Here’s Why Your Skin Care Routine Needs a Hypochlorous Acid Spray

• Calms inflammation

• Some dislike the smell

Chances are, if you’ve seen a hypochlorous acid spray on TikTok, it’s this one, which works in a flash to calm irritation and heal the skin’s barrier. “There is a place on every woman’s shelf for SOS,” says Dr. Kelly Killeen, a celebrity plastic surgeon. “It’s such a versatile product. From calming inflammation to healing wounds after surgery, it’s your skin’s new best friend.”

Size: 4 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “Here is a running list of the things I’ve used Tower 28’s mist for: soothe a mosquito bite I scratched on my forehead, hydrate a recurring dry patch under my eye, make my skin less angry following a laser facial. Basically, any opportunity I have to use this mist, I take it, and it works! This mist’s hero ingredient is hypochlorous acid, which has strong antibacterial properties and is great at soothing redness and inflammation. My skin acts like it just took its first drink of water following a run whenever this hits. It also smells ever so slightly like an indoor swimming pool, which, combined with the Baywatch-logo-lettering, always reminds me of summer. This is a valid TikTok viral product that lives up to the hype.” —Kathleen Hou, ELLE beauty director

• Clay helps minimize oil

• Some find it drying

Peace Out’s Redness + Clarifying Mist is made for more than soothing irritation and calming skin. It contains additional ingredients, like zinc and arnica to clarify, a blend of clays to minimize oil, and cornflower water to hydrate.

Size: 3.3 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An ELLE editor says: “This face mist is like glass skin in a bottle. Spritz it on after a workout, and your skin looks immediately less red. It’s also like a zipper for your pores, leaving you with smooth, even-toned skin in a flash.” —Katie Berohn, beauty editor

• Helps cleanse skin without water

• Some find it irritating

Think of this mist from SkinSmart as a cleanser that doesn’t need water. Spray it on the skin to help combat bacteria that can cause acne—it’s perfect to use after sweating. “Formulated with natural hypochlorous acid, they offer a line of gentle cleansing spray to help control breakouts, reduce redness, and repair a disrupted skin barrier,” explains Dr. Shirazi.

Size: 8 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “Seriously the best stuff ever. I use it morning and night after I wash my face and before other skin care. Also, I use it right after I workout, over makeup and all. Helped my children’s skin rashes, and cleaned new piercings with only this.”

• Hydrating
• Safe to use after certain laser treatments

• May take some time to see a difference

The great thing about hypochlorous acid sprays like this one is that pretty much anyone can use them, even if you have extra sensitive skin. In fact, they actually treat many of the conditions that come with a stressed and compromised skin barrier, like rosacea, eczema, acne, and psoriasis.

Size: 3 fl. oz.

Hydrinity rating: 4.6/5 stars

A Hydrinity reviewer says: “I was introduced to this hydrating spray by my dermatologist after having laser treatments. I used it and found it to be so refreshing. I’m still using it months later under and over my makeup. It’s the best hydrating spray I’ve tried.”

• Works well for many different skin irritations

• Some say they can’t tell a difference

This mist is meant to be an all-in-one solution for many different skin ailments, including eczema, minor cuts, bug bites, and sunburns. It’s powered by hypochlorous acid and ionized water.

Size: 8 fl. oz.

Magic Molecules rating: 4.8/5 stars

A Magic Molecules reviewer says: “We use this spray on everything, and it works! Sunburn, bug bites, diaper rash, rosacea, the list goes on! It’s great!”

• Formulated with minimal ingredients

• Some find it has a strong smell

This hypochlorous acid spray is made only with pure salt and de-ionized water—no additives. The formula is ultra-gentle on the skin and works immediately to soothe irritation and calm redness.

Size: 8 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5

An Amazon reviewer says: “This spray is very calming and deodorizing to the skin. It smells fresh and feels cool. The bumps on my skin are smaller. Any itching goes away as well. I use it everywhere my skin is itchy or inflamed.”

• Peptides and magnesium PCA hydrate and firm

• Pricey

While many hypochlorous acid sprays are made only with hypochlorous acid, this one is boosted by hydrating and skin-strengthening ingredients. Magnesium PCA hydrates the skin, and peptides help firm it.

Size: 1.7 fl. oz.

Clearstem rating: 4.6/5

A Clearstem reviewer says: “I have dry skin, so I like to spray this on throughout the day to feel refreshed between meetings. It’s a great reset for me. I love that it contains more than hypochlorous acid—the magnesium and peptides work because my skin feels super hydrated and looks so glowy. Plus, the scent is amazing!”

• Made specifically for use around the eye area

• Pricey

An eye doctor formulated this spray, so you can be sure that it won’t irritate your eyes. This soothing spray isn’t just good for the skin; it also helps with tough-to-treat eye conditions like dry eye, blepharitis, chalazions, and styes.

Size: 2 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 3.7/5

An Amazon reviewer says: “I’ve heard of spray for eyes, but why not? This is a brilliant idea. I looked up ingredients for eye drops, and many eye drops have chemicals, like alcohol! This product has all of the ingredients that are in some of the eye drops but a lot less. This is just water, sodium chloride, hypochlorous acid. I didn’t know whether to keep my eyes open or not, so I sprayed while my eyes were closed and then opened them. It still went into my eyes and felt very refreshing, and I loved the feeling. I can totally get used to this. I suffer from dry eyes and rarely wear contacts because of it, but my eyes get tired from glasses, too, and after a long day. I much prefer this spray. This really is a brilliant idea of a product line, but I have to say, it’s still a steep price.”

The best part about hypochlorous acid is that we actually naturally produce it already. “Hypochlorous acid is a weak acid and a potent oxidizing agent, making it a useful yet gentle disinfectant,” says Dr. Shirazi. “In our bodies, white blood cells produce hypochlorous acid as part of the immune response to fight off organisms like bacteria and viruses.” Since it’s already produced by our bodies, hypochlorous acid is generally very well-tolerated.

Hypochlorous acid is good for a range of skin conditions, such as eczema, rosacea, sunburn, minor cuts, bug bites, redness, irritation, and more. It’s even beneficial for recovering from surgery. “The anti-inflammatory properties are so helpful with post-op healing,” says Dr. Killeen. “It’s been a game-changer for both my patients and myself.”

If you’re wondering who should use hypochlorous acid, it’s good for all skin types. “It’s generally safe for sensitive skin, including individuals with eczema or rosacea,” says Shirazi. “Its gentle formulation and anti-inflammatory properties make it unlikely to cause irritation or exacerbate existing skin conditions. HOCl is non-toxic and compatible with a wide range of skincare products, allowing for easy incorporation into daily routines.”

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE beauty editors interviewed dermatologists and tested products to find the best hypochlorous acid sprays.