15 of the Best Drugstore Acne Treatments To Ward Off Breakouts

By
Audrey Noble
Audrey Noble
Audrey Noble
Audrey has been in the beauty editorial industry for over 8 years, interviewing celebrities, writing investigative features, and testing countless makeup, skin care, and hair products. She has previously held editorial positions at Vanity Fair, Allure, Byrdie, and Refinery29. Today, she is a contributing writer rounding up the best products in makeup, skin, and hair. You can also find her freelance work at Vogue, Harper’s BAZAAR, Bustle, POPSUGAR, WWD, Martha Stewart Living, and Well+Good.
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Updated on 03/20/23
Medically reviewed by
Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD
Blair Murphy-Rose
Medically reviewed by Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD
Blair Murphy-Rose, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York. She specializes in leading-edge facial rejuvenation techniques.
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acne product

Treating acne doesn't always require a prescription. Some of the best drugstore acne products are cost-efficient and get the job done. Dermatologists' top tip is to look at the ingredients the product contains. All three derms we chatted with agreed that retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid make the product go from "good" to "great."

Meet the Expert

  • Cindy Bae, MD, of the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York
  • Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, professor and chair of dermatology at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, a dermatologist at Entière Dermatology
01 of 15

Differin Acne Treatment Gel

Differin Acne Treatment Gel $15.00
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"Retinoids are the absolute backbone of an acne treatment," says Levin. "They de-clog pores by normalizing skin cell turnover to prevent dead skin cells from clogging pores, but they also act as an anti-inflammatory."

02 of 15

Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment

clean and clear acne spot treatment
Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment $8.00
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"Salicylic acid is a common over-the-counter product that breaks up dead skin cells to clear out blackheads," says Levin. "More importantly, salicylic acid is a lipid-loving acid and, therefore, concentrates in pores, since pores are connected to our oil glands."

03 of 15

Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30

Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30 $17.00
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Less is more with acne-fighting ingredients. Bae cautions against using them altogether, as they all contribute to drying out the skin. "Alcohol-based products like astringents can further exacerbate dry skin as a result of treating with these ingredients," she says. "It's so important to ensure daily sunscreen use and to moisturize." This Cetaphil moisturizer fights oil while providing UV protection.

04 of 15

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner - Rose Petal

Thayers witch hazel toner
Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol-Free Toner - Rose Petal $11.00
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Toner can be a godsend for those who regularly experience breakouts, but many formulas are very harsh and packed with a few too many acne-fighting ingredients. We're big fans of this alcohol-free witch hazel, which has aloe and rose petal meant to soothe while also controlling oil.

05 of 15

Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Removing Foam Wash

Dermacontrol oil removing foam wash
Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Removing Foam Wash $18.00
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"The most important thing to remember is acneic skin is damaged skin. A harsh cleanser will cause more harm than good," says Friedman. "Mild cleansers that are pH balanced and do not contain surfactants (the part of soap that binds to dirt/fat on the skin) are ideal. Some foaming cleansers, like Cetaphil DermaControl, are mild and good for oily skin."

06 of 15

Differin Daily Deep Cleanser

Drugstore acne treatments
Differin Daily Deep Cleanser $11.00
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Key Ingredients

Benzoyl peroxide is an organic acid in the peroxide family that has been used to treat acne because of its keratolytic, moderate comedolytic, and antibacterial properties, which include the reduction of Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus on the skin.

"An acne-free, oil-free cleanser with benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid [is my favorite] because the lower percentage benzoyl peroxide is gentle yet effective to treat acne, and the added glycolic acid helps exfoliate the skin, like the Differin Daily Deep Cleanser, which contains 5 percent of benzoyl peroxide," says Bae. Friedman adds, "when it comes to benzoyl peroxide, less is more."

07 of 15

Burt's Bees Herbal Complexion Stick

burt's bees herbal complexion stick
Burt's Bees Herbal Complexion Stick $7.00
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If you're sensitive to the popularly-touted, anti-acne ingredients mentioned in this article, like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, try this tea tree oil blemish stick from Burt's Bees. The combination of astringent tea tree and juniper oils, exfoliating willow bark, and soothing calendula come in a convenient roll-on stick form for easy reapplication.

08 of 15

Glytone Mild Gel Cleanser

drugstore acne treatments
Glytone Mild Gel Cleanser $36.00
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"My favorite gentle acne cleansers are those with glycolic acid," says Levin. "Many of my patients who are dealing with female adult acne also have an intolerance to the traditional acne medications that they used to be able to tolerate as a teenager, such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Using a mild exfoliating cleanser with glycolic acid chemically exfoliates the skin with a small percentage of glycolic acid."

09 of 15

Avène Cleanance Mattifying Emulsion

Drugstore acne treatment
Avène Cleanance Mattifying Emulsion $28.00
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For sensitive skin, Bae likes this product from Avène. It has a mattifying formula with a velvet-like texture that helps eliminate blemishes in the gentlest way possible.

10 of 15

Prosacea Medicated Rosacea Gel

Spot Treatments
Prosacea Medicated Rosacea Gel $12.00
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Key Ingredients

Sulfur is a natural element that is an essential component for all living cells. Sulfur-based products tend to work best for mild-to-moderate acne, primarily whiteheads, blackheads, and papules.

As a spot treatment, Prosacea's product "contains sulfur, which is a keratolytic with antibacterial properties," says Bae. "The product also includes skin soothers like aloe to help moisturize and soothe the skin."

11 of 15

L'Oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask

L'Oreal Pure Clay face mask
L'Oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask $14.00
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For a quick fix, clay masks are a great option. This affordable option contains activated charcoal meant to draw out impurities. It's a creamy, non-drying formula that can minimize breakouts in a pinch.

12 of 15

Cover Dot Acne Care Hydrocolloid Waterproof Clear Pimple Absorbing Acne Patch

Drugstore acne treatments
Cover Dot Acne Care Hydrocolloid Waterproof Clear Pimple Absorbing Acne Patch $13.00
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One of these patches will help heal a pimple faster "because it absorbs the fluid from the pimple; creates a moist environment to allow for faster and improved healing; protects the pimple from you picking and against sunlight, which accelerates healing; and minimizes exposure to UV radiation to minimize hyperpigmentation," says Levin.

13 of 15

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream

neutrogena hydro boost
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream $19.00
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If your pores are easily clogged, it's good to have a lightweight moisturizer on hand. We love this hyaluronic acid gel cream from Neutrogena, which is both extremely hydrating and non-greasy.

14 of 15

EB5 Anti-Aging Vitamin C Serum Concentrate

eb5 anti-aging serum
EB5 Anti-Aging Vitamin C Serum Concentrate $20.00
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"We are learning that free radicals can also contribute to acne. Therefore, using an antioxidant serum can help combat this cause," says Bae. "Plus, vitamin C is known to help brighten skin, so it will also help fade those acne marks."

15 of 15

Cortizone Maximum Strength Ointment

Cortizone cream
Cortizone Maximum Strength Ointment $8.00
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When breakouts are extremely inflamed, they can be painful. Sometimes, the thought of putting possibly irritating ingredients on already red, itchy, and swollen patches of skin can make you cringe. Have a tube of cortisone ointment on hand to soothe that discomfort and prevent itchiness.

Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

  1. Blaskovich MAT, Elliott AG, Kavanagh AM, Ramu S, Cooper MA. In vitro antimicrobial activity of acne drugs against skin-associated bacteria. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):14658. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-50746-4

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