Acne: The Best List For Fighting Acne On A Budget

Call it a smattering of pimples, some below-surface activity, or congestion. Whatever you will – acne can creep up on anyone. And it’s one of the skin issues which can have the most adverse impact on a person’s self-esteem. What’s worse still is that treating it is often super pricey – be it trips to a dermatologist or other skin treatments. But there is a different way. Treating acne need not cost half your paycheck. Here are all the best ways you can fight acne on a budget. 

The Pharmacy

Some largely untapped resources in the acne-fighting game are the French pharmacy brands. Think La Roche Posay, Vichy, Avene, Bioderma et al. While the cost is a little higher than typical drugstore purchases, they’re in no way approaching the upper echelons of skincare pricing.

Across the board, they tend to work really well. Some standout products are La Roche Posay’s Serozinc (a clarifying spray-on toner), the Vichy Normaderm 3-in-1 (which works as a scrub or a mask for clogged-up pores), the Avene Antirougeurs Cleanser (which is extremely gentle but extremely effective, making it ideal for irritated, post-picked blemishes) and the Bioderma Sebium H2O Micellar Water (which quickly removes makeup while hindering oil and sebum production).

Acne Clay Masks

Another great route to better skin is the use of clay masks. Clay is naturally extremely absorbent. This means it’s fabulous for treating excess oil and can act almost as a vacuum over pores to clear out the gunk. The very best ones, in my opinion, are also some of the cheapest. The Queen Helene Mud Mask is indistinguishable from its high-end counterparts and always leaves skin visibly clarified and glowing.

For those who want something a little more intensive, the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is miraculous. Mixed with apple cider vinegar, this literally sucks your face clean. As the package states, you truly can “feel your face pulsate.” The A. Vogel White Clay works similarly but is a little more gentle, making it a superior choice for those who are both acne-prone and dry or sensitive. To truly target blemishes, add a drop of tea tree oil to any of your clays. The antimicrobial effect will help speed up blemish healing and prevent new ones from forming.

Two other budget acne masks I love are The Ordinary’s AHA BHA Gentle Peeling Solution and organic Manuka honey. The former is a substance that feels oddly similar to blood. But when painted on and left for ten minutes, it not only shrinks blemishes but gives an amazing natural glow. Manuka honey treats blemishes thanks to its antimicrobial properties, but unlike clay which can be drying, it also boosts skin’s moisture and delivers a baby soft complexion.

Hydrocolloid Patches

Another cheap fix for a zit is some sort of hydrocolloid patch. Perhaps the most famous are the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches, but a quick internet search will drudge up many other options.

If you’ve picked or popped your blemish, applying one of these overnight is nothing short of magic. It’ll suck out all the bad stuff, plus it stops your sneaky fingers fidgeting with your skin. By morning, the blemish will, if not gone entirely, be significantly reduced. I’m also a devotee of benzoyl peroxide to treat acne. It isn’t trendy or natural and can bleach your pillowcases! But in times of total distress, it’s always there to help.

One of the best is the one from Acne.org. It’s 2.5%, rather than the drugstore’s traditional 10, meaning it’s just as effective at blemish busting but without irritating and drying out the skin. If you tend to break out around a certain time of the month, applying this in the days before can either vastly reduce the breakout or prevent it entirely. Plus, if you buy the big bottle, it works out to an incredibly cheap cost-per-use.

Acne Sulfur Treatments

Sulfur is another great way to get rid of acne. I find it more effective on stand-alone, painful, under-skin bumps rather than for larger areas of breakouts. The De La Cruz Sulfur Ointment is incredibly inexpensive and truly fantastic at reducing these types of blemishes. It’s recommended as a mask, but I’ve left it on overnight to great results.

Hydration

Which brings me to my final point. Even if you’re going through a period of acne, it’s incredibly important to keep your skin hydrated. Not applying moisturiser, particularly after these sometimes harsh and drying acne treatments, compromises your skin. Dried-out, flaky blemishes not only look more obvious, but they take far longer to heal.

The important thing is to find a moisturising product that doesn’t clog pores and lead to more acne. My top two recommendations are the CeraVe Moisturising Lotion and any old jojoba oil. Both effectively hydrate skin, making it softer, smoother, and not tight-feeling, and won’t adversely affect any ongoing breakouts. You can even layer the two for “come here and feel my face” levels of softness.