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Thursday, September 28th
Exposed Skincare has been fighting acne for 20+ years. Their products combine natural extracts like tea tree oil with well-known acne-fighters (benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid) to heal your skin, prevent future breakouts, and calm redness. Although this used to be one of our favorite brands for acne products, a less-than-friendly approach to customer service recently has dropped Exposed Skincare in our rankings. Watch out for purchase options that sign you up for automatic future shipments, and be aware that the 1-year refund policy only applies to your first kit here.
CleaRx is your standard three-step acne regimen: cleanse, moisturize, apply. There's nothing all-natural, unique, or particularly compelling about this acne regimen. You can only buy it as a two-month supply (or longer) that will be set to renew automatically. That's a risky proposition when the company is hard to reach - and seems to have gone "radio silent" after 2020. Spend your money on a more reliable provider of acne products.
Given that acne is the most common skin condition in the country, affecting as many as 50 million Americans at any given time, it's no wonder that there's such a market for effective products. Whether your skin troubles began in puberty or have struck for the first time in your 40s, you're probably searching for a solution that will get you looking and feeling better - as soon as possible.
There are many different approaches that acne products may take, and the right one for you often depends on the type of breakouts you're experiencing. Are you seeing occasional white- and blackheads, or large, painful blemishes that cover most of your face? Is your skin oily all the time, or does it fluctuate with hormonal changes and/or stress? Is acne affecting just your face or other areas of your body too, like your back and chest?
Another factor when choosing an acne product is your experience with products in the past. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are two of the most common ingredients in over-the-counter remedies: they're very effective for some, while others experience dry skin or rashes when using products that contain them. Also consider if you have any known sensitivities to natural ingredients like tea tree oil, aloe vera, or other botanicals. Check the ingredients list of any acne product you're considering to make sure it doesn't contain anything that's a known irritant for you.
A word of warning: know how they say that sometimes things get worse before they get better? No matter which acne product you use, you may find that your acne actually increases at first. It's a process known as "skin purge" , and according to Medical News Today, it can happen as people use new products with ingredients that accelerate exfoliation and bring new skin to the surface. You might just have dry, flaky skin - or even more blemishes than before.
Fortunately, many effective acne products give you 60 days (or longer) to let the skin purge run its course and reveal your new, healthy skin underneath. You just need the patience to ride it out. Of course, if you're showing signs of an allergic reaction (rash, hives, stinging or burning sensation, itchy or watery eyes, and so on), discontinue use and check in with your doctor before trying a new product.
With so many different acne products on the market, you might be feeling confused about where to start. Not to worry. Here are some criteria you can use to narrow down the options and zero in on the ones that will likely be your best bet:
To help you get the clearest skin possible, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked today's most popular acne products. We're confident that this information will make it easy to find the right solution - and at the right price!
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