The 7 Best Hypochlorous Acid Sprays That Calm and Refresh Skin, According to Derms

If you have spent any time in skincare circles lately, you have probably heard someone mention hypochlorous acid. It went from a niche, almost clinical-sounding ingredient to a full-blown favourite during the COVID era, and the spray format is a big reason why. It is easy to reach for, it feels like nothing on the skin, and it does a job most acids do not: instead of exfoliating, it soothes. Byrdie’s Melanie Rud and a panel of dermatologists did extensive market research and tapped top dermatologists to pull together the seven sprays below, looking at how well each one works, which skin types it suits, and how gentle it really is. Here is the list, what makes each pick stand out, and how to choose one for yourself.

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The Short Version

Before the reviews, here is the quick version of what the dermatologists want you to know. Hypochlorous acid is a mild, well-tolerated ingredient that your white blood cells make naturally, and it is genuinely good at soothing and calming irritated skin. When you shop, look for a formula that actually lists hypochlorous acid itself rather than just an electrolyte solution, and keep the added ingredients to a minimum. And keep expectations in the right place: these sprays work best as a supportive, add-on step, not as a replacement for treatments for acne, eczema or rosacea. Used on clean skin before your other products, a fine mist dries down without leaving the skin feeling tight.

Top Picks

Here are the seven winners at a glance, with the award each one took home:

• Best Overall: Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray — View on Amazon
• Best Overall, Runner-Up: SkinSmart Antimicrobial Facial Cleanser — View on Amazon
• Best for Sensitive Skin and Eczema: Prequel Universal Skin Solution — View on Amazon
• Best for Acne-Prone Skin: PanOxyl Hypochlorous Acid Antimicrobial Purifying Mist
• Best for Dry Skin: Pipette Skin Rescue Spray
• Best Versatile: Magic Molecule Hypochlorous Acid Spray
• Best for Added Benefits: Medicube Hypochlorous Acid Daily Facial Spray

Now the detail. What actually is hypochlorous acid, and why has it earned a permanent place in so many routines? Unlike exfoliating acids such as glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid, which work by speeding up cell turnover, hypochlorous acid is a top-notch soother. Your white blood cells produce it naturally as part of your immune response, and it is a germ-killing molecule that can help with acne-causing bacteria while still being gentle enough for sensitive, reactive or eczema-prone skin. That combination — effective against bacteria, kind to a stressed barrier — is exactly why dermatologists keep recommending it, and why the spray format took off. A quick mist is all it takes, and it slots into a routine without demanding a rethink of everything else.

Best Overall

Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray

The overall winner keeps things remarkably simple. Its ingredient list is just three items long: water, sodium chloride and hypochlorous acid. That is the whole formula, and it is exactly what the dermatologists asked for. Dr. Aegean Chan, a board-certified dermatologist at the Santa Barbara Skin Institute and associate clinical professor at UCLA, prefers a minimalist formula with a short list of effective ingredients, and this spray is the clearest example of that idea on the list. It comes in three sizes, so you can start small and scale up if it becomes a daily habit. View on Amazon

Best Overall, Runner-Up

SkinSmart Antimicrobial Facial Cleanser

The runner-up is nearly as stripped-back: hypochlorous acid, ionized water, sodium chloride and hypochlorite ion. Dr. Alexandra Bowles, a board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati, calls it a great supportive product to use after sweating or heat exposure, which makes it a natural pick for gym bags and hot days. It is a fan favourite on Amazon, where reviewers often describe it as a wallet-friendly stand-in for pricier options. The one wish in the review is that it came in more sizes. And here is the fun fact: the brand also makes a version for pets. View on Amazon

Best for Sensitive Skin and Eczema

Prequel Universal Skin Solution

Prequel’s spray earns its place with a soothing mineral complex alongside a short base formula of electrolyzed water, sodium chloride, muriatic acid and hypochlorous acid. It touts the National Eczema Association’s seal of approval, as well as seals from the National Rosacea Society and the National Psoriasis Foundation — a strong set of endorsements for a single bottle. Hypochlorous acid in general can be soothing for those dealing with eczema, and this is the pick the list points to when sensitive, eczema-prone skin is the main concern. View on Amazon

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

PanOxyl Hypochlorous Acid Antimicrobial Purifying Mist

For breakout-prone skin, the PanOxyl mist takes a slightly different route. Its formula — electrolyzed water, sodium chloride, sodium hypochlorite and hypochlorous acid — has more ingredients than the other picks on this list, but the review still calls it a no-frills formula. The important framing comes from Dr. Chan: this is not a direct swap for benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, but it can be a good adjunctive product, a gentle antimicrobial step that sits alongside the treatments already doing the heavy work.

