日志
次氯酸喷雾被誉为万能灵药
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次氯酸喷雾被誉为万能灵药,我们测试一下
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/hypochlorous-acid-mist-review/
发布于 2025 年 5 月 1 日
作者：Hannah Frye 一位美妆和时尚专栏作家。
次氯酸喷雾席卷了网络美妆圈。护肤爱好者似乎认为次氯酸几乎可以治愈一切，包括舒缓湿疹、缓解痤疮以及消毒轻微伤口。
作为一名美妆记者，我见证了人们对这种成分的炒作从喜欢到爱不释手。而有一个品牌从一开始就深耕于此：Tower28，旗下的 SOS 急救喷雾（TikTok 上的常年热门产品）。它如此受欢迎，以至于有时番茄红的瓶子就足以让人心动：我在社交媒体上看到有人将廉价次氯酸喷雾倒入 Tower28 的空瓶中。 （你真的不应该这样做，但我们稍后会详细讨论。）
次氯酸喷雾的市场正在不断增长。随着越来越多的品牌拥有自己的忠实粉丝，并且成分表几乎完全相同，我们想了解这些炒作——并看看我们能否发现这些喷雾之间的任何差异。
在与四位皮肤科医生和一位化妆品化学家交谈后，我了解到，许多声称的益处是真实的，尽管并非每个人都能从在日常生活中使用次氯酸喷雾中受益。我们调查了这些说法，测试了七种流行的喷雾，并发现了两种可能带来一些益处的热门产品。
什么是次氯酸？
次氯酸并非新鲜事物。事实上，你的皮肤会自行产生次氯酸，它是由你的白细胞产生的。
作为皮肤免疫系统的一部分，次氯酸（缩写为 HOCl）主要有两个作用：它通过杀死细菌来防止感染，并减少炎症（关于这两者的更多信息，见下文）。化妆品化学家 Alanna Tran 表示，护肤品中使用的次氯酸是“通过电解盐水溶液重新生成的，这一过程模拟了人体产生次氯酸来对抗病原体的过程”。
请注意：一些次氯酸喷雾会散发出强烈的氯气气味（这就是你吸入的次氯酸 (HOCl) 中的氯离子），这种气味在使用后会消散。这种气味可能让你感觉像不该涂在脸上的东西，但这只是使用某些次氯酸喷雾的必然结果。
次氯酸喷雾对皮肤有哪些益处？
据我采访过的皮肤科医生称，外用次氯酸喷雾可能通过靶向痤疮致病菌来改善痤疮的说法站得住脚。但它并非痤疮治疗的一站式解决方案。这些喷雾无法解决许多其他导致痤疮的因素，例如油脂分泌、死皮细胞、激素等等。
然而，在控制细菌方面，次氯酸却是一个有用的工具。对于那些因运动面罩、头盔、帽子、美容工具或化妆刷和海绵等接触性皮肤而引发局部性皮炎或接触性皮炎的人来说，次氯酸尤其重要。为了帮助减少这些细菌，皮肤科医生 Mansha Sethi Thacker 建议对皮肤和诱发这些细菌的物品进行喷雾。研究表明，次氯酸比漂白剂杀死某些细菌的速度更快。2018 年的一项研究发现，在医疗环境中进行测试时，次氯酸的消毒效果甚至比医院的标准清洁剂更有效。
次氯酸喷雾不应取代定期用肥皂清洁化妆工具等做法。“相反，应该将其添加到日常护理中——在清洗并擦干化妆刷或海绵后，喷洒次氯酸以清除残留的细菌，”Sethi Thacker 说。
与其他抗菌剂（例如酒精）不同，次氯酸的干燥性较低，因此不太可能导致皮肤脱水或刺激，皮肤科医生亚历山德拉·鲍尔斯 (Alexandra Bowles) 表示。皮肤科医生普贾·兰比娅 (Pooja Rambhia) 表示，部分原因是次氯酸具有“快速中和”特性，这意味着它在分解成盐水之前就能迅速发挥抗菌作用。
鲍尔斯表示，次氯酸的抗菌功效也使其成为清新腋窝和足部肌肤的绝佳选择。因此，在您没有时间立即淋浴的日子里，它可能会派上用场。然而，次氯酸不像止汗剂那样能阻挡汗液，鲍尔斯表示：“如果您想要持久的防汗保护，它可能无法完全取代您常用的除臭剂。”
除了抑制细菌之外，次氯酸还具有抗炎特性，这是我采访过的皮肤科医生强调的一点。这意味着它可以缓解痤疮、湿疹、牛皮癣和酒渣鼻等皮肤问题，以及缓解晒伤或过度去角质引起的偶尔炎症（不过，在使用次氯酸治疗任何慢性皮肤问题之前，你应该咨询医生）。
虽然这些喷雾不能取代肥皂清洁，但它们可以在紧急情况下帮助消毒一些物品。Hannah Frye/NYT Wirecutter
所以，即使专家告诉我
次氯酸喷雾不太可能引发不良皮肤反应，Tran 澄清说，对于非理想稀释度（浓度低于 0.01% 至 0.02%）的次氯酸产品，情况可能并非如此。
请记住，次氯酸喷雾并非必需，它并非能够解决所有炎症症状或预防所有细菌感染的万能方案。对于持续或严重的疾病，您应该咨询医生。如果您正在服用口服或外用药物治疗皮肤病，也应该咨询医生。
