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Breakouts are inevitable, but especially during times of stress. So, it's no surprise this year has led to its fair share of pimples cropping up on our (usually masked) faces. "In times of stress, your stress hormones rise and trigger your oil glands to produce more oil, which then triggers acne flares,” Donna Hart, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas, explains.
To figure out how to best proceed—i.e., using helpful, effective products to target and heal breakouts without feeling bad about our skin—we did some research. We tested, reviewed, and wrote everything down. Below, find the best acne products to tackle blemishes at any stage and in any situation.
Best Overall
Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment
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Amazon
Quick results
Prevents future breakouts
Available at the drugstore
Can be drying
Formerly available by prescription only, Differin is now for sale over the counter, and serious skincare gurus are overjoyed. It contains a prescription-strength retinoid called Adapalene, which dermatologists recommend specifically for the treatment of acne. Long story short: It’s more than worth a try. The water-based formula is free of oil, alcohol, and fragrance and is an essential item in anyone’s acne-fighting arsenal.
Price at time of publish: $15
Key Ingredients: Adapalene | Type: Gel | Size: 1.6 ounces
Best for Clogged Pores
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
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Amazon
Quick results
Easy application
Helps hyperpigmented acne scars
Can be strong for sensitive skin
This ingredient-packed serum uses a potent combination of exfoliating acids, pore cleaners, antioxidants, and moisturizers to create an overnight treatment that operates like a gentler version of a glycolic acid peel. Expect a tingling sensation when you apply—that’s this serum sloughing off dead skin cells, unclogging pores, and evening out your skin tone while you sleep to help minimize the likelihood and duration of breakouts over time. Pro tip: Avoid using this serum in combination with other acne spot treatments.
Price at time of publish: $134
Key Ingredients: AHA Blend, Salicylic Acid, Raspberry Fruit Extract | Type: Exfoliating Serum | Size: 1 ounce
Best Patch
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch
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Amazon
Multiple patch sizes
Discourages picking
Easy application
Not great for large papules
If you have a pimple that’s inflamed and you want to bring it down fast, these patches are a perfect overnight fix. Much like a bandage, hydrocolloid patches help the acne medication penetrate deeper into the skin by keeping it where it’s needed—no rubbing off on your pillow. The patch environment keeps the skin moist and permeable while keeping out bacteria. They have an almost magical ability to flatten even the worst zits and reduce their appearance quickly.
Price at time of publish: $6
Key Ingredients: 100% Hydrocolloid | Type: Patch Size: 24 patches, S, M, L
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Byrdie / Bianca Lambert
What Our Testers Say
"I wasn't expecting a quick fix the next morning, but I am happy to report that while the pimple wasn't gone, it was significantly smaller. I count this as a win in my book. I don't believe in overnight skincare treatments, but these patches changed my mind." — Bianca Lambert, Product Tester
Best Spot Treatment
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
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Amazon
Great for surface breakouts
Can be applied anywhere on the body
Easy application
Can be drying
Key Ingredients
Sulfur is a natural element that is an essential component for all living cells. Sulfur-based products tend to work best for mild-to-moderate acne, primarily whiteheads, blackheads, and papules.
Ask any woman who’s ever struggled with acne, and she’ll at least have heard of this cult acne-fighter. People swear that just one drop of Mario Badescu’s famous drying lotion can heal and dry a zit up overnight; the calamine, colloidal sulfur, and salicylic acid ensure it.
Price at time of publish: $17
Key Ingredients: Calamine, Sulfur, Salicylic Acid | Type: Lotion | Size: 1 ounce
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Byrdie / Bianca Lmabert
What Our Testers Say
"Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion does just what it says: It stops pimples in their tracks and calms them at the same time." — Bianca Lambert, Product Tester
Best Natural
Marla Rene Beauty & Co. Calendula Clear Serum
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Marla Rene
Key Ingredients
Aloe vera is a naturally derived ingredient known for its soothing and moisturizing properties. The aloe plant's inner gel mucilage (the part that's used in skincare products) is made up of 99.5 percent water.
