FIX IT · BREAKOUTS

Breakouts

A pimple the night before something is a rite of passage nobody asked for. This edit is built to calm it down without wrecking the rest of your face: patches for the emergencies, one good active for the long game, and cleansers that don't leave...

The short answer

For everyday breakouts, keep it simple: a gentle cleanser, one exfoliating active like salicylic acid (BHA) a few nights a week, a light moisturizer, and hydrocolloid patches for anything that comes to a head. Adding five actives at once is how a breakout turns into a barrier problem too.

29 picks

Some picks ship from other brands. We may earn a commission. It never changes our take.

Showing 24 of 29

Show more picks

Breakouts, answered.

Is my skin purging or breaking out?
Purging happens when you start an ingredient that speeds up cell turnover, like retinoids or acids, and shows up where you usually break out, then settles within a few weeks. Breakouts in new places, or from a product with no active, usually mean that product isn't for you.
Do pimple patches actually work?
Hydrocolloid patches absorb fluid from spots that have come to a head and stop you from picking, which is half the battle. Patches with salicylic acid add an active. They don't do much for deep, under-the-skin bumps that haven't surfaced.
How often should I use a BHA?
Start two or three nights a week and see how your skin reacts. Stinging, tightness or flaking means back off. More is not faster.
Can blue light help with breakouts?
Blue light is the color studied for blemish-prone skin and is used in dermatology offices. At-home devices are gentler than in-office ones and need consistent use. Our GlowMax includes a blue light mode.
When should I see a dermatologist?
If breakouts are painful, cystic, leaving scars or dark marks, or haven't budged after about three months of a consistent ritual. Prescription options exist for a reason.