How to Treat Acne: The Best Dermatologist-Recommended Products of 2018
When our beauty team got together to organize and launch Teen Vogue's Acne Awards 2018, we didn’t know exactly what to expect. We were excited to have deep conversations about skin care and pick up new tips and tricks on how to treat acne, but which products would pass muster with our experts?
One of the most educational aspects of the Acne Awards involves the judges: an eclectic team of experts from various industries who bring their unique experiences and high skin-care standards into our brightly lit beauty closet, which we transformed into a glamorous drugstore aisle.
Ildi Pekar, the celebrity facialist with a passion for healthy skin, got straight down to business, reading product labels and scanning for ingredients that heighten breakouts. She extolled the benefits of exfoliation and expounded on the differences between exfoliators and masks. We were also joined by Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a dermatologist whose excitement for sharing knowledge about acne is a surprisingly delightful response to the wave of doom that sometimes arises when anyone brings up the subject. For him, acne doesn’t have to be a torment; it can be a teaching moment on how we take care of our bodies — internally and externally. His expertise is in medical treatments, but he also had a lot to share about natural remedies.
Cassandra Bankson, an influencer known for her open and honest videos about acne, also brought plenty of enthusiasm to the judging process. She shared her knowledge of beneficial ingredients with us, all while maintaining an optimistic outlook on having acne. “You can use toilet seat covers as blotting papers,” she told us while thoroughly scanning the products in contention. Finally, we invited Allure’s digital deputy editor, Sam Escobar, to join our panel. For them, judging was primarily a sensory experience: Sam sniffed, inspected, and rubbed products into their skin to test every potential winner's sensorial qualities, something that's often missing from online experiences.
This list offers a personal look at the judges' favorite acne treatments, straight from their bathroom cabinets, offices, and kits. Some items you may already be familiar with, and others may inspire you to try something new. Click through to see the 19 winning products that made the cut.
Disclaimer: While the following products are expert recommendations, they aren’t a substitute for a trip to the dermatologist if you struggle with severe acne.
More from the 2018 Teen Vogue Acne Awards:
Image courtesy of brand.1/19You can always count on spot treatments to rescue your complexion from a sudden freakout. However, not all spot treatments are created equal, and harsher, more aggressive formulas can do your skin more harm than good. “[Some] end up overdrying the skin,” notes Cassandra Bankson. “Tarte Blemish Bully is one of the best spot treatments I have ever used. It helps to decrease redness and inflammation in about two to three days.”
You can thank salicylic and azelaic acids for this quick fix. Neither is afraid to take on bacteria, in turn reducing inflammation and speeding up your skin’s healing process. Caffeine packs the final punch, “helping to decrease the size of pimples and smooth skin while also improving circulation,” Cassandra says.
Buy it here: Tarte Blemish Bully Acne Spot Treatment, $16.
Image courtesy of brand.2/19You don’t necessarily have to designate a trip to Sephora to stock up on skin-care potions — in fact, you can snag this acne-fighting concoction at your local Whole Foods while shopping for foods like spinach, berries, and nuts that help promote clear skin from the inside out. “This is probably the best purchase I've ever made at Whole Foods! And let me tell you, they have some phenomenal vegan cheeses and gluten-free donuts,” Cassandra says. Thanks to its serum-like formula, it works harder than a moisturizer to penetrate deeper, more-difficult-to-reach layers of your skin. “[This means] better results overall,” she explains. “The serum acts as a carrier, making your other products — such as moisturizer — more effective.” Natural fruit and salicylic acids work to clear clogged pores, while aloe vera and vitamin E soothe irritated skin and help blur out marks or scars. “It’s literally been my dermatologist in a bottle!” she adds.
Buy it here: Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum, $30.
Image courtesy of brand.3/19Ever heard of retinoids? If you haven’t, it’s time to introduce your skin to them ASAP. “Retinoids have been used for years by aestheticians and dermatologists for scar reduction and antiaging, but unless you wanted to pay over $100 it was hard to get them into your own hands,” Cassandra explains. Now brands are making fixes for your worst skin woes a lot more affordable, so you can shell out less and still see results. “This product is formulated with high-potency ingredients, but it’s available at a decent drugstore price,” Cassandra says. “Just simple, effective active ingredients and no fluff!”
This formula contains pure retinol and solubilized hydroxypinacolone retinoate, which according to Cassandra are big, fancy words for “nonirritating, fast-absorbing forms of retinoids that won’t make your skin red or itchy.” Retinoids also speed up skin cell turnover, which helps reduce the appearance of scars, dark marks, and other pigmentation issues.
Buy it here: The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, $9.80.
