Best skincare for acne

A multitasker that calms redness, evens out skin tone, and helps oily skin balance out. One of the safest do-a-little-of-everything ingredients.

Goes into your pores and dissolves the oil and dead skin clogging them. Best for blackheads, whiteheads, and oily, acne-prone skin.

Calms redness, fades acne marks, and clears bumps, all without aggravating sensitive skin. Pregnancy-safe.

The active in classic anti-dandruff and anti-Malassezia formulas. RCTs show it clears severe dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis on par with ketoconazole 2%; also useful in fungal acne and scalp folliculitis. The reason your medicated body wash actually works.

The prescription-strength version of retinol. Same goals (smoother, more even skin), but works faster and is more irritating. Needs a doctor.

A gentler prescription retinoid that focuses on clogged pores and acne. Better tolerated than tretinoin for most skin.

Kills the bacteria that cause inflammatory acne. The first thing to reach for when you have red, painful pimples.

A calming K-beauty botanical that's also antibacterial, so it pairs well for acne-prone, sensitive skin.

A bee-made resin that's antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Calms breakouts and hydrates at the same time.

A natural acne spot-treatment that kills the bacteria behind red, painful pimples. Slower than benzoyl peroxide but with fewer side effects when used at 5%.

An essential fatty acid your sebum runs short on if you're acne-prone, and topping it up topically literally shrinks clogged pores. Also rebuilds the lipid mortar between skin cells. Found concentrated in safflower, hemp, and rosehip oils.

An ancient antimicrobial that has graduated into modern wound clinics. Cochrane and meta-analytic evidence shows it heals partial-thickness burns ~4-5 days faster than conventional dressings; smaller dermatology trials show it calms atopic dermatitis flares without irritation.