If you have spent any time on skincare TikTok in the last two years, you have almost certainly seen the Tower28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray.
Creators hold it up. Dermatologists recommend it. Influencers spray it on camera and their skin immediately looks calmer, more refreshed, somehow cleaner. The ingredient that makes it work is hypochlorous acid and the internet lost its mind over it.
The Tower28 spray costs $28 for 4 ounces.
SkinSmart Antimicrobial Facial Cleanser contains the same active ingredient hypochlorous acid in an 8-ounce bottle. For $17.
That is twice the product for $10 less than the viral version.
HuffPost noticed. So did thousands of Amazon reviewers who had previously been paying Tower28 prices. And so did we which is why we spent weeks researching this product, going through hundreds of real reviews, and looking at the science behind hypochlorous acid to give you the complete honest picture.
Here is what we found.
What Is Hypochlorous Acid And Why Is Everyone Talking About It?
Before getting into the product, this ingredient deserves a proper explanation because it is genuinely remarkable and the science behind it is real.
When germs invade our bodies, our immune system sends white blood cells to fight them. Those white blood cells engulf the invading pathogens through a process called phagocytosis and once engulfed, the white blood cell produces hypochlorous acid to kill the pathogen within milliseconds of contact. This antimicrobial process is called the Oxidative Burst Pathway.
In other words, hypochlorous acid is not a laboratory invention. It is a compound your body already makes. It is part of your immune system’s natural infection-fighting process.
What chemical engineers have done is replicate this naturally-occurring compound and bottle it for everyday skin use. The result is a topical antimicrobial that kills bacteria including the bacteria that cause acne without damaging healthy skin tissue the way harsh cleansers, benzoyl peroxide, and strong acids can.
This is the core reason hypochlorous acid has become so significant in both medical and skincare settings. It is simultaneously highly effective against pathogens and remarkably gentle on healthy skin.
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
What Exactly Is SkinSmart Facial Cleanser?
SkinSmart Antimicrobial Facial Cleanser takes a different approach to cleansing. No burning sensation, no tight feeling, just clean refreshed skin. The formula contains only three ingredients: hypochlorous acid, ionized water, and a bit of salt.
That three-ingredient list is worth stopping on. Most cleansers contain twenty, thirty, sometimes forty ingredients. SkinSmart has three. All naturally derived. All performing a specific function.
SkinSmart is proudly formulated, manufactured, and bottled in Edina, Minnesota, USA. It is not a dropship brand. It is an established antimicrobial skincare company with an FDA-cleared formula and a board-certified dermatologist partnership.
The product comes in an 8-ounce spray bottle which is generous for a skincare product at this price point. The SkinSmart spray comes in an 8-ounce bottle for $17.46 on Amazon, giving you twice the product for $10 less than Tower28’s 4-ounce spray which costs $28.
The spray format is intentional. It allows even, no-touch application across the entire face no hands touching your skin, no cross-contamination, no uneven distribution.
The Three Ingredients What Each One Does
Hypochlorous Acid |HOCl| The Active Ingredient
The primary antimicrobial agent. At the concentration used in this formula, it kills Cutibacterium acnes the bacteria primarily responsible for acne without disrupting the skin’s natural microbiome or damaging the skin barrier.
This is the critical distinction from benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Those ingredients kill bacteria, but they also kill healthy skin cells, strip the acid mantle, and disrupt the barrier in the process causing the dryness, peeling, and irritation that make conventional acne treatments difficult to use consistently.
Hypochlorous acid targets pathogens with surgical precision. Healthy tissue is left undisturbed.
Medical applications of HOCl include wound care, post-surgical cleaning, eye care, and treatment of chronic skin conditions including eczema and rosacea. FDA cleared and dermatologist recommended medical professionals use hypochlorous acid in wound care because it kills bacteria without harming healthy tissue.
Ionized Water
The carrier base. Ionized water has a specific electrical charge that enhances the stability and efficacy of the hypochlorous acid in the formula. It also contributes to the refreshing, non-stripping feel of the spray.
Sodium Chloride |Salt|
A small amount of salt stabilizes the hypochlorous acid and maintains the correct pH for the formula to work effectively. At this concentration, it is a functional stabilizer rather than an active ingredient.
