BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More

Your new acne-fighting hires are here, all ready for their first day.

I am a contributor who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping since 2020, focusing on beauty, fashion, home decor, and pets (especially cats!), and whose work has been featured in publications like Marie Claire, Coveteur, Byrdie, The Zoe Report, Bustle, & more.

Promising review: "My sisters were constantly raving about this toner, so I decided to try it. Since using it, I’ve realized why they love it so much! My skin went from bumpy and textured to smooth and glowy. My clogged pores have completely disappeared. I’ve already recommended this product to a bunch of my friends, and they love it too! I’ve been using this product for about two months, and it’s still doing wonders. Definitely worth buying!" —Noa May

Get it from Amazon for $9+ (available in two sizes).

Be aware: always wear sunscreen when using this product.

Promising review: "This is the only product that has ever cleared up my acne, and I have tried many, including prescriptions. It took about six to eight weeks to see a difference, and it got worse before better, but it works. It has made my skin look so much better. It also doesn't dry my skin out like every other product." —Amanda

Promising reviews: "I love this product so much! I'm already on my third bottle, and my skin has cleared up so much." —izzy6760

"Omg, I have been trying to get clear skin for spring break, and this will forever be in my routine. This turned my skin from redness, inflammation, scars, and acne to clear, acne, no bumps, no redness, and would definitely recommend 100%. It worked for my oily acne skin." —AJLou

Promising review: "I have extremely acne-prone and sensitive skin, and this doesn't break me out at all. I have tried a lot of moisturizers, but this does the trick. It's great all year round. I use a dime-sized amount, so I avoid over-moisturizing, as that can lead to more acne. This finish is very skin-like; it gives a pretty glow but not an overly luminous one. Highly recommend!" —csalinas

Promising review: "Where have these been all my life? I pop one on a spot at night, and by morning, the spot is smaller, less inflamed, and most of the pimple has been drained. I see such a difference in how quickly pimples heal when using these. I’ll never be without them!" —Danielle

Get a pack of 24 from Target for $10.99.

Promising review: "LOVE THIS! I’ve been using this serum every morning and the vitamin C serum every night since it came in, and my skin looks poreless and hydrated. My skin tone is looking brighter and more even. I also have to give props to the packaging. I love the clean and polished look, and the product/ingredient facts are presented in an easy-to-read way." —Sarah

Promising review: "I have every skin issue you can think of. Rosacea, acne (hormonal, cystic, whiteheads, blackheads), dehydration, excessive oiliness, redness, all of it. I’ve probably spent thousands on a multitude of products, trying to find one that would at least make a dent. I’ve had many procedures, many trips to the dermatologist. Nothing I’ve ever used, nothing I’ve ever done, has made such a profound difference in the appearance of my skin. Having rosacea, my face often felt hot, bumpy, and burned. While my complexion is naturally fair and pink, this has seriously covered all my bases in a gentle and effective way. I’ve been trying to turn my skin around for YEARS!! This was the product that did it. If I could give it 100 stars, I would. It has seriously changed my life!" —hc

Promising review: "I bought a value kit to see if I liked this brand. I ABSOLUTELY love this!! My skin feels and looks amazing! There is a slight exfoliation, but I use the hydration cream afterward and have had no issues. I'm in my late '30s and had my teenager use this and immediately saw a difference. Skin looks clearer and brighter." —Tiff

Get it from Ulta for $40+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "I'm middle-aged and have acne-prone skin. I put this brightening vitamin c cream on before after showering. These help smooth my skin while reducing acne. This is a good cream, and I use it at night after cleaning my face. I put a light moisturizer over this on the dry areas of my face in the winter. Good stuff and would recommend to others." —Blue728

Promising review: "I've used it on stubborn blackheads that wouldn't squeeze out, and using this mask, it got rid of them. I was dubious, but this has become a staple in my skincare arsenal." —Jen B.

Promising review: "Perfect for the little stubborn blemishes. It’s easy to apply. I use it every time I have a new blemish, and it’s nearly gone the next day. I highly recommend it to anyone who gets stubborn blemishes." —Jonathan

Get it from Amazon for $9.90 (also available in a two-pack).

Promising review: "I use these to wash my face every day and love them. They are soft enough, yet they have a little texture, so they help exfoliate." —KKhow

Get a pack of five from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in three color packs).

Promising review: "As a constant face picker :x I have so many scars, and they all start out as unsightly and dry scab-like creatures on my face. Especially after using prescription acne meds that dry your face out, you need all the moisture you can get. I just dab this over the scabs for a couple of nights before bed (after my regular nighttime routine, including moisturizer), and when I wake up, the skin underneath is healing beautifully. The scab becomes softer and brushes right off my face when I do my morning face wash routine." —Linda Thomas

Promising review (for photos above): "These photos were taken just FOUR days apart after using this product two times a day. I heard about this product on TikTok, and am SO happy I gave it a try. I am now on my second tube. It is soothing and lightweight, and I will continue to purchase this product again and again!" —Jenna Shaner

Get it from Amazon for $9.90+ (available in three sizes).

