Home / Ingredients / Benzoyl Peroxide

Ingredient · INCI listed

Benzoyl Peroxide

The most effective over-the-counter acne ingredient, killing the bacteria behind breakouts without breeding resistance. Genuinely powerful at 2.5–5%, but drying and prone to bleaching fabric — lower strengths often work as well with less irritation.

Evidence — Well-established

Data summary

Products containing

15

Most common in

8 products

cleansers

Typical pairing

Glycerin

Evidence level

Well-established. 2.5% is nearly as effective as 10% with significantly less irritation. Can be used as a short-contact therapy (wash off after 2-5 minutes) to minimize dryness while maintaining efficacy.

View 15 products with benzoyl peroxide →

Alex Brufsky Founder & Editor

Analysis by DermFND · Methodology

Verified reviewer

In the catalog

Benzoyl Peroxide by the numbers.

Benzoyl Peroxide appears in 15 products across the DermFND catalog, and it's strongly concentrated in cleansers — 8 products, 53% of where it shows up. Those products average a 69/100 formulation score — above the catalog norm — topping out with CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser at 81/100.

2 formulas containing benzoyl peroxide clear our 80/100 standout threshold. Its most frequent formulation partners are Glycerin (7 shared formulas) and Panthenol (5 shared formulas). The median price of a benzoyl peroxide product here is $21.

Where it shows up

benzoyl peroxide across the catalog.

cleansers 8 treatments 7

15 products with benzoyl peroxide

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser with 4% Benzoyl Peroxide white tube on white background

Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser

Gentle BPO Workhorse

Dr Zenovia 5 percent Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Spot Treatment 1 oz tube

5% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Spot Treatment

Spot Treatment Pick

PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash 4% Benzoyl Peroxide white tube

Acne Creamy Wash 4% Benzoyl Peroxide

Derm Gold Standard

White tube of Dr. Zenovia Clear Complexion 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cleanser

Clear Complexion Acne Cleanser

Maximum BP, Minimum Strip

PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash 10% Benzoyl Peroxide blue and white tube

Acne Foaming Wash 10% Benzoyl Peroxide

Maximum Strength Acne Killer

Rodan + Fields Unblemish Dual Intensive Acne Treatment benzoyl peroxide lotion bottle

Unblemish Dual Intensive Acne Treatment

Barrier-Buffered BPO

PCA Skin BPO 5% Cleanser in a white professional squeeze tube

BPO 5% Cleanser

Derm-Office Acne Workhorse

PanOxyl Antimicrobial Hydrating Acne Creamy Wash with 4% Benzoyl Peroxide in a white squeeze

Antimicrobial Hydrating Acne Wash

Derm-Trusted Acne Wash

Neutrogena Stubborn Acne AM Treatment with 2.5% Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide

Stubborn Acne AM Treatment 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide

Dermatologist-Backed Daily Fighter

Differin Daily Deep Cleanser with 5% Benzoyl Peroxide, white squeeze tube, 4 fl oz

Daily Deep Cleanser

Acne Starter Kit Essential

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment white tube

Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment

Breakout Emergency Kit

Paula's Choice CLEAR Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide

CLEAR Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide

Evidence-Based Acne Essential

Clean & Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser 10% Benzoyl Peroxide 5 oz white and blue tube

Continuous Control Acne Cleanser 10% Benzoyl Peroxide

Discontinued Budget Acne Fighter

Image Skincare Clear Cell Medicated Acne Lotion in a white tube with green Clear Cell branding

Clear Cell Medicated Acne Lotion

Professional Acne Fighter

Proactiv Solution 3-Step System acne treatment kit with cleanser toner and treatment

Solution 3-Step System

Often paired with.

Co-occurs in 7 products

Glycerin

593 total products

Co-occurs in 5 products

Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5)

572 total products

Co-occurs in 4 products

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)

798 total products

Co-occurs in 3 products

Dimethicone

105 total products