Image courtesy of brand.4/19This revitalizing scrub puts other two-in-one products to shame, setting your complexion on the fast track to clear skin by targeting blackheads, whiteheads, dullness, and large pores. “This is both a physical and chemical exfoliator, meaning it uses alpha hydroxy acids or AHAs to gently eat away at debris [such as makeup] that makes skin look dull and physically removes dead skin cells with a gentle, oil-absorbing volcanic sand,” Cassandra says. “Some physical exfoliators can leave your skin red and irritated because rough, jagged particles can actually cause microtears in the skin. I've been there, and it's painful.”
Reinvigorating skin with the fresh smell of peppermint tea, this scrub warms up upon application but cools down as you start to rinse it off. In addition to volcanic sand, a potent combination of green tea, algae, and Irish moss work to deliver antioxidants and lasting hydration, resurfacing and refreshing your complexion without any agitation.
Buy it here: Ole Henriksen Pore-Balance Facial Sauna Scrub, $28.
Image courtesy of brand.5/19Acne isn’t always confined to your face. Body acne can crop up at anytime, regardless of how intense your workout routine (or lack thereof) is. However, you can proactively prevent chest and back breakouts by sopping up sweat immediately after your SoulCycle class with the same cleansing wipes you use on your face. “These wipes have been lifesavers. After a workout, I use them to wipe away sweat before it crystallizes,” Cassandra says. Infused with hyaluronic acid, the wipes won’t dry out your skin or leave it with that tight feeling you may know all too well.
Buy it here: [Pacifica Pineapple Wipe Out Oil Cleansing Face Wipes, $6](https://www.target.com/p/pacifica-pineapple-wipeout-oil-cleansing-face-wipes-30ct/-/A-52637589? ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Health+Beauty+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Health+Beauty&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9073477&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3InYBRCLARIsAG6bfMQ1C0D2cexJ0hvjRYxE6u7h9WENcMofG-q1f_Uga_E3fmWXg_9W6TcaAv9JEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds).
Image courtesy of brand.6/19High-tech gadgets that zapped acne-causing bacteria using blue LED light were once reserved for dermatologists’ and aestheticians’ use only, but now you can channel the power of the pros in the comfort of your bathroom with a light-therapy device like Foreo’s Acne-Clearing Blue Light Pen. “LED light therapy treatments help kill bacteria and heal the skin by penetrating the source,” notes Ildi Pekar.
Buy it here: Foreo Espada Acne-Clearing Blue Light Pen, $149.
Image courtesy of brand.7/19If your skin’s on the oily side, you probably steer clear of facial oils to prevent your complexion from looking like a grease slick. Time to change that mentality! Certain oils, such as sea buckthorn oil, pack tons of benefits. “Sea buckthorn oil is one of the magic oils that helps heal skin and strip it of impurities by delivering an intense amount of nutrients,” Ildi says, adding that it contains over 190 skin-boosting nutrients, like vitamins C and E.
Buy it here: Plant Apothecary Superfacial Organic Superlight Oil Moisturizer, $56.
Image courtesy of brand.8/19No matter how intensive your daily anti-acne regimen is, it can be incredibly beneficial to enlist the help of the pros every few months. Ildi recommends getting a deep-cleansing facial to regularly remove any whitehead or blackhead buildup and keep skin in check, but you can also try her purifying Hungarian Thermal Mud to help keep pores clear in between appointments.
Buy it here: Ildi Pekar Hungarian Thermal Mud, $98.
Image courtesy of brand.9/19Remember: When it comes to acne-fighting formulas, less is more! You don’t need to apply an overly generous amount of product to guarantee results, so place your faith in the applictor. “Be careful not to overuse acne-specific products, as they could stimulate your oil glands and lead to even more breakouts,” Ildi cautions.
Buy it here: Glytone Acne Tinted Spot Treatment, $19.
Image courtesy of brand.10/19The bacteria that’s to blame for your worst breakouts rarely stands a chance against spot treatments formulated with benzoyl peroxide. “Benzoyl peroxide is perhaps the most effective treatment we have,” explains Dr. Joshua Zeichner, MD, a dermatologist. Unlike salicylic acid, which removes the dead skin cells that are clogging your pores, benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria, so even the toughest, most painful inflamed pimples surrender to BP. “Benzoyl peroxide works by reducing levels of acne-causing bacteria on the skin to lower inflammation without overdrying,” Dr. Zeichner adds.
Buy it here: Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10, $5.
