Dermatologists Love These Acne-Fighting Face Washes

If you have acne prone skin, you already know that you need to be picky when it comes to choosing the right products—sometimes it seems like almost anything can cause a flare up. Luckily, there's no shortage of options for those with pimples, from lightweight BB creams to acne serums that treat active breakouts to moisturizers that hydrate oily skin without leaving it feeling greasy. And of course, you've heard all about the tried-and-true acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide and their incredible skin-clearing powers.

But the very first step in your skincare routine and, arguably, the most basic, can have a profound effect on whether or not you experience breakouts (or get blackheads), dermatologists say. "If you have acne, the goal of a cleanser is to remove soiling from the skin without compromising the integrity of the skin barrier," says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research at The Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Dermatology. "One of the biggest mistakes that people with acne make is over-scrubbing. This disrupts the outer skin layer, leads to dryness and irritation, and makes acne treatment even more difficult."

Here, Zeichner and other dermatologists offer their top picks for the best acne-fighting face washes. There's one to suit every preference, whether you like a foaming cleanser or a cream. Looking for great drugstore options? We've got those too.