Cosmopolitan’s 2023 Acne Awards: The Top Breakout Solutions
Discover this year's 58 best dermatologist-approved products, treatments, and tools for every acne concern, handpicked and tested by Cosmo editors.
If you’ve ever struggled with persistent breakouts, stubborn scars, or the challenge of finding genuinely effective skincare, Cosmopolitan’s 2023 Acne Awards is your new skin survival guide. This definitive list features 58 exceptional products and treatments for face and body, hand-selected and rigorously tested by six Cosmo editors with firsthand acne experience. Covering the best in skincare, makeup, body care, tools, and professional treatments, these winners are vetted for efficacy, accessibility, and user-friendliness—so you can tackle acne with confidence.
Jump to:
- Best Skincare for the Face
- Best Body Acne Solutions
- Best Acne-Friendly Makeup
- Best At-Home Tools & Devices
- Top Professional Treatments
- Editor Tester Notes & Tips
- How We Selected the Winners
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best Skincare for the Face
Cosmopolitan’s editors spent months evaluating cleansers, spot treatments, serums, and moisturizers targeting every kind of acne—hormonal, cystic, whitehead, and blackhead. The standouts deliver real results without stripping or irritating sensitive, acne-prone skin.
- ZitSticka Killa Acne Extra Strength Patches: These advanced pimple patches feature salicylic acid-spiked microdarts that pierce and treat active breakouts, clearing them faster than traditional patches. An included tea tree wipe preps the area by removing bacteria and oil, boosting overall efficacy.
- Peach Slices Dark Spot Microdarts: For post-acne marks that linger, these microdart patches deliver a blend of niacinamide, licorice root extract, and vitamin C directly into dark spots, speeding up the fading process.
- Cetaphil Deep Hydration Healthy Glow Daily Cream: Perfect for hydration during breakouts, this cream, infused with hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and vitamin E, soothes and restores moisture to irritated skin, preventing dryness from stronger acne treatments.
- Filorga Hydra-Filler Mat: Developed by French skincare experts, this lightweight gel-cream strikes the perfect balance for combination skin—hydrating without clogging pores and creating an ideal base for makeup application.
Best Body Acne Solutions
Breakouts aren’t limited to your face. Bacne, chestne, and stubborn body blemishes need tailored treatments to penetrate tougher skin and larger pore areas. Editors highlighted smart, fast-absorbing formulas for every routine.
- Dove Body Love Exfoliate Away Body Polish: This AHA-powered polish gently resurfaces skin, cleaning out pores and leaving your body silky-smooth—an essential for preventing and treating body breakouts.
- Bask SPF 50 Non-Aerosol Spray: Many with body acne avoid sunscreen due to concerns about greasiness or breakouts, but this lightweight, no-white-cast spray dissolves quickly, protecting skin without clogging pores.
- Nécessaire The Body Acne Solution: A post-shower spray formulated with salicylic acid, zinc PCA, and niacinamide to not only treat existing blemishes but also prevent new ones, all while fading old dark marks—no rubbing required.
Best Acne-Friendly Makeup
Acne doesn’t mean you have to ditch makeup. This year’s winning products combine flawless coverage with skin-positive benefits and non-comedogenic ingredients, so you can confidently wear your favorite looks without worrying about new breakouts.
- Non-comedogenic, lightweight foundations and concealers that don’t clog pores or worsen flare-ups.
- Color correctors specially formulated to cover redness and pigmentation without causing irritation.
- Setting powders that absorb excess oil and keep makeup matte, extending wear while minimizing shine.
Best At-Home Tools & Devices
The right device can supercharge your routine, making professional-grade technology accessible for daily use. Editors handpicked these tools for their impressive results and ease of use at home.
- Laser and LED devices shown to reduce inflammation, bacteria, and surface oil production with consistent use.
- Extraction tools designed to gently clear pores without causing damage or scarring.
- Innovative gadgets that help apply treatments more effectively or track changes in your skin over time.
