10 Best Acne Body Washes for Breakouts (Tested & Reviewed 2024)

I’ve been using this body wash for a few months now and have noticed a significant improvement in the texture and clarity of the skin on my chest, shoulders, and upper back. It uses 2 percent salicylic acid to unclog pores along with zinc PCA to reduce excess oil production and niacinamide to fade any dark marks from old breakouts. Unlike other gel body washes, this won’t leave your skin feeling tight or dried out after you get out of the shower, thanks to a dose of hydrating glycerin.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, zinc PCA, niacinamide, glycerin
• Format: Gel
• Size: 8.4 fl oz.
• Skin type: Oily, combination

Glowing customer review: “The Body Acne Wash works great on my skin. It is clearing up my active back and chest acne. I love the subtle smell and it doesn’t dry my skin. I use it daily and so far I don’t have any new breakouts. The nice silver container looks great in my bathroom.”

This pick from Topicals (it’s a 2024 Cosmo Acne Award winner FYI) is far from your average bar soap. It’s a stellar multitasker, and a favorite of beauty editor-at-large Julee Wilson for its ability to fade hyperpigmentation with lactic acid, kojic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin C. If you’re dealing with uneven skin texture and uneven skin tone, this is a must-try IMO.

• Key ingredients: Lactic acid, kojic acid, niacinamide
• Format: Bar
• Size: 3.4 oz.
• Skin type: All

Glowing customer review: “I love this body bar! What I love most is how multi-functional it is, it not only brightens, but it also cleanses without stripping my skin After using it, my skin feels so soft and smooth.”

Many acne body washes are too harsh for your precious face and body, but this Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser from CeraVe (aka the gold standard of drugstore skincare) is the perf balance of gentle and effective for all-over use. The combo of niacinamide, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, alongside 4 percent benzoyl peroxide makes the formula ideal for treating acne while simultaneously hydrating and soothing the skin.

Not to mention, it has more than 25,000 five-star reviews from customers with sensitivity, acne, dryness, and sooo much more. So ya know it’s great for a variety of skin types.

• Key ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide, niacinamide, ceramides
• Format: Liquid
• Size: 8.4 fl oz.
• Skin type: Oily, normal, combination

Glowing customer review: “If you’ve tried other benzoyl peroxide cleansers/washes, this will probably be the best one you’ll find. It’s scentless unlike a lot of others. It also lathers a lot which can feel a nicer on the skin than some of the other non-lathering type cleansers and it doesn’t have that chalky feel.”

Another Cosmo award-winning wash, this body cleanser from iota combats dullness and roughness. It’s also a shower staple for beauty editor Beth Gillette. “I’m obsessed with how soft this makes my skin feel,” she says. “The niacinamide-filled formula helps gently exfoliate and smooth the hell outta my usually bumpy skin without stripping it of any moisture.”

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin D, yuzu
• Format: Gel
• Size: 10 fl oz.
• Skin type: All

Glowing customer review: “With my sensitive skin needs, I’m very picky about what body washes I use. This body wash has been a game changer in my routine. It has a nice leather, lovely smell that’s not too overpowering, and my skin has been left hydrated and glowy.”

This acne-fighting formula is a staple in my shower and it’s loaded with 10 percent benzoyl peroxide to help treat existing acne and prevent new breakouts from forming. It also lathers super well and is great for treating *any* type of body acne.

“I recommend the PanOxyl 4 Percent Benzoyl Peroxide formula for people with mild acne or skin that might be on the dryer side,” says board-certified dermatologist Mamina Turegano, MD, adding “but I will usually recommend this 10 percent version for most patients struggling with acne.”

• Key ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide, glycerin
• Format: Liquid
• Size: 5.5 fl oz.
• Skin type: Oily, combination, normal

Glowing customer review: “I was having trouble with breaking out on my back even with showering, moisturizing, and using benzoyl spot treating cream. I got this and use it almost every day, and after 2 weeks I’m not seeing any more fresh breakouts. I’m super happy with it so far, and I’d recommend using lotion once in awhile as it is drying to the skin.”

Body acne is no match for this super exfoliating wash. The breakout-busting formula is loaded with salicylic and glycolic acids to unclog pores, remove buildup, and eliminate dead skin cells all over the body. The combo of chemical exfoliants targets even the deepest of blackheads and bacne that go beyond the skin’s surface.

And it’s no surprise that this editor-beloved body wash won a Cosmo Acne Award. “The salicylic and glycolic acids help chemically exfoliate the hell out of my skin, but—plot twist—it doesn’t leave me tight or dry post-wash,” says Gillette.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid
• Format: Gel
• Size: 8.4 fl oz.
• Skin type: All

Glowing customer review: Because of the nature of my work, I shower twice a day, so you can imagine the concern I have for drying out my skin. Since I started using this body wash, the look feel, and health of my skin has improved dramatically. And the eucalyptus scent puts me in the right headspace to start my day. I am in love!

The hero ingredient in this body wash for acne is lactic acid, which is loved by derms for its brightening, smoothing, and skin-softening benefits. The exfoliating AHA works to increase cellular turnover and clear bacteria, which is awesome for clearing acne. But the best part about super ingredient lactic acid is that dryness is mitigated due to its humectant properties—i.e., it draws moisture back into your skin. Couple that with another humectant, glycerin, and you get this incredibly effective body wash that treats stubborn acne without the drying, irritating effects other acne products are notorious for.

• Key ingredients: Lactic acid, glycerin, green tea extract
• Format: Liquid
• Size: 5.5 oz
• Skin type: All

Glowing customer review: “I really like this cleanser. It feels amazing and I see a huge difference in my skin. My skin—especially my back and arms—feels so much better. Also, I can see that I have fewer pimples in those areas than before.”

If you have sensitive skin, then you already know that a body wash loaded with strong actives may do your skin more harm than good. That’s where this gentle option from Zitsticka comes into play. It uses a blend of pre-and-postbiotics to balance the bacteria on your skin and strength your skin’s protective barrier. Also great? It has soothing and calming properties to reduce any inflammation associated with body breakouts.

• Key ingredients: Prebiotics and postbiotics, glycerin, tea tree
• Format: Liquid
• Size: 10.4 fl oz.
• Skin type: All

Glowing customer review: “I have tried so many products to make my acne go down and nothing has worked, but after using this product for a week I saw AMAZING RESULTS—worth every penny.”

Anyone who is into clean, green beauty will love this body wash from Naturium. It’s made with salicylic acid to treat and prevent body bumps and breakouts and high-quality plant-based oils to moisturize and soothe skin. Plus, it’s vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and paraben-free.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycerin, safflower seed oil
• Format: Gel
• Size: 16.9 fl oz.
• Skin type: All

Glowing customer review: “I’m a huge fan of Naturium Products and this one didn’t disappoint. I have sensitive skin, and this body wash doesn’t bother me at all. As a matter of fact, my skin loves it. What I love the most is that it doesn’t leave a film like some do on my skin. If you’re on the fence, give it a shot!”

I love the feel of a rich, creamy body wash, but most don’t rinse clean and end up clogging my pores. Differin’s drugstore body wash is the exception. It feels super luxe and lathers *just* the right amount—plus it’s spiked with 2 percent salicylic acid to deep-clean skin and get rid of excess oil and buildup without causing irritation.

• Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, blue tansy extract
• Format: Cream
• Size: 10 fl oz.
• Skin type: Oily, combination

Glowing customer review: “I get upper back and shoulder acne from time to time and whenever it pops up I start using this and it goes down almost immediately—a genuine miracle-worker.”