Provided by Total Beauty
Sure, dealing with acne in your teens is cruel -- but in your 20s, 30s and 40s? That's just plain unfair. Here we uncover the top reader-tested acne-fighting products, as well as the products that did not deliver results, so you can save your time and money. Plus we'll get some simple lifestyle tips that'll help you be less pimple prone, thanks to Doris Day, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the New York University Langone Medical Center. P.S. Got a pimple right now? Be sure to steer clear of these worst concealers.
What causes acne?
There are a few known triggers -- the most common: genetics and hormones that affect sebaceous glands, hormone-inducing stress, and beauty products. In the last case, "It's not actually a breakout -- it's a reaction to the product," says Day. So that zit might actually be a product-irritated pore.
Treat all these causes with a mixture of medication, skin care products and lifestyle changes. But be warned, "acne is not fast healing," Day says. So be patient. Expect three to four months before your skin clears up.
The Best: No. 6: Clinique Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion, $13.50
Avg. rating: 8.7
Why: Readers agree this medicated toner "helps control breakouts" caused by hormones and stress. "It doesn't leave my face feeling dried out," says one reader. Even those who have "tried everything and nothing worked" claim this product is "like a miracle."
The Best: No. 5: The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil, $9
Avg. rating: 8.8
Why: "Just a dab with a Q-tip is all it takes for my pimples to be drastically reduced overnight," says one reader. Other readers say that "this is definitely a must for normal/combination skin," and "best of all -- it's all natural."
The Best: No. 4: Peter Thomas Roth Gentle Complexion Correction Pads, $36
Avg. rating: 8.9
Why: "My skin loves me," readers say for using these glycolic and salicylic acid infused pads. "The pads smell great, clear up acne, soften up lines and get your skin glowy," claims one reader. Another warns, "They are a bit drying" when used with other glycolic products, but using them only "two times per week" is a good fix.
The Best: No. 3: Dr. Hauschka Normalizing Day Oil, $42.95
Avg. rating: 8.9
Why: "It may seem counterintuitive to put oil on oily skin," says a reader, but it "keeps my face from getting too oily," says another. "I really wanted a way to get rid of my blackheads and this completely did it," says a reader who used the oil regularly for eight weeks.
The Best: No. 2: Prescriptives Acne Defense Serum, $25
Avg. rating: 9.4
Why: "My search is over for an acne serum," readers say of the salicylic acid, algae, oat and green tea-filled formula. "Right away it started clearing up a breakout that was caused by another product," says one reader. "I have very sensitive skin and it really worked for me," says another.
The Best: No. 1: Dermalogica mediBac Clearing Sebum Clearing Masque, $41
Avg. reader rating: 9.5
Why: Readers "love Dermalogica," and particularly praise this product for "working harder on adult oil and congestion." "My skin started to clear up without drying effects," says one reader. "I use the cleanser, skin prep scrub, masque and toner from this particular line and my skin has transformed," says another.
Next: Worst products
The Worst: No. 6: Proactiv Repairing Lotion, $24.99
Avg. rating: 5.8
Why: "Open the bottle and you'll instantly smell the chemicals," says one reader of the strong medicinal-scented lotion. "I was very disappointed in this product since many different celebrities have endorsed and guaranteed that it will work," says another. The biggest gripe: "my skin dried out and peeled," readers say. "People with more sensitive skin should stay away."
The worst: No.5: Murad Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel, $53
Avg. rating: 5.6
Why: Most readers tried this retinol, salicylic and glycolic-filled gel along with the rest of the Murad acne kit. "It felt like my skin was burning off every time I used it," complain readers. After using the kit for three months "my skin got worse and worse," says one reader.
The worst: No. 4: Clean & Clear Advantage Invisible Acne Patch, $9.99
Avg. rating: 5.4
Why: Many readers hoped this would be "a wonder product" but were disappointed when "by midday the patch began to peel off and look worse than a simple zit." One reader adds "my pimple did not go away faster; it actually seemed like it didn't help at all." The one redeeming quality multiple readers mention? "It does work like a miracle at night."
The worst: No. 3: No. 4: University Medical Acne Free Clear Skin Treatments, $19.99
Avg. rating: 5
Why: The biggest complaint readers have about this anti-acne kit: "the texture of its components." "There are teeny, tiny little gritty bits in the lotion, like you'd find in an exfoliating cleanser," says a reader. "The cleanser feels rather wimpy ... doesn't really feel like you're getting a deep down clean," adds another. Bottom line "don't use this product," says one reader.
