Best Products for Acne-Prone Skin: Reviews & Buying Guide

What do you need to clean up and help prevent breakouts? Try some of the best products for acne prone skin to see the improvement you desire. They are formulated to kill acne bacteria, purify pores, and soothe irritated skin.

You’ll find either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid (SA) in most acne-related products. Both are effective in their own way.

Benzoyl peroxide kills acne bacteria. Meanwhile, SA unclogs pores, reduces inflammation, and exfoliates the skin cells.

Let’s begin with the top products to get rid of those pimples as soon as possible.

Best Products for Acne-Prone Skin (2021 Update)

AcneFree 3-Step 24-Hour Acne Treatment Kit

This AcneFree kit is clinically-proven to noticeably reduce pimples within a day. It contains a face wash, a toner, and a moisturizer. Each kit should last for two months of daily treatments.

The cleanser immediately goes to work as a blackhead eliminator. Then, the toner uses glycolic acid and witch hazel to reduce shine. Finally, the overnight repair lotion continues the job while you sleep.

AcneFree Terminator 10 Acne Spot Treatment with Benzoyl Peroxide

Use the AcneFree spot treatment to eliminate blemishes. It features 10% micronized benzoyl peroxide plus ginger and chamomile. Apply it twice a day for best results.

AcneFree Severe Acne Treatment System

AcneFree’s 4-step System combines 10% benzoyl peroxide with retinol. It stops acne breakouts and resurfaces the dead skin cells. Therefore, it speeds up healing and help to prevent new outbreaks.

Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment

Pretty much everyone has heard of this brand. Their acne spot treatment has 2% SA to destroy a pimple in one day’s time. In only four hours, it reduces swelling and redness. Moreover, you can apply it three times a day.

Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Treatment Face Mask

At the same time you use acne medication, it’s usually safe to treat yourself with light therapy, too. Neutrogena’s acne face mask is based on scientific evidence. Red light stimulates healing while blue light kills acne bacteria. It’s painless, and you only need to wear the mask for 10 minutes a day.

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash with Salicylic Acid

Neutrogena’s Body Wash has SA and Microclear technology to purify pores. It has the classic grapefruit scent and it leaves the skin soft and smooth.

Therapeutic Tea Tree Oil Soap with Neem Oil

If you like to feel a refreshing tingle when you bathe, try the tea tree body wash from Oleavine. It not only treats acne, but it also takes care of athlete’s foot and other skin irritations.

Humane Benzoyl Peroxide 10% Body & Face Wash

Humane’s Benzoyl Peroxide wash is not for sensitive skin. In fact, they recommend that you test it on a small area first to see how you react. It’s one of the best body washes for acne prone skin.

CeraVe Salicylic Acid Body Wash

On the other hand, CeraVe’s SA Body Wash is mild. Dermatologists recommend it for clearing up bacne as well as keratosis pilaris. It gently exfoliates dead skin, unclogs hair follicles, and uses ceramides to help prevent moisture loss.

TreeActiv Acne Eliminating Body Lotion

The TreeActiv lotion clears up acne breakouts and keeps your skin cells soft. The vegan formula has salicylic acid, witch hazel, jojoba oil, and aloe. It tingles pleasantly when you smooth it on.

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for All Skin Types

Sometimes a lotion is just a lotion. This one from Cetaphil doesn’t exfoliate and doesn’t fight acne. But it’s exactly what you need if you’re already using acne medication that drying out your skin cells. It’s mild and fragrance-free and it gets the job done right.

Paula’s Choice CLEAR Pore Normalizing Cleanser

This cleanser has only 0.5% SA, which makes it very mild. If you have sensitive or dry skin, this could be your best bet. Like other products from Paula’s Choice, it has no artificial fragrances or parabens.

DRMTLGY Natural Gentle Face Wash and Pore Cleanser for Women and Men

The DRMTLGY Natural Face Wash is a smart option for adults with acne. That’s because it can help prevent breakouts and also slows down the aging of skin. It’s generally safe for sensitive faces because it lacks irritants like sulfates, artificial fragrances, and parabens. It’s even pH-balanced.