Moisturizes
Cooling to the skin
Easy application
Can take time to see results
This clarifying serum is 100 percent natural and plant-based to gently calm irritated and acne-prone skin. It has aloe vera to increase skin's elasticity and restore its optimum pH balance, and alcohol-free witch hazel to control oil production and prevent future breakouts. The real star ingredient is calendula, which promotes the fast healing and regeneration of skin.
Price at time of publish: $46
Key Ingredients: Calendula, Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel | Type: Serum Size: 1 ounce
Runner-Up, Best for Acne Scars
Mary Louise Miracle Serum
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Amazon
Helps skin clarity
Moisturizes
Clean ingredients
Pricer than other options
If you've tried everything for your acne scars to no avail, this might be the serum for you. This vegan and cruelty-free product is super packed with nutrients to target several skincare concerns, including acne scars, eczema, razor bumps, hydration, and hyperpigmentation. It absorbs quickly into the skin for a non-greasy finish, and we especially love that this serum plays nicely under skincare.
Users say that it has anti-inflammatory properties and gave them a clearer, glowing complexion.
Price at time of publish: $35
Key Ingredients: Baobab Oil, Jojoba, Vitamin C | Type: Serum | Size: 2 ounces
Best Mask
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
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Amazon
Can be used anywhere on the body
Great for oily skin
Affordable
Can be drying
Key Ingredients
Apple cider vinegar is fermented apple juice formed by when yeast mixes with the sugar of the juice. It contains acetic acid, which has antibacterial and keratolytic properties, and it also contains malic acid, a gentle chemical exfoliant.
Not only is this cult product a major bargain, but it works like magic for super-oily problem skin. Mix the bentonite clay-based formula with water (or apple cider vinegar) and apply it to your face like a mask—the clay will soak up excess oils and debris, leaving your face feeling soft, fresh, and clean.
Price at time of publish: $15
Key Ingredients: 100% Bentonite Clay | Type: Mask | Size: 2 pounds
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Byrdie / Bianca Lambert
Best for Cystic Acne
Renée Rouleau Anti Bump Solution
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Renee Rouleau
50-percent quicker skin recovery when used
30+ years of proven results
Also treats infected ingrown hairs
Pricey
Stubborn cystic acne (those painful red bumps that never quite come to a head) is particularly hard to treat, as the zit itself is hidden deep under the surface of the skin. This cult-favorite cystic acne treatment from celebrity esthetician Renee Rouleau uses lactic acid to purify your pores, methyl gluceth 20, which helps moisturize, and citric acid to help with hyperpigmentation and scarring. Apply it immediately when you feel a cyst developing, and it will help reduce the inflammation and duration of the blemish.
Price at time of publish: $50
Type: Cream-Liquid | Active Ingredients: Lactic Acid, Citric Acid | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Serum
Evologie Intensive Blemish Serum
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Amazon
Travel-friendly trio
Leaves skin feeling refreshed
Doctor-developed formula
Unpleasant smell to some
The top-selling acne product online comes from the doctor-developed brand Evologie. Its patent-pending YS3 Complex uses azelaic acid and salicylic acid to banish breakouts deep below the skin's surface, also brightening hyperpigmentation and acne scars. In other words, this might just be the miracle product you’ve been praying for.
Price at time of publish: $35
Benefits: Fades discoloration and scars | Skin Type: All | Dosage: Once a day | Size: 0.7, 0.33, and 0.33 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best LED
Foreo Espada
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Sephora
Ultra-soft medical-grade silicone
T-Sonic pulsations
Skin-sensor activated
Runs out of battery fast
If creams and gels aren't your thing, light therapy is also effective at treating acne—and fast, too. This Foreo device uses a combo of laser-focused blue LED light and T-Sonic pulsations to fight acne-causing bacteria in just 30 seconds. It's also totally waterproof, and according to the brand, you can use it up to 100 times per charge. Just press the center button, point the device at your blemish using the targeting red light, and hold for 30 seconds; you can repeat this up to four times for a stronger treatment.
