3 products people swear helped clear their acne

Here are the treatments that *actually* work

Beauty Crew Beauty Writer / April 02 2019

Adult acne is a thing, and it sucks. What’s worse, you’ll often end up forking out your hard-earned money trying out a bunch of different skin care products that won’t really do anything to improve your skin’s condition. Sigh.

The good news? We’ve got the lowdown on some of the best pimple-fighting products out there, so you can seriously upgrade your skin care regimen. These acne products have been used and reviewed by real people – and they will *actually* help clear your skin. Because knowing what kind of products are worth trying makes ALL the difference.

#1 / Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Face Wash for Acne

Looking for the perfect acne cleanser? We've got you. Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial, which makes it great for disinfecting pimples, unblocking sebaceous glands and drying out blemishes. Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Face Wash for Acne contains 100 per cent Australian tea tree oil, so it’s the perfect solution to remove the build-up of excess oils and prevent further breakouts. The best part? While it’s tough on acne, it’s super gentle on skin - so it can be used on all skin types (even sensitive skin). That’s because it contains skin-soothing goodies like chamomile to calm redness and inflammation.

When our Beauty Crew review members put this facial cleanser to the test, many praised it for its ability to both unclog pores and improve the texture of their skin. One reviewer wrote, “This is a great facial wash for those of us who suffer from oily and acne-prone skin. What I liked the most was that it wouldn't dry out my skin so it didn't cause any irritation or sensitivities. It's a great alternative if you want to avoid ingredients like benzoyl peroxide which can really dry out your skin.”

#2/ Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque

If you’re looking for a weekly mask that’ll help clear skin and brighten your complexion, this Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque is not only the perfect acne treatment, but a bit of an all-rounder. It’s formulated to help soak up excess oil and draw out impurities, all while removing dead skin cells to make the complexion look smoother and more radiant.

One of our SUPERcrew members said, “This is a great choice for a weekly treatment mask, particularly if you have oily skin or acne-prone skin. My skin feels so clear and bright afterwards and if I have blemishes (which I tend to have about once a month), this greatly reduces the appearance of them.”

#3/ Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Got a big event coming up and an even bigger pimple? The best product for the job is a spot treatment like Mario Badescu Drying Lotion – it can help treat individual breakouts, fast. It contains a combination of calamine and salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid) to heal and dry pimples overnight – just dab this acne spot treatment on before bed. “I apply [it] at night before bed and in the morning the spot I’ve treated is half the size, and has dried up and the healing process seems to go faster. Would definitely recommend to anyone suffering with pimples or acne,” shared one Mecca reviewer.

Curious about what causes acne to break out in the same spot every time? Here’s what your pimples are trying to tell you.

What’s your go-to solution for pimples? Share with us in the comment section below.

Main image credit: @taylor_hill

Erin Docherty is a Beauty Writer for BEAUTYcrew, Beauty Editor for Women's Health magazine and a Grooming Writer for Men's Health magazine. She has a keen interest in cosmeceutical skin care and is currently working on minimising her 9-step skin care routine – because ain’t nobody got time for that. When she’s not writing about the latest beauty news, or applying copious amounts of serum, you can find her spending all her money in Sephora.