Best Exfoliants for Acne

Ranked by community + evidence score across 294 mentions on Reddit

Top picks· 10

Reddit’s top pick

Paula's Choice163 mentionsSome evidence

The why

A 2% salicylic acid leave-on exfoliant for clogged pores, blackheads, and texture. Redditors call it a HG for congestion, and studies found salicylic acid helps acne. Sensitive or over-exfoliated skin often hates it.

One minus

Can sting, peel, or wreck the barrier if you overdo it

Good forOily Skin, Sensitive Skin, Combination Skin

Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
2% salicylic acid for clogged pores and blackheads; can be drying.
The Ordinary45 mentionsSome evidence
BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
Gentle 4% BHA for blackheads and clogged pores; stings some skin.
COSRX24 mentionsSome evidence
AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid
Studies found glycolic acid helps acne; Redditors report overnight whitehead wins, with irritation.
COSRX19 mentionsSome evidence
AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
Studies found glycolic and salicylic acids clear acne; Reddit says: handle with care.
The Ordinary13 mentionsSome evidence

Community take

For acne, Redditors most often recommend BHA exfoliants, especially Paula’s Choice 2% BHA, for bumps, whiteheads, closed comedones, and excess sebum. Some report calmer skin and fewer blackheads.

What works

BHA is a recurring recommendation for bumps and whiteheads.
Users report improvement in sebum bumps, pores, and blackheads.
Some say it calms acne-prone areas and softens skin.

Watch out for

Some worry BHA may feel too harsh or cause irritation.
Users caution against combining it with other strong actives.
Some stop BHA while using tretinoin or Finacea.

What the research says about acne ingredients

Strong evidence

1 ingredient

Multiple studies found these worked for acne.

Azelaic Acid
Most studies found it helped clear acne
31 studies

Some evidence

6 ingredients

Some studies found a benefit for acne, but the evidence isn't settled.

Adapalene
Most studies found adapalene helped clear acne
24 studies
Benzoyl Peroxide
Most studies found it helped clear acne better than a placebo or no treatment
23 studies
Glycolic Acid
Most of these studies found it helped clear acne
22 studies
Niacinamide
Most studies found niacinamide helped acne
17 studies
Salicylic Acid
Most studies found salicylic acid helped clear acne
34 studies
Tea Tree Oil
All 6 studies that tested it on its own found it helped acne
11 studies

Not proven yet

4 ingredients

Few or mixed studies. This claim isn't established.

Mandelic Acid
The one study that tested it on its own found it helped acne
6 studies
Retinol
The one study that tested it on its own found it helped acne
4 studies
Sulfur
The one study that tested it on its own found it helped acne
5 studies
Zinc
The results were split, so there is no clear answer yet on whether zinc helps acne
16 studies