Think acne is just a teenage problem? Think again. Hormones, stress, and even the wrong skincare products can all trigger breakouts.
Tried countless acne treatments with little success? The real fix might be simpler than you think — your facial wash. Specifically, one that targets acne, like a salicylic acid cleanser that clears dead skin cells and brightens your complexion.
Breaking out? Don’t panic. The Daily Vanity team has rounded up the best acne facial washes to add to your routine.
LY RevitaPūr Face Wash

Don’t be fooled by its jar packaging and cream texture, this is a face wash!
When you first lather on LY’s RevitaPūr Face Wash, you might be surprised by its creamy formulation. It quickly froths into a rich cleansing foam that deeply cleanses your skin without stripping it of its protective barrier.
If you have dry, sensitive, and eczema-prone skin that feels tight after cleansing, this moisturising face wash might be the solution to all your skincare woes. This is backed by a stringent Calcium Influx Test, which is proof of this product’s efficacy!
LY’s innovative UHPP moisturising factor enables retention of moisture up to 50 times its molecule size. It captures moisture from the surrounding air and releases it into your skin during each application, offering your skin intense hydration!
The UHPP moisturising factor also encourages gentle and ethical exfoliation of your skin. This means flawless, radiant skin with consistent usage of this face wash.
Not only does it provide your skin with intense hydration, it also boasts oil control and acne-fighting properties.
Packed with nourishing active ingredients, this multi-functional face wash comes in a jar for a specific reason: to preserve the potency of its active ingredients.
Unlike typical plastic tube packaging, which can subject the active ingredients to heat and degradation during the sealing process, a jar packaging ensures their efficacy remains intact.
The LY RevitaPūr Face Wash retails for S$48 on ly-lifestyle.com, Shopee, and Lazada.
But Better Brighter Beginnings Vitamin C + Refreshing Cleansing Mousse

If you’re looking for a cleanser that prevents acne or works on post-acne skin, this is the cleansing foam of your dream.
Dispensing cloud-like foam that’s gentler on your skin so it won’t irritate acne-prone skin, this cleanser also contains Vitamin C. Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes collagen production so it speeds up healing and reduces the visibility of acne scars.
At the same time, the But Better cleansing foam comes with an attached soft brush that aids exfoliation, removing dead skin cells to prevent acne. Use it with the brush once a week for best results!
But Better Brighter Beginnings Vitamin C + Refreshing Cleansing Mousse retails for S$42 at Shopee.
- Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Energising Foaming Cleanser
- Paula’s Choice Clear Acne Pore Normalizing Cleanser
- Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Purifying Gel
- CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
- KraveBeauty Matcha Heartleaf Hydrating Cleanser
- SENKA Perfect Whip Acne Care Most affordable
- CosRX Low-pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
- Bioderma Sebium H20 Micellar Solution
- Fresh Soy Face Cleanser
- Lush Herbalism Fresh Cleanser
- Pyunkang Yul Acne Facial Cleanser
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Energising Foaming Cleanser

Known as a cult classic among those with acne-prone skin, this acne facial wash from Neutrogena cleanses deep down into your pores. It is effective, gentle, but also doesn’t dry out or irritate skin, making this ideal for even the most sensitive of skin types.
The Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Energising Foaming Cleanser retails for S$18.55 at all Guardian and Watsons outlets.
Paula’s Choice Clear Acne Pore Normalizing Cleanser

Unlike other acne cleansers, the Paula’s Choice Clear Acne Pore Normalizing Cleanser won’t cause dryness, irritation, or flaking. This cleansing gel actually has a silky feel that works quickly to remove excess oil and debris that can clog pores and lead to breakouts. It contains 0.5% of salicylic acid to unclog pores and gently exfoliate your skin each time you cleanse.
Paula’s Choice Clear Acne Pore Normalizing Cleanser retails for S$32 at Paula’s Choice and Sephora.
Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam

A paraben-free, mild cleansing foam that immediately helps to prevent and clear acne, the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam is a favourite among those with acne-prone skin. You can even opt for the whole Clinique Clear Skin System range, which is specially formulated to reduce active blemishes by 37% in just three days!
The Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam retails for S$54 and is available at all Clinique counters.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Purifying Gel

All layers of makeup and oil are thoroughly cleansed with this foaming gel from La Roche-Posay, leaving your skin feeling squeaky clean all whilst balancing and restoring your skin’s pH levels to prevent acne from occurring.
The La Roche-Posay Effaclar Foaming Purifying Gel retails for S$40.05 at all Guardian and Watsons outlets.
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser

If you’re looking for something without any actives, this foaming facial cleanser from CeraVe makes a gentle, affordable option. It’s formulated specifically for normal to oily skin.
It also helps remove excess oil, dirt, and makeup while maintaining the skin’s moisture balance with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides.
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser retails for S$30.90 on Watsons.
KraveBeauty Matcha Heartleaf Hydrating Cleanser

This antioxidant-rich jelly cleanser is as satisfying to use as it is effective. The gel formula creates a silky lather on the skin that lifts away impurities and irritants accumulated during the day.
It uses coconut-based surfactants to deeply cleanse the skin without stripping it of essential moisture. Instead, nourishing matcha restores essential amino acids and antioxidants to the skin, so your acne-prone skin will feel clean, balanced, and hydrated.
Krave Beauty Matcha Heartleaf Hydrating Cleanser retails for S$26 on Sephora.
SENKA Perfect Whip Acne Care Most affordable

SENKA’s Perfect Whip cleanser has remained Japan’s number one facial cleanser for years now, and they also came out with a cleanser for acne-prone skin.
The Perfect Whip Acne Care contains Kyoto chamomile extract, an ingredient that’s unheard of in cleansers before this, which is known for its antibacterial and antioxidant benefits. This ingredient is also responsible for helping skin heal faster and preventing further damage to it.
SENKA Perfect Whip Acne Care retails for S$9.90 on Watsons.
CosRX Low-pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

Gel cleansers have long been a favourite of those with oily, acne-prone skin, and this cleanser from CosRX has been at the top of the list for a long time now. It contains salicylic acid, an active ingredient that deeply cleanses, but is still gentle on the skin.
CosRX Low-pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser retails for S$15.20 at Watsons.
Bioderma Sebium H20 Micellar Solution

Enriched with ultra-purifying active ingredients, this cleanser removes all makeup and impurities gently and effectively. Plus, it also contains sebum controlling properties that make managing acne-prone skin a breeze.
The Bioderma Sebium H20 Micellar Solution retails for S$42.90 at Guardian.
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

Toning, soothing and softening – that’s what the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser promises to do, giving a radiant, healthy complexion without drying out and irritating skin.
The Fresh Soy Face Cleanser retails for S$60 (150ml) on Sephora.
Lush Herbalism Fresh Cleanser

Chock full of natural ingredients – such as nettles, rosemary, and rice bran vinegar – that work great for acne-prone skin, this cleanser from Lush even helps to exfoliate the skin when mixed with water so that dead skin cells don’t accumulate in your pores.
The Lush Herbalism Facial Cleanser is available at all Lush outlets and retails for S$35 for 100g and S$78 for 250g.
Pyunkang Yul Acne Facial Cleanser

Made for acne-prone, sensitive skin, this hypoallergenic facial cleanser from Pyunkang Yul is infused with white willow bark extract to slough away dead skin cells. There’s also forsythia suspensa fruit extract to decrease inflammation and centella asiatica extract to rejuvenate the skin.
Pyunkang Yul Acne Facial Cleanser retails for S$16.27 on Yesstyle.
You may also like these articles:
- 23 best cleansers for combination skin that keep both your T-zone and U-zone happy
- Best acne facials in Singapore that will save your skin during your worst breakouts
- Best extraction facials in Singapore: Treatments from S$30
Featured images from @ayami_yamichan and @nurinsyaaamimi / TikTok
