The 17 Best Beta Hydroxy Acid Products for Balancing Oily Complexions

Got an inflamed breakout that won't seem to calm down? Then slap one of Peace Out's Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots on it. This hydrocolloid-based acne sticker works overnight to kill blemish-causing bacteria and reduce the look of breakouts by morning, thanks to a trio of salicylic acid, soothing aloe vera, and collagen-stimulating vitamin A (also known as retinol).

Cetaphil's Gentle Clear Cleanser has Dr. Sobel's stamp of approval for its acne-fighting abilities and non-irritating feel. This mild face wash has a gel-like texture that immediately emulsifies into a sudsy mix of dirt and oil-extracting salicylic acid. Sensitive skin types can proceed without caution because this cleanser is also infused with calming aloe to soothe and moisturize.  

Though we do love a rich, creamy moisturizer, sometimes they can be too heavy for already-oily complexions. But that doesn't mean oilier skin types should ditch face creams altogether — just grab the Herbivore Botanicals Aquarius Pore Purifying Clarity Cream. This game-changing product is infused with willow bark, a natural source of exfoliating salicylic acid, plus antibacterial blue tansy oil, to balance sebum production. And, of course, this cream does moisturize your face with the help of conditioning zinc PCA, which is known for its humectant properties.

This Allure Best of Beauty winner is a skin-care favorite for its high-strength blend of AHAs and BHAs. Slather on the tingly Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial mask once a week to treat your face to a skin-refining cocktail of glycolic, lactic, citric, and salicylic acids, which penetrate the skin at different levels to remove dirt, dead skin, and stubborn makeup festering in your pores.

Yes, you can always buy a separate body wash, but if you're trying to address body acne and breakouts on your face, Dr. Rabach recommends using this wash from head to toe. She notes that the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash is "really good" for targeting blemishes from head to toe due to its 2 percent salicylic acid-based formula.

Instead of a traditional oil-absorbing clay mask and separate spot treatment, First Aid Beauty's Pharma White Clay Acne Treatment Pads act as both. This two-in-one treatment contains 60 pads saturated in kaolin clay and salicylic acid. Each pad provides the pore-unclogging and mattifying benefits of both in just a few simple swipes.

Mona Gohara, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Connecticut, previously told Allure that the 2 percent salicylic acid in this formula "cuts right through the oil in the pores to break up any clogging."

Oily skin types will especially love and appreciate this clay mask's sebum-balancing properties. The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque pairs the mattifying BHAs with clarifying kaolin clay and charcoal to break down and remove dirt and excess oil. Meanwhile, hydrating heavy-hitters like squalane and glycerin work their skin-plumping magic.

Glossier's Solution has evolved into a modern classic for its ability to penetrate and unclog skin at different levels. A trifecta of BHAs, AHAs, and polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) — a chemical that exfoliates the top layer of skin — work in tandem to reveal an even, velvet-smooth finish to your skin.

Awaken your pores with the Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser, a face wash that's infused with a blend of dirt-removing beta hydroxy acids and antibacterial tea tree oil to deeply cleanse your pores. Dry skin types won't have to worry about post-wash tightness with this cleanser either, thanks to the addition of moisturizing primrose oil.

If you're in need of a new cleansing toner, then try this hydrating and declogging option. Buttah Skin's AHA/BHA Rosewater Toner is concocted with a slew of skin-care ingredients to target a variety of skin concerns, like redness and inflammation, at once. Slather this on for a serving of salicylic acid, AHAs, soothing rosewater, calming aloe vera, and the skin barrier-supporting antioxidant vitamin E.

Versed's Keep The Peace Blemish-Calming Cream Cleanser is decadently rich and buttery, but that's not the only reason why we're loving it. This face wash uses salicylic acid to remove dirt, sweat, and oil from pores while blue tansy acts as both an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent to soothe irritated blemishes and calm redness.

Murad's Daily Clarifying Peel may contain an intimidating mixture of AHAs, BHAs, and retinol, but don't worry — it's gentle enough to use nightly, according to the brand. This treatment fuses salicylic and glycolic acids together to brighten and clarify, while the vitamin A-derivative works to smooth fine lines and improve the appearance of your skin's texture. 

If you're worried about using all these active ingredients at once, avocado extract is added to this formula to reduce irritation and prevent your skin from drying out.

Both dry and oily skin types alike will enjoy using The Inkey List's Beta Hydroxy Acid for its dual skin-clearing and hydrating abilities. This serum is infused with salicylic acid to target acne and zinc to mattify, while hyaluronic acid moisturizes and plumps skin.

Let Ole Henriksen's Cold Plunge Pore Mask take a deep dive into your skin to minimize the look and feel of oily skin. On top of its satisfyingly cool feel, this thick clay mask combines salicylic and lactic acids to reduce shine and the look of enlarged pores.

This serum is made specifically with acne-prone skin in mind. Through an intensive pairing of salicylic acid and niacinamide, Caudalie Vinopure Skin Perfecting Serum minimizes the look of enlarged pores while balancing sebum production for a clearer, grease-free complexion.