I find benzoyl peroxide is best for white heads because it dries them out. For cystic acne though, I use salicylic acid because it exfoliates and gets down into the acne to help clear it better. So depending on what type of acne you have, you can use either :)

Personally, I find that it depends on your skin type. If you have normal/dry skin, benzoyl peroxide will probably work. But if you have combnation/oily skin (like me), salicylic acid works better. Trust me, I've tried them both, and on my oily skin, benzoyl peroxide worsened the acne. But when I used salicylic acid, my acne went POOF! :) lol. Some people actually use them in tandem with one another, as long as salicylic acid comes first.

It really comes down to what kinda acne you have and how sensitive your skin is towards both treatments. I would recommend you trying benzoyl peroxide on larger acne or cystic acne which you know its gonna be hard to pop so it goes deep to clear it out. I highly recommend Benzac Ac 5 or 2 depending on how your skin can handle it cause it has worked for me in so many ways. 

As for salicylic acid, try using it only for blackhead and milder smaller pimples. Salicylic acid peels the upper layer of skin to reveal new skin which means it also does the same to your milder pimples which helps clear the minor breakouts better than the large ones. 

Hope you get clearer skin day by day =) all the best!

Im currently using neautrogena oil free cleanser (The Orange One :D) But it doesnt seem to do anything for my acne, so i might switch to Phisoderm, (Its also a salicylic acid like the neautrogena one) But i might also try a Clinical Formula Pumice Cleanser which is benzoyl peroxide...

If your face isn't sensitive, either is fine. Everyone's face is different, and benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acne treatments come in many forms and concentrations. I personally found that it was trial and error.

Acne treatment is very much about trial and error, unfortunately. Different acne treatments work for different people... I would say that SA is less harsh but not necessarily less effective. The concentration of the active ingredient is another thing to take into consideration, or you could even combine them. Neither worked for me though--I've tried both in varying concentrations, and prescription treatments. The only thing that worked for me was Accutane, but every body is different!

I've found salicyclic acid to be gentler but just as effective.  Benzoyl Peroxide made my skin burn and swell up.  Yeah, they do say it can do that, but I thought this was extreme.  I think it was called Oxy5; they make it in two concentrations, one 5% and one 10%.

I like Neutrogena's 3 in 1 acne treatment, it says something like "make acne one less stress."  Comes in a tube with orange and white labeling.

I suggest you use a acne treatment with salicylic acid in it because it helps correct the abnormal desquamation process that occurs in acne-prone skin. It works as an exfoliant, promoting the sloughing away of dead skin cells. Its very helpful in treating acne because of its ability to penetrate the follicle, helping keep the pores clear of cellular debris. So, this way it reduces the number of pore blockages and breakouts on the skin.

Depending on your preference, begin by using either salicylic acid pads or a salicylic acid lotion, cream, or gel. Do not use both. Using several salicylic acid products will excessively dry the skin, and will not clear acne any faster. After the skin is sufficiently clear, a salicylic acid wash or scrub can often be used in place of gels or pads to maintain clear skin.

Continuous use of a salicylic acid product is necessary to obtain and maintain positive results. If you stop using your treatment product, the pores will again clog with excess oil and dead cells, and acne can return.  -Benzoyl peroxide is one of the most frequently used acne treatment medications as well it can increase dryness, peeling, or stinging.* SKINiD works wonders for me and I have combination to oily skin. Hope this helped!

If you have to use one of those two, definitely Benzoyl Peroxide. Salicyclic Acid is the same thing a beta hydroxy acid.

I have never had any luck with salicylic acid when dealing with my mild acne. Benzoyl peroxide is the only thing that has ever cleared it up. I use Proactiv and have been for close to 7 years now and swear by it.