所有这些次氯酸喷雾有什么区别？
几种不同的次氯酸喷雾在木质表面上展示。Hannah Frye/NYT Wirecutter
在了解了次氯酸的科学原理后，我们对七种最受欢迎、最受追捧的次氯酸喷雾进行了测试。在许多情况下，它们的成分表看起来几乎相同（几乎只有水、盐和次氯酸）。但这些成分的比例和配方的pH值（或酸碱度）才是区分不同产品的关键。
我们比较了他们的配方，并选择了成分和配方都极少的喷雾进行测试，这些喷雾被认为可以安全地用于擦伤、化妆工具和面部。这排除了一些只含有次氯酸（水杨酸、多肽、水果提取物和添加香精等护肤成分）的喷雾。
我们的测试清单包括：
Tower28 SOS 急救喷雾
Personal Day 相信我这款次氯酸喷雾
Magic Molecule 解决方案
SkinSmart 祛痘洁面乳
Prequel 通用护肤喷雾
Hydrinity Hyacyn Active
E11ement 次氯酸面部和皮肤喷雾
我们的测试小组由六位肤质各异的人士组成，他们在 Wirecutter 的办公室对这些产品进行了测试。测试人员评估了每款喷雾的第一印象用户体验，包括泵头、喷雾触感、上妆效果、包装和气味。
接下来，我们考虑了价格和配方，包括酸度和浓度。在测试的七款喷雾中，我们确认其中四款的酸度和浓度都比较理想。
护肤产品中次氯酸的浓度通常在0.01%到0.02%之间（喷雾的其余部分通常是水和盐的混合物）。Rambhia表示，这个浓度是一个“最佳点”，因为它的浓度足以破坏病原体，但又足够温和，有益细菌可以抵抗。（这就是为什么你不必担心护肤喷雾会破坏皮肤的微生物群或杀死有益细菌的原因之一。）在我们测试的喷雾中，我们最喜欢的两款都在这个范围内。
近距离观察 Prequel 喷雾瓶上的标签。有些品牌，例如 Prequel，会在瓶身上标注次氯酸的浓度。Hannah Frye/NYT Wirecutter
接下来要考虑的是 pH 值，也就是酸度。一些研究（包括 2022 年和 2023 年的两项研究）表明，用于皮肤的次氯酸产品的理想 pH 值应在 4 到 6 之间（与皮肤酸性保护膜的 pH 值相似），这样才能最有效地杀菌。Tran 和 Bowles 也都同意这一观点。皮肤酸性保护膜的 pH 值约为 4.5 到 5.5，因此“这个酸性范围内的产品更能支持皮肤的天然防御能力，”Tran 说。
然而，Tran 表示，如果配方酸性过高，pH 值低于 4 左右，可能会导致次氯酸溶液失去稳定性并转化为氯气。另一方面，当pH值超过6时，部分次氯酸可能会转化为次氯酸根离子，一项研究表明，次氯酸根离子的杀菌效果会降低。有些品牌会在瓶身或官网上标注pH值和浓度信息。对于那些没有标注的品牌，我直接联系了这些品牌。
一款喷雾凭借其理想的配方、易用性和性价比，在我们的小组中脱颖而出，成为最受欢迎的产品：Personal Day 信赖我这款次氯酸喷雾。
展出了两款不同的次氯酸喷雾（Personal Day 和 Prequel 品牌）。这些喷雾赢得了我们测试人员的青睐。Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
一款超细腻、气味宜人的喷雾，包装精美
Personal Day 信赖我这款次氯酸喷雾
这款喷雾因其细腻的喷雾和精美的包装而广受好评，赢得了我们测试人员的青睐。我们也很喜欢它没有留下浓烈的氯气气味。
Personal Day 售价 27 美元
Personal Day 相信我，这款次氯酸喷雾在次氯酸领域相对较新（于 2025 年 3 月上市），价格也处于中等水平（截至撰写本文时，每盎司 6.75 美元，每瓶 27 美元）。我们的评审小组对其超细喷雾给予了高度评价，它能清爽肌肤，不会让测试者感到过于湿润。在整个测试过程中，我多次在妆前使用 Personal Day 喷雾，它从未让妆容脱妆。
即使喷量很大，也难以用于粉底或遮瑕膏。
据公司介绍，稀释度为0.02%，在可接受的皮肤使用范围内。pH值在5.3到5.7之间，符合专家认可的pH值范围。
这款喷雾几乎没有任何气味，所有测试者都对其包装赞不绝口。特约撰稿人Caroline Mullen评论道：“它分量很足，边缘光滑圆润，还有一种近乎绒毛的感觉，这让我很满意。而且，我永远都喜欢亮绿色。”
我们喜欢的一款平价喷雾
Prequel Universal Skin Solution 真皮喷雾
这款喷雾因其温和的喷雾和精美的包装而备受赞誉。一些测试者一开始并不喜欢它淡淡的氯气味，但气味很快就消散了。
亚马逊售价17美元
