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Acne.org is not associated with any of the companies, brands, or products listed below.

I recommend that you use only Acne.org products on The Regimen until you are completely clear. Once you’re completely clear, you can change 1 variable at a time, such as swapping out the Cleanser, Treatment, Moisturizer, or AHA+ and see how things go. 

However, not everyone can order Acne.org products for whatever reason, so I created this guide so that you can find alternative products when needed.

CAUTION: These products may not work as reliably or quickly as Acne.org products.

When Choosing a Cleanser

Avoid:

  • Soap: Soap will dry and irritate the skin. One tell-tale sign of whether something is soap is a lack of an ingredient list. Soap manufacturers are not required to list ingredients on the package. However, often ingredients are listed. In that case, avoid any product that contains any of the following ingredients: Sodium Tallowate, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Palmitate, Sodium Palm Kernalate, Potassium Olivate, Potassium Castorate, Triethanolamine Stearate.
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): SLS strips the skin, damaging its protective barrier, and introduces irritation. Avoid it altogether.
  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate: Not as big of an offender as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate should still be avoided if it is one of the first 3 or 4 ingredients in a cleanser. If it is far down in the list of ingredients, it should be okay.
  • Scrubs: Scrubbing beads, seeds, shells, sugars, or anything else that is made to “scrub” the skin is the last thing inflammatory acne needs. Scrubbing irritates the skin and should be avoided at all costs. Unless you have only non-inflammatory acne, the kind that never gets red and is under the surface of your skin, or unless you only get blackheads, avoid scrubbers entirely.
  • Pore-clogging Ingredients: Researchers have tested many ingredients one at a time on either rabbit ears or human skin, and a list of ingredients to avoid has started coming into focus. But to be safe, avoid the biggest offenders. See below for a complete list of ingredients to avoid or to consider avoiding.
  • Scents: Some fragrances irritate some people, and some do not. If you are sensitive, try your best to avoid scented products. But this is usually not a huge deal, so no need to overthink it.

Look for:

  • The words “gentle,” “non-overdrying,” “for dry, sensitive skin,” and similar words alluding to the gentle nature of the cleanser.
  • Liquid cleansers, which are usually milder than bar cleansers and leave less residue on the skin. 
  • A cleanser made specifically for the face.

Products I have found to be adequate:

The following four adequate liquid cleansers are widely available in the United States, but there are many other cleansers that should work if you can’t find these or if you live outside the United States. Just remember to wash very gently with any cleanser you use, and for 10 seconds or less. 

  • Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash
  • Olay Foaming Face Wash (Sensitive)
  • Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser
  • Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash (note: this is nearly identical to Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser and made by the same company, but is more expensive)

You can use a gentle cleansing bar if you are on a strict budget since they tend to give you more bang for your buck, but be careful not to ever use soap. The four gentle bars which I have found safe to use (but less preferable to the liquid cleansers) are:

  • Basis Sensitive Skin Bar 
  • Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar
  • Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar, Antibacterial
  • Purpose Gentle Cleansing Bar

Men (shaving):

Try using the lather from your cleanser as your shaving cream. I’d rather see men shave with the lather from a cleanser than introduce a shaving cream, which may or may not be irritating to the skin.

When Choosing a 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide

Avoid:

  • Alcohols: While still not scientifically proven, alcohol is known to dry and strip the skin, so avoid any product that contains Ethyl Alcohol, Denatured Alcohol (Alcohol Denat.), Isopropyl Alcohol, Methyl Alcohol, or Methanol. Some other alcohols are not the same type of chemical and should be okay as long as they are not listed in the first seven (7) ingredients. These include benzyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, and lanolin alcohol.
  • Cream-based Products: You can get away with a cream-based benzoyl peroxide, but they tend to turn white when you perspire and a creamy product is more likely to contain pore-clogging (comedogenic) ingredients. They are also harder to apply evenly when compared to gel-based products.
  • Pore-clogging Ingredients: Researchers have tested many ingredients one at a time on either rabbit ears or human skin, and a list of ingredients to avoid has started coming into focus. But to be safe, avoid the biggest offenders. See below for a complete list of ingredients to avoid or to consider avoiding.
  • Scents: Some fragrances irritate some people, and some do not. If you are sensitive, try your best to avoid scented products. But this is usually not a huge deal, so no need to overthink it.

Look for:

  • Gel-based benzoyl peroxide. Gel-based benzoyl peroxide gives you more time to apply and also does not turn white when you perspire.
  • A micronized benzoyl peroxide. It will usually state “micronized” or something similar on the label. You want a small particle size so the benzoyl peroxide can do its thing in your skin.

Prescription benzoyl peroxide:

  • Benzoyl peroxide is also available as a prescription in the same 2.5% up to 10% as is available over-the-counter. There is basically no difference. If you can buy a 2.5% prescription benzoyl peroxide for a low price, this may be an option for you. Just follow the above suggestions when looking through ingredients since even some prescriptions include pore-clogging (comedogenic) ingredients. 
  • Benzoyl peroxide may also be available over-the-counter at your HMO pharmacy. I used to be a member of Kaiser Permanente and they sold a micronized 2.5% benzoyl peroxide at their pharmacy.

