10 Acne Treatments That Really Work
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Photo: © David Livingston/Getty Images
One of the biggest bummers that comes with the changing seasons is breakouts. The switch in temperature and humidity can knock your skin out of balance and cause pimples to crop up. Stress, lack of sleep and a whole host of other environmental and genetic factors only add to the blemish count, even for those of us who are well out of our teens. If you're sick of pimples, try one of these 10 new treatments, scrubs and cleansers that will help zap those zits and give you clear, radiant skin like Vanessa Hudgens. Bye-bye breakouts!
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Breakouts can cause you to stress out, which in turn just causes more pimples--it's a vicious cycle. This new scrub from Neutrogena is designed to help regulate the excess sebum (read: oil) your body releases when stressed. It features a creamy base and microbeads that gently exfoliate the skin, clearing away the excess dirt, dead skin and oil that leads to breakouts. It also has aromatherapeutic cucumber and green tea extracts that do double-duty to calm your skin and your senses.
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Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Clear Scrub, $7.11, drugstore.com
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Suffer from clogged pores, but hate the harsh feel of toners? Try this cool new skin care concept: Activators. Used after cleansing and before treatment, the refreshing, lightweight liquids help prep your pores to take in nutrients and increase the efficacy of your existing treatment products. This superfood-enhanced one from Dr. Nicholas Perricone features quercetin, malic and salicylic acids to unclog pores, reduce redness, gently exfoliate and prevent breakouts.
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Super By Dr. Nicholas Perricone Clarifying Activator, $38, getsuper.com
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If your skin still acts like an unruly teenager, even though you're way past puberty, then you're dealing with adult acne. The majority of acne products are formulated for teenage skin and can be too irritating on more fragile adult skin. Olay's new Pro-X Clear line helps treat adult acne and refine skin texture, without any of the redness, sensitivity and dryness. We love the SPF 15 UV Moisturizer--most SPF's end up causing more breakouts, but this lightweight, non-greasy hydrator gives you the sun protection, without all the unwanted side effects.
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Olay Pro-X Clear UV Moisturizer SPF 15, $30, drugstore.com
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These days it seems everyone is promoting an acne-fighting system--a series of products that have to be used together to banish breakouts. We're all for simplifying, so this new one-step treatment from the makers of Proactiv is right up our alley. X Out is a cleanser that can also be used as a mask and spot treatment. It features prescription-grade benzoyl peroxide that kills the bacteria that causes acne, plus exfoliating microbeads and essential fatty acids to hydrate and keep skin from getting scaly.
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X Out Wash-In Treatment, $24.95, xout.com
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Sometimes one zit-zapping ingredient just isn't enough--this new treatment from La Roche-Posay features a tag team of blemish fighters that work together to visibly reduce pimples in as little as three days. Micronized benzoyl peroxide is fast penetrating to help clear pores and kill acne-causing bacteria, while lipo-hydroxy acid exfoliates the dead skin cells that can lead to flare-ups.
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La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment, $35.95, laroche-posay.us
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Toners are great at reducing oil and diminishing the appearance of pores, but they can also be very drying on the skin. This high-tech new toner is alcohol-free, so it won't strip your skin of natural oils. It features alpha-hydroxy acids to brighten and balance skin, plus hyaluronic acid to maintain optimum hydration levels.
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Ioma Moisturizing Toning Lotion, $85, ioma-paris.com
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As if facial acne wasn't bad enough, many of those with pimple-prone skin also have to deal with body acne. Since the skin on your body is tougher than that on your face, most facial acne products aren't strong enough to combat body breakouts. This new treatment spray is made with 2% salicylic acid to penetrate the thick skin on your back, helping to unclog pores and decrease oil. We also love how the pump works at any angle, even upside-down, making application a breeze.
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Glytone Acne Treatment Back Spray, $30, dermstore.com
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When you have acne, oil is not your friend--it's the breakout-causing enemy. Oils can clog pores and leave your skin feeling, you guessed it, greasy. This oil-free version of Kiehl's cult-classic Ultra Facial cleanser helps create the perfect balance of natural oils and hydration. Instead of stripping the skin, which only causes it to produce more oil, the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser uses lemon fruit extract to stimulate tired skin, plus oil-free skin conditioners to store and retain needed hydration, without making skin look shiny.
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Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser, $18, kiehls.com
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Sometimes, no matter how diligent you are with your preventative skin care routine, a monster zit will pop up and ruin your day. That's when it's time to break out the big guns--spot treatments. This rollerball pimple fighter features tea tree oil, lycopene, ginger root and salicylic acid that help reduce redness and calm inflammation, shrinking that ginormous pimple in half, in as little as two days.
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Yes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Spot Stick, $9.99, yestocarrots.com
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Get rid of pimples and keep skin healthy and hydrated with this new moisturizer from dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross. Its fast-absorbing, lightweight formula uses a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, marine botanicals and natural extracts to moisturize skin, exfoliate, soothe irritation and eradicate the clogged pores and blackheads that lead to breakouts.
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Dr. Dennis Gross Skin Care Trifix Oil-Free Hydrating Moisturizer, $
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