Prequel Universal Skin Solution 真皮喷雾是我们接下来的最爱。与 Personal Day 喷雾一样，这款喷雾的细腻喷雾轻柔地喷在皮肤上，不会产生湿润感。一位测试者评论道：“小巧的包装非常漂亮，而且易于握持和喷洒。” 然而，一些测试者发现 Prequel 喷雾的气味比 Personal Day 喷雾更浓烈，类似泳池的气味。
Prequel 喷雾的稀释度与 Personal Day 喷雾相同：瓶身标注的次氯酸含量为 0.02%，网站上的 pH 值为 5.5。在 Prequel 喷雾的成分表中，你还会发现盐酸（又称盐酸），Bowles 表示，稀释后的盐酸有助于降低产品的 pH 值。“这样做有助于优化次氯酸的杀菌和促进愈合效果，”她解释说。
Prequel 喷雾还获得了美国国家酒渣鼻协会的认可印章；这表明该产品经过专门针对红斑痤疮患者的测试和考量，并且不含任何通常被认为会加剧红斑痤疮症状的成分。因此，如果您患有红斑痤疮，不妨将此认证视为加分项。
我们的测试人员认为 Prequel 喷雾与 Hydrinity Hyacyn Active 喷雾（截至撰写本文时，每盎司 20 美元，每瓶 60 美元）不相上下，后者的用户体验也与之类似。然而，Hydrinity 喷雾的价格实在太高，所以我们放弃了它。
一瓶红色的 Tower28 喷雾摆放在奶油色花瓶前。我们发现这款中等价位的喷雾比获奖产品略逊一筹。Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
我们喜欢但并不喜欢的一款老款产品
Tower28 SOS 急救喷雾
这款喷雾因其温和的氯味和轻巧的包装（方便携带）而广受好评。然而，它因为喷雾太过凌乱和瓶身廉价感（考虑到价格）而丢掉了一些分数。
亚马逊售价 28 美元
丝芙兰售价 28 美元
我们喜欢热门的 Tower28 SOS 急救喷雾，但并不太喜欢。虽然很多测试者喜欢它的包装外观，但他们表示喷雾有点太湿了。编辑 Hannah Rimm 表示，Tower28 的喷雾“太湿了，我不想用在脸上。” 不过，她补充说，用在身上感觉很清爽。之前用过 Tower28 喷雾的特约撰稿人 Maki Yazawa 表示：“28 美元的价格，我期待喷雾更细腻，而且包装感觉很廉价。” 一些测试者觉得喷雾中类似氯气的气味比较淡，但也有人持不同意见。
Tower28 喷雾的 pH 值为 4.5。我们与该品牌确认，其稀释度在0.01%至0.02%次氯酸的理想范围内，但该品牌拒绝透露具体比例。Tran解释说，这种不公开并非一定是危险信号，因为有些品牌出于竞争原因会严格保密其配方。她补充说，Tower28获得了一些相关的认证印章（例如美国国家湿疹协会和美国国家酒渣鼻协会的认可印章），这些印章“积极地表明了其产品的安全性和检测标准”。
三种不同的喷雾在木质表面上的绿色植物前展示。从气味、触感和包装方面来看，这些是我们测试人员最不喜欢的喷雾。Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
我们小组最不喜欢使用的喷雾——E11ement次氯酸面部和皮肤喷雾、SkinSmart祛痘洁面乳和Magic Molecule The Solution——巧合的是，根据各品牌的说法，它们的pH值都在7或以上，尽管它们的浓度都在理想范围内。
Bowles 解释说，pH 值为 7 或更高的次氯酸喷雾仍可能带来一些益处，但随着时间的推移，它们杀菌的效果可能不如以前。她表示，如果你希望使用这些喷雾来治疗炎症性皮肤病，这一点尤其重要。
SkinSmart 和 Magic Molecules 的次氯酸喷雾已获得 FDA 批准，但这并非强制性要求，最终这可能并非最重要的考虑因素。“真正重要的是配方本身——尤其是 pH 值，”Bowles 说。“未经 FDA 批准的低 pH 值喷雾实际上可能比经 FDA 批准的高 pH 值配方更有利于皮肤护理，但这种配方并非必需的。”
并未针对皮肤需求进行优化。”
我们最不喜欢的喷雾质地较厚重，而且会散发出浓烈（即使转瞬即逝）的泳池气味，而且不幸的是，它们也是最实惠的选择。如果价格是首要考虑因素，你的皮肤或许仍会从这些喷雾中受益，但你可能会在其他方面做出妥协。
如何使用和储存次氯酸
这些喷雾通常被认为是相当安全的，但你仍然可能过度使用它们。“适度是关键，”Bowles 说。虽然它们可能感觉清爽，但它们并不保湿。Bowles 解释说，全天使用过量会破坏皮肤的水分平衡。过度使用会导致皮肤干燥和刺激。
虽然次氯酸喷雾的使用频率没有明确的限制，但 Rambhia 和皮肤科医生 Deanne Mraz 建议每天最多使用三次。如果你每天早晚都使用这些喷雾进行护肤，最好在之后进行后续的护理。保湿霜。
