The powerhouse behind Malezia's Core Regimen. Our moisturizer may hydrate the daylights out of skin, but this is what treats acne, eliminates blackheads, and refines texture. 😉
What it treats
Benzoyl peroxide doesn't care what kind of acne you have. Bacterial, fungal ("fungal acne" / Malassezia folliculitis), hormonal cystic, body acne, mixed — BP kills the microbes inside the pore through non-specific oxidative damage. That's why so many of our most loyal customers came to us after nothing else worked for their fungal acne, hormonal cystic acne, body acne etc.
It's also why this single tube is the most versatile acne treatment you can keep in a cabinet.
What to expect — backed by our own clinical study
We ran a survey-based clinical analysis of 535 Malezia customers. The results:
- 52% saw visible improvement within the first 2 weeks
- 89% saw visible improvement by the end of the first month
- 96.8% of users reported achieving their desired skin clarity when following the Core Regimen strictly—using only the Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser, Urea Moisturizer, and Acne Treatment Gel.
Why 2.5% micronized BP (and not 5% or 10%)?
Most over-the-counter BP products top out at 5–10%, but clinical studies have shown 2.5% benzoyl peroxide is just as effective as 10% — with significantly less irritation and dryness.
We then take it a step further by micronizing the BP to 5 microns — smaller than a single bacterial cell. That finer particle size means:
- Deeper penetration into pores where the breakouts actually start
- Better skin tolerance vs classic BP products
- Higher delivery efficiency at lower concentration
This method ensures effective acne management without compromising the skin's natural moisture balance. In fact, clinical studies have even shown that micronized benzoyl peroxide can increase skin moisture levels.
Why benzoyl peroxide and not an antibiotic or antifungal?
BP has been used in dermatology since the early 1900s. In that century-plus, not a single case of microbial resistance has ever been documented. Bacteria and fungi can't develop resistance against oxidative damage — there's no molecular target to mutate around. That's a clean contrast against:
- Antibiotic acne treatments (clindamycin, doxycycline) — resistance is a growing global problem
- Antifungal acne treatments (ketoconazole / Nizoral) — fungal resistance is well documented
You can use BP for years without losing efficacy. That's not true of most other targeted microbial actives.
For more on BP's microbicidal activity and clinical research, see this deep-dive on Simple Skincare Science.
What's in the formula?
- 2.5% benzoyl peroxide (micronized) — the workhorse, inhibits all major fungal and bacterial microorganisms involved in acne
- 0.5% sodium phytate — boosts skin moisture and elasticity, regulates oil, helps with hyperpigmentation
- Glycerin, propanediol — humectants that buffer the dryness BP can otherwise cause
- Fungal-acne safe (Malassezia-safe). No fatty acids above C12, no esters, no problematic oils, or anything else that feed Malassezia.
Inactive ingredients: Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Carbomer, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide
How to use
- Cleanse with our Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser (or your favorite fungal-acne-safe cleanser).
- Apply our 5% Urea Moisturizer to damp skin.
- Once the moisturizer is fully absorbed, apply a fingertip unit of Acne Treatment Gel over the entire affected area — not just on individual blemishes. BP is preventive, not a spot treatment.
- Use once nightly to start.
Customer Reviews
I have had cystic acne pop up on my chin/jawline the last couple of years. Other acne products have helped minimally to clear my skin. The core regimen is making a huge improvement on my skin in the short time I've been using it. I'm excited to try other products once my skin is completely clear.
i've struggled with my skin sporadically since being a teen. now at 30, my skin has been fairly clear with the occasional hormonal breakout, but a few months ago i started experiencing breakouts all over my face that seemed like they happened overnight. i've always had oily skin and fell into the trap thinking that doing more to your skin and paying for the high-priced products was better. so many expensive products and treatments only wreaked havoc on my skin.
the "after" photos are just one week of using this regimen! i couldn't be happier. my skin honestly cleared up after just two days of using these products. i didn't realize i was suffering from Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal acne, and using products that were perpetuating the issue because it turns out MOST products contain ingredients that just keep feeding malassezia. i had no idea until now.
if nothing else has worked for you and you're on the fence i highly recommend giving these products a try.
please never change them or stop making them!!