What the formula deliberately excludes: Fragrance, dyes, parabens, sulfates, silicones, oils, harsh alcohols, allergens. It is fungal acne safe, reef safe, and safe for all ages including infants one month and older.
How to Use It The Method That Gets Results
The application process is simpler than almost any other skincare product which is part of why it has such a loyal following among athletes, teenagers, and busy adults.
Standard facial cleansing: Spray directly onto clean or uncleaned skin. Let it sit for thirty to sixty seconds. Wipe gently with a clean cloth or allow to air dry. No rinsing required for most uses.
Post-workout cleansing: This is one of SkinSmart’s primary use cases. Athletes need post-workout cleansing that works fast. SkinSmart works for these situations the gentle formula clears breakouts without the harsh side effects of benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Spray on immediately after exercise, before shower if needed, to neutralize sweat-activated bacteria before they can trigger breakouts.
As a toner step: After cleansing with your regular cleanser, spray SkinSmart as your first toning step. Allow to dry. Proceed with the rest of your routine. This adds an antimicrobial layer that primes pores before serums and moisturizers.
Spot treatment: Spray directly onto an active blemish or area of breakout. The concentrated antimicrobial action helps reduce bacteria at the site and calms surrounding redness.
Pre-makeup application: Spray before applying foundation to ensure a clean, bacteria-free surface. Particularly useful for people who apply makeup to already-irritated skin.
Post-mask or post-exfoliant: After removing a face mask or using a chemical exfoliant like AHA or BHA, the skin surface is temporarily more vulnerable. A light spray of SkinSmart provides antimicrobial protection during this recovery window.
Frequency: Safe for multiple daily uses. Unlike benzoyl peroxide and acid-based products that require limiting to once or twice daily maximum, hypochlorous acid at this concentration can be used as often as needed without barrier disruption.
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toner
Real People. Real Results. What We Found Across Hundreds of Reviews.
We analyzed reviews from Amazon, HuffPost, Reddit, and direct conversations with consistent users. Here is the completely honest picture:
The People Who Made It a Permanent Routine
Multiple buyers couldn’t believe their luck in the reviews, with many comparing it favorably to the Tower28 spray for keeping their skin clear and leaving them feeling refreshed. The SkinSmart spray has racked up over 10,000 five-star ratings on Amazon.
One longtime user described it as basically the same exact formula as the viral Tower28 spray for a fraction of the cost helping keep their skin healthy and clearing minor breakouts consistently. They rated it 10 out of 10.
One reviewer who had been using the same conventional cleanser for years described making the leap to SkinSmart and being impressed by how well it performed. The scent was noted as a temporary concern it smells faintly like a pool initially, which dissipates quickly but the results won them over completely.
Athletes particularly respond to this product. People who train daily, sweat heavily, and break out in the chin and forehead area from helmet and mask wear describe SkinSmart as the product that finally addressed maskne and post-workout breakouts without drying out their skin.
Parents of teenagers with acne describe giving their child this spray as a first-line product before trying prescription treatments. Multiple parents report significant improvement in teen acne with none of the side effects dryness, peeling, irritation that come with conventional acne products.
The eczema and rosacea community has also adopted SkinSmart. Several users with chronic conditions describe the spray as the only product that calms flare-ups without triggering further irritation. The no-fragrance, no-allergen formula means it cannot trigger the sensitivity reactions that compromise most skincare for reactive skin.
The Honest Negative Experiences
In its natural state, hypochlorous acid smells a bit like a pool or spa. SkinSmart does not add perfumes or dyes to mask the natural smell. The smell is faint and dissipates quickly it is fume-free and does not linger on surfaces or in the air.
This is the most consistent complaint across negative reviews. People expecting a fresh, pleasant-smelling spray are caught off guard by the mild chlorine-pool scent. It is not strong, it fades within seconds, and it leaves no residue but if you are fragrance-sensitive in the opposite direction and need your skincare to smell pleasant, this product will feel clinical rather than luxurious.
A second pattern in less positive reviews involves expectation mismatch. Some users with severe cystic acne describe limited improvement — which reflects a misunderstanding of what hypochlorous acid does. It kills surface and pore bacteria. It does not address hormonal acne, sebaceous hyperplasia, or deep cystic inflammation driven by factors beyond bacteria. For those skin conditions, prescription treatment is more appropriate.
