"These are the most effective acne creams we’ve tested in 2023" (2024)

Under the skin bumps can be a pain in the ar*se... I would know – and TBH, they're not often spoken about! Yeah, we've got blemish and acne treatments down but what about whiteheads and closed comedones? I mean, they are a strain of acne, after all!

Well, fear not closed comedone-prone (see what I did there?) folks, because this face cream (marketed as a 'concentrate') is here to save your skin.

While it can be used as a moisturiser, I like to use it prior, after my vitamin C serum both morning and night. And within a week or two, you'll not only see it clear up your complexion but prevent any further breakouts/clogged pores, too! My holy-grail skincare product.

Key ingredients: Avene Thermal Spring Water, glycerin, polyacrylate-13

Finding a moisturising cream that will actually help treat and prevent acne rather than exacerbate it can often feel tricky. After all, the idea of adding moisture to already oily skin can feel counterintuitive—but in reality, hydration is incredibly important for keeping your skin barrier intact and preventing inflammation. Enter: this face cream from Dr. Barbara Sturm. Not only does it give skin a much-needed boost of moisture, but it also helps minimise breakouts thanks to added zinc. I love it for giving skin a soft, dewy glow that won't clog pores or feel too heavy.

Key ingredients: Sunflower oil extract, zinc

This 2-in-1 cream from Tula functions as a daily face moisturiser for oily or combination skin (thanks to a hydrating dose of apple and watermelon extracts) *and* your acne treatment. Inside the tube is a blend of salicylic acid to unclog pores and curb breakouts, niacinamide and azelaic acid to fade acne marks, and willow herb extract to soothe any inflammation. A one-and-done type product, if you will!

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, azelaic acid, niacinamide

Mario Badescu’s iconic Drying Cream is truly a mainstay when it comes to fighting acne, thanks to the formula's combo of clarifying sulfur and oil-absorbing zinc. Dab a little bit of lightweight cream on your whiteheads, blackheads, papules, and cysts as a spot treatment and watch as they shrink in size.

Key ingredients: Sulfur, zinc oxide

This lightweight acne cream is gentle yet super effective at clearing existing breakouts and preventing future pimples, too. If you've been burned (quite literally) by harsh acne products in the past, you'll love how this gentle lotion can clear up whiteheads and blackheads without drying out the skin.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, bakuchiol

Perfect for breakouts that are just starting to heal, this acne cream helps repair scabby, broken skin to minimise the appearance of redness, bumpiness, and inflammation. Panthenol and peptides help keep the area moisturised, while vitamin E improves tone and texture and beta-glucans accelerate the healing process.

Key ingredients: Panthenol, peptides, beta-glucans, vitamin E

This potent cleanser (don't be put off by the scent) is a must-try for anyone with oily, acnaic skin. It contains a high-strength blend of exfoliating glycolic and lactobionic acids which are integral when it comes to clearing one's complexion.

While it does foam (I know that's not everyone's cup of tea), if used both morning and night, it does quickly decongest pores and stimulate cell renewal – aka, great for healing acne scars or marks.

Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, PEG-8, arginine, ammonium hydroxide

Formulated with a powerful blend of alpha hydroxy acids, enzymes (including those from Manuka honey and pomegranate... yum) and antibacterial colloidal silver, this concoction works overtime (read: throughout the night) to nourish problematic skin with clean hydration.

Not only that but it also soothes irritation, reduces sebum production, brightens one's complexion and strengthens the skin's natural barrier. With nightly use, skin will look more even and feel less congested, we promise!

Key ingredients: 2% dioic acid, 3% niacinamide, organic rosehip seed oil, Manuka honey

A favourite of Dr. Mraz-Robinson’s, the AlphaRet Clearing Serum is a concentrated retinol and lactic acid-based serum specifically designed for oily, acne-prone skin. Unlike the original AlphaRet Overnight Cream (which is fab for smoothing fine lines and minimising pores, BTW), this serum has an added dose of salicylic acid to regulate sebum production, as well as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to add hydration and improve skin’s tone and texture.