This product combined with the Urea moisturizer changed my skin in one week. My skin looks the best it has in years. I am 44 and has always struggled with acne. I tried to move away from benzoyl peroxide products since I have aging skin now and they were starting to irritate my skin. But once I stop my acne comes back. I decided to give this brand a try and WOW. My skin is so clear and so smooth. I cannot express how grateful I am. please never change the formulations!
Hi! I want to make this review as detailed as possible in hopes that it can help and convince someone to try out Malezia. For starters: I’m in my mid 30s with oily, acne prone, and VERY sensitive skin. I also scar easily - it doesn’t matter if I pick at a pimple or not, it always leaves a mark.
Anyway I have dealt with acne since I was a teen and managed to clear it up a few years ago. But after having my baby, my skin became sensitive to everything. Add hormonal acne to the mix and now my skin was irritated all the time. All the stuff I used before no longer worked. I stumbled across Malezia when I was trying to find a brand that was catered to sensitive skin. I’ve tried so many others that claim to be, but my skin would still get irritated. My thought was even though I don’t have fungal acne, if it’s safe enough for them to use, it should be safe enough for me to use. I’m so glad I gave it a chance because the pictures speak for themselves! There is a 5 week difference between these photos. The first 4 weeks I used the core regimen with the MCT oil and followed the instructions. I did purge a bit the first few days, but it cleared up quickly by the end of the week. It’s hard to tell with the photos but I also had closed comedones all over my forehead, chin, and around my mouth - all of which is cleared now. On week 5 I added the BHA PHA solution and wow, what a great product! I usually hate exfoliating products because they are always harsh, but not this one. I was glowing the day after using it.
My skin went from being red, irritated, and with acne - to clear, healthy, and hydrated. Any texture I had is gone and I no longer feel the need to hide behind makeup. The oils in my face have also balanced out and I’m no longer a walking slick pan. I use to think that you had to be aggressive when treating acne, but now realize that you need to calmly attack the problem. If your skin is healthy, the rest will balance out. If you feel like you’ve tried it all and have sensitive acne prone skin - PLEASE give this brand a try! You won’t regret it!
FC, thank you for creating a solution that actually works! Your blogs are so helpful, and it’s refreshing to see that the one who made this has also suffered with acne and understands how we feel. You have a loyal customer for life. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I've been struggling with fungal acne for a while and finally got this product a few years ago and it literally worked overnight. I'd been trying all sorts of products from other brands to treat acne etc and nothing worked. I hated looking in the mirror and in general hated the feeling of my skin with all the little bumps. Genuinely, the first morning after I used this, the bumps were visibly smaller. I honestly couldn't believe it. If you're going to buy any product, buy this one. Every time I have a breakout I use this gel and within a few days my skin is bump free again. I'm so much less scared to try other skincare products and sunscreens now because I know if anything ever goes wrong I can come back to this to fix it. Cannot recommend it enough
I am in my mid 40s and have been suffering for over 7 years with bad acne, specifically during my cycle. It was painful and made me lose a lot of confidence. I went to great lengths to find products that were non comedogenic and didn't make me break out but every time I would research a product and try it, it would give the same results. After doing loads of research on fungal acne, I found Malezia on Reddit. The core regimen has changed my life and I am getting my confidence back. Before my cycle, I have noticed I barely have any breakouts and it stays clear throughout the month. I was hopeful for help with the acne but I have also noticed a major improvement on my fine lines in my forehead from the moisturizer. This is the holy grail for me, and I will never try anything else ever again.
I have been trying and using different acne product for forever. I was using the other fungal safe BP from Neutrogena but I still wasn't seeing success. A lot of my success is a result of my entire routine. But let me tell you- this didn't make my skin irritated and flaking and still got rid of the pimple. Forever grateful. I need to make a full review of all the products I am using from you guys and an outline of my routine for anyone interested because I have FINALLY cracked the code with the help of this product and a few others you sell. THANKYOU
Works great!
Thank you so much for the wonderful cosmetic products I purchased to treat my daughter's acne. In just 5 days of using three of your products together, my daughter's skin condition improved.
These products changed my skin entirely. I was suffering from random breakouts, red and dry skin- which is all brand new to me in my 30s. I have tried EVERYTHING, these are the only products that have saved and restored my skin. It’s hydrated, clear, acne free and not red! I can’t recommend their products enough. Lightweight, clean, and nourishing. Just buy it, you will not regret it.