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Acne and breakouts
Acne treatments take time. It can be several weeks to a few months before you see a difference, so stick with one rather than switching.
Ingredients that help
- Salicylic acid
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Adapalene, a retinoid sold without a prescription from age 12
What dermatologists recommend
- Wash gently, up to twice a day and after sweating, using your fingertips.
- Use gentle, alcohol-free products, and skip astringents, toners, and scrubs, which can dry and irritate skin.
- Don't pick or pop pimples.
- Use a non-comedogenic, broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30 or higher sunscreen.
- See a dermatologist if acne hasn't improved after a few months of over-the-counter treatment.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology, “Acne: Tips for managing”; American Academy of Dermatology, “A dermatologist's guide to skincare from growing up to glowing up”; US FDA, “Topical retinoid acne treatment approved for OTC use”. General information, not medical advice.
Products for acne and breakouts
5,875 products, most popular first. Picked because their key ingredients help with this; we can't see amounts, so check each product's page.
Kids: Use with careTeens: Use with care
Salicylic acid / BHA: Salicylic Acid. ACOG says over-the-counter salicylic acid products may be used if needed, but absorption rises with frequent use or large areas; avoid high-strength peels (MotherToBaby/ACOG, Bozzo et al. 2011).
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Propanediol, Lactobionic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sweet Almond Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Lactobacillus/Pumpkin Ferment Extract, Niacinamide, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Bromelain, Papain, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Fruit Extract, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Lysate Filtrate, Polydextrose, Amylopectin, Dextrin, Fructose, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glucose, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Sensitive skin: niacinamide Why?
- niacinamide: A popular, well-tolerated ingredient that can cause redness or flushing for a few people, especially at high strengths.
These flags don't affect the pregnancy rating. They point out the ingredients most likely to make skincare sting, itch, or cause a rash. If your skin is sensitive, or one of them has bothered you before, you may want to skip the product or patch-test it first. Most people use them without a problem.
How we flag ingredientsKids: Use with careTeens: Teen-friendly
Salicylic acid / BHA: Salicylic Acid. ACOG says over-the-counter salicylic acid products may be used if needed, but absorption rises with frequent use or large areas; avoid high-strength peels (MotherToBaby/ACOG, Bozzo et al. 2011).
Aqua (Water), Propanediol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phospholipids, Hexapeptide-11, Butylene Glycol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Polysilicone-11, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Tripeptide-29, Hyaluronic Acid, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Methylsilanol Hydroxyproline Aspartate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Chondroitin Sulphate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Polyacrylamide, Triethanolamine, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Carbomer, Trideceth-6, Laureth-3, Laureth-7, Disodium Edta, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone, Sorbic Acid, Linalool, Parfum (Fragrance), Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Sensitive skin: fragrance Why?
- fragrance: Fragrance or parfum, and scent ingredients listed by name, such as linalool and limonene. The most common cause of skincare allergies; worth avoiding if you have eczema, rosacea, or very sensitive skin.
These flags don't affect the pregnancy rating. They point out the ingredients most likely to make skincare sting, itch, or cause a rash. If your skin is sensitive, or one of them has bothered you before, you may want to skip the product or patch-test it first. Most people use them without a problem.
How we flag ingredientsKids: Use with careTeens: Teen-friendly
Salicylic acid / BHA: Salicylic Acid. ACOG says over-the-counter salicylic acid products may be used if needed, but absorption rises with frequent use or large areas; avoid high-strength peels (MotherToBaby/ACOG, Bozzo et al. 2011).
Water, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Coco-Glucoside, Propanediol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Gluconate, Zinc PCA, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide MEA
Sensitive skin: no common irritants flagged
Kids: Use with careTeens: Teen-friendly
Salicylic acid / BHA: Salicylic Acid. ACOG says over-the-counter salicylic acid products may be used if needed, but absorption rises with frequent use or large areas; avoid high-strength peels (MotherToBaby/ACOG, Bozzo et al. 2011).
Water, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Isopentyldiol, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Chloride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lactate, Panthenol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Disodium EDTA, Zinc PCA, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide MEA
Sensitive skin: no common irritants flagged
Kids: Use with careTeens: Use with care
Salicylic acid / BHA: Capryloyl Salicylic Acid. ACOG says over-the-counter salicylic acid products may be used if needed, but absorption rises with frequent use or large areas; avoid high-strength peels (MotherToBaby/ACOG, Bozzo et al. 2011).
Water, Methylpropanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Betaine, Zinc PCA, Sodium Citrate, Myristoyl/Palmitoyl Oxostearamide/Arachamide MEA, Disodium EDTA
Sensitive skin: no common irritants flagged
Kids: Use with careTeens: Teen-friendly
Salicylic acid / BHA: Salicylic Acid. ACOG says over-the-counter salicylic acid products may be used if needed, but absorption rises with frequent use or large areas; avoid high-strength peels (MotherToBaby/ACOG, Bozzo et al. 2011).
Aqua (Water), Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Enantia Chlorantha (Bark) Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Salicylic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch Octenylsuccinate, Allantoin, Carbomer, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Hydroxide, Ci 42090 (FD&C Blue No. 1)
Sensitive skin: no common irritants flagged
Kids: Use with careTeens: Use with care
Salicylic acid / BHA: Betaine Salicylate. ACOG says over-the-counter salicylic acid products may be used if needed, but absorption rises with frequent use or large areas; avoid high-strength peels (MotherToBaby/ACOG, Bozzo et al. 2011).
Aqua (Water), Centella Asiatica Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine Salicylate, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Madecassoside, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Asiaticoside, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Betaine, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate
Sensitive skin: essential oils Why?
- essential oils: Plant oils such as tea tree, lavender, citrus peel, and peppermint. Natural, but a common cause of irritation and allergies, especially on sensitive or broken skin.
These flags don't affect the pregnancy rating. They point out the ingredients most likely to make skincare sting, itch, or cause a rash. If your skin is sensitive, or one of them has bothered you before, you may want to skip the product or patch-test it first. Most people use them without a problem.
How we flag ingredientsSkin quiz · 4 questions
Working on more than one thing?
The skin quiz matches ingredients and products to up to three concerns at once, for the age and skin type.
- 1. Face, body, or hair
- 2. Age
- 3. What to fix
- 4. Skin type