Sulphur in Skincare: Best Products for Acne Prone Skin

Background to Sulphur in Skincare

Sulphur in skincare is not a novel ingredient – in fact, it’s been around for decades. It does seem to be having an increase in popularity of late though, with a wider selection of products becoming available targeting acne or rosacea prone skin. Is it safe though and what are the potential side effects if any. Ultimately, is it worth spending any money on when there are so many fantastic skincare ingredients available.

In this post, I’ll cover what sulphur does for skin, where to find it, and my experiences (both good and bad) of testing sulphur skincare products.

Who Are Sulphur Skincare Products For?

Products containing sulphur are usually recommended for targeting acne or rosacea prone skin. Depending on the concentration of the Sulphur it can have an antibacterial and antifungal effect as well as softening keratin and breaking down dead skin cells.

It is generally well tolerated but some people do find it causes dryness, itching, irritation or contact allergy. As with anything it is best to start cautiously by applying it to a small area and checking for any sensitivity, before using the product more liberally.

Where to Buy Sulphur Skincare

Whilst the range of sulphur products is increasing there are still relatively few on the market compared to other skincare ingredients such as niacinamide which seem to b everywhere. I have bought mine online so far from Amazon. Price is a bit of a sticking point as these products are generally a bit costly in my opinion so hopefully I can help narrow the choice down so you can find the best product for your skincare needs.

What Sulphur Formulations are Available?

Sulphur appears in different product formats, each with pros and cons:

• Cleansers – often cheaper but may not stay on the skin long enough to be effective.
• Creams/Spot Treatments – more targeted, can be very effective but sometimes smelly and more likely to irritate.
• Powders– newer to the market, these transform from a powder to a cream on rubbing
• Bar Soaps – often more affordable than other products but may be drying

Tried and Tested: Recommendations

Here’s my personal experience with different sulphur-based products. My skin type: rosacea-prone with mild hormonal acne.

Clever Soap 3% Sulphur Face Wash (£9.99 / 200ml)

In my hunt for a cheaper alternative I purchased the Clever Soap 3% Sulphur face wash off Amazon. It seemed good value for the amount and I was hoping it would be a good dupe for the much more expensive Kate Somerville product. Reviews are polarised on Amazon, many customers loved it but some really hated it. 

• My Verdict: I was in the hate category unfortunately. This did nothing at all for my rosacea and the texture was horrible. Despite shaking it vigorously, it still had a lumpy curdled consistency which didnt apply well to my face. On the plus side it did not smell too bad and it did not irritate my skin. I hate to waste products but this got tipped down the sink after a few weeks of perservering. 

Kate Somerville Eradikate Daily Foaming Cleanser (£16 / 30ml)

• My Verdict: I didn’t purchase this because foaming cleansers usually irritate my skin, and the price felt very steep for the size of product. I will say though it has been around a long time and gets good reviews. This year it won an Allure beauty award (best foaming face cleanser for acne) so if you don’t mind the price it could be a great option to try. 

Vichy Normaderm S.O.S Anti-Blemish Sulphur Paste (around £15 / 20ml)

• My Verdict: I deliberated a very long time before buying this as its a tiny tube for the price. Its absolutely fantastic though and has lasted me ages. It has 10% sulphur, niacinamide and glycolic acid in it and it recommends you to apply it at night. I use a tiny dab on hormonal spots as soon as they appear. I dont leave it on longer than 5-10 minutes as my skin starts to feel a bit irritated if I do. It works really well to calm inflammation and dry up spots. The smell is not great but not a deal breaker and because it is so effective I would not be without this in my skincare kit. I have noticed on my photo that this tube is now out of date it has lasted so long! To be honest its still working fine so I won’t replace it until its empty.

The Ordinary Sulphur 10% Powder-to-Cream Concentrate (£6.40 / 15g)

• My Verdict: I haven’t personally tried this yet, but it’s an intriguing option at an enticing price point. It comes in powder form and when it is rubbed between your fingers it transforms into a cream texture. Whilst it dries translucent, I am not sure if dispensing the poweder could be messy? Would I give up my believed Vichy cream in favour of this? I am not sure but given that the price is so appealing and the review are good I think I may be trying this out in the near future. I spotted this in a larger Boots store.

Final Verdict: Is Sulphur Skincare Worth It?

If you have acne prone skin or mild rosacea I would definitely considering incorporating a Sulphur based product into your regimen. It may not be something you use daily but is hand to have for flare ups or emergency spot treatment. I would not advise multiple different products so either a cleanser or a treatment cream rather than using both,

For me, sulphur creams are far more effective than washes. They stay on the skin longer, target spots directly, and give noticeable results. The main drawbacks are the smell and potential irritation, so go slowly with it and perhaps don’t put it on before going on a date!

If you’re on a budget, The Ordinary’s sulphur powder could be a good place to start. If you’re willing to spend a little more, I wholeheartedly recommend the Vichy paste.