Sunday RileycleanserCleanse step

Sunday Riley Breakout Breakup Salicylic Acid Cleanser for Blemish-Prone Skin

This gel cleanser is designed to tackle blemishes and oiliness with a blend of salicylic and lactic acids. It aims to purify the skin and support its natural microbiome, offering a thorough cleanse without compromising the moisture barrier.

Sephora price

$35.00

Price matters most when you are trying to learn whether this lane belongs in your routine without turning the test into a luxury gamble.

Sephora reviews

4.6 / 5

About 162 reviews on the current Sephora source, so there is real volume behind the reputation.

Shoppers keep mentioning

VeganGood for: Acne/BlemishesClean at SephoraBest for Oily, Combo, Normal SkinGood for: Skin BarrierCruelty-FreeSalicylic Acid: Penetrates pores to break up congestion, excess oil, and buildup.Fermented Pear Juice: Rich in lactic acid, gently exfoliates to smooth texture and brighten skin.Witch Hazel: Soothe irritated skin and manages oil and acne.

These are the shopper themes that keep showing up around this listing and shape why people open it in the first place.

Glass take

4.6 / 5 overall fit

A microbiome-friendly cleanser that effectively removes impurities without stripping the skin, making it a solid choice for blemish-prone and oily skin types.

Sunday Riley Breakout Breakup Salicylic Acid Cleanser for Blemish-Prone Skin

Sephora snapshot refreshed April 23, 2026

Price, rating, review count, and source status come from Sephora. Glass adds the routine fit, overlap risk, and what to compare next.

View Sephora

What Sephora says

What this product is supposed to do

A nondrying gel cleanser with salicylic and lactic acid that’s microbiome-friendly to purify skin and dissolve buildup without stripping moisture barrier.

NormalDryCombinationOilyPoresAcne and BlemishesOiliness

Massage Breakout Breakup into the skin to remove dirt, oil, pollution, and makeup to purify the skin, while supporting the microbiome.

Rinse with warm water.

Great for oily or blemish-prone skin.

What Glass adds

What actually matters before you buy it

A well-formulated cleanser that balances effective blemish control with skin barrier support. It’s a good starting point for anyone dealing with congestion and excess oil.

Gentle yet effective

Users appreciate that this cleanser effectively clears breakouts and oil without causing redness or dryness, highlighting its balanced formula.

Best for

When this is a smart buy

  • Oily and blemish-prone skin
  • Those seeking a gentle yet effective cleanse
  • Supporting a healthy skin microbiome

Skip if

When this is the wrong lane

  • Your skin is very dry and sensitive
  • You prefer a very basic, non-active cleanser

Routine fit

Where this fits in your routine

Use this cleanser as the first step in your morning or evening routine to remove impurities and prep your skin for subsequent treatments. Follow with your preferred serums and moisturizers.

Why it works

Where it earns the slot and where it does not

The useful question is not whether this product is good in a vacuum. It is whether it makes your routine easier to run or just adds one more bottle with a familiar ingredient on it.

What it actually does well

  • Contains salicylic and lactic acid for blemish control
  • Microbiome-friendly formulation
  • Nondrying and gentle on the skin barrier
  • Effectively removes makeup and impurities

Where it starts to feel redundant

  • May not be suitable for extremely dry or sensitive skin types
  • The scent from natural extracts might not appeal to everyone

Routine fit

Where it belongs in the stack

Morning and Night

This cleanser is suitable for both morning and evening use. In the morning, it helps to remove overnight oil and buildup. In the evening, it effectively removes makeup, sunscreen, and daily grime.

Glass rating

How this formula scores in real life

4.6/ 5 overall

A microbiome-friendly cleanser that effectively removes impurities without stripping the skin, making it a solid choice for blemish-prone and oily skin types.

Cleansing efficacy

4.7 / 5

Effectively removes makeup, oil, and impurities without leaving skin feeling tight or dry.

Skin barrier support

4.5 / 5

Formulated to be gentle and support the skin's microbiome, which is beneficial for maintaining a healthy barrier.

Full ingredient breakdown

Every ingredient, what it does, and whether I care

Solvent

Aqua/Water/Eau

Badness

0.0 / 10

The base liquid for the formulation.

Usually helps with

Hydration

Watch for

None

Humectant

Glycerin

Badness

0.0 / 10

Attracts moisture to the skin, helping to keep it hydrated and soft.

Usually helps with

Dryness, hydration

Watch for

None

Surfactant

Sodium Hydroxypropylsulfonate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer

Badness

1.0 / 10

A mild cleansing agent derived from sugar and coconut.

Usually helps with

Cleansing

Watch for

None

Surfactant

Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate

Badness

1.0 / 10

A mild, sulfate-free surfactant that creates lather and cleanses the skin.

Usually helps with

Cleansing

Watch for

None

Surfactant

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine

Badness

1.0 / 10

A gentle surfactant that helps to create foam and cleanse the skin.

Usually helps with

Cleansing

Watch for

None

Humectant

Maltooligosyl Glucoside

Badness

0.0 / 10

A sugar derivative that helps to retain moisture.

Usually helps with

Hydration

Watch for

None

Thickener

PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate

Badness

0.0 / 10

A thickening agent derived from glucose.

Usually helps with

Texture

Watch for

None

Humectant

Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate

Badness

0.0 / 10

A moisturizing agent derived from starch.