A small number of users find the spray format delivers too much product per pump, resulting in dripping. Holding the bottle further from the face and using a shorter burst solves this it is a technique issue rather than a product defect.
SkinSmart vs. Tower28 The $11 Question
This comparison comes up in virtually every SkinSmart review, so let us address it directly.
| Points | SkinSmart | Tower28 SOS Spray |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Hypochlorous Acid | Hypochlorous Acid |
| Other ingredients | Ionized water, salt | Water, sodium chloride |
| Ingredient match | Same 3-ingredient class | Same 3-ingredient class |
| Size | 8 oz | 4 oz |
| Price | ~$17 | ~$28 |
| Cost per oz | ~$2.12 | ~$7.00 |
| FDA cleared | Yes | No specific FDA clearance |
| Dermatologist partnered | Yes | Yes |
| Brand focus | Medical antimicrobial | Clean beauty lifestyle |
| Scent | Faint chlorine (dissipates) | Mild |
The main difference is that the SkinSmart spray comes in an 8-ounce bottle for $17.46 on Amazon, giving you twice the product for $10 less than Tower28’s 4-ounce spray.
The honest conclusion: both products deliver hypochlorous acid to the skin. SkinSmart is the more clinical, value-focused option with a medical background. Tower28 is the more aesthetic, lifestyle-focused option that photographs better and fits more naturally into the influencer skincare world.
If efficacy and value drive your decision SkinSmart wins clearly.
If aesthetic experience, packaging, and brand community matter to you Tower28 justifies some of its premium.
Who Should Use SkinSmart And Who Should Look Elsewhere
Perfect fit:
- Acne-prone skin dealing with regular surface and pore breakouts
- Post-workout breakout prevention gym-goers, athletes, active people
- Maskne sufferers anyone who wears masks regularly for work or exercise
- Eczema and rosacea the fragrance-free, allergen-free formula is safe for reactive skin conditions
- Sensitive skin that has reacted to conventional acne treatments
- Teenagers experiencing hormonal surface breakouts
- People looking for a Tower28 dupe at a significantly lower price
- Pre-makeup skin preparation for acne-prone individuals
- Anyone wanting to simplify their routine with a minimal-ingredient product
- Post-procedure care after extractions, peels, or microneedling
Not the best fit:
- Anyone expecting a fragrant, luxurious cleanser experience
- Severe cystic or hormonal acne that requires prescription treatment
- People who need a traditional lathering face wash this is a spray toner, not a soap-based cleanser
- Those who want a moisturizing cleanser this formula is purely antimicrobial with no emollient properties
- Anyone expecting overnight transformation from severe acne
Common Mistakes That Reduce Your Results
Mistake 1: Using it as a complete replacement for cleansing SkinSmart is an antimicrobial spray it is not a traditional cleanser that removes makeup, SPF, or heavy sebum buildup. Use it as part of your routine, not as your only cleansing step when makeup or SPF is present.
Mistake 2: Expecting results for hormonal or cystic acne Surface bacteria are one cause of acne. Hormones, sebum production, and deep cystic inflammation are others. SkinSmart addresses the bacterial component specifically. If your acne is primarily hormonal or cystic, this product alone will not resolve it consult a dermatologist.
Mistake 3: Being put off by the scent and stopping immediately The mild chlorine scent dissipates within seconds. Users who push through the first few uses consistently report that they stop noticing it entirely. Giving up after one use because of the scent means missing what the product actually does.
Mistake 4: Using too much product per spray One or two short bursts across the face is all that is needed. Over-spraying causes dripping and wastes product. Hold the bottle eight to ten inches from your face for even coverage.
Mistake 5: Skipping moisturizer after use SkinSmart does not moisturize. After any cleansing step including this spray your skin needs its moisture replenished. Follow with your regular moisturizer.
Mistake 6: Storing in direct sunlight or heat Hypochlorous acid is sensitive to light and heat, which can degrade the formula over time. Store in a cool, dark location and use within the recommended timeframe after opening typically six months.
