What ingredients have helped with clearing acne?

[Eliskincare]

I have tried niacinamide, aha/bha exfoliants, benzoyl peroxide (prescription) and nothing has helped clear my acne. Does anyone have any other ingredients or tips that I could try to clear hormonal acne. I have oily skin+rosacea so if anyone also has similar concerns pls let me know about your personal experience. Thank you loves<3

[raphaela12]

The best thing that works for me when I have acne is  Mario Badescu Drying Lotion as I get white heads. Otherwise The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum  works very well for me to help me with access oil.

I've been trying The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid 1 oz/ 30 mL but I don't find it helps me that much, planning to switch to SEPHORA COLLECTION Clarifying Peel Pads 60 Pads to see how those work.

I still sometimes get a pimple here or there on my chin, but nothing too bad since starting on Niacinamide Serum. I've tried Benzoyl Peroxide in the past and I get a very bad reaction to it.

[missjeanie]

@Eliskincare You mentioned having a prescription product in the past.  Perhaps another visit to the dermatologist?  I'd be trying Differin Gel if looking for an over the counter product.  For me, it was a few rounds of Accutane from the dermatologist years ago that finally gave me the start to better skin.  Good luck!

[Rainbomg]

TL;DR: CLINIQUE Mini Acne Solutions™ Clinical Clearing Gel 0.5 oz/ 15 mLCLINIQUE Mini Acne Solutions™ Clinical Clearing Gel 0.5 oz/ 15 mLCLINIQUE Mini Acne Solutions™ Clinical Clearing Gel 0.5 oz/ 15 mL is my best product, Murad Outsmart Acne Clarifiying Treatment 1.7 oz/ 50 mL  is another good one. 

I have had a lot of luck with a few specific products and a couple specific techniques. I keep CLINIQUE Acne Solutions™ Clinical Clearing Gel 1 oz/ 30 mL in my vanity, and in my nightstand, and Murad Outsmart Acne Clarifiying Treatment 1.7 oz/ 50 mL in my bathroom. I never had problems with acne growing up, but in my 30s I’ve been hit hard with hormonal acne. I have sensitive skin and autoimmune inflammation issues. This is a specific pimple processing routine I pieced together for combination skin from what my doc told me to do and what I found online that worked for me. This is only for whiteheads, not anything else, bc that’s the only blemish thats actually a pimple. SO, here’s what I do if I get a legit pimple:

1. try not to pop it. Seriously, don’t pop it! 
2. so later when you’re going to pop it, at least do some prep first:
3. wash your face, your hands 
4. get some alcohol and some Q tips. 
5. gently sanitize area with alcohol, use q tip, be very gentle 
6. get a clean, white washcloth wet with hot water (wash this in hot water with bleach immediately after 1 use)
7. hold it over the pimple for as long as you can, refreshing the water to keep it as warm as you can comfortably stand. Sometimes I’ll do this in the shower, just hold a washcloth over it to gently open things up. If you do this well, the warmth will pop it for you (gross! but ideal) 
8. you should be able to gently press between 2 clean q tips and pop it
9. use clean Q-tips to absorb all the goo without pressing on it too hard or rubbing it 
10. Marvel at the splendor of the human body
11. use clean Q-tips with alcohol to clean the area. Gently. Think of the goo as a delayed pimple seed, anywhere it touches will become another one later.
12. wash your hands
13. Clean up your area, then notice more goo, get q tips back out, absorb goo, cleanse with alcohol again 
14. After a few minutes, apply tiniest little dab of gel or treatment, I prefer Clinique clearing gel
15. if I am careful and gentle and thorough, then reapply my Clinique gel in the morning and at night, my pimples will be completely gone in a day or two, but within a few hours they’ll be fading, and my breakout is over

clean, sanitize, treat, moisturize, repeat. The alcohol before and after has been a major game changer for me. 

I’ve had luck with the CLINIQUE Clean Skin, Fresh Start Acne Solutions Kit it’s like $15, and I’m still using the clearing gel I got from this years ago. 
otherwise I use a very simple face wash, CLINIQUE All About Clean™ Liquid Facial Soap atm, KORRES Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser for years before that, and then I always tone, I use either straight up witch hazel from the drug store or CLINIQUE Clarifying Lotion 2 on a cotton round immediately after washing. Within 3 minutes of toning I use 2 drops of The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane 1 oz/ 30 mL followed by The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum  but if I can afford Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Balancing Oil 1.01 oz/ 30 mL I use that. Moisturizing is vital, I use CLINIQUE Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel or lotion, depending on if I’m oily or dry, and alternating (if I can afford it) with  Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Deep Hydration Moisturizer 3 oz / 100 mL bc it’s amazing. Also, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair® Cream Intense Hydration is really good for moisturizing after doing something hard core to your face. 

also, I wash my hands and clean my glasses constantly, plus I’ve stopped using certain glasses bc they made me break out in my brow area before. I’m an artist and often have marker or paint on my hands, so this has really clarified for me how often we touch our face, since in many situations I’ve accidentally gotten paint all over my face without realizing it.

hope this helps, sorry it’s so dang long 💋