Acne can be a huge pain, which is why I always recommend seeing a dermatologist for treatment if you are struggling to get your acne under control. They may recommend some of the great bacterial-killing ingredients found in the over-the-counter cleansers, masks and treatments found below.
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1. Best Drying Mask: Mario Badescu
A decent acne mask works by drying up your existing pimples and oil. Mario Badescu's mask is affordable (about $18 online) and lasts a long while. It's great for soothing facial, back and chest acne and contains soothing calamine, kaolin and sulfur.
2. A Great Mask: Physician's Choice PCA Skin (pHaze 9) Purifying Mask
This purifying mask gets a whopping 5 stars on Dermstore. At $55 online, it's a pricier mask than the Mario Badescu one above, but users love the red algae and French clay mask because of its drying and nourishing properties. To be used weekly. Formulated with the antioxidants vitamins A and E and red wine extract.
3. Treatment by Acne.org
This products gets high ratings on Makeupalley.com. Of the 495 reviews at the time of this publish, a whopping 84 percent would buy the product again, which is actually a very good rating on Makeupalley's review site.
Formulated by Acne.org's founder Dan Kern, this program is actually a program and to get the best results you have to abide by the regimen. The active ingredient is 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. Users report the cream is drying, but did clear up acne and prevent reoccurences. To learn more, visit Acne.org and click on the "Get Started" arrow. You'll find written instructions, illustrations and "how to" videos.
4. Neutrogena Oil-free Acne Wash
This oil-free cleanser is formulated with salicylic acid and comes recommended by dermatologists. Use with Neutrogena's Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub.
See more cleansers in Best Cleansers for Acne-Prone Skin.
5. Lancome Pure Focus Exfoliator
Use this scrub with microbeads two or three times a week to deeply clean skin. Contains salicylic acid. Users report this product leave their skin feeling awesome afterwards.
6. Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk
Use this clog-dissolving cleansing milk as an enzymatic mask. Apply to skin and leave on for 5 minutes before rinsing. According to the company Website, "skin is left silky soft and refreshed with a tangy, citrus scent." Great for removing makeup and breaking down excess sebum, dirt, and debris.
7. Biore Pore Perfect Strips
If you have acne, you are prone to blackheads and these strips work wonders on removing annoying blackheads on the nose. You simply apply, leave on for awhile and when you pull off the strip you can see all the little blackheads stuck to the tape. So satisfying!
8. Proactiv Solution 3-step System
This is a 3-step program made up of cleanser, toner and a treatment cream. It's packed full of acne-fighting medicine including benzoyl peroxide in the cleanser and treatment cream (meant to kill acne-causing bacteria) and glycolic acid in the toner, which exfoliates dead skin cells keeping pores unplugged. Users report this 3-step system works.
9. MD Skincare All-Over Blemish Solution
Use this under makeup in the morning or after you wash your face in the evening. It's packed with a lot of great ingredients to kill the bacteria that causes acne including salicylic acid, farnesol, and a chamomile extract which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. A bit pricey, but worth the money.
10. Zeno Acne Clearing Device
Allure magazine gave it a "Best of Beauty" award. The Zeno Acne Clearing Device is an actual hand-held, battery-operated device that is meant to have direct contact with blemishes on your skin. Apparently a heat source adjusts to your skin and transfers heat into the skin's follicle treating the blemish. Usually, I'm not a fan of such devices because I'm skeptical they work, but this gets pretty good ratings on Websites.
11. Try a Homemade Aspirin Mask to Dry Up Pimples
Over on Makeupalley.com, aspirin masks are a hot topic. Why? Apparently, aspirin is brilliant at spot-treating pimples, clearing up acne and itchy patches. In fact, the aspirin mask gets more than 2030 reviews -- more than any individual makeup, skincare or hair product -- on Makeupalley so I had to share it with you because 85 percent of these reviews are by women who would "try it again."
