Few things are quite as frustrating as waking up with breakouts or being unable to tackle stubborn pimples—so finding the best acne treatment is key. Whether you’ve been combating acne since your teenage years or only started breaking out as an adult, the quest to find the right product is always daunting. Ahead, we deep dive into your burning acne questions—from how to treat it to diminishing leftover scarring—plus, the best products to use according to dermatologists and Vogue editors.
Best Acne Treatments
Best Light Therapy Tools for Acne
The best beauty tools are known to amplify even the most thorough skin-care regimens. That said, LED light therapy is often the blemish-fighting treatment recommended by our network of experts. Take a new approach to masking with the Dr. Dennis Gross LED device to combat blemishes by destroying acne-causing bacteria through an at-home blue light treatment known to kill acne-causing bacteria. Otherwise, the Solawave wand combines four treatments into one (red light therapy, micro-current technology, facial massage, and therapeutic warmth) to fade blemishes, increase absorption of skin-care ingredients, and promote a youthful complexion.
Best Face Wash for Acne
“If you notice that your skin is acne-prone, it can feel good to double cleanse because it helps degrease the skin,” says dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe, who recommends starting with Bioderma’s micellar water, then cleansing with Skinfix’s foaming cleanser—both options, she notes, are gentle enough not to damage the skin barrier. Dr. Corey L. Hartman, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama, likes the CeraVe Foaming Cream Cleanser, especially for those with sensitive skin, and the SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel, which is formulated with a cocktail of acids to “treat acne and prevent aging.” Meanwhile, dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu recommends the Avène Cleansing Foam for those with acne-prone, dry, sensitive skin, and the Paula’s Choice Pore Normalizing Acne Cleanser for normal to oily skin types because it “contains salicylic acid to fight blackheads and congestion, along with panthenol to soothe skin and help prevent irritation.”
Best Toner for Acne
Post-cleanse, look for a toner or exfoliating solution to further unclog congested pores, wipe away dead skin, and remove impurities. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is one of the most recommended products, and Green says it’s gentle enough for daily use. “This product gently exfoliates the skin, breaking down sebum and debris that are clogging the pores to reveal a smoother, healthier complexion,” she explains. La Roche-Posay’s toner, too, leads with salicylic acid—working alongside glycolic acid to unclog pores and smooth bumpy skin.
Best Serum for Acne
If you’re interested in adding an acne-treating serum or moisturizer to your regimen, consider starting with The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%—a notably affordable option that’s recommended by several of our experts. “[Niacinamide] has a calming and brightening effect on the skin, helping to improve overall tone and texture while reducing breakouts and controlling excess sebum and oil production,” says Green, who notes that those with oily skin or breakouts will benefit from the healing, anti-inflammatory properties of this serum.
To treat blackheads and whiteheads, Bowe likes the SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF—an oil-free vitamin-C serum that can also help reduce signs of aging. Otherwise, perhaps try iS Clinical’s, which is a healing serum chock full of inflammation- and blemish-quelling ingredients from zinc sulfate to kojic acid, or the Caudalie Vinopure serum that features a blend of 100% natural salicylic acid and niacinamide to address enlarged pores and breakouts.
Best Acne Treatments
The Differin gel that many of us may have been prescribed to treat pubescent acne may still be worth a place in your acne-fighting routine. According to Wu, “This over-the-counter retinoid gets deep into the pores to help dissolve blackheads. It’s strong and can cause sun sensitivity, so only use it at night and be sure to use SPF.” For other topical daily acne treatments, consider La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel, which regulates cell turnover to prevent dead skin from clogging your pores.
Best Acne Spot Treatment
A spot treatment is a savior targeted acne treatment—meaning you don’t feel the pressure to cover your entire face in blemish-soothing ingredients. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King also recommends Acne Free’s Terminator 10 Acne Spot Treatment because it contains “calming anti-inflammatory ingredients [that] are helpful to decrease the inflammation in the active pimple.” Then there are classics like Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion, which uses a potent blend of sulfur, salicylic acid, zinc oxide, and calamine to calm zits overnight.
Best Pimple Patch
Pimple patches are an easy and effective acne solution. Just pop on one of the stickers to suck excess buildup from blemishes in, oftentimes, a few hours. These options by Hero Cosmetics and Cosrx are enriched with hydrocolloid gel to absorb the oil from within. Treatment aside, covering a rogue zit with a sticker means you’re less likely to pop it yourself.
Best Face Mask for Acne
A good face mask is necessary for any self-care night or a skin refresh, so why not use one that has acne-fighting benefits too? According to Hartman, “Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial is used as a mask and is great for all skin types. It boasts a blend of AHAs (glycolic, tartaric, lactic, and citric acids) and increases cell turnover. The BHA, salicylic acid, unclogs pores for an overall non-irritating exfoliation with maximum hydration.”
Otherwise, consider the Peter Thomas Roth mask, which is infused with sulfur and kaolin clay to absorb excess oil and prevent future breakouts,. Then there’s the well-loved Kiehl’s pore-minimizing mask, which is also formulated with clay to help minimize pores and blackheads. Omorovicza’s formula delivers a luxe approach to face masking; its blend of colloidal silver, salicylic, and glycolic acids, offers antibacterial and healing benefits, especially to acne-prone skin types. Reviewers say it rivals professional results.
Best Body Acne Treatments
Of course, acne is not reserved for the face. Our experts recommend products packed with salicylic acid to treat the skin. While Wu likes the Versed body mist to treat the back, buttocks, arms, and chest, other dermatologists look to body washes like CeraVe’s SA. Otherwise, Kosas Good Body Skin gently exfoliates, brightens, and soothes with the help of an AHA blend, fruit enzymes, and allantoin.
Best Acne Scar Treatment
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kseniya Kobets suggests using a topical retinoid available over-the-counter, including adapalene, as well as numerous cosmeceuticals containing retinol as the primary ingredient in serum or cream form. Overall, topical retinoids gently exfoliate the skin while gradually building collagen, which can help improve the appearance of acne scars where collagen was destroyed by inflammation.