Behold: The 13 Best Benzoyl Peroxide Products for Treating Your Acne

When it comes to treating acne, there are few ingredients as powerful and effective as benzoyl peroxide. Trust me, I've dealt with breakouts on and off for years, and I always come back to benzoyl peroxide when my acne starts flaring to help get things under control. You can get benzoyl peroxide in a prescription form (which is usually the case if you're dealing with severe acne), but for anyone with mild to moderate acne, you can try a ton of different over-the-counter products, from creamy cleansers to spot treatments, all with varied strengths of BP. But before you start slathering on the wrong formula or concentration, allow me to explain what exactly makes benzoyl peroxide a dermatologist favorite.

The best benzoyl peroxide products of 2021

• Best face wash: Differin Daily Deep Cleanser
  
• Best cleanser + mask: Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask
• Best on-the-go spot treatment: Glossier Zit Stick
• Best max strength spot treatment: Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10
• Best moisturizer: Obagi Clenziderm Therapeutic Lotion
• Best serum: Urban Skin Rx Clear Complexion Acne Serum + Spot Treatment
• Best gentle treatment: Paula's Choice Clear Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment
• Best for body acne: Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator
• Best lotion: Kate Somerville Anti Bac Acne Clearing Lotion
• Best body wash: SLMD Skincare BP Body Wash
• Best gentle face wash: CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser
• Best fast-acting treatment: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Spot Treatment
• Best everyday gel: Skinbar In the Clear BPO Acne Gel

Is benzoyl peroxide good for your skin?

If you have acne, yes! Dr. Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip, CEO of Vibrant Dermatology and Skin Bar MD in Boston, MA, explains that its effects are threefold. "Firstly, it is absorbed by the skin and releases free-radicals that kill acne causing bacteria. Secondly, it decreases oil production (sebum) by decreasing lipid and fatty acid production. Finally, it has mild whitehead and blackhead fighting abilities." Basically, it helps target all the main causes of acne to get your skin clear.

That said, it's also known for being drying and pretty strong, which means if you have hypersensitive skin and/or dry skin, you'll want to start slow (every other day, max) and low (thin layers, low percentage). If you have sensitive skin, you can also mitigate redness by "only using a gentle cleanser, applying just a pea-sized amount of the product to the entire face, and by accompanying [it] with a good hydrating moisturizer," says Imahiyerobo-Ip. Also, she adds, if you're pregnant, have facial eczema, or are one of the few people who's allergic to benzoyl peroxide, don't use it.

What kind of acne is benzoyl peroxide good for?

Benzoyl peroxide is able to treat all kinds of acne—including blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, and cysts—but it's especially great for inflammatory cystic acne, which (ICYMI) are those "pustules and large inflamed pimples" that make your skin look so angry, per Imahiyerobo-Ip. Side note: If you're using a benzoyl peroxide product on your blackheads and whiteheads and it isn't working, consider trying a salicylic acid product or a retinoid treatment instead.

What should you look for in a benzoyl peroxide product?

There are several different types of formulation: washes, foams, gels, and creams. Benzoyl peroxide products also come in different strengths—from 2.5 percent to 10 percent—but know this: a higher concentration doesn't necessarily mean better results. According to studies, 2.5 or 5 percent benzoyl peroxide often works just as well as 10 percent benzoyl peroxide, just with fewer irritating side effects (Imahiyerobo-Ip usually prescribes 5 percent). So, as a rule, always start off with a low dosage, and work your way up if your skin can tolerate it and/or needs it.

Got all that? Good. Ahead, I've rounded up the 13 best benzoyl peroxide products to try right TF now.