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Image courtesy of brand.11/19A friendly FYI: It’s perfectly possible to have oily, acne-prone skin and still feel like your skin is begging for a drink of water. “Acne and excess oil are completely separate issues from skin hydration,” Dr. Zeichner says. Avoid further stripping thirsty skin with a face wash specifically engineered to hydrate while simultaneously combating breakouts. “This cleanser offers the acne-fighting benefits of salicylic acid in a creamy, nondrying cleanser."
Buy it here: Aveeno Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser, $7.
Image courtesy of brand.12/19Blackheads can be particularly tricky to coax out of clogged pores. If you have oily skin that blackheads tend to crop up on, a detoxifying facial scrub may be the solution you’re searching for. “This one offers both manual exfoliation and chemical exfoliation using salicylic acid,” Dr. Zeichner notes. Even if you have super sensitive skin, Dr. Z says the formulation is mild enough that it won’t irritate you.
Buy it here: Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub, $8.
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Image courtesy of brand.13/19Gone are the days of needing a prescription to get spot-free skin. This prescription-strength retinoid, which has forever been praised by the pros for its skin-clearing abilities, is now available over the counter. “Topical retinoids are a mainstay of acne treatment because they help keep pores clear and reduce skin inflammation,” Dr. Zeichner explains. He recommends using nightly, if your skin can tolerate it, and encourages sticking with it since results take several weeks to take effect.
Buy it here: Differin Acne Treatment Gel, $28.
Image courtesy of brand.14/19Dermatologists swear by this dual-action treatment for a truly flawless complexion. “It combines acne-fighting benzoyl peroxide with lipohydroxy acid, a cousin of salicylic acid,” Dr. Zeichner says. Forget all the scientific skin terms — all you need to know is that it helps destroy acne-causing bacteria while also gently exfoliating skin.
Buy it here: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, $37.
Image courtesy of brand.15/19“I'm one of those people who cannot resist the urge to pop a pimple when I see one,” says Sam Escobar. “This is, of course, the opposite of what every dermatologist ever will advise you to do to your skin.”
If you’re like Sam and simply can’t refrain from picking at your skin, these hydrocolloid stickers can help solve your bad habit: “In the same way having a fresh manicure can help a nail-biter, they have genuinely helped me stop pinching and squeezing my skin." The circular patches are infused with salicylic acid to treat pimples as well as aloe vera to help quell inflammation. Wear them during the day or overnight; either way, they're effective and super easy to use.
Buy it here: Peace Out Acne Healing Dots, $19.
Image courtesy of brand.16/19Hyperpigmentation and acne scars can be just as — if not more — frustrating than zits themselves. Finding a good exfoliator that helps to even out your skin tone is key to achieving blemish-free skin — and these peel pads are perfect for exactly that purpose. Each daily treatment consists of a two-step process that utilizes wipes packed with salicylic, lactic, alpha hydroxy, and glycolic acids to chemically strip your skin of its dead cells.
Buy it here: Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel, $88.
Image courtesy of brand.17/19If you’re battling larger, more painful breakouts, you may want to take a second glance at the spot treatment you’re entrusting to take care of them. “Murad's spot treatment is one of my favorite products to use on ‘angrier’ types of blemishes that sometimes appear on my chin when I'm stressed or haven't been eating well,” Sam notes. The salicylic acid in the formula quickly helps reduce inflammation while also stamping out redness. “It’s also lightweight enough that you can apply concealer over the top without worrying about your skin looking bumpy or flaky. I have relatively dry skin, too, so I appreciate that this gel doesn't dehydrate it further.”
Buy it here: Murad Acne Control Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment, $22.
Image courtesy of brand.18/19The road to clear skin shouldn't have to be a costly endeavor. “La Roche-Posay is one of those skin-care brands that I very regularly find myself recommending to friends and family members who ask about inexpensive products that are just as effective as pricier options,” Sam says. “So the fact that this brand actually makes an acne-fighting trio of products at an accessible price is really awesome.” For only 30 bucks, you can get a cleanser, a toner, and a spot treatment — each features derm-recommended ingredients, like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid.
Buy it here: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Dermatological 3-Step Acne Treatment System, $30.
Image courtesy of brand.19/19Masks can be tricky for people who have blemish-prone skin, but there are options out there that aren’t too harsh or pore-clogging, like this one from Nügg. Infused with cucumber and witch hazel extracts to stave off shine and oiliness as well as jojoba oil to hydrate the skin, this mask is simultaneously gentle and effective — plus, it comes in cute, single-serving containers that are easy to pack in your suitcase when traveling. At just $18 for five masks, you can achieve clear skin without breaking the bank.
Buy it here: Nügg Deep Cleansing Face Mask, $18 for a set of five masks.
