Avon Crystal Lake

Launched in 1961 and loved for 56 years, Skin So Soft is Avon’s most iconic product. This jojoba oil-infused bath oil moisturizes skin while you soak and can be used as a hand lotion, a makeup remover, or as a massage oil for tired muscles.

This moisturizer is filled with two MVPs for clear skin: 1 percent salicylic acid to unclog pores and tiny jojoba spheres that physically exfoliate and reduce excess sebum.

1. SkinMedica Acne Cleanser

The SkinMedica Acne Cleanser is a gentle cleanser that removes dirt, oil and makeup without over-drying the complexion. It contains 2% salicylic acid, a clinically proven acne-treating ingredient that helps to banish bacteria, reduce excess sebum and unclog pores. This cleanser is also formulated with natural antiseptics to help reduce inflammation and future breakouts. It is the perfect option for sensitive skin and post-procedure complexions.

This cleanser is our top pick for those with combination skin. It is a gentle exfoliating cleanser that provides a deep clean while still maintaining hydration. The cleanser also contains Vitamin C, a key ingredient that is known to brighten the complexion and reduce hyperpigmentation. It is a great option for those with combination skin that experiences both dryness and oiliness at different times of the day.

The SkinMedica Acne System is a trio of products that includes the Foaming Wash, Toner and Lotion. This acne treatment regimen is a great way to clear your complexion and keep it clear all year long. The foaming wash is formulated with salicylic acid to help banish blemishes and reduce inflammation. The toner and lotion contain natural antiseptics that destroy bacteria, clean deeply, and speed healing on blemish-prone skin. Using this regimen on a daily basis will help you to achieve smooth, radiant and clear complexion.

2. Peter Thomas Roth Therapeutic Sulfur Acne Treatment Mask

This medicated mask contains a combination of sulfur, eucalyptus, and purified clay to reduce excess oil and unclog pores. It also helps heal blemishes and prevent future breakouts. The clays help to dry out blemishes and the aloe vera soothes and calms skin. It is ideal for oily, clogged skin and the T-zone.

Contains 10% maximum-strength sulfur to visibly clear acne blemishes and blackheads, while helping to prevent their return. This Medicated Mask also has visibly purifying Kaolin and drying Bentonite Clays that absorb excess oil and help to clean clogged pores. This mask is gentle enough to be used once or twice a week.

Water/Aqua/Eau, Bentonite, Kaolin, Propylene Glycol, Talc, Glycerin, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Zinc Oxide, Polysorbate 20, Titanium Dioxide, Carbomer, Fragrance (Parfum), Sodium Hydroxide, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben. Apply a thin layer of the mask to clean face, neck and chest. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with cool water. Follow with toner and moisturizer. If sensitivity occurs, reduce frequency to once or twice per week. Avoid the eye area.

3. Soft Services Clearing Clay

Sulfur is a dermatological mainstay for its antifungal, antibacterial and skin-softening properties—and it’s especially useful on the oily, breakout-prone surfaces of body parts like shoulders, knees and chest. This formula suspends it in a soft clay paste at the highest potency for treating body acne (10 percent maximum-strength sulfur), so you can use it as a daily wash, a deeper-penetrating mask or a spot treatment.

The formula also contains kaolin clay, which is milder than other clays and helps reduce the appearance of redness by drawing out excess oils, plus it provides slight exfoliation to help prevent ingrown hairs and razor burn. And the clearing clay is infused with salicylic acid to help clear breakouts and reduce inflammation, and zinc PCA and niacinamide to prevent future acne formation and hyperpigmentation from blemishes.

LEROSETT multi-use spot treatment and clay clearing mask minimizes oil (sebum) production, stops a new pimple in hours and helps clear existing blemishes, blackheads, cysts, & ingrown hairs. This 100% organic serum is rich in healing minerals including magnesium & calcium, and nourishing botanicals such as panax ginseng, aloe vera, red algae and shea butter to reduce irritation and speed skin’s natural repair process.

Contains no added chemicals, drugs or acids, this product is a favorite of dermatologists & licensed skincare professionals. Ingredients include Water/Aqua/Eau, Lactic Acid, Urea, Sodium Hydroxide, Trehalose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Glycerin, Panthenol, Shea Butter, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Phytic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate. SkinSAFE certified free of gluten, coconut, dairy, nickel, paraben, SLS, top common allergens and fragrance. Dermatologist tested. Safe for all ages. Made in USA.

4. Skinceuticals Daily Moisturizer with Sulfur

You might be familiar with sulfur from studying the periodic table in school, but this skincare ingredient is experiencing something of a renaissance right now. It’s an effective acne interference tool that can be found in a variety of cleansers, exfoliants, face masks, and lotions. And despite its pungent rotten eggs smell, it’s also a very safe option for most skin types (just don’t layer it with drying treatments).

As a gentler alternative to benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, sulfur helps remove oil build-up from the surface of your skin and prevents breakouts by dissolving hard plugs, known as blackheads and whiteheads. It’s also a great keratolytic, meaning it dissolves and sheds dead skin cells and other debris that clog pores. It can be used as a spot treatment or incorporated into a daily moisturizer, like this one from Skinceuticals.

Because of its natural properties, many dermatologists recommend incorporating sulfur into your routine as a first-line treatment for blemishes and breakouts. It’s especially helpful for those with sensitive skin, since it doesn’t irritate the way benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can.

That said, it’s important to talk to your dermatologist before trying any products that contain sulfur for the first time. It’s not ideal for everyone, and it can cause dryness in those with very sensitive skin. Also, some people are naturally allergic to the ingredient, so you should always test a small amount of the product on your forearm before incorporating it into your regimen. If you notice any irritation, it’s best to stop using the product and consult with your dermatologist.

5. Skinceuticals Daily Moisturizer with Charcoal

Often touted for its ability to detoxify and absorb toxins, charcoal is also used in many skin-care products for its oil-control properties. Applied topically, it helps to remove excess oil and impurities, and can prevent future breakouts by balancing sebum production. The oil-absorbing microspheres in this moisturizer help to minimize shine throughout the day, while ingredients like niacinamide refine pores and reduce discoloration. Meanwhile, oat and feverfew extracts soothe irritation from current breakouts, and hyaluronic acid and strong humectants promote moisture retention and softness.

This face moisturizer is designed for normal to oily skin, and is free of fragrances, mineral oils, and dyes. Instead, it features nourishing ingredients like jojoba and avocado oil to keep skin smooth and hydrated, while niacinamide and charcoal balance sebum production to minimize the appearance of pores and prevent future breakouts from occurring.

Unlike many charcoal scrubs that can strip skin, this exfoliator is gentle enough to use daily and won’t leave your complexion feeling dry and flaky. It contains Moor mud from Ireland to help combat damage, as well as charcoal to draw out toxins and reduce the look of pores.

If you’re struggling with blackheads and acne, this purifying scrub can be your new best friend. It uses charcoal to exfoliate, while the salicylic acid in it helps to clear existing blemishes and prevent future ones from forming. Meanwhile, glycerin and five different types of hyaluronic acid improve hydration levels, and cucumber, thyme, and mulberry extracts calm and soften the complexion. This cleanser is on the pricier side, but reviewers say it’s worth it. It can be purchased online or at select dermatologist offices. The company has a 90-day money back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free and see if it’s right for you.