Pros and Cons The Complete List
Pros:
- Only 3 ingredients the simplest, cleanest formula in its category
- Hypochlorous acid is scientifically proven to kill acne-causing bacteria without damaging healthy tissue
- FDA-cleared formula medical-grade application at home
- Safe for all ages including infants one month and older
- Fragrance-free, dye-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, oil-free, silicone-free
- Fungal acne safe treats without triggering malassezia
- Safe for use around eyes, nose, and mouth unusual for an antimicrobial
- Gentle enough for eczema, rosacea, and severely sensitive skin
- No limit on daily usage frequency can be used multiple times daily
- Significantly better value than comparable viral products
- Made in the USA with FDA-cleared manufacturing
- Works for post-workout, maskne, breakouts, eczema, rosacea, and minor wounds
- 10,000+ five-star Amazon reviews
Cons:
- Mild chlorine/pool scent fades quickly but present on application
- Not a traditional cleanser does not remove makeup or heavy SPF
- Does not address hormonal or cystic acne directly
- Spray format delivers more product than some users expect technique adjustment needed
- Sensitive to heat and light requires careful storage
- No moisturizing properties must be followed by separate moisturizer
- Results for severe acne may be limited compared to prescription treatments
Final Verdict Is the $17 Really Worth It?
Here is the honest bottom line:
SkinSmart Antimicrobial Facial Cleanser is one of the most legitimately science-backed skincare products on Amazon at its price point. The hypochlorous acid science is real, the three-ingredient formula is genuinely clean, the FDA clearance is meaningful, and the consistent results reported by thousands of users from acne-prone teenagers to eczema patients to post-workout athletes reflect what the formula actually does.
For the specific problems it is designed to address surface bacteria, breakout prevention, post-workout skin hygiene, maskne, and reactive skin conditions like eczema and rosacea it is hard to find a cleaner, gentler, more value-efficient option.
The viral Tower28 comparison is real and worth acknowledging. The SkinSmart spray has racked up over 10,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, so you know this is the real deal and at twice the volume for $10 less, the value case is straightforward.
The only significant limitations are what it cannot do: it is not a makeup remover, it does not address deep hormonal acne, and it does not smell like a spa. Manage those expectations, integrate it correctly into your routine, and it will very likely earn a permanent place in your bathroom cabinet.
Our rating: 4.7 out of 5
Points deducted only for the chlorine scent that catches people off guard and the expectation mismatch around cystic acne. For surface bacteria management and gentle daily antimicrobial care it is one of the best products available at any price.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5
Quick Reference Table
| Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Best for | Acne, breakouts, eczema, rosacea, post-workout skin hygiene |
| Active ingredient | Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) |
| Total ingredients | 3 – Hypochlorous Acid, Ionized Water, Salt |
| Free from | Fragrance, dyes, parabens, oils, silicones, sulfates, allergens |
| Safe for | All ages including infants 1 month+ |
| Usage frequency | Multiple times daily – no limit |
| FDA cleared | Yes |
| Format | 8 oz spray bottle |
| Price | ~$17 |
| Tower28 comparison | Same ingredient class — twice the size, $10 less |
| Our rating | 4.7 / 5 |
| 🛒 Buy on Amazon | 👉 Check current price here |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SkinSmart the same as Tower28 SOS Spray? Both use hypochlorous acid as their active ingredient alongside water and salt. The concentration and exact formulation may differ slightly neither brand discloses exact HOCl percentages. The ingredient class is identical. SkinSmart offers significantly better value per ounce.
Can I use it on my whole body, not just my face? Yes. SkinSmart makes multiple products using the same hypochlorous acid formula for body use, wound care, and eye cleaning. The facial cleanser is safe for use anywhere on the body.
Is it safe during pregnancy? The formula contains only naturally-occurring compounds hypochlorous acid, water, and salt all of which are present in the human body. It is generally considered safe, but as always, consult your OB-GYN before introducing any new product during pregnancy.
Does it expire? Hypochlorous acid has a shorter shelf life than many skincare ingredients because it degrades with exposure to light and heat. Use within six months of opening and store in a cool, dark location for maximum efficacy.
Can I use it on my child’s acne? SkinSmart is cleared for use on all ages, even infants one month and up. It is one of the very few antimicrobial skincare products safe for pediatric use.
Does it replace my face wash? For removing makeup, SPF, and heavy daily grime no. Use your regular cleanser first, then SkinSmart as a follow-up antimicrobial step. For light days with no heavy product on skin, it can function as a standalone refresh and cleanse.