此外，需要注意的是，尽管这些喷雾有时被宣传为洁面产品，但它们“不能取代清洁和适当的卫生”，Mraz 说道。请坚持日常洁面程序。次氯酸喷雾不应被视为洁面替代品，而应作为洁面的补充——无论是在运动后、戴帽子后、旅行时，还是（有些人会这样做）对着镜子抠皮肤后（即使我们当中最好的人也会遇到这种情况）。
此外，次氯酸并非适用于所有护肤程序，尤其是含有维生素 C 精华液的护肤程序。次氯酸是一种氧化成分，这意味着它会干扰维生素 C 和其他抗氧化剂的功效，Tran 说道。如果您想将次氯酸与抗氧化剂一起使用，请考虑将两者间隔一段时间，早上使用维生素 C 精华液，晚上使用次氯酸。
与维生素 C 一样，次氯酸也需要妥善储存。它在暴露于阳光下时会变得非常不稳定。它不耐高温（在温度超过 77 °F 时会迅速降解），而且对光敏感。为了保持其稳定性，Tran 建议不要将其放在车内或其他温暖的地方。
您还应避免将喷雾从一个瓶子转移到另一个瓶子（正如我们上面提到的）。“次氯酸配方本质上是经过‘工程设计’的，可以与原始容器无缝配合。” “所有部件——塑料成分、喷嘴、密封圈和内部涂层——都经过严格测试，以保持稳定性、防止污染并保持有效性，”Tran 解释道。所以，即使它的包装很丑，你也最好坚持使用。
最后，次氯酸并非万能清洁。由于其稀释度较低（0.01% 到 0.02%），它对皮肤有益，但不应依赖它来消毒手机屏幕或红光面罩等表面。
作为一个使用过次氯酸喷雾一段时间的人，我发现它们最大的好处并非其对皮肤的多种用途，而是它带给我的安心。虽然我的青少年时代早已远去，但我的皮肤仍然容易长痘痘，而且一些关于皮肤的担忧至今仍挥之不去。有了这种喷雾，我不再那么担心从健身房悠闲地走回家，也不再那么担心汗湿的帽子会碰到我的额头。它不会改变我的人生，但它确实改变了我的生活。一些东西。
本文由 Katie Okamoto 和 Hannah Rimm 编辑。
延伸阅读
如何去除角质而不灼伤（或擦洗）你的脸 如何去除角质而不灼伤（或擦洗）你的脸
如果你是去角质新手，可以先从每周一次开始，坚持一个月。如果你的皮肤可以接受，可以考虑增加到每周两次。
有些维生素C精华液价格超过150美元，有些低于25美元。这就是我们推荐两者的原因。有些维生素C精华液价格超过150美元，有些低于25美元。这就是我们推荐两者的原因。
我们精心挑选的产品拥有专利、研究成果和精致的化妆品配方，这些因素导致了它价格不菲。但你不必花费182美元就能买到真正有效的产品。
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Hypochlorous Acid Mists Are Touted as Cure-Alls. So We Tested Them.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/hypochlorous-acid-mist-review/
Published
By Hannah FryeHannah Frye is a writer covering beauty and style.
Hypochlorous acid mists have taken the online beautysphere by storm. Skin-care fanatics seem to view hypochlorous acid as a cure-all for just about anything, including calming eczema, easing acne, and disinfecting minor wounds.
As a beauty reporter, I’ve watched the hype around this ingredient evolve from like to love. And one brand has been there since the beginning: Tower28, with its beloved SOS Rescue Spray (a perennial TikTok darling). It is so sought-after that sometimes the tomato-red bottle is enough: I’ve seen people on social media decanting the contents of cheaper hypochlorous acid sprays into Tower28 empties. (You really shouldn’t do this, but we’ll get into that later.)
