Desiree Stordahl Of Paula's Choice Picks The Best Ingredients To Battle Acne

Beta hydroxy acid (also known as BHA or salicylic acid) is the #1 thing anyone with acne should try. BHA is a gentle chemical exfoliant that not only removes dead skin on the surface, it also goes deeper to clear out the pore-clogging debris that contributes to pimples. Adding to its benefits, BHA is also an anti-inflammatory, which allows it to help calm the redness and irritation associated with acne.

Pro Tip: If you’re new to using BHA, start slowly. Apply every other day and note your skin's response. Then use up to twice daily to get acne under control.

Shop This: Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid

LBB's Pick: Minimalist AHA BHA peeling solution 

While BHA targets breakouts at the pore level, azelaic acid targets a different pathway to help kill the acne-causing bacteria. Bonus: Azelaic acid also helps fade brown spots and marks from previous acne breakouts.

Pro Tip: While it may sound scary to add multiple “acids” to your skin care routine, both BHA and azelaic acid offer soothing components that are gentle on skin. Using them together in your anti-acne skin care routine will deliver more dramatic improvement.

Shop This: Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

LBB's Pick: The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

Retinol mostly gets attention as anti-aging hero, but did you know it also helps with acne? Retinol helps reduce the occurrence of blemishes, while also enhancing skin’s healthy tone and texture overall. 

Pro Tip: A lot of retinol products come in heavier/creamier textures that can exacerbate clogged pores. For breakout-prone skin, the key is to find a retinol product that offers a very lightweight, fluid, non-greasy consistency.

Shop This: Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Booster

LBB's Pick: Our Pick Of Retinol Products

Acne-prone skin is often predisposed to enlarged pores—and that’s where niacinamide comes in. Niacinamide helps normalize oil flow and restore the pore-lining to its pre-stretched size. You’ll never completely get rid of pores, but you can minimize their appearance.

Pro Tip: In addition to its pore benefits, Niacinamide provides lightweight hydration and boosts skin’s barrier strength, making it an excellent complement to harder hitting acne-fighting ingredients. Using it in toner that you can apply immediately after cleansing, helps skin feel replenished instead of tight or dry.

Shop This: Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner

LBB's Pick: SkinQ Acne Control Elixir

When you have acne-prone skin, it can be tempting to leave sunscreen out of your routine, but that’s a huge mistake. Unprotected sun exposure weakens skin’s healing response and will make post-breakout hyperpigmentation linger much longer... not to mention all the other detrimental effects we know about like pre-mature aging and skin cancer. The good news is that while sunscreens of the past erred on the side of heavy/emollient creams, you can find modern day formulas that offer much better, lighter weight consistencies that won’t clog pores.

Pro Tip: Sunscreen should always be the last skin care step in your daytime routine (before you apply makeup)… even on cloudy or rainy days (yes, the harmful UV rays are still getting through even in those conditions).

Shop This: Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Ultra-Sheer Daily Defense SPF 30