26 Highly Rated Products For Anyone Who Struggles With Breakouts
If you're reading this, stop picking.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. Hydrocolloid COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches speed up the ~draining process~ and more importantly, they 👏 prevent 👏 picking 👏. If you're looking for a no-frills way to stop cystic acne in its evil tracks, these transparent stickers are the way to go.
Promising review: "OMG I will never not be without these tiny little miracles again. I put one on before bed and the zit has disappeared by morning. They stay in place all night and my husband can barely even tell when I'm wearing one. I love these little things!" —Anita Pilkington
Get a pack of 24 from Amazon for $4.73.
To learn more, check out "These Pimple Patches Are Magical And BRB I'm Buying 20 Packs Of Them."
2. And! Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Surface Patches treat cluster breakouts (cc: that special time of the month in which your jawline is shown no mercy) with a medical-grade hydrocolloid formula that prevents picking and speeds up draining. All you'll have to do is peel and stick.
Promising review: "As embarrassing as this is to admit, I have had issues with body and butt acne like no other. I had tried everything to clear them up, but nothing helped. I'm horrible at picking at blemishes as well, so I decided to give these a try. I LOVE these patches!! Even better that they come in large patches, which was a lifesaver for cluster bumps! WHOA! I would leave these on for eight to 10 hours and it would draw so much of the pus out. After just one use of a patch, I noticed a dramatic difference and sometimes it completely cleared them up." —Ashley
Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $17.99.
3. Cotton Tea Tree Essential Blemish Control Mask use ingredients like willow bark, rosemary, tea tree oil, chamomile, and asiatic pennywort — all of which translate to "I fight acne for a living." Not without further ado, grab some wine and begin your at-home spa night. Consider your complexion exfoliated and irritation reduced, all in the name of relaxation.
This mask even has a built-in timer of 15 minutes! The logo will begin to appear once the time has come to remove it, which is pretty freakin' brilliant.
Promising review: "This is probably my favorite sheet mask for calming my skin when I have inflamed acne lesions. When I have active breakouts, I like to leave this mask on until it dries completely, which seems to help reduce the size and redness of acne much more than simply leaving the mask on for 20 minutes." —clinton
Get a pack of five from Amazon for $9.95.
4. The Body Shop Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection Night Mask gives an entirely new meaning to beauty sleep thanks to a powerful blend of salicylic acid and tea tree oil. This combo happily destroys pimples and excess sebum whilst you dream, meaning you'll wake up to matte skin that won't be require that 10 pounds of setting powder, thank you very much.
For best results, pop this vegan formula in the fridge before use to make it extra refreshing. Just apply a layer before bed and — BAM — you'll wake up with cleaner, smoother-looking skin. And no, this won't stain your pillow.
Promising review: "Totally worth the money. I have fairly oily skin, use this about every other night, and it's wonderful! I wash my face, put on a light moisturizer, wait for it to completely absorb into my skin, then I finish with this mask. I'll put a little more on any acne so that by the morning, it's almost completely gone! Will definitely buy again." —Rachel
Get it from Amazon for $22.
5. TULA Probiotic Go Away Spot Treatment declares war on cystic acne best described as "ouch." Painful bumps are essentially reduced overnight thanks to a benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil, and probiotics blend, aka you can go ahead and put that concealer stick down.
Promising review: "I have used this for about a month now as needed and spots are mostly gone over night. I get quite a few hormonal pimples during PMS and this takes them down to just a tiny blemish that covers much easier with make up and is completely gone within two days. I have even used it on larger cystic acne spots and the pain is gone and size is decreased overnight." —kristie bey
Get it from Amazon for $20.
6. COSRX One Step Original Clear Pad come pre-soaked with willow bark water and BHA, a chemical exfoliant that exfoliates dead skin cells and clears clogged pores. Each cotton pad has a: an embossed side for exfoliation and managing oil and b: a soft side to soothe irritation.
