Benzoyl Peroxide

EU max concentration: 0.7% (after mixing for use)

EU conditions: For professional use only
Avoid skin contact
Read directions for use carefully

📊 Comedogenicity

0/5

📚 Research & Evidence

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

• Ascorbic Acid (info): Benzoyl peroxide is a strong oxidiser and L-ascorbic acid is readily oxidised by peroxides (oxidation of ascorbic acid by hydrogen peroxide is well characterised), so co-application can oxidise and inactivate the vitamin C. No BPO-specific stability study exists — this is a mechanistic, oxidation-chemistry caveat, not a clinically measured interaction. Separate into AM/PM if using L-ascorbic acid. Stable derivatives (e.g. sodium ascorbyl phosphate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) are far less affected.
• Retinol (caution): Benzoyl peroxide oxidatively degrades retinoids when co-applied. The retinoid + BPO + light combination drove >50% degradation of tretinoin in ~2 h and ~95% in 24 h; retinol shares the oxidation-prone polyene structure and is converted along the same retinoic-acid pathway, so BPO blunts its efficacy. Apply at separate times of day (retinoid PM, BPO AM) or alternating days. Adapalene is the BPO-stable retinoid for same-routine combination.
• RETINAL (caution): Benzoyl peroxide oxidatively degrades retinoids when co-applied. The retinoid + BPO + light combination drove >50% degradation of tretinoin in ~2 h and ~95% in 24 h; retinaldehyde is the direct one-step precursor of retinoic acid and shares the same oxidation-prone polyene structure, so BPO blunts its efficacy. Apply at separate times of day (retinoid PM, BPO AM) or alternating days. Adapalene is the BPO-stable retinoid for same-routine combination.

🧴 Products Containing Benzoyl Peroxide

• Mentholatum Aust. Pty Ltd Oxy 5
• Clean & Clear Clean & Clear Persa Gel 10 Acne Treatment
• Proactiv Renewing Cleanser
• CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser