Contrary to what most advertisements proclaim, “zit zappers” and “blemish banishers” are not the trademark of acne treatments — to the contrary, they tend to require a lot of patience and change is never instantaneous. Almost anyone who’s suffered through an acne breakout and tried to help themselves is well aware of this frustrating truth. But here’s the silver lining. While your pimples are yours, and very personal (your spots will always look worse than your best friend’s acne breakout), the best acne treatments are truly impersonal, objective, and more often than not – effective. A good acne kit will target all main root causes of acne, ensuring that you see real changes that will stand the test of time. Hence today’s article, which is dedicated exactly to that – the best acne treatments in 202 that money can buy. To end up with this list, we had to test dozens of acne kits until we found the most effective, safest, and most high-quality acne treatments for you.
OUR SKINCARE EXPERTS HAVE EVALUATED OVER 100 OF THE TOP ACNE PRODUCTS & reviewed thousands of customer reviews
This post features 5 carefully chosen acne treatments with the most effective results available in the market today. When we say carefully, we mean it. Out list is the result of meticulously going over more than 2700+ real user reviews, but also consulting in-house dermatologists and running our own test with a team of volunteers as well.Â
After all the tests and analyses, our team of dermatologists, estheticians and skincare experts drafted this list of the best of the best acne teatments. What follows is a list of the highest rated, top quality ingredients, most effective acne treatments on the market today.
How We Chose the Best Acne Treatment in 2024
Here are a couple of factors we keep in mind when choosing the best acne treatment.
1. Ingredients and Their Quality
The following ingredients are the very essences of acne treatments. They’re time-tested and scientifically proven to work. If you’re looking for a good acne treatment, look for the following ingredients: Salicylic acid (very effective exfoliator and pore cleaner, it will reduce blackheads and whiteheads as well), Glycolic acid (the best at exfoliating and unclogging impurities and excess oil due to it’s tiny molecules), Lactic acid (to fight acne and even out skin tone), Benzoyl peroxide (to deal with P. acnes, the acne-causing bacteria), or Sulfur (to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation).
2. Regimen Sets
“I recommend acne kits because sticking to one product line, with products designed to work well with one another, will have the most effective results.” – Jessica Fitz PatrickAesthetician and Rodan + Fields Consultant
We’ve gathered and evaluated over three thousand real customer reviews. This is a no censor, no filter skincare review zone. We say it like it is.
4. Test Results
Yup, our skincare experts test all our top products on our team of adults over 20 years who are battling breakouts.
 5. Customer Service and company Policy
We only recommend companies that we trust operate with integrity, are good to their customers and their environment, and have hassle-free return policies and exceptional customer service.
5 Best Acne Treatments 2024
#1- Misumi Complete Clear 3-Step System ($63.96)
Now starting at $63.96
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Finally an acne kit that lives up to its hype! Misumi’s Complete Clear 3-Step System has proven itself extremely effective, time and time again. It is our favorite acne kit for achieving blemish-free skin and preventing future breakouts. The best part is that it is only 3 easy steps and is manageable for those of us with a busy schedule.
This brand has been a favorite about dermatologists and high-end skincare specialists for over 25 years but has only just been made available directly to consumers lasts year. Their 3-Step System includes their signature AHA 10% Skin Perfecting Cleanser, their light-weight Retinol Intense Repair PM Creme, and their best-selling Pore Purifying Toner that everyone has been raving about.
Unlike many acne products nowadays that contain harsh chemicals that irritate the skin, all of Misumi’s products are based on natural and healthy ingredients. Their AHA cleanser is a unique and powerful blend of Rosehip Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Glycerin, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Lemon Peel Oil, Irish Moss Extract, Chamomile Extract and more. You could say that this kit contains everything one would want in a good acne-fighting system. Their Pore Purifying Toner combines Witch Hazel Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hops Extract, Lavender Extract, Marigold, Licorice Root, Lemon Peel and many other acne-fighting herbs that will help calm breakouts, clear the skin, and close pores to prevent future breakouts. The Retinol PM Creme heals redness and inflammation while preventing signs of aging and new breakouts.
