If you’re looking for the best acne products, you’ve come to the right place!
Before we dive in here are a few important acne tips that will help you get rid of your acne even faster.
Knowing what your skin type is and what types of acne you have is helpful in knowing what acne-fighting products to use. From there you should choose a skincare regime that works for you and stay consistent with it!
In the beginning, you will be in a trial and error phase. You will try an acne treatment product and see if it works for you. If it does great, if it doesn’t, don’t give up! Move on to the next acne treatment product and keep trying. Let’s get started!
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Best Acne Treatment Products For Adults
Cleansers
When it comes to cleansers, look for products that contain at least one of these acne-fighting ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide, or Glycolic Acid. These ingredients deeply penetrate pores removing dead skin cells, makeup, excess oils, and bacteria; all things that cause acne and irritation on the skin.
Here are a few budget-friendly cleanser options (because I’m always looking for the best deals!) for you to choose from:
Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser
I’ve used this one personally. I like that it is non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog the pores) and oil free. It’s also moisture rich so it doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight and dry after washing it. The acne fighting ingredient in this product is salicylic acid.
La Roche-Posay Medicated Gel Cleanser
In researching content for this blog post, this product constantly came up in my search results for best acne cleansers and the reviews were all so good! So much so that I ordered one right away. This product targets oil and clears blackheads and whiteheads. The acne fighting ingredient in this product is salicylic acid.
Exposed Skin Care Facial Cleanser
Another one of my favorites! The cleanser is actually apart of a 4 step acne treatment system but can be used on its own as well. I like this product for its natural ingredients, sage, and olive leaf extract, and it’s alpha & beta hydroxy acids. It’s gentle on the skin but also does a great job cleaning it. I also love the smell.
The acne fighting ingredient in this product is also salicylic acid but the 4 step acne treatment system also contains benzoyl peroxide within its acne treatment serum. Save 40% on the acne treatment system here!
This is a product that DOES NOT contain any of the acne fighting ingredients I mentioned above, but I thought it was worth mentioning anyway. This natural healing soap has gotten rave reviews for not only clearing acne and the nasty scars it leaves behind, but also eczema, dry skin, dandruff, and even psoriasis! Plus they offer a 60 day 100% money back guarantee so it’s definitely worth the try!
Toners
Toners are like a backup army of cleansers for your skin. They come in right after the cleanser and pick up any dirt and oil that stayed behind. They also aid in moisturizing and rebalancing the ph level of the skin after washing. So in my opinion, a toner is crucial to your skincare regime and is a staple in this list of best acne products. Here are some of my favorites…
Mario Badescu Witch Hazel & Rose Water Toner
Witch hazel is a great ingredient in the fight against adult acne symptoms. It acts as a natural astringent that shrinks your pores, soothes your skin, and reduces inflammation. The vitamin C contained in rose water strengthens skin cells, increases collagen production, and fades scarring. The Mario Badescu Skin Care
Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Toner
Another witch hazel and rose water toner that is all the rage. I’ve been using this toner and I love it!
I love this one for it’s all natural ingredients, witch hazel, rose water, sage, and tea tree. Also for its convenient spray applicator.
Moisturizers
When it comes to choosing a moisturizer for your skin type, it will not be one size fits all. However, moisturizing is a vital part of a proper skincare regime and should not be skipped. Look for moisturizers that are oil-free and non-comedogenic. Bonus points if your moisturizer contains SPF.
SIDENOTE: Non-comedogenic is just a fancy word meaning it won’t clog pores. You should also look for this fancy word on your makeup products and pretty much any product you apply to your face.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat Face Moisturizer
I love love love this one! Did I mention I love this one?? But seriously, this moisturizer gives your skin the hydration it needs while targeting excess oil and minimizing pores. My favorite part though, it leaves the skin with a matte finish (anti-shine) AND can be used as a primer base for your makeup! No SPF in this one so make sure to check out the next section and grab some too!
This lightweight moisturizer is especially good for those with acne prone sensitive skin. It’s also very affordable and can be found at your local drugstore. No SPF included.
CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
This moisturizer helps to decrease inflammation which is common in acne prone skin. SPF is included in the formula and it is also affordable starting at just $12.
Sunscreen
Those with acne prone skin tend to shy away from using sunscreen because many of them contain ingredients that clog the pores and create even more pimples. But it’s a real catch 22 because too much sun on the skin can ALSO cause more pimples, not to mention sun damage. So it’s very important that you do not skip this step.
A good rule of thumb to follow: Your face needs at least 30 SPF so if your moisturizer has less than that be sure to add a facial sunscreen as well. Here are a few SPF products that your skin will thank you for…
Neutrogena UltraSheer Liquid Sunscreen
When researching facial sunscreens, I found a common complaint about using sunscreen with makeup. Some reviews said the sunscreen under the makeup made it harder for it to stick and even made the skin too shiny.
