Beauty

I Finally Tried A Hypochlorous Acid Facial Spray To See If It Was Worth The Hype (And It Is)

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Bianca's hand holding up the bottle of facial spray with a bright background
(Bianca Guzzo)

Lately, I’ve been seeing hypochlorous acid sprays pop up all over social media. Gentle and antimicrobial, these mists promise to banish bad bacteria, calm inflammation, and support skin healing. As a skincare lover, my interest was piqued.

But not all hypochlorous acid sprays are created equal, and they come at a range of price points. Some ring in over $35, but you can also find much more affordable alternatives.

Since I wanted to give it a go but wasn’t willing to spend an arm and a leg, I turned to Canadian skincare brand grace & stella. At under $15, I figured it was worth a try, so I tested it out to see if it lived up to the hype.

My experience using the grace & stella Hypochlorous Acid Soothing Facial Spray

I know it can be scary trying new skincare products. You risk breakouts and skin barrier disruption, neither of which is fun. My not-super-sensitive, but slightly red skin seems like the perfect canvas for hypochlorous acid spray, so I’m happy to be your guinea pig.

Now let’s get into the important stuff! The spray is lightweight, dries in a few seconds, and has absolutely no scent. So, on first impressions, it was ticking all my boxes.

The hero ingredient, hypochlorous acid, is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It helps banish acne-causing bacteria, reducing breakouts without irritating sensitive skin, and supports a healthy skin barrier. The pH-balanced formula assists with speedy wound healing, too. To my surprise, reviewers also like using it as part of their tattoo aftercare routine since it mimics the signals to white blood cells to heal minor skin irritations without stinging or burning.

Close-ups of the bottle, nozzle, and the fine mist that dispenses out of it
graceandstellarev2 Close-ups of the bottle, nozzle, and the fine mist that dispenses out of it. (Bianca Guzzo)

The nozzle head dispenses a fine mist with each spray, covering my face evenly with just a few spritzes. I like to wait 10 to 15 seconds for it to dry down, then continue with my toner followed by the rest of my skincare routine.

I have been using it consistently twice a day for the past three weeks. I like to do a gentle mist on clean skin right after washing my face, before continuing with the rest of my skincare. Since I’ve started using it, I’ve noticed that the natural redness on my cheeks has started to go down, and my skin texture is a little more even, which is most noticeable when I put makeup on. It’s also helping reduce the amount of breakouts I get, especially hormonal ones, which I usually can’t control. I haven’t dealt with any large or painful breakouts since working it into my routine.

The spray comes in two sizes: a 60mL bottle and a 120 mL bottle. I opted for the larger size, which is still under $20. I’ve made a decent dent with regular use, but I still feel like it’ll last me a couple of months. So far, my skin really seems to like and respond well to the ingredients, so I can see it becoming a staple in my regular skincare routine.

Is the grace & stella Hypochlorous Acid Soothing Facial Spray worth the hype?

A model reaching for the facial spray in their gym bag with a bright background
graceandstellarev2 (Amazon)

Yes! Since the grace & stella Hypochlorous Acid Soothing Facial Spray has caused me to break out far less and keeps redness to a minimum, I do think that it’s worth the hype it receives. Aside from it delivering on its skincare promises, it does feel refreshing and soothing — great for a little midday pick-me-up or post-workout zhuzh.

grace & stella Hypochlorous Acid Soothing Facial Spray: Pros and Cons

You should buy the grace & stella Hypochlorous Acid Soothing Facial Spray if…

  • You’re looking for a product to help reduce breakouts
  • You struggle with redness
  • You love a quick refresh after a workout

You should not buy the grace & stella Hypochlorous Acid Soothing Facial Spray if…

  • You don’t want to add an extra step to your skincare routine

What reviewers are saying about the grace & stella Hypochlorous Acid Soothing Facial Spray

The grace & stella Hypochlorous Acid Soothing Facial Spray has racked up over 800 reviews, earning an average rating of 4.4 stars. Many users appreciate its affordability and convenience, and love that they can use it to refresh their face halfway through the day without having to bust out their whole skincare routine. Some buyers with hormonal acne noticed a difference in the number of breakouts they get around their time of the month, so it might be worth a try if you struggle with blemishes.

Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes.