These Are The Best (& We Mean Best!) Acne Treatments For Every Kind Of Spot

This toner delivers a glorious tingly feeling without stripping your skin barrier. It’s formulated with salicylic acid to penetrate deep into pores and break up oil and gunk, as well as a copper complex to enhance firmness, which can help those pores appear smaller (since sagging skin can lead to large pores). If you’re looking for a lightweight, leave-on tonic to immediately reduce excess shine, you’ll love this gently purifying number.

This potent serum includes 14% glycolic acid, an AHA that does its work on the surface of the skin, rather than penetrating into the pores (like BHAs). That means it’s great for post-breakout concerns like hyperpigmentation, as it easily sloughs off pigmented skin and encourages cell turnover. You’ll also find 1% granactive retinoid, a highly-advanced retinoid that is easily recognized by your skin cells (meaning less irritation), as well as peptides to smooth and plump skin. It’s the ultimate serum for aging and acne-prone skin.

Lactic acid is an A+ exfoliator for those with dry skin, as the AHA has a larger molecular size, meaning it doesn’t penetrate the skin as quickly (resulting in less irritation). Then to make sure the formula stays extra hydrating, Biossance folds in sugar-derived squalane to protect the skin’s moisture barrier. Just know that because lactic acid is a larger molecule, it does most of its work up-top rather than deep in the skin; that’s why board-certified dermatologist Ellen Marmur, M.D., once told mbg that she commonly recommends lactic acid to clients who want to treat comedonal acne like blackheads, as they are more surface level.

This clarifying serum features willow bark extract (a naturally occurring BHA) to break down sebum in your pores, niacinamide to balance oil production and help fade lingering dark spots, and a zinc blend to calm inflammation. The key to keeping oil-prone skin supple and healthy is to balance sebum without stripping the skin (which only leads to more oiliness), and this serum toes the line just beautifully.

Treatments for body acne haven’t always been as sophisticated as their facial counterparts–until this potent serum came along. Similar to the serums you may apply on your face, this lactic acid- and urea-infused solution penetrates deep into pores to address textural concerns on your body. Plus, it contains aloe, centella asiatica, and hyaluronic acid to help hydrate and soothe.

Mandelic acid has the largest molecular size (even larger than lactic acid!), which may make it more tolerable for sensitive skin types. Plus: “Mandelic acid has a unique affinity for oil compared to other AHAs,” board-certified dermatologist Cynthia Bailey, M.D., founder of Dr. Bailey Skin Care, tells mbg about the ingredient. “It can penetrate deeper into oily pores and has even been shown to reduce [excess] sebum production and oily shine.” This toner also includes 2% salicylic acid and 1% gluconolactone, a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) that is known for being a really gentle exfoliator. And of course, it comes buffered with plenty of antioxidant-rich hydrators, like sunflower seed oil, panthenol, aloe, and green tea extract.

Benzoyl peroxide is a standout ingredient that can treat angry pustules and comedonal acne (your blackheads and whiteheads). “It kills the acne-causing bacteria, P. acnes, that lives within our hair follicles, and it also helps to break up and remove dead skin cells that clog our pores,” board-certified dermatologist Ife J. Rodney, M.D., FAAD, founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics, previously shared with mbg. However, benzoyl peroxide can also be drying, which is why derms recommend you opt for a BPO cleanser, since wash-off products tend to be gentler on the skin. You might want to stick to a benzoyl peroxide face wash in the morning, Rodney explains, especially if you want to apply a retinol at night–that way, the two won’t interact.

No lie, when I first tried this spot treatment, my pimple practically vanished overnight. That’s because the formula includes a blend of pre- and probiotics to nurture the skin microbiome (which is crucial when addressing inflammatory conditions like acne), panthenol and allantoin to help calm irritation and redness, and shale oil, which has been found to enhance wound healing and provide antimicrobial properties. The shale oil is what gives the treatment its funky, sulfur-like odor, but rest assured, the scent quickly dissipates once the formula dries down. (And in my humble opinion, the product’s zit-shrinking abilities are well worth the pungent odor.)

This foamy yet hydrating cleanser includes 2% salicylic acid to unclog pores, 2% niacinamide to balance oil production, and 1% azelaic acid to simultaneously brighten dark spots. Plus, azelaic acid also has anti-keratinizing effects, meaning it “breaks up dead cell plugs that cause clogged pores, blackheads, and whiteheads,” Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD, tells mbg about the ingredient. Glycerin and camellia leaf extract also make an appearance to soothe and hydrate, so it won’t leave your skin feeling raw or tight post-cleanse.

Long gone are the days of alcohol-soaked, skin-stripping peel pads. Now, you can find tons of options that feature gentle exfoliators, soothing buffers, and elevated complexion-brightening actives. This Kinship option comes with glycolic acid, willow bark extract, aloe, Manuka honey, and the brand’s signature probiotic blend–it’s perfect for teens who crave that tingly feeling without wrecking their moisture barriers.

Blackheads can be quite stubborn–it can be helpful to snag a product specifically geared towards unclogging those pesky spots. This blackhead peel-off mask includes activated charcoal, which can draw in and hold oil, dead skin cells, and dirt in its pores, (thereby removing it from yours); calcium montmorillonite clay, which gently physically exfoliates the skin; and a signature blend of jojoba and willowherb to nourish and provide moisture.

Joshua Zeichner, M.D., is the dermatologist behind this clean collection, which is formulated specifically with adult acne in mind. In this weightless, water-gel mask, you’ll find micronized 2.5% benzoyl peroxide (micronization allows the benzoyl peroxide to penetrate deeper into the pores), alpha-linoleic acid for oil control, and saw palmetto for balance. “There’s data showing that it can help control oil, so it can be beneficial in someone who has acne,” Zeichner told mbg about the smart botanical.