When it comes to strength, quality of ingredients, effectiveness and safety of use, we are still searching for an acne-treating system that can beat this one.
Customer Before and After Picture
Best For: Oily, normal, and acne-prone skin
Pros
- High concentration of premium quality ingredients
- Calms breakouts and reduces redness and swelling
- Only 3 easy steps that are super manageable and will deliver real and fast results. (Or else they guarantee money back)
- Toner contains Lavender Oil which is great for preventing severe acne scars, controlling oily skin, and calming breakouts
- Made in the USA in an FDA licensed facility
- Their chief chemist has been making some of the world’s leading acne products for over 25 years. This is their most effective formula to date.
- Lots of loyal customers say that Misumi has been the only acne-fighting system that has worked for them. Real reviews with before and after photos prove it.
- They are so confident you will see fast results that if you haven’t noticed a difference within 3 weeks, they will give you your money back.
- 60 Day Money Back Guarantee
Cons
- It’s a 3-in-1 acne bundle and it has all the quality ingredients, so it comes at $79.95. If you’re serious about beating back acne, we recommend purchasing their 30 day or 60 day subscription option to get a cheaper price (as much as $16 savings) but a constant supply. If this too is above your budget at the moment, we recommend starting with their 2-Step Clear Skin Duo Kit – another excellent starter kit that will deliver real results while saving you $30+.
Pro tip: Choose a subscription plan (30 or 60 days) and get 20% savings on the kit! Easy cancellation anytime.
Check out customer reviews of Complete Clear 3 Step System
The only thing that works for me
I’m so impressed with these Misumi products. I’ve tried so many expensive acne systems from Proactiv to Exposed to even accurtane but nothing has worked until I found Misumi’s 3 step kit. The cleanser cleared by face up in only after a few uses. I saw a big difference in about two weeks. The toner seems like it really gets oily skin under control. I can already see my pores have gotten a lot less noticeable. I’ve recommended Misumi to all my friends and family. Thank YOU!
Thanks for giving me my skin back
I’ve tried a million products before Misumi but this is by far the best thing that suits by skin. I used to wear my hair down to cover my face cus I was so embarrassed. Acne makes me feel less hygienic and insecure. I’m finishing my second tube of the aha cleanser now and am so happy that I can finally wear my hair up and take selfies again.
The BEST products for adult acne!
Ever since I turned forty, I’ve been struggling to keep adult acne at bay. Finding the right product for my skin that works has been so tough, especially since I need something for the lines and wrinkles as well as the acne. I’m so In love with Misumis acne kit. The cleanser toner and moisturizer is basically all I need and all I use now for both acne and anti-aging. My skin is clearer and brighter. My pores are noticeably smaller too! I’ll be purchasing more.
#2 – Murad Anti-aging Acne Bonus Regimen ($107)
The Anti-aging Acne Bonus Regimen by Murad has been called the Proactiv+ for adults with acne-prone and sensitive skin. It’s a three-step system with almost the same ingredients, albeit a bit more affordable.
One ingredient that is unique to this system is low concentration of salicylic acid. It’s gentler on skin and soaks in slower, delivering its exfoliating goodness evenly without missing anything.
Like many systems, there is a cleanser and moisturizer that you use twice daily and an acne treatment lotion you can use up to three times a day. What is missing here is a toner which we’d really love to see Murad develop and include in their kit, as toners are an integral product for managing acne-prone skin.
Some people get positive results with this system within two weeks, and for others it can take more like eight weeks.
Pros:
- contains Salicylic acid
- good for deep cleansing
- good price, compared to competitors like Proactiv+
- gentle formula for more sensitive skin
Cons:
- Missing a non-comedogenic toner
#3 – Exposed Skincare Expanded Kit ($125)
Coming at #1 is Exposed Skincare’s 5 Step Expanded Kit. To be honest, we were quite skeptical of this brand, due to it’s strong push for subscription and membership. It was also difficult to track down and make sense of all the ingredients in their products. We believe skincare brands should make their ingredients list as transparent as possible, but since we saw so many positive customer reviews, we had to see if they live up to their reputation.