The market is growing for hypochlorous acid mists. And as more brands are developing their own dedicated followings, with nearly identical ingredients lists, we wanted to understand the hype — and to see whether we could detect any differences among the sprays.
After speaking with four dermatologists and a cosmetic chemist, I learned that many of the claimed benefits are true, though not every person will benefit from adding a hypochlorous acid mist to their routine. We looked into the claims, tested seven popular mists, and found two favorites that might offer some benefits.
What is hypochlorous acid?
Hypochlorous acid is anything but new. In fact, your skin makes its own hypochlorous acid, which is produced by your white blood cells.
As part of your skin’s immune system, hypochlorous acid (abbreviated HOCl) does two main things: It protects against infection by killing bacteria, and it reduces inflammation (more on both of these, below). The hypochlorous acid used in skin-care products is “re-created by electrolyzing a salt-water solution, a process that mimics how the body generates hypochlorous acid to combat pathogens,” cosmetic chemist Alanna Tran said.
Be warned: Some hypochlorous acid mists have a potent, pool-like chlorine smell (that’s the Cl in HOCl you’re picking up), which dissipates after application. It might smell like something you shouldn’t put on your face, but this just comes with the territory of using some hypochlorous acid sprays.
What are some skin benefits of hypochlorous acid mist?
The claim that topical hypochlorous acid spray may help improve acne by targeting acne-causing bacteria holds up, according to the dermatologists I spoke with. But it’s not a one-stop shop for acne treatment. There are many other factors contributing to acne that these sprays don’t address, such as oil production, dead skin cells, hormones, and more.
