As much as I wish I was one of those rare unicorns who rarely
experiences a pimple—let alone a full-on breakout—I’m just not.
A constant battle against burgeoning bumps is my norm, and while
I’ve been able to get a relative handle on some hormonal craziness
that was plaguing me for the better part of a year, I still have to
be ultra-diligent with what I
choose to put on my face. For the most part, as I mentioned, my
acne is hormonal, and I primarily break out along my jawline, chin,
and occasionally around my lips or nose. 

These days, thanks to a scaled-back, very basic
skincare routine, 85% of the time my skin is relatively clear,
my main nemesis now being the residual
acne scarring loitering around my cheekbones, chin, and lip
area. (I’m currently getting IPL
at Vanesa
Hernandez Skincare in Brentwood to help deal.) That said, like
clockwork, a week or two before my period, my skin will FTFO, and
all my hard-earned acne-banishing work flies out the window.
Virtually overnight, I wake up to two to three sore, up-and-coming
red bumps alongside a pinhead-sized sprinkling of annoying,
nose-wrinkle-worthy whiteheads poised, ever so cutely, right around
my mouth. (In my mind that’s pretty much the least ideal locale for
a gross-looking zit to grow, but then again, I don’t really have
much say in the matter, now do I?)

Anyway,
the point is the above cycle hit me hard this past weekend—days
after I had received a couple of new, acne-focused skincare
products. Even though I usually stick with my mainstay ride-or-die
acne formulas, I was intrigued with the assortment that had landed
on my desk, and I resolved to try all three together that night for
the ultimate overnight acne experiment. I’ll openly admit that my
expectations were low—like, low, low especially since one of the
products was a pack of acne patches—a product category I’ve had
zero luck with. Alas, I pushed my trepidation and bias aside in the
name of official beauty editor sleuthing. To my complete surprise,
my flip decision completely paid off, and now, my acne arsenal is
three products richer. Keep scrolling for the three random products
I now swear by for an overnight acne miracle, before-and-after
photos, and a few more of the products I’ve used for a while and
completely recommend for those seeking truly effective acne
treatments. Shall we?

Since
I knew the acne patches (below) were going to be the do-or-die star
of the show, pre-application I wanted to ensure my skin was as
clean and exfoliated as humanly possible without overly drying or
stripping my skin. After cleansing (I’ll share my favorite acne
washes below), I reached for this cult-favorite exfoliating scrub
from Goldfaden MD. It’s not new; in fact, it’s one of the most
under-the-radar yet holy-grail skincare products you can get your
hands on, but I was sent a new supersized tub of the formula in
honor of the product’s fresh availability on Harrod’s website. 
Through my acne journey, I’ve learned gentle, daily exfoliation is
truly the key to keeping my skin velvety and clear and potential
zits and bumps at bay. This special mix has enough grit to it to
make you feel like you are, indeed ridding your skin of everything
and anything you need to slough off, but the ruby crystals are
bathed in this luxe, creamy blend of jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid,
seaweed extract, and organic red tea extract to keep the
complexion’s moisture and pH levels healthy and intact. After
rubbing and buffing it into my damp skin for about 30 seconds or
so, I rinsed with warm water. Seriously, folks, you’ve never known
your skin could be feel so soft or smooth until you try this magic
potion. Technically, the brand says to cleanse after you scrub, but
since I’m super thorough with the rinse, I just did a quick
once-over with Renée Rouleau’s Toning Cloths ($16) dunked in
Bioderma’s iconic micellar water—Sensibio H20 ($15).

As
adorable and handy and cute as these stars are, I was skeptical
right off the bat. I’ve never had luck with any kind of acne dots
or patches, but I’ve had the worst luck using the kind with darts
(usually I sprout three new pimples where I had just the one
before.) However, these Starface ones DON’T have darts, are
hydrogel (so they’ll actually stay in place), and are strategically
medicated with what the brand calls “hydrocolloid dressing.” Plus,
they’re specifically meant to go on top of the exact kinds of zits
I get—the kind, sorry for this visual, where you can see the puss
sitting right up top. The brand’s website, verbatim, says you need
to make sure there’s fluid or pus “percolating” before applying
your star. In other words, this patch probably won’t do much for
flesh-colored bumps or hard cystic acne. But they are designed (and
clinically proven) to absorb said fluid; protect your zit against
outside bacteria, which can make pimples worse; and last but not
least discourage you from picking.  You’re supposed to give your
star(s) at least six hours to work, and they should be applied to
dry skin, so I put my patches on right after cleansing and
scrubbing and right before bed. I love how cute they are. I love
that they stick and stay put. And I love that each little sheet in
the compact has four patches—I sprinkled all four across my face,
although the whitehead by my lip was my main concern and target.
The next morning I woke up, peeled them off, and—lo and
behold—all bumps were gone. My skin was still a little red and
inflamed as you’ll see in the photos, but that continued to
diminish, and all I cared about was that my skin was smooth, flat,
devoid of whiteheads, and ready for a bit of concealer to nix the
lingering redness. Color me addicted, folks. I stand corrected
regarding my previous hatred of acne patches. (Well done, Julie
Schott. These are amazing.) 

