Calling all beauty lovers, a new trending skin care ingredient has entered the chat: Hypochlorous acid.
Well, it's not technically new — it's actually been used in skin and cleaning products (yes, you read that correctly) for a while. But more recently, beauty products featuring the ingredient have taken off on TikTok as a way to keep breakouts at bay and reduce skin inflammation.
But like all trends, we had to turn to the experts to get real insights into whether the ingredient lives up to the hype. Keep reading to discover their thoughts.
What is hypochlorous acid?
Let's start with the science: According to Dr. Nava Greenfield, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, hypochlorous acid is a weak acid, "formed when a chemical reaction takes place between water and chloride."
Hypochlorous acid is an inorganic compound and it has antimicrobial properties, says Dr. Daniel Friedmann, a dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas.
For that reason, it's also used in cleaning products, like surface cleaners. But don't let that scare you — Greenfield says that while it's the same compound, it's diluted when used in beauty products to make it safe for the skin.
What does hypochlorous acid do for your skin?
According to Friedmann, hypochlorous acid can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi on the skin, "making it an excellent disinfectant." Because of this, it can help reduce bacteria on the skin, decreasing breakouts.
Along with its antibacterial properties, it can help balance pH, "especially in skin that is prone to bacterial overload and disrupted skin barrier due to pH imbalance and skin inflammation," Greenfield says. Even though it is an active ingredient, it is considered to be gentle enough for those with sensitive skin. So it may be a good choice for anyone who suffers from conditions like acne or inflammation and who typically can't tolerate harsher ingredients.
It also has been shown to have anti-pruritic properties, Friedmann says, so it may help reduce itching that comes with certain skin conditions.
According to the experts, you can typically find the ingredient in a mix of products, from cleansers and serums to toners and facial sprays. We rounded up some of the top beauty picks featuring hypochlorous acid, below.
Best hypochlorous acid products, according to experts and editors
Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray
- Sooths inflamed skin
- pH-balanced
- Some note "odd" smell
Size: 4 oz. | Key ingredients: Hypochlorous acid
This spray has gone mega-viral on TikTok — in fact, it's so popular that the brand says one bottle is sold every 15 seconds. And according to associate editor Sierra Hoeger, it lives up to the hype. She says that it's a "savior" for her skin.
"If you're anything like me, you're an aggressive face-washer. My skin is naturally red, but especially after washing my face. Using this spray has worked wonders for my skin, as it tones down the redness, and even calms down pimples. I use it twice a day before my moisturizer."
Tower 28 SOS Intensive Rescue Serum
- Safe for all skin types
- Gentle on skin
- Some complain about bottle
Size: 2 oz. | Key ingredients: Ionized water, hypochlorous acid
The brand also makes a serum that features the ingredient. Greenfield likes the formula because it is designed for those with sensitive skin. Plus, she says it "reduces redness, has a very cosmetically appealing texture and hydrates as well as provides antibacterial properties."
Best hypochlorous acid products, according to shoppers
Mario Badescu Repairing Facial Spray With Hypochlorous Acid
- Easily portable
- Can be used on body and face
- Drying for some
Size: 4 oz. | Key ingredients: Hypochlorous acid
Mario Badescu's Repairing Facial Spray is designed to soothe, hydrate and calm irritated skin. It's said to be gentle enough for daily use and can even be used on the face and body, the brand says. One shopper raved that it "Works great and dissolves minor imperfections quickly."
Briotech Topical Skin Spray
- Refillable
- For all-over use
- Complaints about sprayer
Size: 8 oz. | Key ingredients: Hypochlorous acid
This hypochlorous acid spray has more than 7,700 five-star ratings from shoppers who say that it has helped with everything from breakouts to redness and razor bumps.
"Amazing stuff," one shopper wrote. "I use this as part of skin care on a freshly washed face and it does help with redness, but the real magic is when I use it after the gym. I can wear light makeup to the gym, and if I don’t feel like re-washing my face afterward, a quick spray of this stuff a few times throughout the day keeps me from breaking out. Also spray it on my chest and under my arms where I always get a heat rash post-workout, and it seriously diminishes it if not completely takes it away."
Frequently asked questions
According to Greenfield, the ingredient can sometimes cause dryness. But that can be countered by pairing it with other hydrating ingredients or products.
Some people have claimed that spritzing the ingredient on your underarms may help with odor — and it may actually be true.
"If the underarm odor is caused by excessive bacterial load on the skin then reducing the bacterial load through using this ingredient may help with the odor," Greenfield says.
How we chose
We asked both experts and editors to share their recommendations for products featuring hypochlorous acid. Additionally, to pick the shopper favorites, we looked at various products on the market that feature the ingredient and found a handful with hundreds (or even thousands) of five-star reviews and an average rating of at least 4.5 stars.
Meet our experts
- Dr. Daniel Friedmann, MD, is a dermatologist and phlebologist at Westlake Dermatology's Austin, Texas location. He is the clinical research director of the Westlake Dermatology Clinical Research Center. He has been involved in clinical trials for the treatment of various conditions, such as abnormal leg veins, aging hands, hair regrowth and more.
- Dr. Nava Greenfield, MD, is a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City. She is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, Women’s Dermatologic Society and the American Medical Association.