Yet when it comes to managing bacteria, hypochlorous acid can be a helpful tool. This is especially relevant for those dealing with localized breakouts or with contact dermatitis triggered by bacteria transferred to the skin from sports masks, helmets, hats, beauty tools, or makeup brushes and sponges. To help reduce that bacteria, dermatologist Mansha Sethi Thacker recommends misting your skin and the triggering items. Research shows that hypochlorous acid kills some bacteria faster than bleach. And one 2018 study found that it was an even more effective disinfectant than standard hospital cleaners when tested in a medical setting.
HOCl spray shouldn’t replace, say, regularly cleaning makeup tools with soap. “Instead, add it to the regimen — after washing and drying your brushes or sponges, spritz them to clear away any lingering bacteria,” Sethi Thacker said.
And unlike other antibacterial agents (such as alcohol), hypochlorous acid is less drying, so it’s less likely to dehydrate or irritate the skin, according to dermatologist Alexandra Bowles. That’s partially because hypochlorous acid has a “quick neutralization,” which means it performs its antimicrobial action quickly before breaking down into salt water, according to dermatologist Pooja Rambhia.
Hypochlorous acid’s bacteria-busting powers also make it a great option for freshening up armpits and feet, Bowles said. So it could come in handy for those days when you don’t have time to shower right away. However, HOCI does not block sweat like antiperspirants do, and Bowles said that “it may not fully replace your regular deodorant if you’re looking for long-lasting protection from sweat.”
Beyond taming bacteria, hypochlorous acid also has anti-inflammatory properties, something the dermatologists I spoke with emphasized. This means it may alleviate skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea, as well as ease occasional inflammation caused by sunburns or overexfoliation (though you should speak with a doctor before using hypochlorous acid for any chronic skin conditions).
With all of this in mind, remember that HOCl spray is optional, and it’s not a sweeping treatment plan to address all inflammatory symptoms or prevent all bacterial infections. For ongoing or severe conditions, you should consult a physician. You should also consult your doctor for guidance if you’re on an oral or topical medication for a skin condition.
What’s the difference between all of these hypochlorous acid mists?
Hannah Frye/NYT Wirecutter
Once we understood the science of hypochlorous acid, we put seven of the most popular, sought-after hypochlorous acid mists to the test. In many cases the ingredients lists look nearly identical (pretty much just water, salt, and hypochlorous acid). But the ratio of those ingredients and the formula’s pH (or acidity level) are what made one product different from the next.
We compared their formulas, and for testing we selected mists with minimal ingredients and formulations that are considered safe to use on scrapes, makeup tools, and the face. This eliminated some mists that had hypochlorous acid as just one of several skin-care ingredients, including things like salicylic acid, peptides, fruit extracts, and added fragrance.
Our testing list included:
- Tower28 SOS Rescue Spray
- Personal Day Trust Me on This Hypochlorous Acid Spray
- Magic Molecule The Solution
- SkinSmart Facial Cleanser for Acne
- Prequel Universal Skin Solution Dermal Spray
- Hydrinity Hyacyn Active
- E11ement Hypochlorous Acid Face and Skin Spray
Our testing panel included six people with varying skin types, and they tested these products in Wirecutter’s office. Testers evaluated each mist for its first-impression user experience, including the pump, the feel of the mist, how it performed over makeup, the packaging, and the smell.
Next, we considered price and formula, including acidity and concentration. Of the seven mists we tested, we were able to confirm that four had both ideal acidity and concentration.
The concentration of HOCl in products made for skin tends to fall between 0.01% to 0.02% hypochlorous acid (the rest of the spray is typically a mix of water and salt). Rambhia said this concentration is a “sweet spot” in that it’s strong enough to disrupt pathogens but mild enough for good bacteria to withstand. (This is one reason why you don’t need to worry that hypochlorous acid sprays made for the skin will disrupt your skin’s microbiome or kill off good bacteria.) Of the mists we tested, our two favorites fall within this range.
Some brands, like Prequel, put the concentration of hypochlorous acid on the bottle. Hannah Frye/NYT Wirecutter
The next thing to consider is pH, or acidity. Some studies (including one from 2022 and another from 2023) suggest that for a hypochlorous acid product for use on skin, the ideal pH should fall roughly between 4 and 6 (similar to the pH of the skin’s acidic mantle) to be the most effective for killing bacteria. And Tran and Bowles both agreed. That acidic mantle is a pH of about 4.5 to 5.5, so “products in this acidic range better support skin’s natural defenses,” Tran said.
