Pimples might be part of life, but they're a treatable part of life. Sure, they suck. But knowing how to prevent them from popping up—and how to treat them once they do—means less fretting about their inevitability. Allow us to remind you that the quickest way to scar your skin is to pop a pimple on your own. Instead of manhandling it, treat it with product that helps speed along the process. Here are the 11 best ways to treat pimples and keep skin clear.
Clean & Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Facial
First up: an exfoliator. Use this once or twice a week to make sure that your face is clear of all dead skin that can clog pores. This is also great to use after any situation where you might need extra cleaning, like after using thick sunscreen on the beach or an extra-intense workout.
Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Treatment Gel
Waking up with a newfound pimple is the worst. Minimize its life and its redness by using this spot treatment. Benzoyl peroxide is a stellar treatment for acne.
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
If you tend to get patches of pimples, something more than a spot treatment is in order. This drying lotion helps sop up oil that'll cause pimples to form.
Paula's Choice Daily Skin Clearing Treatment
If you're constantly on the verge of a breakout, use a treatment daily. Apply this one from Paula's Choice after washing your face for prevention.
Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion
Toner helps minimize the likelihood of pimples, too. Use after washing and before applying moisturizer.
Clinique Acne Solutions Clearing Concealer
Sometimes those morning pimples need a little more than just preventative care. This treatment doubles as a concealer, which, well, conceals any redness on and around the area.
Malin+Goetz Acne Treatment Nighttime
At night, you can get away with a more heavy-duty treatment. Apply this to pimples before bed.
Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment Mask
If you tend to get spotty in certain areas, make it part of your weekly habit to clear the skin. This treatment is like if a face mask and a pore strip had a baby. Apply it in patches and it'll pull out what's clogging the pores.
Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer
Oily and acne-prone skin needs moisturizer, too. In fact, if you strip skin of too much moisture in trying to prevent pimples, it'll double down on oil production and just make it worse. Use this lightweight gel after every wash.
Ren Evercalm Anti-Redness Serum
Before the moisturizer (but after toner), it can also be helpful to layer a serum. This one is made to calm down red, acne-ridden areas.
Peter Thomas Roth Peptide 21 Amino Acid Exfoliating Peel Pads
There's nothing like an exfoliating pad to really clear out clogged skin. This one uses phytic and salicylic acid to clean skin and chamomile and green tea to calm it.
This story originally appeared on Esquire.com. Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.