Price at time of publish: $159
Benefits: Stimulates blood microcirculation and facilitates renewal | Skin Type: Acne-Prone | LED Lights: 415nm Blue | Session Duration: 30 seconds a day
Best for Body
Paula's Choice Clear Acne Body Spray
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Amazon
SPF 30+
Very refreshing
Soothes redness
Results not drastic to some
Looking to treat hard-to-reach areas of the body (like your back)? Grab this Paula's Choice spray-on body exfoliant, which contains 2 percent salicylic acid to fight blemishes, bumps, and blackheads, as well as licorice root (to calm irritated skin) and barberry (which is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory). This product is also alcohol-free and dries quickly, so you can spray it on and go.
Price at time of purchase: $28
Type: Spray | Active Ingredients: Salicylic Acid 2% | Size: 4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Hyperpigmentation
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution
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Sephora
Diminishes dullness
Dermatologist-tested
Gentle
Pricey
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (i.e., pesky dark spots and discoloration that can crop up post-breakout) is super common—even more so for those with darker skin tones. The good news? This lightweight Kiehl's solution can help ASAP. Activated C, a fast-acting form of vitamin C, works to reduce the appearance of dark spots while peony extract shields against oxidative damage. Clearer skin? Coming right up.
Price at time of purchase: $35
Type: Liquid | Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, Salicylic Acid | Size: 0.5, 1.0, 1.7, and 3.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Blackheads
Glossier Solution
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Glossier
“Unglues” dead skin and sweeps it away
Effectively clears up skin
Vegan
Feels sticky
While pore strips may seem satisfying, they can actually cause more harm than good when it comes to treating blackheads. Glossier's Solution, a liquid exfoliator, is an alternative we love. It improves the appearance of blemishes with a 10 percent blend of skincare acids (salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids, and polyhydroxy acid), while aloe, glycerin, and niacinamide hydrate and calm the skin. It's also dermatologist-tested, cruelty-free, and vegan.
Price at time of purchase: $38
Type: Exfoliator Liquid-Cream | Active Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid | Size: 4.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
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Byrdie / Jenna Igneri
What Our Testers Say
"Spots that felt rough or bumpy were smoother, and the blackheads around my nose started to disappear. By the end of the four weeks, my complexion was a lot less dull and looked overall much healthier and radiant." — Jenna Igneri, Product Tester
Best Overnight
Rosen Skincare Break-Out
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Courtesy of Urban Outfitters
Made from antibacterial ingredients
Affordable
Heals inflammation
Applicator wand can be hard to use
This product looks a bit like Wite-Out, but it's not just a way to cover blemishes—it works to shrink and heal them overnight. The hero of its innovative formula is zinc oxide, which helps combat redness, irritation, and inflammation. From there, peppermint oil, which is antiseptic and anti-microbial, cools and calms the skin, and apple cider vinegar, which is anti-bacterial, helps prevent further breakouts. For clearer skin in the morning, apply to a problem area before you snooze.
Price at time of purchase: $12
Type: Cream | Active Ingredients: Zinc Oxide, Apple Cider Vinegar | Size: 0.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Gel Moisturizer
Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel
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Sephora
Allergy-tested
Fast-drying
Prescription-strength formula
Feels drying to some
This salicylic acid acne treatment has been a fan favorite for years, and guess what: It's still available and highly effective. Depending on your skin’s needs, you can apply a thin layer twice a day after you cleanse your skin, or if you already use an all-over acne treatment, you can use it as a spot treatment on particularly stubborn zits. The ultra-simple formula is hypoallergenic as well as fragrance-, oil-, and paraben-free. Win, win, win.
Price at time of purchase: $30
Type: Gel | Active Ingredients: Salicylic Acid 1% | Size: 0.5 and 1.0 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Budget
THE ORDINARY Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
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Courtesy of Sephora
Smooths skin
Great for oil control
Can be used with other acne creams
May take time to see results
Just when you think you're about to spend your entire paycheck on acne creams, here’s The Ordinary saving your skin and your bank account. Loaded with skin-balancing niacinamide and anti-bacterial zinc, this serum regulates excess oil production and calms breakouts. Just a few drops of the lightweight water-based serum does the trick, and it can be applied both morning and night.