However, if the formula is too acidic, and the pH falls below about 4, this may cause the hypochlorous acid solution to lose stability and convert to chlorine gas, Tran said. On the flip side, when pH surpasses about 6, some of the hypochlorous acid could convert to hypochlorite ion, a form research suggests is less effective at killing bacteria. Some brands list pH and concentration information on the bottle or online. For those that didn’t, I reached out to the brands directly.
One spray stood out to our panel as a favorite for its ideal formula, usability, and value: Personal Day Trust Me on This Hypochlorous Acid Spray.
The mists that won over our testers. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
A super-fine, decent-smelling mist with lovely packaging
Personal Day Trust Me on This Hypochlorous Acid Spray
Adored for its fine mist and beautiful packaging, this spray took the cake for our testers. We also liked that it didn’t leave a potent, chlorine-like smell.
Personal Day Trust Me on This Hypochlorous Acid Spray is a relative newcomer to the hypochlorous acid scene (it launched in March 2025), and it lands in the middle of the pack on price (at $6.75 an ounce, or $27 for a bottle, at the time of writing). Our panel gave it high praise for its super-fine mist, which refreshed our testers’ skin without making it feel too wet. I used the Personal Day mist over my makeup multiple times throughout testing, and it never displaced foundation or concealer, even with a generous amount of spritzing.
The dilution, as told to me by the company, is 0.02%, which falls into the acceptable range for use on the skin. The pH is between 5.3 and 5.7, falling into that expert-approved window.
The mist had little to no detectable scent, and all of the testers admired the packaging. Staff writer Caroline Mullen commented, “It has a hefty weight, smooth rounded edges, and an almost flocked feeling that pleased me. Plus, I’m eternally into a bright green.”
This spray earned high praise for its gentle mist and pretty packaging. Some testers initially didn’t love the light chlorine smell, but the scent faded quickly.
The Prequel Universal Skin Solution Dermal Spray was our next favorite. Like the Personal Day spray’s mist, this one’s fine mist hit the skin gently, not wetly. One tester remarked, “The small packaging is so pretty, and it’s easy to hold and spray.” However, some testers detected a stronger, pool-like scent from the Prequel spray in comparison with Personal Day’s mist.
The Prequel spray has the same dilution as the Personal Day spray: 0.02% hypochlorous acid, as stated on the bottle, and a pH of 5.5, as listed on the website. On the Prequel spray’s ingredients list, you’ll also find muriatic acid (aka hydrochloric acid), which Bowles said is used in diluted amounts to help lower the pH of the product. “By doing so, it helps optimize the hypochlorous acid’s effectiveness in killing bacteria and promoting healing,” she explained.
Prequel’s mist also has a seal of acceptance from the National Rosacea Society; this indicates that a product has undergone testing and consideration specifically for those who struggle with rosacea, and that it should be free from ingredients commonly known to exacerbate rosacea symptoms. So if you have rosacea, you may consider this seal to be a plus.
Our testers considered the Prequel spray to be in a dead heat with the Hydrinity Hyacyn Active mist ($20 an ounce, or $60 a bottle, at the time of writing), which delivered a similar user experience. However, we couldn’t justify the Hydrinity spray’s price, so we dismissed it.
The middle-ground mist we found to be slightly less satisfying than our winners. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
This mist earned praise for its mild, chlorine-like smell and lightweight packaging (which makes it nice for traveling). Yet it lost points for having a messy mist and a cheap-feeling bottle (given the price).
We liked, but didn’t love, the popular Tower28 SOS Rescue Spray. Although many testers enjoyed the look of the packaging, they said they found the mist to be a tad too damp. Editor Hannah Rimm said the Tower28 mist “was very wet so I didn’t want to put it on my face.” She added, however, that it felt refreshing on her body. Staff writer Maki Yazawa, who has used the Tower28 mist before, said, “For $28, I’d expect a much finer mist, and the packaging feels cheaply made.” Some testers found the chlorine-like smell to be mild, but others disagreed.