In
case you’re wondering about the third acne product I tried, (and
which did major work on some of my other red bumps) meet REN’s
brand-new non-drying acne treatment, which I spread in a thin layer
over the rest of my skin that wasn’t covered with little gold
stars. This new launch is part of the brand’s ClearCalm line—aka
it’s fab if you have sensitive skin—and features strategic,
proven acne busters like white willow bark, naturally derived
salicylic acid, prebiotic chlorella extract, and maritime pine and
thyme complex. Essentially this oil-free featherweight gel acts as
a non-comedogenic serum that absorbs quickly while also performing
a five-star pore excavation. But it’s hydrating and soothing, so
acneic skin isn’t left aggravated, dry, or all-around angry. In
fact, my skin felt so good post-application I didn’t even feel the
need to add a moisturizer on top.  The next morning I woke up to
not only find my specific pimples majorly downsized from the
Starface patches, but the rest of my semi-broken-out complexion
significantly less congested as well. So, yes, I now swear by
combining all three of these products for taming an errant
breakout. Of course, my skin is still far from perfect—as you can
see—but I’ve never had products shrink, deflate, and de-anger an
on-the-rise breakout so swiftly and with zero collateral damage in
the form of irritation. I’m sold.

Below,
I’m sharing the other cleansers, toners, masks, exfoliator, and
spot treatments I’ve personally had real luck with as I’ve been on
this roller coaster acne ride. Keep scrolling for my top acne
skincare picks I use daily and/or weekly, sorted by category.

Hands
down, this is the best drugstore cleanser for acne-prone skin. I’m
not kidding when I say it’s literally erased bumps and pimples
after consistent usage. 

This
basic cleanser was recommended to me by celeb facialist Vanessa
Hernandez. It leaves skin super clean and does double duty to treat
and prevent breakouts. I keep it in the shower and use it to wash
the day away at night. 

AHAs
and BHAs are key for acne-prone skin. This exfoliating wash from
celeb facialist Renée Rouleau is one of my all-time favorites, and
I especially love to use it in the morning for its brightening and
exfoliating perks. 

This
cleanser makes you look like you just had a facial. Skin is left
clear, glowy, and all-around healthier looking. It’s a relatively
new discovery my skin is obsessed with. 

This
cleanser is the priciest in the bunch, but I swear by it and so
does pretty much every actress and model in Hollywood. I also love
that it’s a powder (just add some water for lather), so it’s super
easy to travel with. It’s also great for exfoliation, so
technically you’re getting two products for the price of one. 

I
use this in the morning—it’s gentle, brightens my skin, and
doesn’t clog my pores. Plus, it’s super lightweight. 

It’s
not fancy, but this was another recommendation from Vanessa—it’s
oil-free, specifically targeted toward acne, and I apply it in the
morning on days I don’t apply the Sheer Moisture Lotion and/or in
the evening. 

If
you have the budget, I love this specially formulated face cream
from Dr. Barbara Sturm. Not only does it tackle breakouts, but it
also makes your skin look glowy and radiant. 

If
you don’t want to spring for both, you can purchase each of these
acne game-changers separately, but honestly, the fact that Renée
sells them as a duo is brilliant because they’re the perfect
pairing. Like clockwork, I do this two-step ritual about twice a
week, and I always notice a difference in my skin’s glow,
smoothness, and clarity. 

I
still can’t get over how pretty this mask is, but it’s also one of
the most effective mask/peel/exfoliant situations I’ve ever tried.
It’s like a detox for your face, and even though it might sting
(it’s more of a cooling sting than anything), the luminous result
is more than worth it. 

These
peel pads from M-61 are everything. In fact, I’m running low right
now, and the panic as I write this is rising. They’re easy to bring
with you and keep your skin exfoliated and glowy. I swipe them over
my face two to three times a week at night post-cleanse.
Technically, you can put face cream on over it, but they’re not
drying at all, so I just forgo it. These gals are truly a facial in
a box, and I promise you’ll be pleased. 

Yes,
this mask is maybe what some people would call insanely expensive,
but the results are insanely amazing, so I don’t really know what
else to tell you except it’s worth every penny if your budget has
the bandwidth. The formula is creamy and kind of looks (and smells)
like you put diaper cream all over your face, but no other mask
leaves my skin with as soothed, even, bright, or radiant of a
complexion the second I wipe it off. 

This
stuff smells intense (the main ingredient is acne-blasting sulfur),
but it’s truly one of the only spot treatments I believe to be
effective. I use it during the day or night, but it’s especially
great for the former thanks to its makeup-like tint which helps
camouflage redness and the overall intensity of your breakout
while, you know, actually treating it as well.  Next up: Here’s
What You Should and Shouldn’t Do to Your Face—Depending on Your
Age

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