Sephora star rating: 4.1/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer said: “I have KP on my arms and so far this has been the only exfoliator to actually help reduce redness and inflammation! Very gentle on the skin and has a nice, light scent!”
Pros
- Calming and soothing ingredients
Cons
- Will need to leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing
If your skin is going haywire, think of this cleanser as a nice balm for irritated skin. Niacinamide, kale, and green tea extracts offer soothing properties as all the dirt and debris are gently cleansed off your skin. The scent is an added bonus, which smells eerily similar to eucalyptus hanging in your shower.
Key ingredients: niacinamide, kale and green tea extracts, antioxidants
Size: 16.4 oz
Sephora rating: 4.6/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “I love it when my favorite brands expand into body care because now I can enjoy the benefits of their effective facial care all over my body. The Youth to the People body wash instantly transports you to a posh NYC spa that greets you with an intoxicating earthy aroma. Scent aside, the niacinamide and superfoods packed in this bottle blanket my skin with nourishment I haven’t felt from a body cleanser in a long time. Couple it with the body butter, and you’ll garner compliments from the moment you step outside.”—Nerisha Penrose, beauty commerce editor
Pros
- Clears up acne fast
Cons
- Can be drying
With a high percentage of glycolic acid (8.8 percent, to be exact), Glytone’s Exfoliating Body Wash may seem a bit intimidating. Worry not: this body wash stops breakouts in their tracks within days and makes your skin feel rejuvenated after each wash.
Active ingredients: Glycolic acid
Size: 6.7 fl oz
Dermstore star rating: 4.6/5 stars
A Dermstore reviewer said: “I was scared to try this, but it is wonderful for my sensitive skin. I have had no reaction, and it does what it says. I can even use it on my face as an exfoliating face wash it is so gentle. Will repurchase.”
Pros
- Formulated with both chemical and physical exfoliants
Cons
- Takes time to see results
Murad can be found in just about everyone’s skin care lineup, but its body wash iteration deserves just as much attention. Formulated with salicylic acid, glycolic acid, green tea, licorice root, and more, this body wash fights acne to ward off pesky bumps and calms the skin.
Active ingredients: Salicylic, glycolic acid
Size: 8.5 fl oz
Ulta star rating: 4/5 stars
An Ulta reviewer said: “Used daily to treat my shoulder acne after spending hundreds of dollars on products and facials. After keeping it simple with just this product plus moisturizer, my skin is clear. This is a true miracle product that doesn’t dry out your skin. I will continue to buy this again and again!!!”
Pros
- Safe to use in hair
Cons
- Can be drying
While salicylic acid is commonly found in most acne products, it’s not the only ingredient that can get the job done. A favorite of board-certified dermatologist Dr. Purvisha Patel, this formula combines salicylic acid with bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative, cacayoil, and jujube bark extract to minimize acne flare-ups and inflammation.
Active ingredients: Salicylic acid, bakuchiol
Size: 9 fl oz
Amazon rating: 4.2/5 stars
Our expert says: “My favorite acne body wash is Visha Skincare’s Top 2 Toe. It contains bakuchiol, tea tree oil, zinc, and salicylic acid. This all-over wash can be used all over your scalp, face, and body to exfoliate and rid the skin of acne-causing microbes.”—Dr. Purvisha Patel
Pros
- Balances moisture in the skin
- Safe for sensitive skin
Cons
- Some prefer the bar version more
African black soap is a time-honored ingredient used in families to cleanse and nourish the face and body. As the star ingredient of this body wash, it provides a thorough cleansing experience that calms and soothes the skin with help from aloe and vitamin E.
Key ingredients: African black soap, vitamin E, aloe
Size: 18 fl oz
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “Of all the body washes Shea Moisture recently launched, this black soap-infused formula is the standout. My acne-prone skin reacts almost immediately to a product it doesn’t agree with, but this body wash has been instrumental in calming my skin without worsening the breakouts or drying my skin out. I feel so squeaky clean and nourished when I finish showering. Plus, a little goes a long way—I've been using it for months.”—Nerisha Penrose, beauty commerce editor
Pros
- Super affordable
Cons
- Bottle releases too much product sometimes
Of the many acne-fighting body washes I’ve incorporated into my shower routine, this gem from Cerave is the one I always return to. Gentle enough for daily use, the SA Body Wash—coupled with its counterpart SA Lotion—is great for clearing up dark spots quickly and keeping them away for good.
Active ingredients: Salicylic acid
Size: 10 fl oz
Amazon star rating: 4.2/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer said: “I have suffered with Keratosis Pilaris since I was in high school! I have tried everything over the years! Dry brushing, exfoliating mitts, all kinds of dermatological prescriptions, nothing worked! This product works! All I had to do is use it in the shower and all my ugly red bumps (some were large too) are gone! Love this product!!💕”
Pros
- Can be used on face
Cons
- Can be harsh for some
If you’ve tried it all and your acne is still taking residence on your skin, allow PanOxyl to do the heavy lifting for you. With 10 percent benzoyl peroxide, this powerful body wash unclogs pores and kills bacteria fast to reveal brighter-looking skin.
Active ingredient: Benzoyl peroxide
Size: 5.5 fl oz
Amazon star rating: 4.6/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer said: “This stuff is magical. A staple for my skin care. Smells like nothing honestly, but when it comes to skin care scent free is good. Breakouts gone.”
Pros
- Non-irritating formula
Cons
- Takes a while to see results
Great for all skin types, Neutrogena’s acne body wash has been a staple in skin care routines for its gentle, yet effective formula. The star ingredient is salicylic acid, which removes any trace of dirt and debris to prevent future breakouts.
Key ingredients: Salicylic acid
Size: 8.5 fl oz
Amazon rating: 4.7/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “Been using this for years and it keeps my body clear. I like the mild smell and value for the money.”
What are the benefits of acne body wash?
Of course, the number one benefit of acne body wash is exfoliation, but there are plenty more benefits, like killing bacteria. “Acne body washes help exfoliate the skin as well as decrease microbe growth on your body, which ultimately leads to less acne and leaves your skin feeling clean and refreshed,“ says Dr. Patel.
Where does an acne body wash fall in the body care routine?
“You should use your acne body wash in the shower after you have washed your hair,” Dr. Patel adds. As the last step in your shower routine, “this ensures you will leave the shower with clean skin [after] washing off all the hair products,” she says.
What ingredients should you look for in an acne wash?
AHAs—glycolic, lactic, malic, etc.—and BHAs—salicylic—are the most common powerful ingredients in most acne cleansers. Dr. Patel says to look for those acids, in addition to ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and bakuchiol, as these players help “decrease microbe growth, decrease fungus and bacteria on the skin, and minimize body breakouts.”
Meet the Expert
Dr. Purvisha Patel, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon, and founder of Visha Skincare.
Why Trust ELLE Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor Nerisha Penrose interviewed skin experts to find the best body washes to treat acne.
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