Promising reviews: "I don't need makeup remover wipes or a separate eye makeup remover because this product does the job for all of it! I've tried different products in the past, but this is the only one that has truly satisfied me. I'm extremely happy that I discovered this product!" —Perla Cuevas

"This has been a favorite of mine for removing makeup. It’s so easy to use, and my makeup comes off so quickly. Each bottle lasts me a while, so the value for the price is great. It helps my skin stay hydrated without stripping it of oils, unlike wipes. I have acne-prone skin, and using this before a regular cleanser has not caused me to break out at all." —Sidney Thompson

Promising review: "Works amazing for me. I often have super sensitive, dry, stripped skin. I have cystic acne, and it helps keep my skin clean. Lasts a very long! I slice mine up to save product. Last me over six months." —Tousephy

Promising review: I have dry/resilient,/acne prone skin. I started to suffer from some sort of bout of dermatitis on my chin and cheeks. It was such a terrible experience, and nothing helped solve the issue! When I tell you it was GONE in two days of me applying this after washing my face. My skin was glowing, and the small breakouts I had CEASED to exist. I received many compliments on my skin (that never happens)." —Velvet Fangs

Get it from Ulta for $26+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "Years of stubborn whiteheads and blackheads gone after a few uses! I wish I had bought this sooner! I’ve been struggling with deep whiteheads and blackheads on my chin and nose for years. I get monthly facials with microdermabrasion, and it barely helps. After about a week's worth of use out of this, they are finally coming to the surface and can be extracted!" —Allie

Get it from Amazon for $13+ (also available as a two-pack).

Promising review: "I have acne-prone, sensitive skin with redness, and this spray has been so helpful. I use it after workouts and throughout the day when my skin feels irritated. It helps calm redness, keeps my skin feeling fresh, and seems to reduce post-workout breakouts without causing any irritation. The formula is gentle, lightweight, and easy to incorporate into my routine." —rub19

Get it from Sephora for $12+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "So far, this has been working amazingly on my face problems. I really don’t care if it’s got grit in it or if it is my dead skin coming off with the product. Either way, my skin looks so much healthier than it has in a very long time. I have had a problem with acne and bumpy skin since I was 52. I am 69 now. I have tried many products before. I’ve only had this product for a week, and I’ve already ordered three more. I’m never going without it." —Sara

Promising review: "In just a month, my skin was glowing, soft, and blackheads went way down! My skin soaks up all the hydration from this product and works well with other products I use! The design is nice and comes with a tweezers-like tool to take the pads out without contamination. I use it every night before my serum and moisturizer! Helped enhance the effectiveness of my other products! I have sensitive acne-prone combination skin:)." —Jasmine almaguer

Promising review: "These nose patches work wonders overnight. I noticed a difference after just one use — my pores looked smaller and clearer, and my skin felt smoother. What I love most is that they’re pain-free to remove and don’t leave any sticky residue. A great find for anyone with oily or congested skin. I’m adding these to my regular skincare routine!" —Brittany Freeman

Get seven patches from Amazon for $9.99.

Promising review: "I purchased this soap after seeing it online because it’s supposed to help with dark spots and acne, and it really works! I love that the package comes with two bars — they last a long time. I noticed a significant improvement in dark areas on my face and body, and my acne also cleared up quite a bit.

The soap is very soapy and functional, the color is bright and pretty, and the size of each bar is generous. I also appreciate that it doesn’t have a strong scent, which makes it easy to use daily. It can leave your skin feeling a bit dry, so I recommend using a good moisturizer afterward. Overall, the quality is excellent, and the price is great for what you get. Highly recommend for anyone looking to improve skin tone and texture!" —Annalicia Hernandez

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.98 also available in three-, four-, and five-packs, and in bundles with a bar holder or bag).

Promising review: "I completely understand why this has gone so viral. The texture is a little bit slimy at first, but it absorbs in seconds, leaving the skin looking plump and juicy—never sticky. I’ve been using it day and night for a month now, and it has helped me tremendously with redness, skin texture, and acne marks. It’s fragrance free and didn't cause any breakouts — which is a rare feat given my sensitive skin. My face feels more elastic and hydrated all day long. The 100-ml bottle lasts for ages. If you have dehydrated, irritated skin or a damaged skin barrier, this serum is a 10/10." —Cristina trujillo

Get it from Amazon for $25+ (also available in a two-pack with a mini retinol cream sample).

Promising review: "I bought this on impulse because the serum I had been using previously was out of stock, and I am so glad I did. It moisturized and brightened my skin within the first use!!! I am 52 years old, and within a few days of using this, my skin looked so vibrant and glowing!!! I highly recommend everyone try it! You will see the difference in the appearance and texture of your skin. I absolutely love this product." —DooBee Doobee's 🐝

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes and another formula).

Promising review: "I had my doubts that this would work for me. I have a lot of freckles and sun damage on my face, chest, shoulders, and arms. I wanted to test it out to make sure I wouldn't have acne breakouts, so I used it exclusively on my chest. After one week of use, there is noticeable improvement and fading of freckles, with no acne breakouts. I will be purchasing this product again." —Tammy61

Promising review: "I've been picking my face for the past five years due to anxiety, and this product has been such a holy grail for me. Any time I pop a pimple, I wash my face and apply this. I've seen a lot of improvement in the marks left behind by the pimples, and it's cleared my skin so much. It has also protected the open pimple wounds from makeup and other bacteria. I highly recommend for anyone who picks a lot or has acne scarring." —Carl E

* The Skincare World Can Be Intimidating, So We Rounded Up These 27 Products To Get You Started

* Korean Skincare Products To Help With Blackheads, Breakouts, And Other Skin Issues

* Splurge-Worthy Korean Skincare Products To Really Step Up Your Routine

* Acne Products That Are So Good, You’ll Want To Cry Happy Tears

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.