My Acne Is Gone—18 Acne Products That Actually Work

If I could only use one acne product for the rest of my life, I would choose this, hands down. Most exfoliating toners are either too strong for my skin or don't do very much, but this one actually works to clear excess sebum and dead skin cells that often lead to blackheads and blemishes. You simply apply a little to a cotton round and swipe over the skin after cleansing and continue with the rest of your skincare routine. It contains salicylic acid to both prevent and treat spots once they have formed, to bring down inflammation and unclog pores for clearer skin in a couple of weeks.

As this is an exfoliating acid, it's important to see how your skin responds, so I'd urge you to try it a couple of times a week first before building up as your skin tolerates it. Plus, it's a good idea to follow up with a good SPF to protect your skin after using this. I've got a recommendation ahead that won't clog pores or aggravate your acne.

If you have white-headed pustules as opposed to under-the-skin bumps or blackheads, then I'd highly recommend you try these spot stickers. Not only are stars fun to apply, but they actually absorb the gunk inside a spot to leave your blemish flatter overnight. They quite literally make spots disappear. As you peel them off in the morning, you can actually see where the sticker has absorbed it, which is a bit gross, but hugely satisfying.

I'm also prone to picking my spots, so these help to keep my hands away from my face and making matters worse. Plus, they're really great to use while travelling, and you can buy refills for the cute case too. If you do get under the skin bumps, I have another spot sticker recommendation ahea,d which is better suited for these types of deeper, under-the-skin spots.

Freelance beauty editor and esthetician Grace Day is a huge fan of this gentle, soothing face wash, and frequently recommends it to her acne-prone clients. "It can be so tempting to reach for cleansers with harsh, stripping ingredients when you're experiencing congestion and breakouts," she says. "Avoid the temptation and opt for gentle, non-foaming cleansers like this soothing gel one, which will efficiently cleanse your skin without stripping or irritating it."

I've sworn by this French pharmacy staple as a daily moisturiser for years. It's a lightweight texture that glides onto the skin without leaving behind any sticky or tacky residue and works to reduce scarring and clear blocked pores throughout the day. If I stop using this, then I really notice that my skin feels and looks a lot more congested. The hero ingredients—niacinamide and salicylic acid—work to unclog pores and fade away stubborn post-acne scarring, too. 

I love SkinCeuticals, and it has some brilliant products suited to oily and acne-prone skin. One of which is this cleanser, which has been such a game-changer in clearing my congested skin. The gel formula gently foams to leave skin cleansed—never stripped. While its on the more expensive side, I've had my current tube for months and have barely made a dent in it, so you do get your money's worth.

I've heard plenty of mixed advice over the years about whether acne-prone skin does or doesn't need moisturiser, but I'm a firm believer that it does. It just needs to be the right formula and preferably oil-free. According to Day, this one from The Inkey List is a great place to start if you're nervous about extra hydration, as it's oil-free and non-comedogenic, so it won't clog your pores. "I love how lightweight in texture it is, yet it keeps my skin feeling comfortable and hydrated all day, without leaving me looking shiny come midday," she says. "Plus, it gives skin a great glow and makes a brilliant base for makeup."

When you have acne, I understand that the last thing you want to do is to apply anything heavy onto your skin that might make matters worse, but this SPF really changed the game for me. SPF formulas used to be very heavy and pore-clogging, but thankfully, formulations are now much more elegant to use and won't clog pores. Heliocare's has an oil-free gel consistency, which glides onto the skin with a magnifying finish that works great on its own or as a primer for makeup. 

After trying rounds of antibiotics from my GP with no long-lasting results, I decided to take the plunge and invest in these supplements, which really do work to decrease the severity of breakouts, thanks to the star ingredient, DIM (diindolylmethane), a plant compound found in broccoli. What I will say is that they only work for as long as you take them; if you stop taking them, then you might find your acne returning, so it's definitely an investment option. I tried these for three months after wanting to find a more holistic treatment for my acne, and I found my skin was less inflamed. While I still had the odd under-the-skin spot, my complexion improved a great deal while I was taking them. Day is also a fan. "My clients who take a 360, holistic approach to acne always see quicker and better results," she says. "Skin Accumax is the first thing I recommend to clients who want or need to enhance the results of their topical skincare routine."