When Choosing a Moisturizer

Without SPF:

Avoid:

  • Most oils: While some oils are perfectly safe, like jojoba oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, macadamia nut oil, and mineral oil, many other oils can clog pores.
  • Thick and greasy moisturizers: Moisturizers and creams that are thick and greasy tend to clog pores. Plus, when a moisturizer is thick, it can be harder to apply gently.
  • Pore-clogging Ingredients: Researchers have tested many ingredients one at a time on either rabbit ears or human skin, and a list of ingredients to avoid has started coming into focus. But to be safe, avoid the biggest offenders. See below for a complete list of ingredients to avoid or to consider avoiding.
  • Scents: Some fragrances irritate some people, and some do not. If you are sensitive, try your best to avoid scented products. But this is usually not a huge deal, so no need to overthink it.

Look for:

  • Moisturizers made specifically for the face.
  • The words “non-comedogenic” or “will not clog pores” on the label.
  • Moisturizers aimed at younger audiences. Moisturizers for older customers tend to not be as concerned about pore-clogging (comedogenic) ingredients. In other words, moisturizers that you find on drugstore shelves may be safer than moisturizers you find in department stores. 

If buying on store shelves:

I never liked any moisturizers on store shelves so I don’t have any specific recommendations, but if you find one you love, let me know so I can try it.

With SPF:

Avoid:

  • Most sunscreens: Sunscreens are often by their very nature oily and greasy products. Wear hats and protective clothing instead when possible. However, we all need to wear sunscreen sometimes, so when you do use one, be aware of how your skin responds, and if it breaks you out, switch to a different one.
  • Alcohols: While still not scientifically proven, alcohol is known to dry and strip the skin, so avoid any product that contains Ethyl Alcohol, Denatured Alcohol (Alcohol Denat.), Isopropyl Alcohol, Methyl Alcohol, or Methanol. Some other alcohols are not the same type of chemical and should be okay as long as they are not listed in the first seven (7) ingredients. These include benzyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, and lanolin alcohol.
  • Pore-clogging Ingredients: Researchers have tested many ingredients one at a time on either rabbit ears or human skin, and a list of ingredients to avoid has started coming into focus. But to be safe, avoid the biggest offenders. See below for a complete list of ingredients to avoid or to consider avoiding.
  • Scents: Some fragrances irritate some people, and some do not. If you are sensitive, try your best to avoid scented products. But this is usually not a huge deal, so no need to overthink it.

If buying on store shelves:

The two SPFs I have found that work well enough are:

  • Neutrogena Clear Face SPF 30 – In your palm, mix a nickel size amount into your usual non-SPF moisturizer, and apply.
  • Olay – Complete All Day Moisturizer with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15 – Sensitive. In your palm, mix with 5-6 drops of jojoba oil to increase moisturizing capabilities, and apply.

When Choosing an AHA (10% Glycolic Acid)

Avoid:

  • Most oils: While some oils are perfectly safe, like jojoba oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, macadamia nut oil, and mineral oil, many other oils can clog pores.
  • Thick and greasy products: Creams that are thick and greasy tend to clog pores. Plus, when a product is thick, it can be harder to apply gently.
  • Alcohols: While still not scientifically proven, alcohol is known to dry and strip the skin, so avoid any product that contains Ethyl Alcohol, Denatured Alcohol (Alcohol Denat.), Isopropyl Alcohol, Methyl Alcohol, or Methanol. Some other alcohols are not the same type of chemical and should be okay as long as they are not listed in the first seven (7) ingredients. These include benzyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, and lanolin alcohol.
  • Pore-clogging Ingredients: Researchers have tested many ingredients one at a time on either rabbit ears or human skin, and a list of ingredients to avoid has started coming into focus. But to be safe, avoid the biggest offenders. See below for a complete list of ingredients to avoid or to consider avoiding.
  • Scents: Some fragrances irritate some people, and some do not. If you are sensitive, try your best to avoid scented products. But this is usually not a huge deal, so no need to overthink it.

Look for:

  • A 10% glycolic acid. That’s the legal limit over-the-counter. 
  • The words “non-comedogenic” or “will not clog pores” on the label.
  • A large brand. Glycolic acid must be kept at the proper pH (acidity) to do its job, and some smaller brands don’t take this under consideration enough, which would mean you’re buying a product that isn’t effective. Stick with large brands with experience in the market.

If buying on store shelves:

I used to recommend one product for this, but it’s been discontinued, so I don’t have any in particular to recommend right now. If you find one you love, let me know so I can try it.

Another Resource: User Reviews 

See acne.org user reviews for acne.org members’ opinions of drugstore products. Keep in mind, however, that not all of the reviews are from people who are using the products while on The Regimen.

Pore-clogging (Comedogenic) Ingredients to Avoid