The cleanser features natural moisturizers like aloe, cucumber, and hyaluronic acid. Plus, it brightens skin tone with orange and grapefruit while it improves texture with panthenol and peptides.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser

If you have oily skin, try the Effaclar Medicated Cleanser from La Roche-Posay. It reduces shine without stripping all of your natural oil. The SA keeps pores unclogged. And this product is highly regarded by beauty sites like Allure.

Neutrogena Fragrance-Free Make-Up Remover Cleansing Towelettes

Removing makeup becomes a lot easier when you use these cleansing towelettes from Neutrogena. The fragrance-free wipes are less likely to irritate your dead skin.

Cetaphil Dermacontrol Moisturizer SPF 30

Cetaphil’s award-winning Dermacontrol Moisturizer lessens oiliness but still makes the surface of the skin feel soft. It’s fragrance-free and doesn’t contain parabens either. If you’re using acne medication, Dermacontrol will keep your face from drying out. Moreover, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends it as an effective sunscreen.

Clean & Clear Essentials Dual Action Face Moisturizer

This moisturizer was made to treat acne while it hydrates the surface of your skin. It features SA to gently exfoliate and unclog pores. It also reduces shine.

Aveeno Clear Complexion Blemish Treatment Daily Moisturizer

Aveeno adds the power of SA to their Total Soy Complex to make this fast-absorbing moisturizer. It’s lightweight and non-greasy. With regular use, you should experience fewer breakouts and healthier skin.

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

If you’re having a hard time finding the best sunscreen for acne prone skin that won’t cause breakouts, use EltaMD’s product. It’s safe for acne-prone skin and rosacea. Instead of chemical sunblocks, it contains 9% transparent zinc oxide. Then, the addition of niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and lactic acid relieve irritation and reduce redness. Finally, this sunscreen is available in clear or tinted versions.

Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin, Broad Spectrum SPF 55

Neutrogena protects your face with Helioplex Technology, a blend of chemical sunblocks including octisalate, homosalate, octocrylene, octobenzone, and avobenzone. These components protect you from ultraviolet radiation for up to 80 minutes in water. In addition, the fragrance-free formula works without clogging your pores.

Neutrogena Skinclearing Makeup

Neutrogena’s Skinclearing liquid foundation does three things at once. First, it evens out skin tone and conceals blemishes. Second, it makes your skin surface less oily. And third, it actually unclogs pores with Micro-Clear technology.

Neutrogena Skinclearing Blemish Concealer

Use Neutrogena’s blemish concealer to accompany their Skinclearing foundation. It has SA to spot treat pimples while you disguise them.

e.l.f. Acne Fighting Foundation

The e.l.f. foundation is much more than just makeup. It fights pimples with tea tree oil and SA. The tea tree kills acne bacteria while the acid unclogs pores and treats inflammation. There’s also aloe and witch hazel to moisturize and tone your skin.

e.l.f. Maximum Coverage Concealer

The Maximum Coverage Concealer from e.l.f. has an intensely-pigmented formula that camouflages blemishes as well as tattoos, too.

Almay Clear Complexion Liquid Makeup

The Almay Complexion foundation helps you create a clean and fresh canvas. Not only does it brighten your complexion, but it also reduces inflammation and exfoliates, too.

Almay Clear Complexion Oil-Free Concealer

Almay’s concealer uses SA to eliminate pimples. Apply the concealer on spots to hide them while the acid unclogs the pore and resolves the inflammation.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Teint Mattifying Mousse Matte Foundation

The La Roche-Posay Toleriane Teint Mattifying Mousse is a pricier option, but very effective. The makeup is free of parabens and artificial fragrances to make it safe for sensitive skin. It has a proprietary ingredient called Airlicium to absorb excess oil all day long. Plus, it uses Retinyl Linoleate to fight acne.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Teint Color Correcting Concealer Pen

The Toleriane concealer is available in three colors: dark beige, light beige, and yellow. Yellow disguises dark circles under the eyes. Then the beige shades hide redness and dark spots.

Conclusion

Don’t let pimples ruin your day. The best products for acne will help you care for every inch of your skin surface. We hope that your blemishes are soon only a memory.

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About Michelle Williams

Michelle puts her Master’s in English from NYU to work each day in her job with a small indie publisher. She’s created a prolific amount of content for a variety of self-help, beauty, tech, and business websites. Michelle has also ghostwritten two autobiographies and contributed to Shape, The Gentlewoman, and Slake magazines.