Promising review: "These pimple pads are my LIFE now! I used to always get about a pimple a week, but after using these, my skin texture definitely improved and I stopped getting pimples unless life was really stressing me out. Would definitely consider it a holy grail item that I can't imagine my life without. This is a staple mild BHA acid that I use as both a physical and chemical exfoliant every day during my night time routine. I love the convenience because it comes in pad form so there's no need to wet your own cotton pads and what-not." —Ricky
Get a pack of 70 from Amazon for $13.50.
7. CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser earns all the overwhelmingly positive TikTok praise it gets. This is moisture-balancing, has a lotion-like consistency (which is *chef's kiss* for sensitive skin), and is packed with ceramides and hyaluronic acid — aka your complexion is about to take a ride on the moisture-sans-pimple train.
Promising review: "CeraVe was recommended to me by my dermatologist many years ago, and I have been using it religiously since. I have a mixture of oily to dry skin, depending on the weather and my hormone levels. Every other product I tried either dried out my skin, or caused breakouts, or caused hives. Finally I asked my doctor and she told me I needed something gentle and unscented for my sensitive skin, something that cleans out the dirt, and leaves the good oils in my skin alone. I can't sing praises for this product enough. Per my doc's recommendation, I use it every morning when I shower, and only use it at night if it was a sweaty day (since my skin dries out quickly). Ever since I started this routine, I stopped breaking out, my skin doesn't dry out, and no more allergic reactions or irritation. Best facial wash, hands-down." —Alyssa
Get it from Amazon for $14.64.
8. Glossier Solution uses an exfoliating blend of alpha hydroxy acid, beta hydroxy acid, and polyhydroxy acid. Rosetta Stone translation: This acts as a plumber for clogged pores and, according to reviewers, fades acne scars faster than you can say "see ya."
Promising review: "I absolutely love this! I've wanted to try it for the longest time after seeing what it did to a friend's acne. I've only been using it for a week, but I'm already blown away but the results. I use it at night and when I wake up in the morning my normally oily and red skin is smooth and even, and any pimples from the night before are just gone. I can't recommend this product enough this is a must-have!" —Katie
Get it from Glossier for $24.
To learn more, check out "Here's Why The Mega-Popular Glossier Solution Is Totally Worth Your Money."
9. Eva Naturals Vitamin C Serum Plus — because adult acne is *the worst* and reviewers swear that this stuff helps. Not only does this blend of vitamin C, salicylic acid, retinol, and niacinamide attack blemishes with a vengeance, but it also provides moisture and reduces dullness. Heroes = they don't all wear capes.
Promising review: "I have never felt more compelled to write a product review before. This stuff is INCREDIBLE. I have tried almost everything to improve my skin. I continue to get acne in my mid-thirties and literally everything else I've tried has not worked, including prescription topical cream and oral medication. This has saved my skin! I have had very few breakouts, and if anything pops up, this takes care of it quickly! My skin feels moisturized and looks smoother and healthier overall. This is truly one of the best purchases I've ever made. I'm thankful I stumbled upon this serum!" —J.C. Denton
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
10. Oil-, soap-free La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser kicks acne and oily foreheads to the curb. For a matte complexion that stays matte for a solid 12 hours, consider this AM and PM cleanser a skincare staple.
Promising review: "This stuff WORKS. I have very oily acne-prone skin and have tried all sorts of things with minimal success. I have been washing my face twice a day with this stuff for about two weeks now and the difference is incredible! I haven't gotten any new large pimples and everything I had has cleared up. When I first started washing my face with this, I would use it at night and in the morning the sores on my face were way less red and inflamed than when I went to bed. Super impressive." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
11. Neogen Real Fresh Cleansing Stick is a breeze when it comes to application: simply remove the cap, swipe on some goodness, and rinse. No product wasted on your hands. No crud covering your sink faucet. Ease and portability aside, this uses green tea leaves for deep cleansing and gentle exfoliation — I never thought I'd swoon over skincare, but here we are.