What others are reading
Top Professional Treatments
Sometimes the most challenging breakouts and scars require expert-level intervention. These dermatologist-recommended options provide big results for persistent acne, chronic inflammation, and deep scarring that at-home routines can’t resolve alone.
- Prescription topical medications like retinoids and antibiotic creams tailored for severe or cystic acne.
- In-office procedures such as chemical peels, light therapies, and microneedling that accelerate healing and minimize discoloration or uneven texture.
- Prescription oral treatments, including select hormonal medications and antibiotics, under supervised care.
Editor Tester Notes & Tips
Behind each award is a panel of editors with real acne struggles, sharing their authentic experiences, best application tricks, and favorite products. Their honest feedback ensures every recommendation is tested, critiqued, and truly endorsed.
- Layer Thoughtfully: Editors recommend spacing out actives (like acids or retinoids) and balancing powerful treatments with hydrating, barrier-repairing products.
- Sun Protection Always: Using SPF—even on breakout-prone skin—is crucial for both clearing acne and preventing dark spots. Lightweight, oil-free formulas are less likely to aggravate blemishes.
- Treat Your Body Like Your Face: Applying gentle exfoliants and targeted night treatments to the chest, back, and shoulders keeps body breakouts at bay.
- Don’t Overdo It: Avoid over-cleansing or excessive exfoliation, which can worsen irritation and trigger more oil production.
How We Selected the Winners
Cosmo’s acne awards weren’t cobbled together overnight. The process was grounded in both scientific analysis and practical, real-world testing by editors with acne-prone skin.
| Phase | Description |
|---|---|
| Research (May 2023) | The editorial team researched over 500 skincare products, prescription medications, and treatments designed to target various acne types and the scars left behind. |
| Nomination (July 2023) | After narrowing the field, 174 finalists were chosen, covering 58 distinct categories from cleansers and spot treatments to tools, makeup, and in-office procedures. |
| Testing (July–September 2023) | Editors rigorously tested the finalists—documenting improvements and setbacks, noting ease of use, accessibility, affordability, and incorporating dermatologists’ feedback. |
| Selection (September 2023) | After eight weeks of real-world use, one winner was selected in each category. Personal reviews, measurable skin changes, and overall user experience determined final decisions. |
The result: a comprehensive guide to the most reliable, effective, and editor-approved acne solutions of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How should I use the award-winning pimple patches?
Clean the affected area first (using the included wipe, if available). Apply the patch directly over the blemish and leave it for several hours or overnight. The active ingredients in the microdarts penetrate the skin, shrinking the pimple and reducing redness.
Can I use acne treatments and sunscreens together?
Yes, it’s essential. Apply acne treatments as directed and finish with a broad-spectrum, non-comedogenic sunscreen, especially if you’re using products with acids or retinoids, which increase sun sensitivity.
What works best for body acne?
Products with AHA or BHA exfoliants, like body polishes or sprays with salicylic acid, help clear pores. Look for lightweight, fast-absorbing formulas that won’t clog pores, and consider spot-treating with the same actives used on your face.
How were the products and treatments selected?
The Cosmo beauty team tested over 500 products, narrowing down selections based on efficacy, accessibility, price, and feedback from both editors and dermatologists. Every winner underwent weeks of hands-on review and application.
Are the product recommendations suitable for all skin types?
While many products cater to oily and acne-prone skin, the list includes hydrating solutions appropriate for combination or sensitive skin types. Always patch-test new products and consult a dermatologist for persistent or severe acne.
Meet the Team Behind the Awards
The Cosmopolitan beauty editor panel—with over a decade’s experience covering skincare breakthroughs and chronicling real-life acne journeys—personally conducted every test and interview. Under the leadership of Lauren Balsamo, Beauty Director, and with production by a creative team of photographers, designers, and visual editors, their collaborative effort brings authoritative, relatable, and effective advice straight to readers.
Looking to build your perfect breakout-fighting routine? Start with these editor-approved, research-backed winners, and give your skin the love and care it truly deserves.
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