Pimples may be a rite of passage, but as you get older, the pimples that remind you of those popping pimples only get worse. Unless you've developed a solid routine to weather (and combat the current) outbreak starting from scratch every time a blob appears is frustrating, stressful, and costly. To help you avoid hopeless breakouts, we spoke to dermatologists to find out what are actually the best acne treatments.
The best acne cleanser. The foundation of any good acne care routine is a gentle and effective cleanser. PhD. King is a fan of Peach Slices' entire acne system, which includes salicylic acid cleanser, toner, and moisturizer because the brand contains skin-supporting ingredients like centella asiatica, allantoin, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. Likewise, CeraVe makes a proven foaming cleanser that exfoliates and uses ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier.
If you have oily skin, you might like Neutrogena's long-time bestseller; if you have dry and sensitive skin, Kate Somerville's Gentle Cleanser can help fight hormonal and cystic acne, while Will not irritate skin.
The best acne toner. Toner has long been considered the most important pore minimizer in skincare, but a good toner can also help rebalance and moisturize skin after a potentially harsh cleanse, preparing it for the rest of your daily routine. PhD.
If you're looking to clear your pores, King recommends salicylic acid, which French skincare brand Caudaliee and French brand La Roche-Posay have both made headlines for in their toners, as a key ingredient.
For those concerned about both packaging and formula, The Ordinary's gentle scrub comes with a targeted topper, while Indie Lee's toner comes in a convenient glass squirt bottle.
You can spray it directly on your face to make the most of every precious drop, or spray it on a cotton pad for a targeted treatment. It also contains Coenzyme Q-10, which has some research evidence to suggest it is an effective anti-aging ingredient.
The best acne serum. Those acne-fighting ingredients our experts pointed out before? They don't just stop at cleaning products. Serums containing azelaic acid (Dr. Hibler's favorite), mandelic acid, vitamin C, and lactic acid can help speed up cell turnover for refreshed skin, resulting in a brighter, more even complexion over time.
The best moisturizer for acne. When it comes to moisturizers for acne-prone skin, there's one word you need to familiarize yourself with: non-comedogenic. This is a broad term, but it means the product shouldn't clog pores and cause further breakouts.
If your skin is particularly oily, our experts agree that a lighter formula like a gel-cream or oil-free moisturizer may be more comfortable, especially when layering toner and serum over it. Paula’s Choice and Skinfix are crowd favorites that don’t clog and leave a bouncy glow.
Popular brand Dieux recently launched a breathable moisturizer for those with combination to oily skin but still suffers from dryness; the same goes for COSRX, a popular Korean beauty brand that has developed an entire regimen around the benefits of snail slime.
The best acne patches and spot treatments. Whether you're a celebrity or someone who suffers from acne, there are a variety of targeted acne treatments you can use to get rid of your breakouts.
The cleanest and sweetest of them all are acne spots; dr. King says hydrocolloid patches absorb excess fluid (and subsequent oil and dirt) from pimples and, most importantly, prevent breakouts. That's good, because "picking at pimples can prolong inflammation and healing time and increase the risk of infection, discoloration, and scarring," says Dr. King and half of your conscience.
Her favorites are Peach Slices’ Acne Spot Dots and Eve Lom’s Dynaspot because they have more impact. However, be careful when using spot treatments as these concentrated formulas may irritate people with sensitive skin.
The best acne skin care devices. There are many topical medications available to combat acne, but anti-acne skin care products can overdo things.
Our best advice is to consult a dermatologist and schedule in-house treatments (the only ones that really work are in-clinic lasers), but if you're a DIYer, an at-home LED light therapy device can also help you fight skin breakouts.
Research shows that blue and red wavelengths can fight acne-causing bacteria and heal hyperpigmentation long after the acne has flattened.
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