Same active, different base. PanOxyl is the low-cost, plain 10% wash. CeraVe wraps benzoyl peroxide in ceramides and niacinamide, at 4% or 10%.
All three washes here use benzoyl peroxide, the over-the-counter ingredient that kills acne bacteria and helps keep pores from clogging. PanOxyl’s Maximum Strength Foaming Wash and CeraVe’s Acne Foaming Cream Wash both contain 10%, the highest strength sold without a prescription. CeraVe’s Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains 4%.
Strength matters more than brand. On your face, 4% is usually enough, and 10% mostly adds dryness and peeling. On your back and chest, where skin is thicker, 10% makes more sense. The base is the second difference. PanOxyl is a simple foaming wash with glycerin and dimethicone. Both CeraVe washes add three ceramides, cholesterol, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to offset some of the dryness. PanOxyl costs the least per ounce of the three.
Which wash to buy
| 10% value pick PanOxyl Maximum Strength Face and Body Acne Wash | VS | 4% face pick CeraVe Four Percent Foaming Acne Cream Cleanser |
|---|---|---|
10% | Benzoyl peroxide |
4% |
Face and body | Labeled use |
Face |
Foaming wash with glycerin, dimethicone, fatty acids | Base |
Creamy foam with glycerin and three ceramides |
None | Added skin support |
Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, cholesterol |
None | Fragrance |
None |
5.5 oz | Tube size |
5 oz |
Lower | Cost per ounce |
Higher |
| View | View |
Strength or formula: what to decide first
First, match the strength to where you break out. On your face, 4% benzoyl peroxide is the sensible place to start. Stepping up to 10% mostly adds dryness, redness and peeling. Your back, chest and shoulders have thicker skin that handles 10% better, so that's where the stronger washes earn their place.
Second, pick the base. PanOxyl is a plain foaming wash: gentle sugar-based cleansers, glycerin, dimethicone and stearic and palmitic acids. Both CeraVe washes share a richer base with glycerin, three ceramides (NP, AP, EOP), cholesterol, phytosphingosine, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, which put back some of what benzoyl peroxide strips. If your skin gets dry or tight easily, that base is worth paying for. If you're oily and rarely dry out, PanOxyl's simpler formula is all you need.
Third, weigh cost. PanOxyl costs the least per ounce of the three and comes in the largest tube, which adds up when you wash your whole back every day. CeraVe's 10% wash costs the most per ounce. Whichever you choose, use one benzoyl peroxide product at a time and keep it off colored towels and pillowcases, since it bleaches fabric.
PanOxyl 10%: the plain, low-cost pick for body acne
10% for face and body, lowest cost per ounce.
PanOxyl’s Maximum Strength Foaming Wash contains 10% benzoyl peroxide, the highest strength you can buy over the counter, and it’s labeled for face and body. The base is simple. Decyl glucoside and a related sugar-based cleanser make the lather, while glycerin, dimethicone and stearic and palmitic acids keep it from feeling harsh. There’s no fragrance and no parabens.
The directions tell you to massage it in for one to two minutes before rinsing. That contact time matters, because benzoyl peroxide needs a moment on your skin to work. Start once a day and go to twice a day only if your skin handles it.
It works best on your back, chest and shoulders. It comes in a 5.5 oz tube and costs the least per ounce here. On your face, 10% is more than most people need, and with no ceramides or niacinamide it can leave dry skin tight and flaky.
- 10% benzoyl peroxide, the maximum over-the-counter strength
- Labeled for face and body
- Largest tube and lowest cost per ounce of the three
- No fragrance or parabens
- No ceramides or niacinamide to offset dryness
- 10% is more than most facial skin needs
- Bleaches towels and dyed fabric
CeraVe 4%: the better wash for your face
Gentler 4% face wash with ceramides and niacinamide.
CeraVe’s Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser contains 4% benzoyl peroxide in a creamy cleanser that lathers lightly. It’s made for the face. Glycerin sits second on the list, and the base adds three ceramides (NP, AP and EOP), cholesterol and phytosphingosine, the lipids your skin barrier is built from. Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid round it out, and there’s no fragrance in the formula.
Lower strength plus barrier ingredients makes this the easiest of the three to use every day. Start here if you’ve never used benzoyl peroxide, if your skin dries out easily, or if you also use a retinoid or adapalene at night. A small amount of glycolic acid sits mid-list, so it isn’t completely free of exfoliants.
It costs more per ounce than PanOxyl and isn’t labeled for body use. For back acne, a 10% wash is the more practical tool.
- 4% benzoyl peroxide, easier on facial skin for daily use
- Three ceramides, cholesterol, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid
- No fragrance in the formula
- Labeled non-comedogenic
- Higher cost per ounce than PanOxyl
- Labeled for the face only
- Contains a little glycolic acid
CeraVe 10%: maximum strength in a gentler base
10% benzoyl peroxide with ceramides, for face and body.
CeraVe’s Acne Foaming Cream Wash is the 4% cleanser’s formula at PanOxyl’s strength. It has 10% benzoyl peroxide and is labeled for face and body. The base nearly matches the 4% version: glycerin, three ceramides, cholesterol, phytosphingosine, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and a little glycolic acid. It’s labeled fragrance-free and non-comedogenic.
Pick it if you need 10% on your back or chest but PanOxyl leaves your skin tight and flaky. It’s also the next step for your face if the 4% cleanser isn’t doing enough after a couple of months. It costs the most per ounce of the three, so if PanOxyl doesn’t dry you out, there’s little reason to pay more.
- 10% benzoyl peroxide with ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid
- Labeled for face and body
- Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic
- Highest cost per ounce of the three
- 10% can still dry out facial skin
- Contains a little glycolic acid
Using a benzoyl peroxide wash
Is 10% benzoyl peroxide better than 4%?
Not for most faces. Going higher mainly brings more dryness, redness and peeling. Start at 4% on your face and save 10% for your back and chest, or for facial acne that hasn’t improved after a couple of months at the lower strength.
How long should I leave the wash on?
Massage it in and leave it for one to two minutes before rinsing. Benzoyl peroxide needs contact time, so a quick splash does less. Start once a day, and move to twice a day only if your skin stays comfortable.
Can I use it with a retinoid or adapalene?
Yes, but split them. Use the benzoyl peroxide wash in the morning and the retinoid or adapalene at night. If your skin is already getting dry, choose the 4% wash, and follow both with moisturizer.
Do I need sunscreen with a benzoyl peroxide wash?
Yes. The directions on all three tell you to apply sunscreen before going outside. If your acne is still active after a few months of steady use, or the wash keeps irritating your skin, see a dermatologist.
All three washes will bleach colored towels, washcloths, pillowcases and shirts. Rinse thoroughly, switch to white towels, and let your back dry fully before you pull on a dark shirt. Keep the lather out of your hair, too.
Choose PanOxyl 10% for back, chest and shoulder acne, or if value comes first. It’s the maximum over-the-counter strength in a simple base, in the biggest tube, at the lowest cost per ounce.
Choose CeraVe 4% for your face. It’s strong enough for most facial acne, and its ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid make it easier to use every day, especially on dry or sensitive skin.
Choose CeraVe 10% if you need maximum strength but PanOxyl dries you out. It pairs 10% benzoyl peroxide with the same barrier-friendly base as the 4% cleanser.
