GHS 10 BEST
10 Best Acne Fighting Products
We’ve put together a GHS curated regimen of skin care products for fighting acne and blemishes. We only link to products that we absolutely believe in. We’ve chosen the below products based on the necessary ingredients needed to provide successful results, and all products are paraben-free, sulfate-free, and phthalate-free.
Why we love this cleanser
This acne fighting cleanser works to help prevent breakouts by thoroughly removing excess oil, pore-clogging debris, and makeup without stripping your skin of its natural oils and causing redness.
Use as your AM & PM cleanser
Cleanse 2x daily and rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Key ingredients for acne
✓ Salicylic Acid (BHA)
Certified: paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, cruelty-free
Price: $
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Why we love this cleanser
This cleanser neutralizes acne bacteria, controls oil production, exfoliates and unclogs pores without stripping your skin of its natural oils. It also contains azelaic acid, which helps fade marks and dark spots left by past acne.
Use as your AM & PM cleanser
Cleanse 2x daily and rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Key ingredients for acne
✓ Salicylic Acid (BHA)
✓ Azelaic Acid
✓ Lactic Acid (AHA)
Certified: paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, cruelty-free
Price: $$
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Why we love this exfoliant
This exfoliant is gentle enough for all skin types and it's unique because it activates upon contact with water, releasing ingredients that remove surface debris on your skin, balance uneven skin tone, and calm inflammation.
Use after cleanser in your PM routine
Post cleansing -- apply this exfoliant in the evenings only a few times a week - take about a 1/2 teaspoon of the product into wet hands, and create a creamy paste by rubbing your hands together. Apply it to your face using circular motions (avoid the eye area) for one minute, then rinse off thoroughly with warm water.
Key ingredients for acne
✓ Salicylic Acid (BHA)
✓ Tea Tree Oil
Certified: paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free
Price: $$$
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Why we love this exfoliant
This exfoliant is gentle enough for all skin types (yes, even sensitive skin) and exfoliates your skin by removing dead skin cells without drying out your skin and works to clear out excess oil in your pores for a more even, radiant skin tone.
Use after cleanser in your PM routine
Post cleansing -- apply this exfoliant in the evenings only every other night - lightly soak a cotton pad and apply this exfoliant to your entire face (avoiding the eye area). Do not rinse off. Follow up with other serums and a moisturizer.
Key ingredients for acne
✓ Salicylic Acid (BHA)
Certified: paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, cruelty-free
Price: $$
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Why we love this toner
A non-alcoholic toner that helps minimize oil production, reduce the visibility of pores, and restore your skin's optimal pH without overdrying your skin.
Use after cleanser and exfoliator in your AM & PM routine
Post cleansing and/or exfoliating -- apply this toner 2x daily using a cotton ball and smoothing over entire face and neck - do not rinse off - instead, follow up with any additional serums or creams.
Key ingredients for acne
✓ Witch Hazel
✓ Aloe Vera
Certified: paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free
Price: $$
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Why we love this acne treatment
This powerful acne gel works from the inside out to help prevent future breakouts. It contains adapalene, a dermatologist-created retinoid that works to prevent dead skin cell build up in your pores by disrupting the skin cell creation process to ensure that the new skin cells are pre-programmed to shed when they reach the surface of your skin instead of staying binded together and cloggin your pores.
Use after toner in your AM or PM routine
Post cleansing, exfoliating, and toning -- apply this gel once a day to your face, avoiding the eye area.
Key ingredients for acne
✓ Adapalene
Certified: sulfate-free, phthalate-free
One thing to note: we do not like promoting products with parabens, but unfortunately, all the topical products currently available to consumers on the market that contain adapalene (differin), a major acne fighting ingredient, also contain methylparaben.
Price: $
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Why we love this acne treatment
This lightweight serum kills acne bacteria and soothes irritated skin, helping rapidly heal your skin and reduce the redness caused by blemishes. It also has a matte finish (ideal for under-makeup application).
Use after toner in your AM & PM routine
Post cleansing, exfoliating, and toning -- apply this serum 2x daily to your entire face, avoiding the eye area. Due to excessive drying of the skin that may occur, start with 1 application daily and then gradually increase to 2x daily.
