5% Benzoyl Peroxide Cleansing Bar (non-soap) - Unscented

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT

A full acne treatment, dialed back to where your skin can actually tolerate it.

Most benzoyl peroxide products are sold at 10% because higher has always been marketed as stronger. DermaHarmony's 5% Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) Cleansing Bar takes a different position: it's a full-strength, FDA monograph acne treatment formulated at the concentration clinical research points to as the better everyday choice for most skin — effective against inflammatory acne, without the level of dryness and peeling that drives people to quit 10% treatments in the first few weeks. Think of it as a bar-format alternative to a liquid BPO face wash or BPO cleanser: same active ingredient, same acne-fighting mechanism against blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples — just without the bottle, pump, or filler water. If you'd rather start at the maximum concentration, DermaHarmony also makes a 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Cleansing Bar.

Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is one of five active ingredients recognized as generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) for acne under the FDA's OTC topical acne drug monograph, permitted at 2.5% to 10% concentration. It works by reducing the population of acne-causing bacteria on the skin and helping clear the dead skin cells that clog pores — the combination that makes it effective against inflammatory acne: the red, pus-filled bumps known as pustules, papules, cysts, and nodules.

Why 5%, not 10%?

For decades, the working assumption in acne treatment was that more benzoyl peroxide meant faster, more complete clearing. A landmark double-blind clinical study challenged that assumption directly: comparing 5% and 10% benzoyl peroxide head-to-head, researchers found the two concentrations equally effective at reducing inflammatory acne lesions — but the 10% group experienced significantly more dryness, redness, and peeling. The bacterial knockdown also happens fast at both strengths: within the same roughly 30-second contact window in-vitro, meaning a rinse-off bar doesn't need the higher concentration to do its job. That's the case for 5% as a genuine treatment option rather than a "starter" or diluted version of the real thing.

We're the only FDA-registered manufacturer offering a dedicated 5% BPO bar in bar-form — every other 10%-and-under bar-format competitor we're aware of sells 10% only. Worth knowing: prior to 2023, competitive 10% BPO bars sold in the US all came from a single Canadian manufacturer, using a tallow-and-glycerin soap/syndet hybrid formula. That manufacturer has since closed, forcing those brands to reformulate elsewhere. DermaHarmony has never used that formula or that supply chain — our bars have been built to our 100% soap-free syndet specification the entire time.

What Makes This Bar Different

• True non-soap syndet formula. No sodium tallowate, no lye-based soap chemistry, no alkali salts raising the bar's pH. The cleansing system is built on coco glucoside, sodium isethionate, and sodium cocoyl isethionate — three plant- and mineral-derived surfactants chosen for mildness, not cost.
• Buffered with lactic acid. A naturally derived AHA that gently supports pH balance and light exfoliation on every wash, working alongside the benzoyl peroxide rather than against your skin barrier.
• Colored for a reason, not decoration. Real iron oxide minerals give the 5% bar a distinct orange-tan tone specifically so you can tell it apart from the uncolored 10% bar at a glance — useful if you keep both in rotation.
• Structured with fatty acids, not starch filler. Coconut fatty acid and stearic acid give the bar its firmness and long wear. Some competing bars bulk up with dextrin and salt purely to stretch the bar further; ours doesn't need it.
• No microplastics. We don't use Ethylene/VA Copolymer (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), an ingredient flagged as a microplastic that shows up in some competing acne washes.
• No cocamidopropyl betaine. A surfactant linked to contact-allergy and irritation concerns in a meaningful share of users — left out of this formula entirely.
• Manufactured in the USA. Formulated and produced domestically.
• A wash-in-place-of-soap format. No bottle, no pump, no liquid filler diluting the active ingredient — just benzoyl peroxide, a mild cleansing base, and enough structure to last.

Who It's For

• Have tried 10% benzoyl peroxide and found it too drying, too irritating, or hard to stick with past the first few weeks
• Have mild to moderate inflammatory acne — red bumps, pustules, or the occasional cyst — rather than primarily blackheads and whiteheads
• Want a benzoyl peroxide product but have naturally dry, sensitive, or reactive skin
• Prefer to start at a lower, clinically supported concentration and step up to 10% only if needed
• Want a bar-format cleanser instead of a liquid wash that's mostly water and filler
• Are looking for a syndet (non-soap) formula because traditional soap leaves your skin feeling tight or stripped
• Want a benzoyl peroxide product without microplastics or tallow-derived ingredients
• Use benzoyl peroxide on body acne (chest, back, shoulders) where a bar is easier to apply evenly than a bottle

Wondering how benzoyl peroxide compares to DermaHarmony's other acne actives? Here's how it stacks up.

