Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel for dry sensitive skin
Benzoyl Peroxide 25mg G
Docusate Sodium
Carbomer 940
Glycerin
Silicon Dioxide
Caution
- CautionDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry sensitive skin; the serums alongside fit it better.
- The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your dry and sensitive skin, as benzoyl peroxide helps reduce acne lesions but can be drying without sufficient humectants like glycerin to counteract this effect.
- The formula lacks adequate moisturizing ingredients to fully support your dry skin type, potentially leading to increased dryness or flakiness.
How to apply
- Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
- Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsUsers find this gel highly effective for mild to moderate acne, especially for sensitive skin. It frequently clears breakouts and reduces inflammation, though it commonly causes dryness and peeling, necessitating diligent moisturizing. The data is based on a large amount of reviews and should be taken into account.
Highlights
Effective acne clearance Mostly Mentioned
- “cleared up my skin”
- “zits disappeared”
- “pimple passed quickly”
- “acne gone within a month”
Dryness and peeling Mostly Mentioned
- “dried my face a lot”
- “peeling like mad”
- “skin felt sandy”
- “flakiness around mouth”
Fast acting results Often Mentioned
- “results in 2 days”
- “overnight reduction”
- “gone within 48 hours”
- “cleared within a week”
Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “didn't burn my face”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “no pain or itchiness”
- “mild enough for daily use”
Initial purging phase Sometimes Noted
- “broke out first”
- “worse before better”
- “purging period”
- “more pimples initially”
Redness and irritation Sometimes Noted
- “swollen red face”
- “burning sensation”
- “chemical burn”
- “itchy and red”
Controls excess oil Rarely Noted
- “less oily throughout day”
- “absorbs excess oil”
- “matte finish”
- “reduced shine”
Bleaching fabrics Rarely Noted
- “bleached my pillowcase”
- “stained my towel”
- “ruined my shirt”
- “bleaching agent”
Sources: lovi.care, chemistwarehouse.com.au, 1mg.com, acne.org, productreview.com.au, pickyskincare.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Benzac AC 2.5% Acne Gel for dry sensitive skin?
This gel is a poor match for dry sensitive skin because benzoyl peroxide can cause extra dryness, and the formula lacks enough moisturizing ingredients to prevent flakiness. A treatment for this skin needs plenty of hydrating ingredients and barrier support to keep skin smooth and comfortable without irritation.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this gel a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
Benzoyl Peroxide makes this gel a poor fit because it can be drying, and the formula lacks enough moisturizing ingredients like glycerin to support dry sensitive skin. A product of this type needs rich hydrating and nourishing ingredients, ceramides, and vitamins to provide moisture, protect the skin barrier, and prevent irritation.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Benzoyl Peroxide do for dry sensitive skin?
Benzoyl peroxide is generally a poor fit for dry sensitive skin because it frequently causes irritation and dryness. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients like ceramides and gentle moisturizers to protect the skin barrier and minimize dryness and redness.
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, 2015Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What does Docusate Sodium do for dry sensitive skin?
Docusate Sodium helps dry sensitive skin feel soft and smooth by holding onto moisture and easing rough spots. It is unlikely to irritate easily, making it gentle enough for everyday use. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients and gentle hydrators to keep delicate skin comfortable.
Where does this gel go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing, but it is a poor match for dry sensitive skin because it can cause dryness and flakiness. A product of this type for this skin needs plenty of hydrating ingredients like glycerin to keep the skin comfortable and smooth.
Can I use this gel with retinol, and in what order?
Using this gel with retinol is a poor match for your dry and sensitive skin because combining them may easily cause severe dryness and irritation. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients and extra moisture from humectants like glycerin and barrier-supporting hydrators to keep your skin comfortable.
How often should I use this gel?
You should use this gel once a week in the evening routine, as benzoyl peroxide helps reduce acne but may cause extra dryness or flakiness on dry and sensitive skin. To comfortably manage breakouts on this skin type, a product needs gentle active ingredients paired with rich hydrating components like glycerin.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this gel clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This gel is unlikely to clog pores, but it may cause an initial purging phase along with increased dryness, peeling, or irritation on dry sensitive skin. A product of this type needs richer moisturizing ingredients and more hydrating agents to properly support and comfort this skin type.
Is this gel fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical benzoyl peroxide may improve acne more effectively than placebo or no treatment, while showing little to no difference compared with adapalene or clindamycin, but with an increased risk of treatment discontinuation due to adverse effects compared to placebo.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Once-daily fixed-dose clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1%/adapalene 0.15% gel achieved superior treatment success (52.5%) and greater reductions in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions compared to vehicle (8.1%) and dyad component gels in participants with moderate-to-severe acne over 12 weeks.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022Topical clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/adapalene 0.15%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1% gel achieved significantly greater treatment success and lesion reductions compared to vehicle in participants with moderate-to-severe acne.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023Topical chloramphenicol-betamethasone combined with sodium hyaluronate/trehalose/carbomer gel compared to chloramphenicol-betamethasone alone reduced most subjective symptoms at 1 week but increased blurred vision at 4 weeks following strabismus surgery in 31 patients, with no significant differences in conjunctival inflammation between treatments.
Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2019Incorporating nanoemulsions into hydrogels with increasing Carbopol 934 proportions from 1% to 3% progressively decreased the percutaneous flux rates of terbinafine and citral, increased drug accumulation in the stratum corneum while decreasing it in the epidermis/dermis compared to nanoemulsions alone, and shifted delivery routes from skin appendages to intercellular paths.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2016Topical liquiritin carbomer gel treatment restored skin barrier function, increased barrier proteins and antioxidant enzymes, and decreased inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in a mouse model of glucocorticoid-induced skin inflammation.
Pharmaceutics, 2024The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012A functional cosmetic cream containing bioactive materials from Streptomyces sp. T65 embedded in SBA-15 decreased skin roughness by 4.670% and increased skin brightness by 0.472% after 4 weeks of application, while demonstrating antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-aging, and whitening activities.
Antioxidants, 2020Film-forming formulations containing porous silica achieved skin permeation rates comparable to immediate release formulations while confirming prolonged drug availability and causing no skin irritation in healthy volunteers.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2017Topical treatment with silica mud and microalgae extracts from the Blue Lagoon improved skin barrier function by inducing epidermal gene expression and reducing transepidermal water loss in healthy humans, while preventing skin aging markers in vitro.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008
Ingredients
Benzoyl Peroxide 25 Mg G, Docusate Sodium, Disodium Edetate, Poloxamer 182, Carbomer 940, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Glycerin, Silicon Dioxide, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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