The worst: No. 2: Benefit boo boo zap!, $20
Avg. rating: 4.9
Why: "Didn't dry out the zit," readers say about this salicylic acid and camphor-infused product. Unfortunately it "dried out my skin till it felt like parchment," says one reader. Another adds, "I don't feel it is worth $20."
The worst: No. 1: The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Blemish Stick, $9
Avg. rating: 4.6
Why: Readers want to like this tea tree oil-based product because "it is all natural and not tested on animals." But when it "didn't do zilch for my pimples," says one reader "I guess it's back to Oxy and animal testing," says another.
Next: How to eat your way to clearer skin
The clear skin diet
Though "scientifically we can't prove that foods are affecting acne," says Day, certain foods can help or hurt. If you have tried everything and nothing has helped, try eliminating dairy and red meat (some people are sensitive to the hormones in these foods) and highly processed foods (which make you heal less quickly and cause inflammation) from your diet.
To help your body heal faster, which is helpful when treating acne, get your fill of berries for their anti-oxidant benefits, "especially cranberries, pomegranate and blueberries," says Day. And drink plenty of water, "it keeps everything going -- it's so good for everything," says Day.
Next: How to have an acne-free lifestyle
Recipe for an acne-free lifestyle
"Lifestyle may or may not affect acne," says Day of the fact that scientists are still unclear of the root causes. She lists stress, skin care regime, sleep and smoking cigarettes as important lifestyle choices to consider. "Find ways to manage stress," says Day. Write down your feelings, take a yoga class or simply set aside quiet time to calm your nerves -- it may just clear up your skin.
And aim to get the recommended seven and a half to eight hours sleep at night, "it's pure healing," says Day, adding that it also helps keep your skin care routine in check. Regular cleansing (use one of our readers' favorite cleansers) and exfoliating is key to keeping pores clear. And finally, avoid smoking cigarettes, which can make scarring and skin discoloration worse, and "healing time longer," says Day.
Sure, dealing with acne in your teens is cruel -- but in your 20s, 30s and 40s? That's just plain unfair. Here we uncover the top reader-tested acne-fighting products, as well as the products that did not deliver results, so you can save your time and money. Plus we'll get some simple lifestyle tips that'll help you be less pimple prone, thanks to Doris Day, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the New York University Langone Medical Center. P.S. Got a pimple right now? Be sure to steer clear of these worst concealers.
What causes acne?
There are a few known triggers -- the most common: genetics and hormones that affect sebaceous glands, hormone-inducing stress, and beauty products. In the last case, "It's not actually a breakout -- it's a reaction to the product," says Day. So that zit might actually be a product-irritated pore.
Treat all these causes with a mixture of medication, skin care products and lifestyle changes. But be warned, "acne is not fast healing," Day says. So be patient. Expect three to four months before your skin clears up.
The Best: No. 6: Clinique Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion, $13.50
Avg. rating: 8.7
Why: Readers agree this medicated toner "helps control breakouts" caused by hormones and stress. "It doesn't leave my face feeling dried out," says one reader. Even those who have "tried everything and nothing worked" claim this product is "like a miracle."
The Best: No. 5: The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil, $9
Avg. rating: 8.8
Why: "Just a dab with a Q-tip is all it takes for my pimples to be drastically reduced overnight," says one reader. Other readers say that "this is definitely a must for normal/combination skin," and "best of all -- it's all natural."
The Best: No. 4: Peter Thomas Roth Gentle Complexion Correction Pads, $36
Avg. rating: 8.9
Why: "My skin loves me," readers say for using these glycolic and salicylic acid infused pads. "The pads smell great, clear up acne, soften up lines and get your skin glowy," claims one reader. Another warns, "They are a bit drying" when used with other glycolic products, but using them only "two times per week" is a good fix.
The Best: No. 3: Dr. Hauschka Normalizing Day Oil, $42.95
Avg. rating: 8.9
Why: "It may seem counterintuitive to put oil on oily skin," says a reader, but it "keeps my face from getting too oily," says another. "I really wanted a way to get rid of my blackheads and this completely did it," says a reader who used the oil regularly for eight weeks.