That helped me narrow down my search for the best sunscreens out there and in doing so I found Neutrogena UltraSheer Liquid Sunscreen and ordered it right away. It’s so lightweight and feels like it’s barely there. I also give myself a 15-minute window before applying my makeup and I didn’t have any problems.
EltaMD Skincare Facial Sunscreen
This sunscreen has everything you need plus lactic acid that exfoliates your pores and hyaluronic acid that adds moisture to your skin. It’s a little on the high-end price wise but it is a bang for your buck and a top rated brand by dermatologists.
Colorscience Brush On Sunscreen
I thought this one was worth mentioning because it is a powder sunscreen rather than a liquid. It can be used alone or as a setting powder over your makeup. It contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, ingredients do not seep into the pores and will block UV rays naturally.
Masks
You should be using a face mask at least twice a week. Not only is it good for your skin but it’s also a great way to add some self-care to your life.
RELATED SELF CARE ARTICLES: Finding Time For Self Care: A Self Care Guide for Working Women and Busy Moms
Face masks add an extra boost of deep cleaning to the skin leaving your skin bright, smooth, and beautiful! There are many options when it comes to choosing a face mask and it’s fun to sample a few and find what you love the best.
Masks are either cream, clay, or gel based. Cream face masks are great for normal and dry skin. Clay face masks are great for normal and oily skin while gel face masks are great for dry and sensitive skin.
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
This mask boasts itself as the world’s most powerful facial masks and for good reason too! Many reviews on the product state that this mask cleared acne breakouts practically overnight! I have already ordered mine and I cannot wait to try it! ***This product comes in a powder form that is meant to be mixed with apple cider vinegar so don’t forget to get that as well!
Freeman Charcoal and Black Sugar Gel Mask
This is a dual action mask and it’s the mask I’ve been using for the past few months. It deep cleans the pores whiling DETOXING and EXFOILIATING! It’s definitely a staple acne treatment product for me.
Yes to Tomatoes Charcoal Mud Mask
Another popular adult acne treatment product that kept popping up was this Yes to Tomatoes brand mud mask. Don’t let the name fool you, this is a charcoal mud mask, not a mask made of tomatoes! LOL!
Exfoliators
Exfoliating your skin is extremely important for all skin types, acne prone or not. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells from your face and leaves behind healthy, glowing skin.
For us acne prone people, the process of exfoliation helps to clear clogged pores that lead to acne breakouts and it also helps to fade the scars that acne has left behind.
You should exfoliate your skin at least twice a week but no more than four times a week as that can be damaging (drying) to your skin. Using a facial cleansing brush along with these exfoliators can give you an extra boost of cleansing.
Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub
I like to recommend this exfoliating scrub because it is designed for sensitive skin. Anytime you exfoliate, you may experience a little redness on your skin. If you have sensitive skin to begin with, or want a little less redness, this extra gentle scrub is for you.
With its tiny exfoliating granules, this product offers a deep but gentle exfoliation on the skin. It also helps reduces fine lines and wrinkles so it’s great for anti-aging too!
I just picked up this product a few days ago. This scrub deep cleans pores while exfoliating the skin. Its also contains the acne-fighting ingredient salicylic acid to help control breakouts. It has a minty smell and a cooling effect when washed off.
Spot Treatments
These are always good to have in your skincare regime. Spot treatments for acne are different from other acne products because they are meant for treating pimples individually rather than the entire face at once.
A spot treatment will deliver acne fighting ingredients directly to the pimple and can quickly zap them away, sometimes overnight.
Spot treatments, however, only work on surface level blemishes. They will not treat deeper acne problems like cystic acne or nodular acne.
This product was recommended to me by so many people and I bought it right away. Tea tree oil is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. It reduces redness and inflammation of the pimple and shrinks it fast. It also kills any bacteria that may be causing your breakout.
But be careful, tea tree oil is one of the strongest essential oils out there. This product should only be used as a spot treatment. For more info on how to use tea tree oil, check out this video:
Proactive Emergency Blemish Relief
I love this product! I’ve been using this spot treatment for my acne for a while now and it has never failed me. It delivers a dose of benzoyl peroxide straight to the pimple while deep cleaning the pore and absorbing any excess oil on the skin. Works like a charm.
I’ve been eying this spot treatment for a while and I plan on buying it soon. It’s special because it contains salicylic acid and calamine lotion that drys up pimples fast, virtually overnight. I am excited to give it a try!
Conclusion
I know from personal experience, adult acne can be a huge blow to your self-esteem. Heck, I stopped leaving my house when my acne was at it’s worst!
But please know that with the right skincare regime, and the best acne products for your skin, acne is very manageable. And if all else fails, see a dermatologist for some extra direction and help!
I hope this article has given you some major insight on how to get rid of adult acne! If you have any more acne-fighting tips, I’d love to hear them!
Comment below!