Best Face Cleansers and Treatments for Acne by BestofMakeupAlley

Apr/18/2025#Acne#Face Cleanser#Facial Treatment#Pores#Salicylic Acid
Related attributes:
Face Wash & CleanserFace SerumFacial TreatmentMoisturizerSkincare
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If you're battling stubborn acne and tired of clogged pores ruining your glow, finding the right face cleanser and facial treatment can be a total game-changer. Whether you’re dealing with occasional breakouts or persistent blemishes, the secret often lies in products packed with powerful ingredients like salicylic acid that gently clear away dirt and excess oil without stripping your skin.

In this article, we’ve listed the best face cleansers and treatments designed to tackle acne head-on, helping you achieve a clearer, smoother complexion without the fuss.

Get ready to say goodbye to pesky pimples and hello to fresh, radiant skin!

Boot directory

The recommended products by MakeupAlley users for "Acne"

49 MakeupAlley members posted reviews and ratings for CeraVeRenewing SA Cleanser related to "Acne".

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Non-ComedogenicDermatologically TestedNiacinamideHyaluronic AcidFragrance FreeSalicylic AcidCeramidesGlycerinDry SkinRetinolTexture
5.0
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from
summerseabreeze
A fantastic, decently-foaming and non-stripping cleanser with 2% BHA (Salicylic Acid) in it - possibly one of the only BHA cleansers I've come across that doesn't leave my skin feeling 'stripped'. It keeps my combination-oily, hormonal acne prone skin clear (I use it twice daily) whilst not upsetting my skins' PH balance in the slightest. Even when I leave it on for a few minutes once per week to really let the BHA get to work, I still don't experience any tightness as I did when I used other BHA cleansers in the past, such as Neutrogena, Clean & Clear etc. It's a fairly simple,...

About reviewer (871 reviews)

Age36-43

SkinCombination, Tan, Not Sure

HairBlack, Other, Other

EyesBrown

73 MakeupAlley members posted reviews and ratings for COSRXAcne Pimple Master Patch related to "Acne".

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K-BeautyBlackheadsMorning Shed
5.0
Created with Sketch.
from
letter4dana
Great! I love the fact you get more sizes and you can cover a lot of areas of your body with them. 24 is a good amount of patches for the money value. I wish I was able to find them more often on stock and grab as many as I can.

About reviewer (165 reviews)

Age30-35

SkinNormal, Fair-Medium, Warm

HairRed, Wavy, Fine

EyesGreen

250 MakeupAlley members posted reviews and ratings for DIFFERINAcne Treatment Gel related to "Acne".

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5.0
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from
wonderbuy
I have this in the larger size, so its better value. It does a great job of getting rid of small-ish sized inflamed acne with no drying. This is also great as an anti-ageing, for that I find its best to use as serum all over the face. As spot treatment I use over everything at the end. This is the 2nd most effective form of retinol, just behind tretinoin. I like the versatility of this, serum or spot treatment. It takes about 3 days to fully work and daily use has made my skin very smooth. If you can't get a script for tretinoin, this is very close behind it.

About reviewer (858 reviews)

Age36-43

SkinCombination, Fair, Not Sure

HairBlond, Other, Other

EyesHazel

95 MakeupAlley members posted reviews and ratings for Kate SomervilleEradikate Acne Treatment related to "Acne".

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ZincSulfurSalicylic Acid
5.0
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from
Chickeys
I LOVE this product, and I agree with the previous reviewer that it's more effective than the Mario Badescu product -- I think for my skin, the sulfur in Eradikate is helping a lot more than whatever is in the MB stuff. I use Eradikate solely after extractions to help tame the spot and get out any extra gunk that might be in the pore. I dab on a generous amount with a Q-tip, let it dry, and often leave it on overnight. It dries quicker than the MB lotion, and it doesn't flake off either, which is a huge bonus. In the morning, I remove it with witch hazel and go about my day. If the...

About reviewer (401 reviews)

Age44-55

SkinNormal, Fair-Medium, Neutral

HairBrown, Straight, Medium

EyesGreen

6 MakeupAlley members posted reviews and ratings for CeraVeAcne Foaming Cream Cleanser related to "Acne".

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Ceramides
5.0
Created with Sketch.
from
clarissa90
This is a review for the Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser that contains 4% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment. I use this about two to four times a week since my acne is mild and I am avoid drying out my skin. This works wonderfully for keeping my acne under control. I will repurchase.

About reviewer (1645 reviews)

Age30-35

SkinAcne-prone, Medium, Cool

HairBrown, Wavy, Coarse

EyesBrown

75 MakeupAlley members posted reviews and ratings for De La CruzAcne Treatment with 10% Sulfur related to "Acne".

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Non-ComedogenicCruelty FreeVeganBlackheadsAcneSulfurPores
5.0
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from
verolyn
This really does help irritation/inflammation. I have a few sensitive areas on my face that flare up with itch and stinging pain. They only respond to cortisone, but I don't always want to use that. This has been such a help. It reduces the sting. I leave it on as long as possible, then wash off. It's so cheap that it's worth a try. The smell isn't terrible. It smells like hot pavement, not eggs to me. Not so bad. I got the tube but there are little trial tubs for $2 or $3. Can't beat that. De la Cruz makes a 5% sulfur for sensitive skin. I might try that as an overnight mask too. This is...

About reviewer (628 reviews)

Age44-55

SkinCombination, Fair, Warm

HairBrown, Straight, Fine

EyesHazel

2 MakeupAlley members posted reviews and ratings for NeutrogenaVisibly Clear Acne Moisturising Oil Free related to "Acne".

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Oil Free
4.0
Created with Sketch.
from
karikat
This is a fab little product for acne-prone/oily skin, with or without active inflammatory acne. Dries really quick, spreads easily, the texture is light but not too drying and the ingredients and formula are elegant - I've had no problems using it, it's done a fabulous job!

About reviewer (115 reviews)

Age36-43

SkinCombination

HairBrunette

EyesBrown

2 MakeupAlley members posted reviews and ratings for Peach SlicesAcne Spot Dots related to "Acne".

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5.0
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from
VeruskaRai
These have become a staple in my skincare routine. Total must have. If you have a pimple that has a whitehead and pop it, it will get rid of it by the next morning or significantly flatten within hours. They are cheaper than the other brands and work incredibly well. It wont work on cystic acne only surface pimples. Use it for what it is for, highly effective!

About reviewer (794 reviews)

Age36-43

SkinOther, Fair-Medium

HairBlack

EyesBrown

3 MakeupAlley members posted reviews and ratings for La Roche-PosayEffaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Topical Retinoid Acne Treatment related to "Acne".

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4.0
Created with Sketch.
from
MES
This is the La Roche Posay version of Differn Gel which was recently approved for over the counter sale in the US. Allegedly it is the full prescription strength retinol which is intended for acne but can also be used as an anti ager. I am 40 with dry to combination skin that is prone to irritation. In the past I have had issues with retinol being too drying. Retinol is one of those proven anti agers and it really can do wonders for the skin. I only apply this once a week as to avoid irritation, This does help my skin a lot. Probably more so than any other product. Over all it makes...

About reviewer (621 reviews)

Age44-55

SkinCombination, Fair-Medium, Neutral

HairBrown, Straight, Fine

EyesBrown

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