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'Hands down the best': The top-rated acne-banishing products that actually work

Yahoo Canada
Yahoo Canada

Oh, acne. Whether it’s blackheads, pesky pimples and/or stubborn cystic breakouts, it’s fair to say we’ve all experienced the negative physical and mental effects of it. While many people associate this chronic skin condition with adolescent puberty, acne continues to be the most frequently diagnosed condition by dermatologists, affecting 30 to 40 per cent of adults. With unpredictable triggers like genetics, hormones and stress, treating and clearing and having control of acne can be an extremely difficult task.

In case you didn’t know, June is Acne Awareness Month. If you’re having a difficult time dealing with your breakouts, just know you’re not alone. Here, we’ve gathered together a list of the best acne-clearing products that work according to reviewers going through the same thing.

Scroll through the 13 products below to find the best one that caters to your skin needs.

Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser

Origins Zero Oil
Origins Zero Oil

What is it: An oil-reducing foaming cleanser.

Customer review: “I'm 23 and have light combination skin with moderate acne. I mainly get blackheads and whiteheads and the occasional deeper, bigger pimples. This has cleared up the majority of my acne and leaves my face feeling so clean and amazing! I paired his with the oil free toner and within the last month have been getting a plethora of compliments on how clear my complexion looks. I've had acne since I was 13, been in and out of the dermatologist offices, tried tons of different cleansers from Sephora as well and I FINALLY found a cleanser that works for me!”

Shop it: $24, Sephora

Bioré Baking Soda Acne Cleansing Foam

Baking Soda Acne Cleansing Foam
Baking Soda Acne Cleansing Foam


What is it: A foaming cleanser made for combination, oily and acne-prone skin.


Customer review: “I used it in the morning at the start of my day and was pleasantly surprised by the smell. It has a slight scent of citrus which is quite refreshing. It foams extremely well and a little bit of product goes a long way. My skin did feel very clean after using but I also felt like my skin was a bit tight and dry. Aside from the ‘dryness’ my skin did look brighter and my pores did appear less noticeable as well. I believe anyone who doesn't have sensitive skin could use this cleanser.”


Shop it: $10, Shoppers Drug Mart

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Overnight Purifying Gel

GLYCOLIC FIX OVERNIGHT PURIFYING GEL
GLYCOLIC FIX OVERNIGHT PURIFYING GEL



What is it: A gel formulated with glycolic acid and salicylic acid to help increase cell turnover and unclog pores and blackheads.


Customer Review:
“I've struggled with adult acne for a long time. Recently diagnosed with PCOS, this glycolic gel has been magic. I certainly notice the difference if I skip a night. I've had huge cystic spots, and just one night of using this I notice a difference in size, redness and soreness, they really respond to this gel. Expensive, but definitely worth it, will be buying again.”


Shop it: $20 ($14.95 USD), Nip+Fab


The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil


What is it: A natural anti-bacterial spot corrector used to speed up the healing of unexpected pimples and imperfections.

Customer Review: “I have tried a lot of products for blemish treatment over the years, and this is hands down the best. It's pricey, but a little drop goes a long way and I find a small bottle will last me about a year. It does not irritate my skin and works great at drying pimples and reducing inflammation. If I apply it before going to bed, any redness disappears by morning! I highly recommend.”

Shop it: $21, The Body Shop

Glamglow Supermud Activated Charcoal Treatment Mask

GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD® Activated Charcoal Treatment Mask
GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD® Activated Charcoal Treatment Mask

What is it: An activated charcoal mask formulated with six exfoliating acids to visibly clear pores.

Customer review: “I rarely do reviews because most products are not worth it. I am the most impressed I have ever been with any product. I have battled blackheads all my life and no product has been effective (not even the pore strips). I can say I have finally found a product that works!”


Shop it: $59, Sephora

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant


What is it:
A powder-to-paste formula that gently exfoliates the skin.

Customer Review: “It exfoliates without being harsh or abrasive on the skin. My skin feels AMAZING after applying. I have horrible acne and although this did not cure it, it drastically reduced the amount of blemishes per breakout.”


Shop it:
$82, Sephora


Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment

Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment
Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment


What is it: A device using red and blue light technology that helps target acne-causing bacteria.

Customer review: “I am actually amazed. I was so skeptical and even laughed when I first saw this product in stores a few months ago. But look who's smiling now. Try it for mild acne/spots, I don't know how it would work for severe acne maybe the mask would be better.”


Shop it: $35, Walmart



Bioré Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strips

Bioré Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Stripes
Bioré Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Stripes

What is it: Charcoal powder-infused pore-strips.

Customer review: “I have tried many brand pore strips over the years and this one I really like and very happy with the results. Easy to apply and has a good holding bond. I was shocked when pulled off to see the oil and impurities that were stuck on the strip. I have never had results like that before. No irritation or dryness after use. My nose looked smooth and I am very pleased with the overall results.”

Shop it: $12, Walmart

Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment

Kate Somerville EradiKate
Kate Somerville EradiKate

What is it: Banishing acne treatment — use this on pimples you can feel under the surface before they pop up.

Customer review: “Does the trick! This stuff works! I’m 58 and still have the occasional breakout (thanks, menopause!). After one or two applications of EradiKate, my face is clear again. A must have!”

Shop it: $26, Nordstrom

Vichy Normaderm Night Detox Anti-Imperfection Clarifying Care

Vichy Normaderm Nuit Detox
Vichy Normaderm Nuit Detox

What is it: An overnight treatment that promises to soak up nighttime sebum production.

Customer Review: “I'm usually not one to have a night time skincare routine, but after giving the Normaderm Night Detox a try, I'm a believer! After using this product, my skin feels much cleaner when I wake up, my pores appear less visible, and my face seems to be less oily even throughout the day. I love how the moisturizer feels very light on the skin, and not at all greasy, because that would make it hard for me to get to sleep.”

Shop it: $30, Shoppers Drug Mart

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum

What is it: Vitamin C serum infused with antioxidants.

Customer Review: “After several trips to the dermatologist only to be told that significantly fading melasma on Black skin is virtually impossible and spending hundreds of dollars on Triluma only to have my melasma patches look DARKER because the skin around the patches was the only thing affected by the cream, C-Firma did the trick! I've used this for about three months to astonishing results, melasma is nearly gone completely and overall skin tone is even and radiant!”

Shop it: $80, Sephora

Murad Acne Clearing Solution

Murad Acne Clearing Solution
Murad Acne Clearing Solution

What is it: A lightweight gel cream that treats and prevents breakouts and diminishes redness without over drying.

Customer Review: “I don't want to jinx it, but really needed to write a review. I think I finally found a product that clears up my hormonal acne. I always get chin acne around that time of the month, without question. There has been no preventing it whatever I do. I got a sample of this two days ago. I swear it has help the inflammation and already erased some zits... in just two days!”

Shop it: $49, Sephora

Reversa Acnex Purifying Solution

Reversa Acnex Purifying Solution
Reversa Acnex Purifying Solution

What is it: A combination of salicylic and glycolic acids unclogs pores, dries pimples and helps clear skin up.

Customer Review: “It does have a bit of a medicinal smell, but I can forgive that because of actually does wonders for black heads/white heads/cystic pimples. I apply this only to the spots that irritated because it is really high percentage of glycolic acid. (%10). The salicylic alongside that really helps to kill the bacteria. I always recommend this to people because it works.”

Shop it: $29, Shoppers Drug Mart

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