CeraVe
Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Step 1 · morning and nightThe default first product. Cleans without stripping, and leaves ceramides behind instead of taking them away.
approx. $16View details
Photo: Open Beauty Facts, CC BY-SA 3.0
Our pickPaula's Choice
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
The one active worth adding early if your skin is oily or you get blocked pores. Not daily. Not at the start.
approx. $35
Available at 3 shops. Compare them and choose whichever works best for you.
Prices are a guide only, last checked August 2026, and they change often. Amazon prices are never shown here. Always check the price at the shop before buying.Affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you buy, generally at no additional cost to you.Best for
Blocked pores, blackheads, and skin that feels bumpy rather than looks broken out.
Skip if
Your skin is already tight, red or flaking. An acid on a damaged barrier makes both worse. Fix that first.
Why it made the list
It is the reference product in its category, and the one active worth adding once cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen are running steadily. Not before.
What it does
Salicylic acid is oil soluble, and that is the entire point: it can get inside a pore that is blocked with oil, where a water based product just sits on the surface. This particular one has been the reference product in the category for years, which is why it costs more than the drugstore versions. The mistake almost everyone makes is starting daily. Too much too fast irritates the skin, the skin goes red and flaky, and it looks like the product failed when the opposite happened.
What it will not do
Not a spot treatment for one pimple tonight, and useless against dryness. If your skin is already tight and flaky, fix that first and come back in three weeks.
How to use it
Evening, on clean dry skin, before moisturiser. Twice a week for the first fortnight, three if your skin is fine with it. Sunscreen the next morning is not optional with any active.
Key ingredients
Salicylic acid at 2 percent in a liquid base. Higher percentages are not better here, they are just harsher.
Alternatives
For spots on the back and shoulders rather than the face, the CeraVe SA Body Wash uses the same active in a milder form.
Researched, not personally testedSelected from published information and product data, not from personal use.Last reviewed August 2026
More in Skin
CeraVe
Foaming Facial Cleanser
Step 1 · morning and nightThe same idea as the hydrating one, but it actually foams. For skin that looks shiny by midday.
approx. $17View details
La Roche-Posay
Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Step 2 · after cleansingA widely recommended everyday moisturiser. Boring, cheap, and the step most men skip.
approx. $24View details
CeraVe
PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Step 2 · if cream feels heavySame job as a cream, much lighter feel. The answer if moisturiser has always made your face look greasy.
approx. $18View details