Promising review: "I know the acne claim is a hard claim, but, for me, the cleaning stick has kept my skin free of acne since I started using it. Don't get me wrong, I am an adult and realize acne differs for all ages and skin types. That said, I am an active adult and tend to break out if I do not wash with a good quality cleanser after running or biking. Since using this product, I have had a few pimples, but no breakouts. I have tried a lot of products, but most are full of junk, smell too strong, and leave a residue. This product isn't as thick as it looks, barely has a scent, and doesn't leave any residue. You will need to moisturize after use and I recommend only using once a day or so since it is a deep cleanser. It lasts for ever, travels well; it isn't a liquid you need to worry about for security reasons, and isn't in a squeeze bottle that can open in your bag and leave a mess." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $22.
12. Ren Skincare Perfect Canvas Clean Primer provides the ultimate step uno for your a.m. routine. Simply glide this on pre-makeup to reduce pore appearance, mattify excess oil (::curses at T-zone::), and create a nourishing barrier that means your complexion won't go berserk after a long day spent sweating *and* wearing that full coverage foundation.
This silicone-free product is packed with probiotics, blue agave extract, and alpha-glucans to lock in moisture, protects your skin barrier and ~natural skin biome~, plus it prolongs your makeup. An all-around win.
Promising review: "I've been searching for a good barrier for my makeup to wear under my mask. I loved that this included probiotics, so I got it to try. My skin loves it, and it's the first thing that has really helped clear up my acne irritation from wearing a mask at the hospital all day." —Gina
Get it from Ren Skincare for $45.
13. Daily Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator reduces fine lines, fights acne, shrinks pores, and brightens your complexion one scrub at a time. Papain, salicylic acid, and rice actives are released when combined with water; green tea and colloidal oatmeal calm down redness in a jiffy.
Promising review: "My crops are flourishing, my grades are high, and, most importantly, my skin has NEVER been so clear! I have tried everything Sephora has to fix my acne and nothing worked until now! I've been using this for about a month and the difference is incredible! My skin is zit-free, my pores have shrunk, my skin is brighter, and my face hasn't been this soft since I was a CHILD. The price was a bit of a turnoff for me at first, but now I know its a really good deal for what you're getting!" —Jurban
Get it from Sephora for $15+ (available in two sizes).
14. NeoGen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine uses red ~vino~ extracts in single-use exfoliating pads because dead skin and week-long pimples that refuse the evacuate the premises = the worst. These pads use a potent lactic acid capable of reaching deep into your pores for built-up oil and gunk, aka scream so long and farewell to the chin zit that will have no choice but to disappear.
Promising review: "With combination skin I often find that chemical exfoliators treat my oily zones fine, but are too harsh on my cheeks/drier areas. This is gentle enough for those spots, but still give me the exfoliation I need in my T-zone. I have been using it twice a week and it has really calmed down my cystic acne. They're not as painful and pass very quickly." —Tabitha C.
Get a pack of 30 from Amazon for $27.
15. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Balm is a multi-purpose balm suitable for face, body, lips, and hands. A nonsticky combination of shea butter and glycerin soothes irritated skin in a jiffy — and despite how moisturizing it is, reviewers s-w-e-a-r that it doesn't cause breakouts.
Promising review: "I had a terrible allergic reaction to tea tree oil about two weeks ago. Tiny bumps all over my face along with bunches of breakouts and my normally oily skin was so dry the strongest moisturizers I had wouldn’t keep it moisturized for long. I tried this stuff and OVERNIGHT basically all the bumps and my breakouts are gone. I have incredibly sensitive skin (clearly) and this stuff feels so soothing on my face and leaves it looking bright. I can’t speak more highly of this product. I will probably continue using it as a regular daily moisturizer even after my skin goes back to normal because it feels so smooth and I bet it would make a great base for makeup. HIGHLY recommend to anyone with sensitive, combination skin. And I’m acne prone and this stuff doesn’t break me out. Holy grail people!" —SH
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
16. Mario Badescu Anti-Acne Serum bids adieu to about-to-erupt blemishes, one sleep at a time. Just apply a thin layer of this thyme and salicylic acid gel over pesky areas, and the only thing you'll be waking up to is the irritating sound of your alarm — no cystic acne (that deep, painful kind).
