Acne Treatment Skin Care

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You've probably experienced acne at one point or another in your life — be it in your teens, a bit later as an adult, only once a month during your period, or after forgetting to wash off your makeup at night. The fact of the matter is, acne is something around 85 percent of people ages 12 to 24 have dealt with, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. With that in mind, we could all use the best skin-care products for acne — even if you only have to reach for it once in a blue moon.

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The market is full of acne skin-care products that can help treat your specific type of acne. From acne patches that suck the gunk out of pimples overnight to indulgent face masks that work double duty and cleansers that stop a breakout before it even happens, there's acne treatment products for everyone — and every type of acne — out there.

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If your acne presents itself in the form of blackheads, an exfoliating solution that you can use on your T-zone could be just the thing you need. For deep, painful cysts, a combination of a good face wash and a potent spot treatment can help clear up bumps. But the best products for acne-prone skin don't just address breakouts — they tackle the aftermath of them, too. This can include the best products for acne scars, uneven texture, and hyperpigmentation that stick around long after the pimple is gone.

You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars on products, either — there are options for acne-prone skin at the drugstore that work wonders on pimples, and we included them ahead. Keep scrolling to check out the best skin care for acne.

If you're in need of some major brightening, from acne scars or sun spots, the SkinMedica Even and Correct Dark Spot Cream will do the trick. It contains lotus sprout, tranexamic acid, and niacinamide, working together to fade hyperpigmentation. It's also a 2023 Beauty Award winner.

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It's hard to find an acne gel that works on deep, underground zits, but the I Dew Care Fix My Zit Salicylic Acid Acne Gel does it all. With salicylic acid and citrus unshiu peel, this treatment works in a matter of days. It's also a 2023 Beauty Award winner.

If you're someone who has a habit of picking at your pimples, you need the Peace Out Acne Dots. They keep you from touching your zits so they heal faster and help prevent unnecessary scarring in the process. Put one on a whitehead before bed, and it'll draw out the pus while you sleep.

The top-rated Murad InvisiScar Resurfacing Treatment can work on both old and new acne marks, filling the pitted scars and leaving a smoother complexion in their wake. The product is clinically proven to minimize the look of scars' depth and texture and reduce discoloration in eight weeks.

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The Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum is a resurfacing AHA serum that helps clear congested pores and reduces the appearance of acne marks and uneven texture.

Slick on the light-as-air Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel, and watch your pores shrink in size. This gel-like formula feels light on skin but is loaded with antioxidants and niacinamide, which actually improve texture over time.

It's an oil-free moisturizer and an acne treatment. The Origins Clear Improvement Pore Clearing Moisturizer With Salicylic Acid can keep skin hydrated without any added ingredients likely to cause more oil buildup or breakouts. Its star ingredient is bamboo charcoal, a very fine powder that's created after bamboo stalks are burned at high temperatures, which also can absorb 100 times its weight in impurities.

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Picked your pimple? Have no fear: the Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm is truly a lifesaver. It's like a first-aid ointment that melts into your skin and helps to heal damaged skin. After using it, within just a few days, the mark you made will be gone.

The Skinceuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50 protects your complexion from the harmful rays of the sun with a noncomedogenic formula that'll keep you shine-free all day. Bonus: it makes a great primer for makeup.

The Neutrogena Stubborn Acne Morning Treatment uses 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide to kill acne-causing bacteria. Unlike some acne treatments, it can be used in the morning to help reduce acne during the hours that follow.

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The Topicals Faded is designed to target stubborn acne scars and hyperpigmentation. It has a gel-like texture and is packed with a variety of skin-loving ingredients, including inflammatory-fighting centella asiatica leaf extract and licorice root, kojic acid (a gentle exfoliator), and the powerful brightening ingredient, niacinamide.

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You used to have to visit your dermatologist to get a prescription for a topical treatment as good as the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment ($45), but not anymore. It contains 5.5 percent benzoyl peroxide to target pimples without being too irritating on the skin.

Say hello to a brighter, more even complexion with the help of the Kiehl's Since 1851 Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution. The hyperpigmentation-fighting serum can be used both morning and night.

Hyaluronic Acid Serum Moisturizing Essence Face Cream Acne Treatment Skin Care 829380189927

There's a misconception that sunscreen makes you break out, when in reality, you just need to find the right formula. The Hero Cosmetics Shield Superlight Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 is designed with acne-prone skin types in mind with its lightweight, noncomedogenic formula.

Have you ever been out and about when suddenly you feel a painful pimple forming under the skin? The Burt's Bees Herbal Complexion Stick is designed for those moments. The tea tree oil-infused complexion stick features an easy, hands-free applicator so you can treat the spot immediately rather than wait until you get home.

The shimmery, yellow color of the Renée Rouleau Rapid Response Detox Masque makes it look like a pot of gold — and as far as we're concerned, it is. The refreshing, gel formula of the mask both hydrates and fights acne.

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The Versed Back-Up Plan Acne-Control Body Mist banishes acne on your body with an easy-to-use 360-degree spray nozzle. And no, it doesn't leave you with that gross, sticky feeling after.

The Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Pore Mask simulates the feeling of sticking your face in a cold bucket of water — in a really good way. The mask gets deep into your pores to absorb oil and dirt without making your skin feel tight.

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Blue LED light has been found to help promote clear skin by killing acne-causing bacteria before it reaches the surface. The LightStim for Acne is a handheld wand that targets acne and reduces inflammation with a short, three-minute treatment.

Daily Leave On Acne Treatment Mask

The CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser is formulated with a blend of acne-fighting benzoyl peroxide and skin-nourishing ceramides to help clear breakouts without being too harsh.

As its name suggests, the Tula The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser is a cult favorite. The gentle gel face wash removes dirt and oil from the surface of your skin without stripping it of moisture.

We've sworn by the Mario Badescu Skincare Drying Lotion since middle school. The formula has a superhero-like ability to shrink a formidable breakout in mere hours.

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Not only do we swear by the Vivant Skincare Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser for our keratosis pilaris, but it's also an effective remedy for bacne and butt blemishes. Just be warned: the formula is

The beauty of the Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment is that it helps with hyperpigmentation from old pimples, as well as decongests pores to prevent new ones. Just note: it's a powerful treatment, so start off slowly with application once a week and work your way up to every other or every day.

The gritty paste of the Peter Thomas Roth PRO Strength Microdermabrasion Blackhead Eliminator hits breakouts with triple-action exfoliation. The combination of chemical, enzymatic, and physical exfoliation removes dirt from deep within your pores.

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Acne Treatment Makes Skin Sensitive

If you're looking for a product that will unlock brighter, smoother skin while also keeping breakouts from popping up, try the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant.

The First Aid Beauty Pharma Calamine Pore Purging Mask sucks your pores clean without drying out your skin. This is all thanks to two types of clay, kaolin and bentonite, that absorb oil and dirt.

It's a myth that acne-prone skin doesn't require a moisturizer — it just needs the right product. The Dr. Zenovia Aloe Vera Blemish Soothing Moisturizer helps hydrate your skin, smooth uneven texture, and soothe redness and irritation from acne breakouts all at once.

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Apply some of the Bioassance Squalane + BHA Pore Minimizing Toner onto a cotton pad, and swipe it over your skin to get the benefits of gentle, pore-clearing chemical exfoliation. It also contains squalane, which helps hydrate the skin.

Niacinamide, the hero ingredient in The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, helps treat active breakouts, as well as brighten skin tone and smooth uneven texture.

Whether you're dealing with

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