Hyram has reviewed more than 70 products for acne-prone skin. He approved about two in three of them, and his skips outnumber his mixed takes. His Top Picks are Topicals Faded Brightening Serum, Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, Hero Cosmetics Force Shield SPF 30 Sunscreen, and Accutane.
What does Hyram recommend for acne-prone skin?
BHA products come up again and again in Hyram's approvals. He rates Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant highly for clearing clogged pores. He recommends using it only a few times a week, though, because daily use can dry the skin. For post-acne dark spots, he reaches for the most ingredient-packed formulas he can find. His Top Pick Topicals Faded Brightening Serum fits that perfectly, with tranexamic acid, alpha arbutin, glutathione, azelaic acid, and licorice root. He does note that those with more sensitive skin may want to take it slowly with such a powerful formula. Sunscreen is another constant. For oily skin, he looks for the lightest possible texture, and Numbuzin No.1 Clear Filter Sun Essence SPF 50 impressed him enough that he called it the best sunscreen he had ever used.
Hyram's acne picks, in his words
"My personal favorite is the Numbuzin Clear Filter SPF 50 sunscreen. It's super lightweight, fast absorbing, gives a nice little glow to the skin, and is really good for reducing sensitivity and irritation."
"Their balanceful serum, the green one, is so freaking good, I love that one. Torriden has really amazing products, I've tried their moisturizers, cleansers, and serums and they're all great, but I definitely feel like their serums are where they shine."
"Accutane is basically a prescription medication that you take that's really intense but it's one of the best things if not the best thing to get rid of really severe cystic acne. I can't even count how many dramatic transformations I've seen from Accutane. [...] While it can be a really painful, just uncomfortable process most of the time, it gives pretty incredible results."
"The Paula's Choice 25% AHA plus 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel, I've used this one, it has the most satisfying purple iridescent finish, and it works really well. I find it's like a nice luxury version of The Ordinary's peel mask. I personally love the results, I love the ingredients, I think it's great. [...] This is a good product, definitely more luxury, but I am a fan of the ingredients and the experience."
"Whenever I'm struggling with dark spots or hyperpigmentation and no other product is working, I always pull this bad boy out at the end because I know that it will always work. [...] I actually prefer using the mini size because I don't need to use very much because of how power-packed the formulation is and how well it works at being able to erase dark spots and hyperpigmentation in my skin."
"The CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser, smash, always, to absolutely nobody's surprise."
How many products has Hyram reviewed for acne-prone skin?
Hyram has reviewed 69 products for acne-prone skin, for an approval rate of 61%. 42 approved, 10 mixed, and 17 skipped.
What has Hyram skipped for acne-prone skin?
Essential oils, especially citrus ones, keep coming up as a reason he skips a product. He skipped Real Actives Do More Barrier Boosting Moisturizer because of its lemon essential oil. He explained that citrus oils are among the most irritating kinds, and they can also break down faster when exposed to sunlight. He sees that as an extra risk on skin that already tends to flare up. He also skipped The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Emulsion 10% after it broke him out, and COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid after a long stretch of use with no visible results.
"But then my skin started getting more and more red until I looked sunburned. I'm [...] shocked this happened because I didn't use any treatment the night before and didn't think it would be this strong. [...] I don't really [...] have sensitive skin, I can handle all kinds of exfoliating acids, so I [...] don't know why my skin freaked out so much with this one. Very bizarre."
"I put The Ordinary azelaic acid on my face and I broke out really badly from that product."
"This is one of those products that I expected a lot more from. I wanted it to work really well, but I used that for like a long time and I just didn't really notice results. I feel like with COSRX they either have products that slap, like they're amazing super good formulas, or products that just really bomb, and this was one of those products that just kind of bombed for me."
"Plus it has dyes like yellow five and blue one which can also be irritating to the skin. [...] I'm not crazy about it, and I find it interesting that this is her favorite product considering she does have sensitive and what looks to be dry skin. Clinique's toners are the one product of theirs I'm just not into."
What should you take from Hyram's picks?
Hyram has clear priorities for acne-prone skin. An approval rate of 61% shows that he still passes on a fair share of the products he reviews. He keeps returning to BHA acids used with care, serums packed with brightening ingredients for post-acne marks, and sunscreens that stay genuinely light on oily skin. For anyone with severe, deep acne that regular products cannot shift, he is direct that Accutane, prescribed by a doctor, is in his view one of the most effective options out there.
Watch Hyram say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing GelNamed a winnerWatch at 10:07
- Numbuzin No.1 Clear Filter Sun Essence SPF50+ PA++++Named a winnerWatch at 19:06
- AccutaneNamed a winnerWatch at 2:48
- ITK Tri-Acid TonerSkipped itWatch at 8:02
- The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%Skipped itWatch at 1:06
- COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid 4%Skipped itWatch at 14:05
- Clinique Clarifying Lotion OneSkipped itWatch at 13:00
- COSRX AHA/BHA/PHA/LHA 35 PeelSkipped itWatch at 3:26
- The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic AcidSkipped itWatch at 8:54
- Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari BabyfacialSkipped itWatch at 11:59
- COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel CleanserSkipped itWatch at 12:11
- Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay MaskSkipped itWatch at 2:51
- Fenty Skin Cherry Dupe Bright 5% AHA Face Mask with Salicylic Acid and Vitamin CSkipped itWatch at 7:21
- Foreo Kiwi Blackhead Pore VacuumSkipped itWatch at 1:06
- Starface Hydrocolloid Pimple PatchesSkipped itWatch at 0:16
- Mario Badescu Drying LotionSkipped itWatch at 10:19
- Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare ProSkipped itWatch at 7:28
- Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30Skipped itWatch at 6:09
- Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA+BHA Pore-Tight TonerSkipped itWatch at 2:12
- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%Skipped itWatch at 0:52
- Torriden Balanceful SEA Calming SerumRated itWatch at 9:06
- Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliating PeelRated itWatch at 16:08
- CeraVe Renewing SA CleanserRated itWatch at 3:27
- Prequel Universal Skin Solution Dermal Spray for Face and BodyRated itWatch at 5:20
About this expert
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This guide reflects what Hyram said across his videos about 69 products for acne-prone skin, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products he approved. It is general information, not medical advice.