Key ingredients for acne
✓ Benzoyl Peroxide
✓ Allantoin
Certified: paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, cruelty-free
Price: $
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Why we love this acne spot treatment
This K-Beauty acne mask treats your acne as infections, and works to protect it from exposure to dirt/other impurities, while working to reduce redness and inflammation, as well acne scarring and infection. It can be used for acne on your back as well. An added bonus is that it's waterproof, so it'll stay on through showering or bathing!
Use as overnight treatment in your PM routine
Post cleansing and toning -- choose a patch that matches the size of your zit and place the patch onto the zit. Leave on overnight, and remove in the morning.
Key ingredients for acne
✓ Betaine Salicylate
✓ White Willow Bark
Certified: paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free
Price: $
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Why we love this moisturizer
This oil-free moisturizer works to hydrate your skin without clogging your pores. It has 2% salicylic acid to help control oil levels and prevent future breakouts, as well as azelaic acid to help brighten dark spots left by past blemishes.
Use after serums or treatments in your AM & PM routine
Post serums and acne treatments (serums or creams) -- apply this moisturizer to your face and neck 2x daily.
Key ingredients for acne
✓ Salicylic Acid (BHA)
✓ Azelaic Acid
Certified: paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, cruelty-free, gluten-free
Price: $$
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Why we love this moisturizer
This lightweight moisturizer works to hydrate your skin without clogging your pores. It also salicylic acid to help control oil levels and prevent future breakouts, as well as lactic acid to help remove dead skin cells.
Use after serums or treatments in your AM & PM routine
Post serums and acne treatments (serums or creams) -- apply this moisturizer to your face and neck 2x daily.
Key ingredients for acne
✓ Tea Tree Oil
✓ Willow Bark Extract
✓ Lactic Acid (AHA)
✓ Salicylic Acid (BHA)
Certified: paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, cruelty-free, organic, gluten-free
Price: $$$
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Why we love this sunscreen
Great for all skin types (yes, even sensitive skin), this sunscreen protects your skin from harmful UV rays without clogging your pores, and it has matte finish (aka shine free!).
If you are heading to the beach for your next vacay or spend a lot of time in the ocean (surfer and kitesurf babes we see you!), check out our favorite reef safe face sunscreens for environmental-friendly water resistant protection against harmful UV rays.
Use as the final step in your AM routine
Post moisturizing -- apply this sunscreen to your face and neck - reapply at least every 2 hours if you will be in the sun all day.
Key ingredients for UV protection
✓ Zinc Oxide
✓ Octinoxate
Certified: paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, cruelty-free
Price: $$
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BONUS: LightStim for Acne
PROFESSIONAL TOOL
Why we love this professional skin care tool
If you use it consistently, you can get the same results as routine LED facials without having to invest the same amount of money and time. The LED lights are also great for treating tougher breakouts like cystic acne.
How it works
This FDA cleared LED light tool uses red and blue lights to soothe redness and inflammation, kill acne bacteria, and prevent future breakouts from forming. It's best for treating mild to moderate acne.
At home use
Prior to use, cleanse your face.
Step 1: Turn on the LightStim (the built-in three-minute timer will begin).
Step 2: Place the LightStim gently on skin over the targeted are you want to treat, and hold in place. Wait for the three-minute time to beep.
Step 3: After the three-minute timer beeps, move the LightStim to a new area and repeat until you have treated all desired areas. Use daily. Once you have achieved your desired results, use 2–3 times weekly.
Price: $$$$
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View more acne-fighting tips and products:
How to Treat Acne - Causes, Treatments, & Top Ingredients
10 Best Cruelty-Free Acne Fighting Products
Benzoyl Peroxide Products for Acne
Salicylic Acid Products for Acne
Azelaic Acid Products for Acne
Benzoyl Peroxide Skin Care Benefits: All You Need to Know
Salicylic Acid Skin Care Benefits: All You Need to Know
Adapalene (Differin) Skin Care Benefits: All You Need to Know
Azelaic Acid Skin Care Benefits: All You Need to Know
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