Usually helps with

Hydration

Watch for

None

Emollient

Capryloyl Glycine

Badness

2.0 / 10

An amino acid derivative that can help to regulate sebum production and moisturize.

Usually helps with

Oiliness, moisture

Watch for

None

Surfactant

Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine

Badness

1.0 / 10

A mild surfactant that aids in cleansing.

Usually helps with

Cleansing

Watch for

None

Surfactant

Coco-Glucoside

Badness

1.0 / 10

A very mild, plant-derived surfactant.

Usually helps with

Cleansing

Watch for

None

Humectant

Butylene Glycol

Badness

0.0 / 10

A common solvent and humectant that helps ingredients penetrate the skin.

Usually helps with

Hydration, penetration

Watch for

None

Exfoliant

Lactobacillus/Pear Juice Ferment Filtrate

Badness

2.0 / 10

Contains natural lactic acid for gentle exfoliation and skin smoothing.

Usually helps with

Texture, brightness

Watch for

None

Surfactant

Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside

Badness

1.0 / 10

A mild, biodegradable surfactant.

Usually helps with

Cleansing

Watch for

None

Astringent

Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract

Badness

1.0 / 10

Helps to soothe skin and manage oil production.

Usually helps with

Oiliness, soothing

Watch for

Can be drying for some

Active

Salicylic Acid

Badness

3.0 / 10

Penetrates pores to dissolve buildup and oil, effectively treating and preventing blemishes.

Usually helps with

Acne, oiliness, pores

Watch for

Can cause dryness or irritation if overused

Humectant

Caprylyl Glycol

Badness

0.0 / 10

A skin-conditioning agent that also acts as a preservative booster.

Usually helps with

Moisture, preservation

Watch for

None

Surfactant

Decyl Glucoside

Badness

1.0 / 10

A very mild, plant-derived cleansing agent.

Usually helps with

Cleansing

Watch for

None

Antioxidant

Malus Domestica Fruit Extract

Badness

0.0 / 10

Contains antioxidants from apple extract.

Usually helps with

Antioxidant protection

Watch for

None

Probiotic

Lactobacillus Ferment

Badness

1.0 / 10

A probiotic ingredient that can help support the skin's microbiome.

Usually helps with

Skin barrier

Watch for

None

Antioxidant

Pyrus Communis (Pear) Fruit Extract

Badness

0.0 / 10

Provides antioxidants and contributes to skin conditioning.

Usually helps with

Antioxidant protection

Watch for

None

Soothing Agent

Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Water

Badness

1.0 / 10

Known for its calming and soothing properties.

Usually helps with

Soothing

Watch for

Can be irritating for some sensitive skin types

Chelating Agent

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Badness

0.0 / 10

Helps to stabilize the formula.

Usually helps with

Stability

Watch for

None

Antioxidant

Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract

Badness

0.0 / 10

Rich in vitamins and minerals, offering antioxidant benefits.

Usually helps with

Antioxidant protection

Watch for

None

Antioxidant

Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract

Badness

0.0 / 10

Contains antioxidants and vitamins.

Usually helps with

Antioxidant protection

Watch for

None

Viscosity Adjuster

Sodium Chloride

Badness

0.0 / 10

Used to adjust the thickness of the product.

Usually helps with

Texture

Watch for

None

Humectant

Xylitylglucoside

Badness

0.0 / 10

Part of the Aquaxyl complex, it helps improve skin hydration.

Usually helps with

Hydration

Watch for

None

Conditioning Agent

Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride

Badness

0.0 / 10

A conditioning agent that can improve skin feel.

Usually helps with

Skin feel

Watch for

None

Buffering Agent

Sodium Sulfate

Badness

0.0 / 10

Used to adjust pH.

Usually helps with

Stability

Watch for

None

Preservative

Phenoxyethanol

Badness

2.0 / 10

A common preservative used to prevent microbial growth.

Usually helps with

Preservation

Watch for

Can be irritating for some

pH Adjuster

Citric Acid

Badness

0.0 / 10

Used to adjust the pH of the formulation.

Usually helps with

Stability

Watch for

None

pH Adjuster

Sodium Hydroxide

Badness

0.0 / 10

Used to adjust the pH of the formulation.

Usually helps with

Stability

Watch for

None

Solvent

Isopropyl Alcohol

Badness

2.0 / 10

A solvent that can help with drying, but can also be drying to the skin.

Usually helps with

Solvent

Watch for

Can be drying and irritating

Preservative

Sodium Benzoate

Badness

1.0 / 10

A common preservative.

Usually helps with

Preservation

Watch for

None

Preservative

Potassium Sorbate

Badness

1.0 / 10

A common preservative.

Usually helps with

Preservation

Watch for

None

Compare before you buy

The next pages that make this product more useful

A good product page should push you into the next decision, not trap you inside one product page forever. These are the cleaner next clicks.

FAQ

The fast answers people actually need

Is this cleanser good for oily skin?

Yes, this cleanser is specifically formulated for blemish-prone and oily skin types. It contains salicylic acid to help control oil and clear pores.

Can this cleanser be used with other acne treatments?

It's generally safe to use with other acne treatments, but always introduce new products slowly. If you experience irritation, reduce the frequency of use for one or both products.

Does this cleanser strip the skin?

The formula is designed to be nondrying and microbiome-friendly, aiming to cleanse effectively without stripping essential moisture from the skin.