Best for Dry Skin

Pipette Skin Rescue Spray

Pipette’s spray is the most hydrated-feeling pick of the seven, and its ingredient list shows why: water, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, hypochlorous acid, squalane, cucumis sativus fruit extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, glycerin, polysorbate 20, potassium sorbate, citric acid, sodium chloride, sodium benzoate, ethylhexylglycerin and phenoxyethanol. The hydrating aloe, glycerin and squalane give it a softer, more cushioned feel than the minimalist formulas above it. It is pediatrician-approved and described as a good pick for the whole fam, and it also carries the National Eczema Association’s seal.

Best Versatile

Magic Molecule Hypochlorous Acid Spray

If one spray has to do everything, this is the one. The formula is as simple as they come — hypochlorous acid, ionized water, sodium chloride and hypochlorite ion — and it is made to be used on the face, the body and even the scalp, which also makes it a good travel option. Melanie Rud says she has used it for years and calls it a staple in her routine. The review even reaches for a film comparison: it is like the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding spraying Windex on everything, except this spray is the version for sunburn, bug bites, breakouts and diaper rash.

Best for Added Benefits

Medicube Hypochlorous Acid Daily Facial Spray

The last pick is the one with the most going on beyond the hypochlorous acid itself. Its ingredient list runs to water, niacinamide, butylene glycol, hydroxyacetophenone, panthenol, octyldodeceth-16, C12-14 Alketh-12, sodium gluconate, sodium citrate, ethylhexylglycerin, allantoin, citric acid, hypochlorous acid, eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, rosemary leaf oil, tea tree leaf oil and sodium chloride. The extra ingredients are the point: noting Dr. Bowles, the review says niacinamide helps control oil and reduce redness, with hydrating panthenol and allantoin alongside it. If you want your mist to do a little more than mist, this is the one built for that.

What to Look for When Buying a Hypochlorous Acid Spray

Seven good options is a nice problem to have, but it still helps to know what separates a good spray from a mediocre one. The dermatologists’ advice comes down to three things.

Minimal Ingredient List

Keep the list short. Ideally you want a formula built around hypochlorous acid, water, sodium chloride and sodium phosphate, and you want to skip added fragrance, alcohol and unnecessary actives. Dr. Mamina Turegano, a board-certified dermatologist, makes the point that matters most: check that hypochlorous acid is actually listed as an ingredient, and not just an electrolyte solution doing the marketing work.

Opaque Packaging

Hypochlorous acid is unstable, and it breaks down in light. That is why an opaque bottle is preferable to a clear one, and why the advice is to use the product within a few months of opening it rather than letting it sit on a shelf indefinitely.

Size of the Bottle

Think about how you will actually use it. A larger bottle is better value if you mist daily on your face and body, while a smaller bottle is the smarter choice for travel, for trying the ingredient for the first time, or for carry-on use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a hypochlorous acid spray do?

Dr. Bowles says it can help calm redness, reduce bacteria and support irritated or inflamed skin. Dr. Chan adds that it is often used after dermatologic procedures. Both doctors stress the same limit, though: it is an add-on, not a replacement for treatments for acne or eczema.

Who should use a hypochlorous acid spray?

Because it is so very well tolerated, Dr. Chan says almost anyone can use one. It is not necessary for normal, healthy skin, but it can help if you are dealing with acne or rosacea.

Are there any side effects of hypochlorous acid?

Not really, according to Dr. Chan. The molecule is made by the body, and at skincare concentrations it is usually non-irritating, including for sensitive or compromised skin. Dr. Bowles calls it low-risk for most skin types, while noting that very sensitive skin, or a compromised barrier, may feel a slight sting.

What’s the best way to use a hypochlorous acid spray?

Mist it onto clean skin before your other products, and reach for it through the day whenever skin feels irritated or sweaty. Dr. Bowles notes that some patients like it after workouts or after wearing a mask for long periods, and because it is so gentle, it can fit almost anywhere in a routine.

Meet Our Experts

Dr. Alexandra Bowles, D.O., is a board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati. Dr. Aegean Chan, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at the Santa Barbara Skin Institute and an associate clinical professor at UCLA. Dr. Mamina Turegano is a board-certified dermatologist. Melanie Rud is a Chicago-based writer who has covered beauty and skin care for more than fifteen years, with work appearing in Forbes and Brides. The article was medically reviewed by Morgan Rabach, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie’s contributors are subject-matter experts with experience in their field, and the team independently tests the products it recommends. Rud brings more than fifteen years of experience covering beauty and skin care to this list, and she is a genuine user of the category: she says her own skin is notoriously sensitive and reactive, she has been using hypochlorous acid sprays for years, and she loves using them on her two-year-old twins.

That is the full picture. Hypochlorous acid will not replace your acne treatment or your eczema care, and it is not trying to. What it does, quietly and reliably, is calm things down: a fine mist on clean skin, before the rest of your routine, that helps with redness and bacteria without asking your skin to tolerate anything harsh. Pick the version that matches your skin’s main concern — the minimalist overall winner, the eczema-friendly seals, the acne-prone adjunct, the hydrating family pick, the do-everything bottle, or the one with added benefits — and let the mist do the quiet work.