Acne Care
Acne is a common skin condition that manifests itself in various forms, each with its unique characteristics and causes. It is not restricted to age or facial acne. Understanding the different types of ingredient solutions can help in selecting the most effective products for your anti-acne skincare routines.

MAXIMUM-STRENGTH ANTI-ACNE BAR
With 10% Benzoyl Peroxide
Provides maximum treatment of moderate to severe acne. Stable in the bar at 40 °C up to 5 months, and at 30 °C for 3 years, verified through an external lab. Perfect for travel, gym, and at-home use. The mild syndet formulation has a low pH of 4.5-5.5.
Benefits
- Effectively treats moderate to mild acne
- Proven time-tested acne-fighting results
- Naturally occurring mineral
- Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and keratolytic
ANTI-ACNE BAR
With 1% Salicylic Acid
Provides effective daily treatment of mild to moderate acne. Perfect for face and body use, it is formulated with a syndet base that is gentle on the skin. The bar has a low pH of 4.5 to 5.5. It is also available in a vegetable soap base upon request.
Benefits
- Effectively treats mild to moderate acne
- Exfoliating, hydrating, and anti-inflammatory
- Low pH formulation
- Also available in a stick format
NATURAL ANTI-ACNE BAR
With 5% Sulfur
Provides effective daily treatment of mild to moderate acne. This bar is formulated in a vegetable base for brands that want a more natural product positioning. It contains odor-blocking ingredients minimize sulfur scent that limits malodor and contains an additional odor-blocking ingredient.
Benefits
- Effectively treats moderate to mild acne
- Proven time-tested acne-fighting results
- Naturally occurring mineral
- Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and keratolytic
Innovation Spotlight
Bradford is one of the world's only manufacturers to create a stable, anti-acne bar with 10% Benzoyl Peroxide. This ingredient is sensitive to light, temperature, and processing. It needs to be handled with care. After several years of R&D development, Bradford is proud to offer a 5%-10% BPO bar soap with over 3 years of shelf life. Contact us to discuss how we can customize this for your brand.
ANTI-ACNE FACIAL CLEANSER
With 1% Salicylic Acid
Provides effective daily treatment of mild to moderate acne. Perfect for targeted face and body use, including T-zone application. Formulated with a syndet base that is gentle on the skin. Bar has a low pH of 4.5 to 5.5. Also available in vegetable soap base upon request. It is mess-free and portable for travel. Available in different sizes.
Benefits
- Effectively treats mild to moderate acne
- Great for targeted application
- Exfoliating, hydrating, and anti-inflammatory
- Low pH formulation
- Also available in a bar format

Common Acne Prevention Questions
Q1. What causes breakouts?
Acne appears when several factors combine to clog the skin's pores and trigger inflammation.
The main causes include:
- Excess Sebum Production
- Clogged Hair Follicles
- Bacterial Overgrowth
- Hormonal Fluctuations
- Stress
- Diet (Sugar and Processed Foods)
- Oily Products
- Pollution
Q2. How long does it take for acne treatments to work?
The time can vary depending on the severity of acne, the type of acne, and the individual's skin. The important thing is to find the right products and anti-acne routine that works for you. Over-the-counter remedies such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and sulfur generally take 4-8 weeks to see results.
Q3. Is acne care effective in bar soap?
Yes, soap is a very effective and convenient way to treat acne when it includes FDA-approved acne-fighting ingredients. The FDA will only approve OTC (over-the-counter) remedies when there is sufficient data to prove efficacy. Depending on the severity of your acne, you may need to try soap containing different anti-acne ingredients, including sulphur, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide, to determine what works best for your acne breakout.
Q4. Can we change formulations to match brand identity?
Any changes to the formulation would require full stability, so we would provide you with a timeline and quote for the scope of that work. Yes, the bar size, shapes, and packaging can all be changed with minor OTC method validation against those changes.
Q5. Can acne products dry out my skin?
They absolutely can! However, knowing the severity of your acne will help you select the ingredients and frequency at which you should use your products.
- For example, Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) is used for moderate to severe acne. It is recommended to use it only 2-3 times a week. Avoid using it every day, as it can create redness and irritation.
- Salicylic acid and sulfur are slightly milder, but you should still monitor your skin to ensure you are not causing dryness or irritation. If this occurs, cease use for a few days and then resume the treatment.
- Note that anti-acne ingredients in a syndet formulation are milder than in a traditional soap because of its lower pH. If you are experiencing skin sensitivity, you can switch to a bar that has sodium cocoyl isethionate as the primary ingredient rather than sodium palmate or sodium tallowate.
- The ingredients are designed to remove oils from the skin and break down dirt in your pores, so dryness can sometimes result. Some factors to consider when using these ingredients are increased sun sensitivity, so don't forget to use sunblock!
Anti-Acne Ingredient Comparison
Benzoyl Peroxide | Salicylic Acid | Sulfur | |
Approved Monograph Percentage |
2.5%- 10% | 0.5% - 2% | 3% - 10% |
Benefits |
|
|
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Usage | A few times a week. | Daily | Daily |
For over 140 years, Bradford has excelled in the formulation and production of solid cleansing products focusing on bar soap. In 2017, we expanded our product offering to include a full range of personal care products that contain little or no water, use less packaging, have a lower carbon footprint, and require little or no preservatives. Our formulations are created with sustainability as a core attribute. Whenever possible, we use sustainably-sourced ingredients with an EWG-rating less than 3. Bradford strives to achieve zero waste by donating residual soap from the production process to charities in the United States and globally.