6 Reasons to Make Benzoyl Peroxide Your New Go-To Treatment For Maskne

Published on 11/13/2020 at 12:15 PM

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When it comes to fighting breakouts, there's no shortage of acne treatments to help. But, while different products aid in different ways (from exfoliating dead skin cells to reducing oil production), there's one ingredient that actually blocks bacterial growth from the start: benzoyl peroxide. That means, if your face is breaking out due to germs or other irritation from a protective face mask, you could be in luck, as this solution quickly penetrates skin and gets to work immediately, attacking acne-causing bacteria to treat and prevent pimples.

We picked out six products from Sephora that feature concentrations of this bacteria-banishing ingredient all the way up to 10 percent, including cleansers and lotions. Say hello to benzoyl peroxide and goodbye to blemishes — because your maskne doesn't stand a chance.

Proactiv Skin-Smoothing Exfoliator

With a 4.8-star average rating (and 97 percent of Sephora shoppers who purchased this ready to recommend it to others), this Proactiv Skin-Smoothing Exfoliator ($48) is a popular cleanser that uses tiny beads and glycolic acid to remove dirt, sweat, makeup, dead cells, and other impurities. Plus, its 2.5-percent benzoyl peroxide concentration tackles existing and future breakouts with humectants also inside so skin stays soft and moisturized.

Proactiv Skin-Smoothing Exfoliator

From

$48

Kate Somerville Anti Bac Acne Clearing Lotion

This Kate Somerville Anti Bac Acne Clearing Lotion ($42) has a five-percent benzoyl-peroxide solution that reduces the appearances of blemishes, blackheads, and enlarged pores, while also absorbing excess oil. Several reviewers note that it's not overly drying on skin and can be especially useful with maskne.

Kate Somerville Anti Bac Acne Clearing Lotion

From

$42

Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief

This noncomedogenic Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief ($20) is best used as a spot treatment, so dab it directly on your problem spots. The five-percent benzoyl peroxide is in a microcrystal form, so the formula can easily penetrate (and unclog) pores while targeting acne-causing bacteria, too.

Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief

From

$20

Dr. Zenovia Skincare 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cleanser

This Dr. Zenovia Skincare 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cleanser ($30) has a stronger — 10 percent — dose of benzoyl peroxide, plus bakuchiol and resveratrol to reduce excess sebum. Not only does the face wash visibly reduce the appearance of existing breakouts (and reduce future ones), there's also medical-grade aloe vera inside to soothe hormonally imbalanced skin at the same time.

Dr. Zenovia Skincare 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cleanser

From

$30

Proactiv Pore Targeting Treatment

This Proactiv Pore Targeting Treatment ($60) has a 2.5-percent concentration of benzoyl peroxide, but comes in a gel form instead of a cream. It finishes nongreasy, and adds in glycerin to help skin stay hydrated and better retain moisture moving forward.

Proactiv Pore Targeting Treatment

From

$60

Proactiv Renewing Cleanser

There's a smaller amount of benzoyl peroxide (2.5 percent) in this Proactiv Renewing Cleanser ($25) alongside soothing chamomile and moisturizing hyaluronic acid. That means while tiny exfoliating beads remove dead skin cells and eliminate acne-causing bacteria, skin stays calm, supple, and hydrated.

Proactiv Renewing Cleanser

From

$25