If an appointment to see a dermatologist isn't an option, then Dermatic brings one to you instead. You fill out an online quiz, which is reviewed by Dermatica's dermatology team, who will then review the best prescription treatment for your skin's individual needs and send your bespoke treatment in the post. When I trialled this, I was prescribed adapalene for my blemishes, and I found it to be a convenient way to help manage my hormonal acne without forking out for a private dermatology appointment.

Clay face masks are great for mopping up excess oil, and Caudalie's is one of my favourites to decongest skin and help prevent acne from forming—there's a reason why it went TikTok viral. This French pharmacy favourite contains rose clay to gently absorb excess oil while papaya enzymes gently nibble away at dead skin to clear dead skin to help keep skin clear. It's also very gentle, so it leaves your skin feeling balanced rather than stripped. The beauty of masks is that you can also apply them just where you need them or as a targeted spot treatment when directly applied onto a blemish.

If your acne falls into the category of under-the-skin spots, then you'll know that this kind of cystic acne is particularly stubborn to treat. These spot patches, however, really reduce the lifespan of deep-rooted spots significantly. "These aren't just your regular spot patches," says Day. "Each spot patch comes with a salicylic acid wipe and a micro dart patch, which contains micro-fine needles that gently puncture the spot to deliver the spot-busting ingredients directly into the spot." They work out expensive if you use them every day, but for use in emergencies on special occasions, they're really handy to have on your bedside table.

"This is an ideal targeted spot treatment if you want to reduce the size and appearance of a spot as quickly as possible," says Day. "It utilises salicylic acid to reduce inflammation, cica to soothe, kaolin clay to clear the pore, and ceramides to hydrate."

Acne-friendly makeup products warrant a whole other story, but this concealer is my top essential. I keep a pot on standby for whenever a huge red spot strikes. Its velvety matte finish helps to conceal the angriest of blemishes with a high-pigment finish, so you only need a light touch to conceal. 

When I put this LED mask to the test recently, I found my skin improved a lot, and my blemishes were really reduced. Yes, it is eye-wateringly expensive, but if you're having regular LED treatments in a clinic anyway, this may save you more money in the long run. It uses different light forms to help treat multiple skin concerns, but the blue light setting helps to kill the bacteria in the skin that are responsible for contributing to acne. In fact, 81% saw a reduction in acne lesions after 12 weeks of using this mask, so it really does work wonders.

Another product that I love is Medik8's Crystal Retinal, which uses a form of retinol to decongest the skin and kill off the bacteria that cause acne. It just so happens that retinal (the form of retinol that Medik8 uses) also helps with ageing concerns, so you're killing two birds with one stone. Medik8 offers several strengths to suit your skin. So, if you're new to using any form of retinol or have sensitive skin, I'd recommend starting with this one, which is the lowest strength, and using it a couple of times a week to see how your skin tolerates it. In the first instance, stronger isn't always better, so starting off slowly will help your skin become accustomed and avoid any skin irritation. This is also great for helping to fade stubborn pigmentation and scarring that acne can leave behind, and it really helps to improve skin texture, too.

Another French pharmacy brand that I love is Avène, and I can understand why the French adore this mask. The uncomplicated formula calms while drawing out excess oil from the pores, helping to leave skin feeling comfortably clean and decongested. 

"When I have particularly stubborn acne breakouts, I like to give myself an at-home facial using this device," says Day. "It utilises two primary technologies: microcurrent and nanocurrent. The microcurrent phase targets spots directly, helping to reduce inflammation and treat the breakout. It's satisfying because you can feel a tingling sensation during this phase, indicating the treatment is working! Then the nanocurrent phase takes over, working gently to kick off the skin's process of renewal and repair."

You might have heard the commotion about this serum (a beauty editor's holy grail), but this is basically the version for oily and acne-prone skin. The combination of vitamin C, silymarin and ferulic acid works in tandem to reduce oil production, fade post-breakout scarring and leave you with a healthy glow. It's an investment, but it's worth it.