Acne: It’s the most common skin condition. In the United States alone, close to 50 million women experience it, that’s a lot of pimples. Anyone and everyone who has had a pimple, ranging from well- meaning mothers, aunts, grandmothers, ever fathers, men & women alike, citizens of the internet will have an opinion on how to get rid of it. Mind you these are solutions by which they will all ‘swear by’ and have been tried and tested. Which all in all just makes you all the more confused when it comes to choosing an acne treatment for your skin. Worse is when you try some of them and it just makes your pimple worse, argh!!! You just want to scream then! So, Kaye’s Beauty Book is here to help you better understand what treatments are out there with more expert-informed advice on the best available treatment. We’ll make selecting the right acne treatment easier with tips and product recommendations from experts. Make sure you are on the lookout for these ingredients on the labels when buying any product.
When it comes to buying products off the shelves, there are some ingredients which are very effective for mild management of acne breakouts. So, most of these ingredients work to clear dead skin cells and kill bacteria, but your mileage may vary depending on the ingredients. Another point to note is that acne-prone skin is not its own skin type, this is a common mistake people make that if you have acne all over your face it means you have acne prone skin. Not true. Acne is a type of skin condition that can be experienced by any skin type, even dry skin types, it is just how you treat it that differs. So, a dry skin type person will and should treat their acne differently than a person with oily skin. So, your skin type can either be dry, oily, normal, combination, dry/dehydrated or sensitive skin but definitely not acne prone. Plus, if you are suffering from acne, make sure you are visiting the dermatologist at least once. People often make the mistake of experimenting with different treatments on their skin without seeking proper consultation. So, make sure you are not doing that. How we chose our products? So, our top recommended products are after looking through the top reviewed products that are made with the above ingredients and are priority picks sourced from beauty editors, dermatologists, and licensed estheticians. We also broke these products down by skin type.
Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment
Acne-fighting ingredients: Adapalene (retinoid)
Retinoid is a must in your acne skin care routine. It helps controlling your acne and plus what’s best about this product is that it has prescription-strength adapalene and is available over the counter. This product is effective and is easy to find in most drugstores.
Click here to buy.
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Acne-fighting ingredients: Salicylic acid This is a top favorite product of most beauty enthusiasts; it can be used as a toner as well as a serum. Salicylic acid is excellent in removing overproduced sebum and is good for removing whiteheads & blackheads. Click here to buy.
Best for oily skin
Face Theory Pink Clay AHA Face Mask MK1
Acne-fighting ingredients: Lactic acid, vitamin C, clay, jojoba oil
An independent study found that people who use clay masks with jojoba oil have seen a reduction in their acne after 6 weeks. This bestseller features lactic acid, vitamin C and pink clay to cleanse pores and promote cell turnover. Plus jojoba oil and argan oil provide intense hydration.
Click here to buy.
Best for sensitive skin
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
Acne-fighting ingredients: Azelaic acid Bonus: Vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free
This product is one of the hottest products right now, especially when it comes to acne. Research has shown that azelaic acid is effective in reducing acne. What's more not only is this product super affordable but it also works well on all skin types. It is lightweight and fragrance free.
Click here to buy.
Best for Dry skin
The Inkey List Bakuchiol
Acne-fighting ingredients: Bakuchiol Bonus: Vegan and cruelty-free
Bakuchiol is a hot new ingredient which does not have as many side effects as retinol. Beauty experts are excited about this ingredient because it a natural plant based ingredient. What’s best about the Inkey List Bakuchiol product is that it is fragrance free, absorbs quickly into the skin and works well with other products over it.
Click here to buy.
Best for combination skin
CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser
Acne-fighting ingredients: Salicylic acid, niacinamide Bonus: Cruelty-free
This gentle, non-drying formula gently cleanses your skin while exfoliating it to provide you smooth and moisturized skin. It contains hyaluronic acid and niancinamide which is good for keeping your skin hydrated and pores intact.
Click here to buy.
Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Acne Clearing Lotion
Acne-fighting ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide
Spot treatment is one of the most effective ways to get rid of acne. It targets exactly where the acne is and dry's it out. This product has a large number of reviews with users recommending it as a definite repurchase.
Click here to buy.
SkinCeuticals Phlorectin CF with Ferulic Acid
Acne-fighting ingredients: Vitamin C, ferulic acid, phloretin
Many beauty experts and dermatologists swear by this product. The product contains vitamin C and Ferulic Acid which work well to fight discoloration, target acne and signs of ageing.
Click here to buy.
Best for skin prone to scarring or hyperpigmentation
Starface Hydro-Stars
Bonus: Vegan
Hydrocolloid patches are excellent to protect acne spots without any additional irritation while removing excess fluid. So, this product is excellent in shrinking whiteheads without causing any irritation.
Click here to buy.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
Acne-fighting ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide Bonus: Cruelty-free
Retinol is good in reducing acne while niacinamide is good in controlling the production of excess sebum. It’s a recommended option for those who are new to retinol because of the encapsulated formula. This also works really well for people with sensitive skin.
Click here to buy.
The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
Acne-fighting ingredients: Mandelic acid Bonus: Vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free
Many of the acne treatments can be irritating and can further inflame your acne. This can cause your acne to appear worse and can cause post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which can be worse for coloured skin. The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA is a simple non-drying formulation that helps combat acne and hyperpigmentation.
Click here to buy.
What else do experts recommend?
1. Slow & steady wins the race
It may take you long to see results in some cases it might be as long as 6 weeks. So, you should give a product a minimum of 4-6 weeks for it to show you the results you want and it can take a maximum of 12 weeks.
The reason being is that it can take up to 3 months for acne lesions to be visible to you. So, if you are starting a new acne routine, be patient with those products.
2. Don’t try everything at once
Trying too many products on your skin at once just makes it a bad cocktail on your skin which can make matters much worse. Keep your acne fighting routine simple and minimum, up to 2 products rather than the whole line, mainly products with AHAs & BHAs, be careful before mixing them.
The same goes for cleansing. Over cleansing or over exfoliating or using harsh scrubs can make your skin worse. Remember your skin needs gentle care.
3. Lastly and the most important is that as-home treatments are not replacements for expert care
Some skin conditions can look like acne to the untrained eye but that may not be the case. Especially in the case of chronic acne or hyperpigmentation, it may require professional treatment.
Also be cautious when adding new actives, especially AHAs & BHAs. Remember! treat your skin with kindness.
Kaye's Beauty Book is here to help you choose better products that suit your skin, hair and lifestyle. All of the products mentioned are carefully researched and selected to ensure that the most credible information comes to you. If you do buy a product from one of our links, Kaye's Beauty Book may earn a commission.
II DISCLAIMER: Every skin is different, not everything works for everybody. I recommend you test the product before completely using any new product. II
Comments