Price at time of publish: $6
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Zinc PCA | Type: Serum | Size: 1 ounce
Best Splurge
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Clearing Serum
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Skin Better
Visibly improves skin clarity
Quick results
Great for oil control
Can be drying for sensitive skin
A thin layer of this clearing serum at night is all it takes to visibly see results in just eight weeks. Skinbetter delivers a potent blemish control product made with its patented Alpharet system, which consists of lactic acid and retinoid. This prescription strength formula also has salicylic acid to control oil production and improve skin clarity, while niacinamide and hyaluronic acid tag team to balance your hydration levels. Worth the splurge, this bottle pumps out just the right amount per application. Use it two to three times a week at night, and be sure to top it with sunscreen in the morning, as retinoids make your skin more sensitive.
Price at time of publish: $135
Key Ingredients: Lactic Acid, Retinoid, Salicylic Acid | Type: Serum | Size: 1 ounce
Best for Sensitive Skin
Cocokind Probiotic Acne Serum
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Amazon
Gentle and effective
Affordable
Sustainable packaging
Can take time to see results
While not every acne solution is for sensitive skin, this probiotic serum takes a gentle approach to treating acne with 1.5 percent salicylic acid to regulate oil production without irritating the skin. Probiotics create a healthy skin barrier, and research has shown it helps to eliminate bad bacteria. Apply this pH-balanced serum to your full face or use it as a spot treatment where needed.
Price at time of publish: $20
Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Beta Glucans, Probiotics | Type: Serum | Size: 1 ounce
Best Probiotic
Tula Clear It Up Acne Clearing and Tone Correcting Gel
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Amazon
Quick results
Improves texture
Helps hyperpigmentation
Pricer than other options
This acne-clearing gel is powered by probiotics and superfoods. Developed by Dr. Roshini Raj, Tula uses FDA-cleared 2 percent salicylic acid and azelaic acid to control breakouts and treat hyperpigmentation. As mentioned above, prebiotics and probiotics help retain moisture and improve the skin's microbiome. This formulation is also free of alcohol, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, and fragrance, which makes it great for sensitive or reactive skin.
Price at time of publish: $38
Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Probiotics, Azelaic Acid | Type: Gel | Size: 1 ounce
Best for Dry Skin
Avvrani Balance Restoring Serum
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Amazon
Calms redness
Moisturizes
Prevents future breakouts
Very thin, watery texture
It’s one thing to have breakouts, but to have dry, flaky skin at the same time? That’s downright annoying. Instead of throwing in the towel, reach for this restoring serum. While acneic skin can be both dry and oily at the same time, Avvrani uses ingredients to combat this. This balancing serum consists of aloe vera, cucumber extract, and glycerin to restore moisture levels, while studies have shown that tea tree oil controls breakouts. This alcohol-free serum feels cool when applied and is packed with calming botanicals to soothe and protect the skin barrier.
Price at time of publish: $60
Key Ingredients: Cucumber Extract, Aloe Vera, Tea Tree, Witch Hazel | Type: Serum | Size: 1.7 ounces
What to Look For in Acne Creams
Types of Acne
Not all acne is the same. From surface breakouts with a white head to blackheads to papules and even cysts, each type of acne requires something different to keep them in check. Although there is a crossover between acne treatments like salicylic acid and retinoids that can tackle most acne, keep in mind that certain acne creams may not be suitable for the current acne you have. If you have cystic acne and pimples, look for sulfur or lactic acid; if you're battling blackheads, look for salicylic acid; and if you have texture or whiteheads, try a retinoid.
Active Ingredients
Active ingredients are at the core of acne creams and usually come in heavy concentrations. You may see acids varying from 1-12 percent. These potent formulations are what allow for quick results to diminish the appearance of inflammation and scars and improve texture. If you run on the oiler side, keep an eye out for salicylic acid and niacinamide. If your skin tends to be dry or sensitive, look for tea tree oil, lactic or azelaic acid.
Why Trust Byrdie
Lauren Hackney Behringer has over 10 years of experience as a celebrity aesthetician, health coach, writer, and beauty industry expert. As a practicing medical aesthetician, Lauren sees firsthand how skincare performs on her NYC clients. She is also a devoted skincare enthusiast, always ready to try the latest beauty products.
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