Tower28’s spray lists a pH of 4.5. We confirmed with the brand that its dilution falls within the ideal range of 0.01% to 0.02% hypochlorous acid, but it declined to disclose the exact percentage. This nondisclosure isn’t necessarily a red flag, Tran explained, since some brands guard their formulations for competitive reasons. She added that Tower28 obtained some relevant certification seals (like the acceptance seals from the National Eczema Association and the National Rosacea Society), which are “positive indicators of their product’s safety and testing standards.”
These are our testers’ least favorite mists in terms of smell, feel, and packaging. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter
The mists our panel least liked using — E11ement Hypochlorous Acid Face and Skin Spray, SkinSmart Facial Cleanser for Acne, and Magic Molecule The Solution — coincidentally all have a pH of 7 or above, according to the brands, though their concentrations fall within the ideal range.
Hypochlorous acid mists with a pH of 7 or higher could still offer some benefits, but they might not be as effective at killing bacteria over time, Bowles explained. She said this is especially true if you’re hoping to use one of these sprays to help treat an inflammatory skin condition.
SkinSmart and Magic Molecules HOCl sprays are FDA-cleared, which is not required, and ultimately this may not be the most important factor to consider. “What really matters is the formulation itself — particularly the pH,” Bowles said. “A low-pH mist without FDA clearance can actually be more beneficial for skin care than a high-pH, FDA-cleared formula that isn’t optimized for the skin’s needs.”
Our least favorite mists had clumsier, wetter mists and strong (if fleeting) pool smells, and they were, unfortunately, also the most affordable options. If price is paramount, your skin may still see some benefits from these mists, but you could be compromising in other areas.
These mists are generally considered to be pretty fail-safe, but you can still overuse them. “Moderation is key,” Bowles said. Although they may feel refreshing, they are not moisturizing. Using them too often throughout the day can disrupt the skin’s moisture balance, Bowles explained. And overuse could lead to dryness and irritation.
While there’s no definitive limit on how often you should use hypochlorous acid mists, Rambhia and dermatologist Deanne Mraz recommend applying them a maximum of three times a day. And if you use these mists daily in your morning or evening skin-care routine, it’s always a good idea to follow up with a moisturizer.
Also, let it be known that even though these sprays are sometimes marketed as cleansers, they “do not replace cleansing and proper hygiene,” Mraz said. Keep up with your regular face-cleansing routine. Think of a hypochlorous acid mist not as a cleansing replacement but as a supplement to cleansing — whether you use it post-workout, after wearing a hat, while traveling, or (as some people do) after picking at your skin in the mirror (it happens to the best of us).
Additionally, hypochlorous acid can’t be used with all skin-care routines, especially if they include vitamin C serums. Hypochlorous acid is an oxidizing ingredient, which means it can interfere with the efficacy of vitamin C and other antioxidants, Tran said. If you want to use hypochlorous acid with antioxidants, consider spacing them out by applying vitamin C serum in the morning and hypochlorous acid at night.
Like vitamin C, hypochlorous acid needs to be stored properly. It can get quite unstable when it’s exposed to hot conditions (it begins to degrade rapidly at temperatures above 77 °F), and it’s light-sensitive. To keep it stable, Tran advised against leaving it in your car or other warm places.
You should also avoid transferring your spray from bottle to bottle (as we mentioned up top). “The hypochlorous acid formula is essentially ‘engineered’ to work seamlessly with its original container. Everything — the plastic composition, spray nozzle, seal, and interior coating — undergoes rigorous testing to maintain stability, prevent contamination, and preserve effectiveness,” Tran explained. So even if it comes in an ugly container, you’re better off sticking with it.
Finally, hypochlorous acid isn’t intended to clean everything. Because of its lower dilution (0.01% to 0.02%), it’s great for skin, but it shouldn’t be relied on for disinfecting surfaces like phone screens or red light masks.
As someone who has used hypochlorous acid mists for a while, I find the best thing about them is not their plentiful uses for skin but instead the peace of mind they bring me. Though my teenage years are far gone, my skin is still somewhat acne-prone, and some of that skin anxiety lingers to this day. With one of these mists on hand, I feel a bit less worried about leisurely walks home from the gym and sweaty hats touching my forehead. It’s not life-changing, but it is something.
This article was edited by Katie Okamoto and Hannah Rimm.
