Editors Share Their Favorite Acne Treatments Under $20
11 Acne Treatments Our Editors Swear By — All Under $20
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While we can't think of anyone who's happy to see a blemish break out, we have all been there. Whether it's a long-term struggle or a surprise, pimples pop up uninvited . . . and often leave scarring as a parting gift.
Now, as beauty editors, we've tried many different spot treatments and serums over the years — and have rounded up some of our favorite acne-fighting products on the market, for all skin types. These even work on newly irritated skin and body acne, and there's not a single one on this list that costs more than $19.
See which acne treatments get our stamp of approval ahead, and read our reviews, too.
Peace Out Acne Healing Dots
Item: Peace Out Acne Healing Dots ($19)
What our editor said: "After buying the patches, I had about 24 hours until I needed to wear a full face of wedding makeup. I stuck a few of the dots to my most noticeable spots and crossed my fingers. I changed out the bandages every few hours and, excuse the grossness, noticed they were extracting gunk from the inside out . . . I didn't mind wearing the dots, since they actually kept my inflamed spots close to flesh toned for me. When they did come off, I noticed the zits had reduced in size and were significantly less red." — Karenna Meredith, assistant editor, Trending and Viral Features
If you want to read more, here is the complete review.
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser
Item: CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser ($15)
What our editor said: "With hundreds of five-star reviews on Target and Ulta — as well as the support of thousands of TikTok users — I was excited to see if this product worked as well as everyone said it did. My first time using it, I immediately loved the consistency. It's a little on the milky side, and the formula is pretty thin, but it feels very silky and luxurious. As for the results, after about three days, I noticed a difference in my skin and breakouts. While I was used to seeing at least two or three new zits pop up after every outing where a mask was required, using this CeraVe cleanser cut that number in half. It left my skin feeling soft and hydrated, although I did notice some dry skin and flakiness around my nose. At $15, this cleanser is one of the most affordable skin-care products I've used in a while, as well as one of the most effective." — Renee Rodriguez, executive assistant
If you want to read more, here is the complete review.
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
Item: Mario Badescu Drying Lotion ($17)
What our editor said: "I followed the instructions and used a cotton swab to dab the pink lotion on every little bump I could find. I woke up the next day and there was no trace of the lotion or of a blemish. At last, a product that I saw results with! If you're wondering what makes this treatment so special, it's the pink substance itself: the calamine lotion. (Yes, that's the same lotion you may have used if you ever suffered from poison ivy or insect bites as a kid.) This soothing lotion is mixed with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and sulfur, which work together to dry out clogged pores, kill bacteria, and diminish your spots." — Krista Jones, associate editor, Shop
If you want to read more, here is the complete review.
Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Micro Tip Patches
Item: Dr. Jart+ Focuspot Micro Tip Patches ($18)
What our editor said: "Whenever I get an annoying zit or dark spot, these nifty little patches always seem to do the trick. They reduce the size of my zit and help make dark spots lighter. I'm hooked." — Nikita Ramsinghani, associate editor, Fashion
If you want to read more, here is the complete review.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Item: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% ($6)
What our editor said: "Niacinamide is one of those ingredients that you always hear about, but you should own more products that contain it. The thing is, if you have acne-prone skin, it's key. It flushes out pores to prevent future breakouts and in the case of [this serum, it] uses niacinamide in tandem with zinc PCA to control sebum production." — Samantha Sasso, associate beauty editor, Native
If you want to read more, here is the complete review.
Sephora Collection Clear and Cover Acne Treatment Cream Concealer With 2% Salicylic Acid
Item: Sephora Collection Clear and Cover Acne Treatment Cream Concealer With 2% Salicylic Acid ($14)
What our editor said: "I find a lot of concealers always made my breakouts look cakey and more noticeable. I tried this Sephora Collection Clear and Cover Acne Treatment Cream Concealer With 2% Salicylic Acid on a whim, not thinking it would be a game changer, and I was wrong. Not only does it cover a majority of my breakouts, but the acne-fighting formula helps them go away quicker, too." — KJ
If you want to read more, here is the complete review.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel Mini
Item: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel Mini ($17)
What our editor said: "[This peel] is actually a two-step process where each wipe is applied to skin with a two-minute pause in between. The first one packs in AHAs and BHAs like mandelic and salicylic acids to take on acne and dark spots, while the second one features retinol and resveratrol to plump in fine lines and reduce redness. The individual pads also make it easy to travel with and to not worry about a liquid losing potency in a bottle over time." — Morgan Ashley Parker, contributing editor, Beauty
If you want to read more, here is the complete review.
Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Face and Body Soap
Item: Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Face and Body Soap ($17)
What our editor said: "Sometimes when I work out a lot, I break out on my chest and back. I always keep this Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Face and Body Soap in my shower to help combat sweat blemishes." — KJ
If you want to read more, here is the complete review.
Perricone MD Acne Relief Maximum Strength Spot Gel
Item: Perricone MD Acne Relief Maximum Strength Spot Gel ($19)
What our editor said: "I found this tube in my drawer of skin-care products that I'm waiting to test and decided to give it a shot. The active ingredient in the treatment is two percent salicylic acid, but it also contains tea tree oil to calm skin and lactic and succinic acids to fight acne-causing bacteria. I dabbed a tiny bit of the clear gel on each of the pimples and went to sleep without too high of expectations. When I woke up the next morning, I really couldn't believe that it worked — the little whiteheads were gone. It doesn't work as quickly on deep, cystic acne (as to be expected), but I still dot some on to help speed up the recovery of those pimples, too. As for whiteheads, those are pretty much zapped overnight." — Jessica Harrington, associate beauty editor
If you want to read more, here is the complete review.
Tula The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser
Item: Tula The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser ($10)
What our editor said: "I discovered the brand Tula when I was a junior in college. I had a friend who was very open about her struggle with acne and had documented her skin progress while using the regimen of products on Instagram. That was all of the convincing I needed to give it a try — after all, nothing was working on my hormonal acne. I still remember the day when bought my first bottle of the Tula cleanser off Amazon and threw out my other face washes as soon as it arrived. Years later, I've gone through countless bottles of the stuff.
What I first loved — and still do — about the cleanser is how gentle it is on the skin. With my combination skin type, most cleansers were either too harsh and drying or not effective enough. I can use it morning and night and it still doesn't leave my skin feeling parched or tight. It has a refreshing gel consistency that lathers into a light foam and removes makeup and dirt from the face with ease. It's loaded with good-for-you ingredients like chicory root to calm inflammation, turmeric root and blueberries for antioxidants, lactic acid to gently exfoliate, and the brand's signature probiotics." — JH
If you want to read more, here is the complete review.
The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
Item: The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil ($10)
What our editor said: "The only facial oil my acne will tolerate these days is The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. Rose hip is rich with vitamin A and linoleic acid, which both control sebum production and prevent both black- and whiteheads. It's also been said to reduce the appearance of scars and is deeply hydrating, especially when worn on top of your go-to nighttime moisturizer." — SS
If you want to read more, here is the complete review.
Dr. Jart+ Dermask Micro Jet Clearing Solution
Item: Dr. Jart+ Dermask Micro Jet Clearing Solution ($9)
What our editor said: "Whether it's an under-the-surface blemish or ready to be popped, I'm not kidding when I say [this mask] clears up anything overnight — or at least reduces it significantly. I always have at least one on hand so I can stop a breakout in its tracks without having to make a trip to Sephora." — Carrie Carrollo, contributor, Native
If you want to read more, here is the complete review.
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