Benzoyl Peroxide vs. Sulfur

Sulfur and benzoyl peroxide both treat acne, but they work on different mechanisms. Sulfur dries and helps clear blemishes through a gentler, pore-level action and is generally the better tolerated option for reactive or easily irritated skin — it won't bleach fabric, either. Benzoyl peroxide goes further against inflammatory, bacteria-driven acne, which is why it's the stronger choice for red, pus-filled breakouts rather than surface blackheads and whiteheads. If dryness is your main concern and your acne is mostly non-inflammatory, DermaHarmony's 10% Sulfur with Tea Tree Oil Bar Soap is worth trying first or in rotation.

Benzoyl Peroxide vs. Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that works inside the pore, breaking down the buildup that causes blackheads and whiteheads. It doesn't have the antibacterial action that makes benzoyl peroxide effective on inflammatory acne, but it's typically gentler and better suited to daily long-term maintenance once an active breakout is under control. A common routine: use this 5% BPO bar to bring an active flare-up down, then switch to a salicylic acid bar for ongoing pore maintenance. FDA guidance advises against layering multiple topical acne actives on the same area at the same time unless a doctor directs it, since the combined drying effect can be more than either ingredient alone.

A Note on Dryness & Irritation

Benzoyl peroxide dries and peels skin as part of how it works — that's true at 5% as well as 10%, just to a lesser degree. Here's how to manage it:

• Days 1–7: Use once daily, ideally in the evening. Follow immediately with an oil-free, noncomedogenic moisturizer.
• Week 2 onward: If your skin is tolerating it well, you can increase to twice daily.
• If you notice flaking, tightness, or redness: Scale back to every other day until your skin adjusts, then build back up.
• The one non-negotiable step: Moisturize every time you use this bar. It's the single biggest factor separating "manageable" from "too drying" in benzoyl peroxide users.

A Note on the First Few Weeks (It May Look Worse Before It Looks Better)

This is common enough that it's worth saying plainly: many people see their skin look a little worse — more redness, some new small breakouts — during the first two to three weeks of starting benzoyl peroxide, before it starts looking better. This isn't a sign the product is wrong for you; it's benzoyl peroxide surfacing and clearing out congestion that was already forming under the skin. Give it a full 6 weeks before judging results, and the full effect can take 2–3 months to fully show. If irritation becomes severe rather than mild-to-moderate, or hasn't started improving by week 6, stop use and check in with a doctor.

BAR SIZE

4 OZ (113 G) - 2.6" x 2.6" x 1" Square - Single Bar Per Box

USES

For the treatment of acne.

• Penetrates pores to clear most blackheads and whiteheads
• Reduces the number of acne blemishes and pimples
• Helps prevent new acne blemishes, blackheads, and whiteheads from forming

DIRECTIONS

Because excessive drying of the skin may occur, start with one application daily, then gradually increase to two or three times daily if needed or as directed by a doctor.

• Lather the bar with warm water.
• Gently massage the lather onto affected areas.
• Let the lather sit on skin for 60–90 seconds.
• Rinse thoroughly and pat dry.
• If bothersome dryness or peeling occurs, reduce application to once daily or every other day.
• If going outside, apply sunscreen after using this product. If irritation or sensitivity develops, stop use of both products and ask a doctor.
• Follow with a moisturizer of your choice.

First-time benzoyl peroxide users: apply to one or two small affected areas for the first 3 days. If no irritation develops, move to the full directions above.

WARNINGS

For external use only. Do not use if you have very sensitive skin or are sensitive to benzoyl peroxide. When using this product: avoid unnecessary sun exposure and use a sunscreen; avoid contact with the eyes, lips, and mouth; avoid contact with hair and dyed fabrics, which may be bleached by this product; skin irritation and dryness is more likely if you use another topical acne medication at the same time. If irritation occurs, only use one topical acne medication at a time. Skin irritation may occur, characterized by redness, burning, itching, peeling, or swelling. Irritation may be reduced by using the product less frequently or at a lower concentration. Stop use and ask a doctor if irritation becomes severe. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

BPO will bleach stain clothing and towels — use caution. Wash hands well with soap and water after each application, and rinse thoroughly before toweling off to prevent staining fabrics.

