The Extras
Best For Blackheads
Best For Mask-ne
Renée Rouleau Rapid
Response Maskne Spray
Dr. Pimple Popper's Pick
Neutrogena Hydro Boost
Water Gel Face Moisturizer
Like craft glitter, quarantine puppies,
and your ex, blackheads are the ultimate stage-five clingers. They require heavy-hitting ingredients, which is where the Peter Thomas Roth Pro Strength Microdermabrasion Blackhead Eliminator ($68) comes in. The gritty paste uses a triple-action exfoliating method to treat those tiny little dots on your nose: chemical to reach deep into your pores, enzymatic to remove surface impurities and oil, and physical to polish your skin. After just a few uses, it managed to get rid of an impressive number of stubborn blackheads. If only we could say the same for our exes.
Clear skin, meet your maker: the Renée Rouleau Rapid Response Maskne Spray ($17). This portable, acne-fighting toner mist blends alpha and beta hydroxy acids with prebiotics to stop blemishes in their tracks, even hours after wearing a mask. Heading straight to brunch after a workout? It also works as a makeshift body spray to prevent sweat-induced breakouts.
"Sometimes, acne products can
make your skin really dry, but a lot of people with acne still don't want to use
a moisturizer because they're afraid it
will be too oily. That's why I love the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Face Moisturizer ($19). Most people
can tolerate it, and it's super lightweight. It's also noncomedogenic, meaning it's not going to clog your pores, and if your skin is irritated or red from your acne or a breakout, it has a cooling feeling
that feels really refreshing."
Peter Thomas Roth Pro Strength Microdermabrasion Blackhead Eliminator
Best For Acne Scars
Differin Resurfacing Scar Gel
The only thing harder to treat
than an unexpected zit is the dark
mark it leaves behind, which is why
the Differin Resurfacing Scar Gel ($22) lives in our medicine cabinets rent-free. This magic potion significantly cuts down the healing time of acne scars using a combination of bakuchiol (a natural retinol alternative), which boosts skin's natural cell turnover to fade hyperpigmentation faster, and firming peptides and soothing antioxidants.
Social Media Stars:
TikTok, Instagram, YouTube — the beauty tips and products
floating around are abundant. Our editors have sifted through the
noise to find the ones that truly live up to the hype.
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