Promising review: "I have suffered with acne for 10 years. I have tried every soap and medicine on the market. I even tried Accutane, and while it improved my skin, it didn't get rid of it completely. This has cleared my skin up tremendously and I hardly have any breakouts now! It seems expensive but a little goes a long way and it works, so it's totally worth it!" —Hannah Webb
Get it from Amazon for $20.
17. Blume Whirl Moisturizer smells like heaven (*inhales coffee, coconut, and vanilla cookie scent*) and works like a miracle, to boot. Listen up: Acne-prone skin still needs moisture! And this truly delivers on its promise of dewy, plump, and spot-free complexions.
Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, prickly pear seed oil, aloe juice, rosehip oil, grapeseed oil, licorice root *and* skullcap root extract are responsible for the magic that is this product.
Psst, you can use this morning and night!
Promising review: "I really enjoy the texture. Not oily but hydrates well. The fragrance is light and yummy. I have sensitive skin, experience hormonal acne, and it hasn't caused any new breakouts! My skin feels great when I wake up." —Carissa L.
Get it from Blume for $34.
18. Cocokind Turmeric Spot Treatment makes application a breeze: simply dab this onto that chin pimple and, just like that, you'll have waved goodbye to the messy (and smelly) topical creams of acne past. Plus, this turmeric, ginger, and tea tree oil formula truly does zap zits overnight.
Promising review: "I've had a pimple/ingrown hair for ages. I would use different blemish treatments and it would mostly go away but always returned in a couple of weeks. I used this twice and it's gone. It's been several weeks and nothing. I've used it on other blemishes...gone." —J. Curran
Get it from Amazon for $10.95.
19. Radha Beauty Rosehip Oil is currently negotiating a movie deal with Marvel: this little bebé is truly a superhero worthy of its own franchise. It delivers on its promise of glowing skin by morning, tackling redness, scarring, dehydration, and acne whilst you sleep.
Promising review: "My new holy grail! I have super sensitive, acne-prone skin in a very dry climate. This stuff is seriously so amazing. I use it from my face to my toes. It’s completely eradicated any dry skin I had and makes me glow. I’ve gotten so many compliments on my skin since I’ve started using it, even my boyfriend noticed! I love it after chemical peels too. It gets rid of peeling and dry patches as well as soothing any redness. It’s a decent-sized bottle for what you pay!" —Brynnieb09
Get it from Amazon for $13.95.
To learn more, check out "This Facial Oil Will Solve All Your Skin’s Problems."
20. Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Acne Treatment Mask is packed with sulfur, kaolin clay, and bentonite clay for a strong formula that follows through on its description of being "maximum strength". So let me break it down for you: This mask will quickly dry out your acne and tell excess oil to hit the road.
Promising review: "My hormonal acne has been nonstop for the past three months. I was trying to find to anything that would help me. This has helped me SOOOOOO much since I’ve been using this for a couple weeks. Literally I have seen so much improvement with my acne on my cheeks and jawline. It has even helped the appearance of my pores on my chin." —StricklerEmma
Get it from Sephora for $52.
21. Ancient Greek Remedy Oil works as a skincare jack-of-all-trades. A blend of extra virgin olive oil, almond oil, grape seed oil, lavender essential oil, and vitamin E does all the following: softens skin, calms acne outbursts, lightens dark spots, and is moisturizing enough for even the driest of complexions. *adds seven bottles to cart immediately*
It can also be used to moisturize cuticles, strengthen nails, and can be used on dry, itchy scalps that have begun to flake.
