9 Skincare Products That Will Help Clear Your Gnarly Breakouts

You’ve probably experienced acne at one point in your life – be it in your teens, a bit later as an adult, only once a month during your period, or after forgetting to wash off your makeup at night. With that in mind, we could all use a good-acne fighting product or two – even if you only have to reach for it once in a blue moon. And it turns out that some of the most effective acne-fighting products can be found right in the drugstore aisle. Yes, those pricey acne treatments really do the work, and we have a lot of favourites there, but don’t write off their drugstore counterparts just because they’re cheaper. And really, who doesn’t love saving a buck or two?

So we did the hard work for you by scouring the best drugstore products that work wonders to zap those zits. From indulgent face masks that work double duty to acne patches that suck the gunk out of pimples overnight and cleansers that stop a breakout before it ever happens, there’s something for everyone – and every type of acne – out there.

9 Acne-Fighting Products That Deliver Major Results

The One Loved By Skincare Gurus

As affordable and handy and cute as these acne relief patches are, they are super effective in zapping those zits. This is another hydrocolloid patch option that creates a moist, sealed-off environment to absorb excess excretions and sebum from your breakouts, while also protecting them from bacteria, dirt, and your own picking habits. It’s also infused with neem and haldi which will make your breakout heal faster and scar less. 

Buh-Bye, Zits

If you measure the efficacy of zit-zapping products by whether they “feel” like they are getting to work, consider these microneedle acne patches the gold standard. But it’s not just a feeling – the stuff helps to reduce the bumps, pain and redness of the acne in a jiffy. Bonus points for hyaluronic acid which soothes skin in its tracks. 

An All-Around Winner

Hydrocolloid patches are all the rage at the moment, and for all right reasons. They stay in place for hours, ensuring that the zit-zapping salicylic acid soaks into a blemish, while the bandage-like sticker helps pull out dirt and impurities. 

A Cult-Loved Product

For folks with sensitive skin that is also acne-prone, try CeraVe’s renewing SA cleanser. If you’re experiencing the clogging type of congested type of acne, think whiteheads, blackheads, and dead skin, it’s best to look for salicylic acid in the product. SA is the preferred ingredient when treating whiteheads and blackheads because it breaks down the materials that clog pores such as dead skin cells and excess oil. 

The Holy-Grail Product

Re’equil Acne Clarifying Gel treats acne from the comedolytic action of powerful AHAs exfoliants like glycolic acid and BHAs like salicylic acid without drying out the skin. The power duo sloughs skin and unclogs pores. Plus, it’s so fast-acting that it can shrink a major zit overnight. 

You Can Always Count On This!

This anti-acne face mask by Ayouthveda sucks your pores clean without drying out your skin. This is all thanks to aloe vera, neem, and clove extracts, which absorb oil and dirt. Clean your skin & gently apply the sheet mask. Sit back and relax for 15-20 minutes. Peel off the mask and feel the radiant, clear, and dewy skin.

Zap That Zit

Take breakouts down before they even have a fighting chance by applying a layer of this serum to your skin. It is a combination of salicylic acid and other zit & blemish zapping ingredients to exfoliate and unclog pores. Use it in your AM and PM routine for an easy win against acne.

A True Multi-Tasker

When trying to deal with acne and acne scars, vitamin C is a beautiful ingredient to incorporate into a skincare routine. To start with, vitamin C contains anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce the redness and swelling that come with acne. It also stimulates collagen, which then helps rebuild skin damaged by the rising and collapsing into a crater. Vitamin C is best used as a serum.

A Natural Hero

For a natural option, try this spot treatment from Burt’s Bees. Its blemish-reducing formula contains calendula, tea tree, yarrow, and parsley extracts, plus salicylic acid naturally derived from willow bark. 

Clearer skin in three, two, one…

Featured Image: Instagram