Benzyl Peroxide (10%) W/V

BEN

6/10

Concern level

Moderate concern

Benzoyl peroxide is a topical acne active that exerts comedolytic and antibacterial effects and is used in OTC acne products at 2.5% to 10%. It is not a cosmetic-only ingredient in the U.S.; it is regulated as an OTC acne drug active. ([accessdata.fda.gov](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/omuf/Order/Final%20Administrative%20Order%20OTC000013_M006-Topical%20Acne%20drug%20products%20for%20OTC%20Human%20Use.pdf))

Pore-clogging

Non-comedogenic

Pregnancy

Safe

Regulatory

No data

Benefits

Controls Oil ProductionAcne-fightingAntiseptic

Chemical Properties

Molecular Weight

242.23 g/mol

Typical Concentration

2.50% - 10.00%

CAS Number: 94-36-0

Skin Type Compatibility

dry skin4/10

oily skin8/10

sensitive skin2/10

acne prone9/10

mature skin4/10

normal skin6/10

Interactions

incompatible with: retinoids if skin is highly irritated, other strong exfoliants (AHA/BHA) if barrier is compromised, topical irritants and over-cleansing

Risks & Warnings

Commonly causes dryness, peeling, erythema, and irritant dermatitis; can also rarely trigger allergic contact dermatitis. FDA testing has also highlighted benzene contamination concerns in some benzoyl peroxide acne products, which is a manufacturing/quality issue rather than an intrinsic skin effect. ([pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Benzoyl-Peroxide?utm_source=openai))

Vegan Cruelty-Free

Found In Products

AcneFree