The Best: No. 2: Prescriptives Acne Defense Serum, $25
Avg. rating: 9.4
Why: "My search is over for an acne serum," readers say of the salicylic acid, algae, oat and green tea-filled formula. "Right away it started clearing up a breakout that was caused by another product," says one reader. "I have very sensitive skin and it really worked for me," says another.
The Best: No. 1: Dermalogica mediBac Clearing Sebum Clearing Masque, $41
Avg. reader rating: 9.5
Why: Readers "love Dermalogica," and particularly praise this product for "working harder on adult oil and congestion." "My skin started to clear up without drying effects," says one reader. "I use the cleanser, skin prep scrub, masque and toner from this particular line and my skin has transformed," says another.
Next: Worst products
The Worst: No. 6: Proactiv Repairing Lotion, $24.99
Avg. rating: 5.8
Why: "Open the bottle and you'll instantly smell the chemicals," says one reader of the strong medicinal-scented lotion. "I was very disappointed in this product since many different celebrities have endorsed and guaranteed that it will work," says another. The biggest gripe: "my skin dried out and peeled," readers say. "People with more sensitive skin should stay away."
The worst: No.5: Murad Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel, $53
Avg. rating: 5.6
Why: Most readers tried this retinol, salicylic and glycolic-filled gel along with the rest of the Murad acne kit. "It felt like my skin was burning off every time I used it," complain readers. After using the kit for three months "my skin got worse and worse," says one reader.
The worst: No. 4: Clean & Clear Advantage Invisible Acne Patch, $9.99
Avg. rating: 5.4
Why: Many readers hoped this would be "a wonder product" but were disappointed when "by midday the patch began to peel off and look worse than a simple zit." One reader adds "my pimple did not go away faster; it actually seemed like it didn't help at all." The one redeeming quality multiple readers mention? "It does work like a miracle at night."
The worst: No. 3: No. 4: University Medical Acne Free Clear Skin Treatments, $19.99
Avg. rating: 5
Why: The biggest complaint readers have about this anti-acne kit: "the texture of its components." "There are teeny, tiny little gritty bits in the lotion, like you'd find in an exfoliating cleanser," says a reader. "The cleanser feels rather wimpy ... doesn't really feel like you're getting a deep down clean," adds another. Bottom line "don't use this product," says one reader.
The worst: No. 2: Benefit boo boo zap!, $20
Avg. rating: 4.9
Why: "Didn't dry out the zit," readers say about this salicylic acid and camphor-infused product. Unfortunately it "dried out my skin till it felt like parchment," says one reader. Another adds, "I don't feel it is worth $20."
The worst: No. 1: The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Blemish Stick, $9
Avg. rating: 4.6
Why: Readers want to like this tea tree oil-based product because "it is all natural and not tested on animals." But when it "didn't do zilch for my pimples," says one reader "I guess it's back to Oxy and animal testing," says another.
Next: How to eat your way to clearer skin
The clear skin diet
Though "scientifically we can't prove that foods are affecting acne," says Day, certain foods can help or hurt. If you have tried everything and nothing has helped, try eliminating dairy and red meat (some people are sensitive to the hormones in these foods) and highly processed foods (which make you heal less quickly and cause inflammation) from your diet.
To help your body heal faster, which is helpful when treating acne, get your fill of berries for their anti-oxidant benefits, "especially cranberries, pomegranate and blueberries," says Day. And drink plenty of water, "it keeps everything going -- it's so good for everything," says Day.
Next: How to have an acne-free lifestyle
Recipe for an acne-free lifestyle
"Lifestyle may or may not affect acne," says Day of the fact that scientists are still unclear of the root causes. She lists stress, skin care regime, sleep and smoking cigarettes as important lifestyle choices to consider. "Find ways to manage stress," says Day. Write down your feelings, take a yoga class or simply set aside quiet time to calm your nerves -- it may just clear up your skin.
And aim to get the recommended seven and a half to eight hours sleep at night, "it's pure healing," says Day, adding that it also helps keep your skin care routine in check. Regular cleansing (use one of our readers' favorite cleansers) and exfoliating is key to keeping pores clear. And finally, avoid smoking cigarettes, which can make scarring and skin discoloration worse, and "healing time longer," says Day.
