If you’ve ever suffered from acne, you understand how sensitive your skin really is. And with so many different factors contributing to your skin health, it can often be difficult finding that one acne treatment to keep it all under control. That's why a multi-pronged approach involving the best face wash, best moisturizer, and best anti-aging cream for your skin type needs to be part of your daily routine.
Here’s the deal:
You’re not alone. According to the NIH, roughly 80% of people between 11 and 30 have dealt with acne at some point in their lives. And according to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 50 million Americans are affected by acne each year.
Whether you’re dealing with minor acne or more chronic outbreaks, there are over-the-counter treatments available to not only help rid your skin of pimples and blackheads, but to also help in minimizing redness and scarring.
So in our list of the best acne medications below, we’ve uncovered products that have not only been tested by real consumers like you, but have proven to work.
What’s the bottom line?
Acne sucks. But with the best acne treatment, things can get better.
Blackheads typically require a product with the ability to scrub dirt and grime away, which can sometimes result in over-exfoliated and irritated skin. Body scrubs, however, don’t need to be abrasive and harmful to the skin, which is why this one’s gentle exfoliating powers is regularly lauded.
While the overall sentiment about this scrub is that it’s gentle on skin, there have been some consumers to report breakouts, rashes, and extraneous residue on their skin after using this product.
Effectiveness: Because this is a scrub and not just an acne face wash, we would recommend this be used specifically for back acne and blackheads. Most consumers have reported great results with this product, but it will probably be most effective if used to target hard-to-reach back acne.
Sensitivity: Since some users have reported breakouts and rashes from this scrub, we’d recommend you test out a travel size first. The formula is meant to be non-abrasive and a gentle way to clear out blackheads, but it’s best to be on the safe side, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Price: This is the cheapest product on our list and it’s probably the best value for what you get. The $9.34 price tag will get you a pack of two, which makes it a lot more affordable than most face or body acne-clearing scrubs you’d find at the drug store or online. Better yet, reviewers report making a single 6-ouncer last for months. Overall, a great value.
Whereas many acne products lead to oily or over-dry skin, many consumers have reported their skin looking and feeling cleaner and healthier than ever after using this kit. In addition, there is a lot more flexibility in how this kit can be used, so users have the ability to rely on it as a full facial care regimen or individually as needed.
While this is a great “all-in-one” acne management solution, some consumers have reported adverse effects (like breakouts where they hadn’t previously had any or over-drying of the skin) after using it.
Effectiveness: If your goal is to reduce your skin’s overall oiliness and keep minimal to moderate acne in check, this kit will definitely meet your needs. Most consumers rave about the way their skin feels and looks afterwards, most commonly describing their skin as “fresh” and “clean”.
Sensitivity: Based on previous user reviews, this kit will probably work best for those who want to better maintain their skin’s clarity and quality. For those dealing with moderate to severe acne or who have sensitive skin, the drying and exfoliating qualities of these products may be more likely to irritate your skin. While that’s not necessarily a given, anyone concerned with a possibly negative reaction should try to get test samples of each product in this kit before committing to the whole purchase.
Price: In Sephora’s rundown of the best acne treatment products on the market, this kit made their list of top regimen sets and currently holds a 4-star rating and 7,411 loves from previous users. Considering what's included in the kit (the EradiKate spot treatment alone usually costs about $24 and is a fan favorite), this kit is a great value for the adult wanting better control over their skin health.
If luxury skin care products are your thing, you’ve got to try the Jan Marini face lotion. Skin care regimens can often take up a lot of time if you have multiple products to apply, so this one saves a lot of time if you need an acne fighter that will also reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and your skin’s overall appearance.
The price tag.
Effectiveness: This lotion made Total Beauty’s list of Best Acne Fighters and for good reason. It’s a miracle worker when it comes to improving your skin’s health. If you need to bring more balance to your skin—no breakouts, less irritation, and smoothing of lines—this lotion will do just that.
Sensitivity: Based on previous consumer reviews, no one has reported any issues with skin sensitivities to this lotion. In fact, if anything, this will help calm any irritations caused by other acne medications.
Price: This one is expensive, there is no doubt about that. But if you want an acne treatment and face lotion that promises vast improvements to your overall skin quality, it may be well worth the investment.
If you’re looking to achieve clearer skin, our list of the best products for treating acne is of course the best place to start. However, a clear complexion depends on a variety of other factors as well, so to assist you in your journey to clearer skin we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you attain the complexion of your dreams.
Types of acne:
Now, first things first, in order to determine the best course of treatment for acne you must first identify the root of the cause. The most common types of acne are comedonal acne, inflammatory acne, cystic and hormonal acne.
What to look for in an acne treatment:
The most effective acne treatment will definitely vary by skin type, as well as the type of acne being treated, but regardless of skin type we recommend something with a good pH balance. Now, what does that mean to you? Believe it or not, the health of your skin is completely dependent on maintaining the right balance between acidity and alkalinity. According to Women’s Health, a slightly more acidic balance of 5.5 is the sweet spot. Too much alkalinity will result in dry, sensitive skin (sometimes even eczema), while too much acidity (though less common) will cause intense, painful breakouts. Thankfully it’s pretty easy to equalize the levels, just be sure to find a product advertised as pH balanced.
Once you narrow it down to only pH balanced products, it’s time to determine what type of acne treatment to invest in. Foaming or gel cleanser is best for oily skin, while creamier cleanser is better for dry skin. But no matter what type of skin you have you should never use bar soap, ever. It’s just too drying. Spot treatment is another option, but only if you’re looking for something to supplement your regimen. Spot treatment cannot be used to cleanse the whole face, so application is a bit more limited.
Now, let’s talk ingredients.
Creating a skincare routine:
Developing a skincare routine and sticking to it is essential to achieving clearer skin, but skin can become dry and irritated with too much washing. So while there is strong debate surrounding how many times to wash your face daily, cleansing once a day is likely fine for most people. If you wear makeup, however, you will want to always remove that before bed. Additionally, sweat can clog pores, so we recommend always washing your face after exercise as well.
To no surprise, the most effective skincare routine or regimen will vary by skin type. So below are a few pro-tips to help you achieve the most effective skincare routine for your skin type.
Additionally, something all skincare routines should include is a good moisturizer. There’s a common misconception that you should not use moisturizer if you have oily skin, but that could not be further from the truth. Failing to use moisturizer may actually dry skin out, resulting in the production of even more oil. If you have oily skin just look for something lightweight and oil-free. Apply moisturizer while skin is still damp after washing to lock in moisture all day.
Don’t forget sunscreen! Even if you use a moisturizer that contains SPF you should still be applying sunscreen anytime you spend more than 15 minutes outdoors. We recommend something with an SPF of at least 30 that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours.
Tips to clearer skin:
Now that you know what to look for in the most effective acne treatment and how to create a foolproof skincare routine, we will leave you with a few skincare tips that will help you attain clearer skin in no time.
Do you have a pro-tip, favorite product or effective routine? Please share it with us in the comments below. We would love to hear from you!
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3 Best Acne Treatment Products
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