Not the most powerful kit on the market, it contains both artificial but also natural ingredients with an anti-allergic bent. It also boasts of a more robust skincare system than Murad, but we think it’s too complicated for the usual customer hence the #3 spot.
The mission statement of Exposed Skin Care is keeping your face as free of bacteria and dirt for as long as possible. Of course, this comes packed with a somewhat complex morning and evening routine. Despite this have no doubts – this is an effective acne fighting kit, rich in ingredients that promote skin health and pore cleaning.
Kit Includes: Facial Cleanser, Clearing Tonic, Acne Treatment Serum, Clear Pore Serum, Moisture Complex, Free Derm-X Cloth
Pros:
- Great for blackheads and whiteheads
- Good choice for individuals with mild acne
- Long lasting results that clears skin from the inside out
Cons:
- 6 Piece Kit can be exhausting to manage consistently
- You will need to subscribe to their membership to receive a discounted price
- Not that easy to return products
#4 – Misumi AHA 10% Skin Perfecting Cleanser ($26.95)
This product goes double duty as a daily cleanser (to clear breakouts) and also a nutritious anti-aging treatment which expertly reduces wrinkles and fine lines. The Skin Perfecting Cleanser’s list of naturally derived ingredients makes it stand out from the crowd. The advanced formula combines the acne fighting benefits of Glycolic Acid with other natural miracle ingredients including Rosehip Oil (antioxidant), Chamomile (reducing redness and swelling), Irish moss extract (moisturize and heal acne) and so many more natural ingredients. Finally, this is also a very practical product – it will help deal with that shiny forehead after lunch time, thanks to oil-controlling ingredients like Lemon peel and Grapefruit.
Pros:
- Simple and affordable, 1 step treatment that works
- Tackles both acne and premature aging
- Contains Glycolic Acid, the most effective exfoliator for deep pore cleansing
- Helps kill acne bacteria
- Natural ingredients
- Helps control excess oil without drying the skin
- Amazing customer reviews and results
- Acne Fighting with Anti-aging bonus!
Cons:
- Not suitable for those allergic to Glycolic Acid
Best cleanser EVER
Before I bought the AHA 10% cleanser I had moderate acne; A couple pimples a week. When I began using this AMAZING product my face felt light( not oily), reduces redness and my pores were smaller. Within about 1-2 weeks I saw a major difference. I do recommend this cleanser for those who have moderate acne, spend a long time in the sun/sports/etc.
#5 – Proactiv+ 3 Step Acne Treatment System ($59.95)
Proactiv+ is pretty much required for any acne treatment system list. You can say it’s the most popular and by extension, the most effective acne system for many who have tried it. Let’s be honest here and not mince words: Proactiv+ is kinda old. It’s good, but it keeps living on old fame, like that retired king who’s done great things, but just can’t compete the younger princes (and princesses). Credit where credit is due however, because they are basically the inventors of the 3-step acne treatment regimens. This kit contains a mild exfoliator with benzoyl peroxide for dealing with bacteria, then a pore treatment that further purges any dirt from the pores, and finally, a hydrator containing moisturizing oils and salicylic acid, for further exfoliation but also skin lightening. So those who wish to preserve their natural skin tone – keep away from this kit.
Pros:
- Has some of the best acne-fighting ingredients like glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, & salicylic acid
- Lots of people report good results
- Lightens acne scarring
Cons:
- Contains silicones
- Contains oils
- Not everyone wishes to have their skin lightened
- Benzoyl peroxide can stain fabrics
Conclusion
If you’re tired of acne, try one of the top rated acne treatments for adult acne and let us know what works (or doesn’t) for you. We’re constantly updating our list to give our readers the most current and best products to test and try for themselves.