Key ingredients: Retinoid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, niacinamide

Niacinamide is one of the buzziest ingredients in beauty as of late, especially when it comes to treating acne. Gentle yet powerful, it’s probably best known for brightening skin tone and fighting hyperpigmentation, but it’s also an excellent tool in regulating oil production, minimising redness, and reducing congestion in skin—basically, all of the things that either contribute to or come from acne. This affordable serum from The Ordinary not only harnesses the power of niacinamide (in an impressive 10 per cent concentration) to fight breakouts, but it also contains zinc to further balance sebum levels.

Key ingredients: Niacinamide, zinc

If exfoliating toners had a hall of fame, the Paula's Choice 2% BHA would take top spot.

"I recommend that my patients dealing with widespread, frequent breakouts, look for a product (whether it's an acne cream, serum, or leave-on exfoliator) with salicylic acid," says Dr. Mraz-Robinson.

"The ingredient helps keep the pores clear of dead skin cells and sebum to prevent breakouts." Try it in this exfoliating toner from Paula’s Choice, which contains 2 per cent salicylic acid (the strongest amount you can get OTC) along with green tea, a powerful antioxidant that helps soothe skin.

Key ingredient: 2 per cent salicylic acid

One of the best ways to fight clogged pores is by doing a chemical peel. But unfortunately, not all of us have the time (or the money) to visit the dermatologist’s office on a regular basis. That’s where Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta pads come in. These at-home peel pads mimic the clarifying and brightening effects of a pro chemical peel, thanks to a blend of glycolic acid, malic acid, lactic acid, retinol, resveratrol, and green tea.

However, we do recommend using intermittently due to the product's high exfoliating strength – aka, you don't want to be breaking your skin barrier and therefore, making your complexion more vulnerable to breakouts!

Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, salicylic acid

Once active breakouts are under control, often, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, aka acne scars, will arrive in their place. That’s why you’ll need a product that not only keeps the pimples in check but also helps correct the dark spots they’ve left, and Murad’s Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum is just the thing. It's formulated with glycolic acid to keep pores clear and tranexamic acid and resorcinol to help fade dark spots and discolouration.

Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, tranexamic acid, resorcinol

Made from hydrocolloid, a wound dressing known to absorb fluids like oil and pus, these pimple patches are proven to improve the look of blemishes overnight. Simply stick one of the dots to a pimple and head to bed (or go about your day). Six to eight hours later, your zit will be noticeably smaller, and you’ll get the satisfying experience of seeing all the gunk on the patch.

Key ingredient: Hydrocolloid

“Many acne products are drying, and many people cannot tolerate using them daily,” says Dr. Mraz-Robinson. The best way to figure out what’s best for your skin is to start slowly with any new acne product, and if your skin can tolerate it, increase your use from there. Ideally, as Dr. Mraz-Robinson informs, topical retinoid should be used nightly, while other topical ingredients may require application morning and night.

And, according to Dr. Zeichner, it's important to use your acne cream even when you're not seeing active breakouts. “While most people treat a pimple after they see it develop, the best way to keep a clear complexion is to use your acne products all over the face—not just as a spot treatment—and on a regular basis, even when you're not breaking out” Dr. Zeichner says.

Pay attention to the active ingredients.

The most effective acne products will contain active ingredients, like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur or, a retinoid, so make sure your product of choice has at least one of these. “For red, angry pimples, I recommend benzoyl peroxide,” says Dr. Zeichner. “For blackheads and whiteheads, look for a retinol or salicylic acid. And if you have sensitive skin, sulfur is your go-to ingredient.”

When in doubt, consult a dermatologist.

If you're still overwhelmed by all the acne products out there, make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist. They'll be able to help you narrow down your options and give you the best treatment plan. And if you've gone the OTC route and your acne is not responding, your dermatologist may prescribe you a topical acne medication (like Tretinoin) or an oral acne medication (like spironolactone) if needed.