Promising review: "I have been desperately looking for a good moisturizer. I have always used only Korean skincare products because it's so moisturizing, but living in a dry state (especially during winter) has been brutal on my skin. My hands crack, my skin gets too oily because its dry, and the sides of my nose always gets painfully dry. I applied a little to my hands to test it out. It was immediately soothing. My hands already feel softer, and it smells AMAZING. It's not artificial perfume scent, so it's not irritating to my skin. This does NOT leave that greasy feeling when applied. If you're struggling with dry skin, this is worth the hype." —Ashley
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
22. Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 protects your complexion against the suns rays *and* blue light, doesn't leave behind a white cast, and won't break you out. It's no wonder so many reviewers consider this a holy grail.
Promising review: "This is the BEST sunscreen I have ever used! It leaves ZERO white cast. It has no sunscreen scent. In fact, it doesn't really smell like anything, which is great because I hate fragrances in my skincare. It protects from blue light from electronic devices which is great because it doesn't feel like a waste of sunscreen since I only have a 10-minute drive to work, but I'm in front of a computer all day." —Renee Rounds
Get it from Amazon for $34.
23. Tower 28 Daily Rescue Facial Spray revitalizes skin with three simple ingredients: hypochlorous acid, water, and sodium chloride. Give your complexion a spritz of this trio to cleanse, soothe redness, and calm irritation. Reviewers even *swear* by this product for combatting maskne!
Promising review: "OK, so MASKNE is a real thing. I have been wearing a mask almost daily since March (work in healthcare). I did not realize it when I made the initial purchase, but the main ingredient in this is actually widely used in healthcare as an antiseptic and for wound healing. And. It. Totally. Works." —acsRN
Promising review: "This is a holy grail product. I swear I have glass skin now thanks to this spray. My texture, pores, skin tone, hydration, everything seems better. I love how it looks, how it smells, and especially how happy it makes my skin. I’ll be buying this for the rest of my life. I’ve already repurchased it twice. Worth the hype." —CBTarker
Get it from Sephora for $28.
24. Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Porefining Face Mask hits the reset button on grease and blemishes (this includes both scarring and all those painful, emerging zits) with an impressive blend of Australian botanicals. ✨ Smoother, brighter skin ✨ is at your fingertips — just apply a face mask two or three times a week.
This vegan and cruelty-free clay mask also includes an application brush!
Promising review: "Believe the hype. I do not normally write reviews EVER. I struggle with hormonal cystic acne. I received this product initially as a sample in a beauty bag subscription, within a couple weeks it had my acne cleared and pores noticeably smaller. I looked to purchase and was very hesitant about the price so I ended up not purchasing and tried a different option. Nothing could ever get my complexion back to how it was when using this product so I bit the bullet and made the purchase. I DO NOT regret it. It is my new holy grail product." —Chelsea
Get it from Amazon for $49.
25. Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop Serum is formulated with vitamin C and grapefruit extracts and with daily use, you'll be waving ~arrivederci~ to dullness, dark spots, and breakouts. Reviewers even swear that a little goes a long way, aka you won't have to throw money at a new bottle every month.
Promising review: "This is the holy grail of serums for those who have troubled, acne-prone skin. I used to breakout BAD during my period and this has tamed my acne! Not only that, but it has lightened my old acne scars. I love this! A little goes a long way. I only use three drops to cover my face." —Love Cabello
Get it from Amazon for $22.
26. Paula's Choice 2% BHA liquid exfoliant confronts enlarged pores, pesky pimples, and fine lines with unmatched dedication. It also gently exfoliates with each swipe, so you can effectively wave ta ta to dullness and dead skin cells with every toss of a cotton round.
Promising review: "I have acne-prone skin that is combo-to-oily with large pores, and this stuff has truly been a lifesaver! Like this is literally witchcraft in a bottle and my new holy grail! Ditch your harsh scrubs and give this a go... your skin will thank you." —Philena
Get it from Amazon for $10 (available in two sizes).
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The reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.