ACTIVE INGREDIENT

5% Benzoyl Peroxide

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI): Known as Baby Foam due to its exceptional mildness, SCI raw material is a surfactant that is comprised of a type of sulphonic acid called Isethionic Acid as well as the sodium salt ester from Coconut Oil.

Stearic Acid: A vegetable derived waxy substance used as a thickening agent in shampoo bars.

Coconut Fatty Acid: A surfactant, cleansing agent, emulsifier and a foam booster.

Sodium Isethionate: An organic salt isethionic acid that was discovered in 1833. It is used as an organosulfur compound. It lowers the pH while maintaining a high level of detergency and lather.

Water

Coco Glucoside: A natural, gentle, and environmentally-friendly cleansing agent and surfactant (a word that is the shortened version of the term “Surface Active Agent”) sourced from coconuts. Sufactants prompt oil and water to combine, thereby making it easier for oily residue found on the hair to attach to syndet (synthetic detergent) and water, leaving the hair cleansed of any grease without stripping away its natural oils.

Cetearyl Alcohol & Ceteareth-20: Emulgade 1000 Ni by BASF - a vegetable based emulsifying wax.

Lactic Acid: An Alpha Hydroxy Acid or AHA used to gently exfoliate the skin, lighten dark spots, and improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Iron Oxides: The 5% bar contains natural iron oxides which gives the bar an orange appearance (so that customers that use both the 10% and the 5% can differentiate between the bars). 

STORAGE

Store in a cool, dry place between 59°–86°F (15°–30°C). Benzoyl peroxide denatures at room temperature and will begin to break down once exposed to air, heat, and moisture. Use within 12 months of purchase. Unopened product is good for two years from date of manufacture if stored in a controlled environment.

FAQ

Is it normal for my skin to look worse before it gets better?

Yes. Many users notice more redness or a few new small breakouts in the first two to three weeks as benzoyl peroxide clears out congestion that was already forming beneath the skin. This is a normal adjustment phase, not a sign the product isn't working. Give it a full 6 weeks before judging results — full effects can take 2–3 months.

Will this bar dry out my skin?

Some dryness, flaking, or peeling is expected — it's part of how benzoyl peroxide works, at 5% as well as 10%. Most users find 5% noticeably more tolerable than 10%. Using a daily oil-free moisturizer, starting with once-daily  application, and building up gradually all help minimize this.

How is the 5% bar different from your 10% bar?

Both are FDA monograph-compliant benzoyl peroxide treatments built on the same syndet formula. Clinical research shows 5% and 10% benzoyl peroxide are similarly effective against inflammatory acne, with 10% causing more dryness and irritation. We recommend 5% as the default starting point for most users, and 10% for those who've built up tolerance or need a stronger option as directed by a doctor.

Can I use this with sulfur or salicylic acid products?

Not on the same area at the same time without a doctor's guidance — layering multiple topical acne actives increases the risk of excess dryness and irritation. Many customers rotate: benzoyl peroxide for active breakouts, then salicylic acid or sulfur for daily maintenance once acne is under control.

How long can I leave this bar's lather on my skin?

Lather the affected area and let it sit for 60–90 seconds before rinsing thoroughly. Some users extend contact time up to a few minutes as tolerance builds — reduce contact time or frequency if irritation develops.

Will it stain my towels or clothing?

Yes — benzoyl peroxide will bleach fabric on contact, including towels, pillowcases, and clothing. Rinse thoroughly before toweling off, and consider using an older, white towel dedicated to your BPO routine.

More Benzoyl Peroxide - Frequently Asked Questions

OTHER INFORMATION

Stamped/embossed: "dermaharmony".

Sealed in a recyclable polypropylene wrapper inside carton.

Carton ink is not petroleum-based which is better for recycling. 

This product is an Over-The-Counter (OTC) Drug.

Made in the USA of U.S. and imported ingredients.

NDC Code: 71819-013-04
ASIN: B0B94SJXHL
GS1 UPC: 860004825814