The 9 Best Products for Acne Prone Skin in 2026
Francesca is the Beauty Editor at Adore Beauty. With a background in glossy mags and bylines in publications like Marie Claire, ELLE and BODY+SOUL, Francesca has turned her love of beauty into a career. Whether she's decoding buzzy ingredients or road testing lip glosses (so. many. glosses.), her approach to beauty is equal parts glamour and highly-considered.
You can watch Dermatologist Michelle Rodrigues takes us through how acne is caused, skincare ingredients to use and simple do's and don'ts in the YouTube video below...
If you suffer from acne, you may feel as though you’re stuck in a vicious cycle.
Don’t worry! You have time to start again with a new skincare routine in which every single step helps treat and prevent breakouts.
Before we give you a round-up of our fave products for acne prone skin, have you heard of our skin care finder? Take our skin care quiz to find the perfect products for your needs....or continue reading our roundup below!
Here Are the Best Products for Acne Prone Skin in NZ
Biologi Bd Luminosity Face Serum 30ml
Perfect for boosting antioxidant protection to soothe irritation and prevent further breakouts. Featuring almost 100% pure Davidson Plum, a potent antioxidant, this is a must-have for repairing and protecting acne-prone skin. Davidson Plum is a fruit found in the Australian rainforest, containing more antioxidants than blueberries and possessing the power to completely transform skin. With its anti-inflammatory and protective properties, the fruit also works to speed up skin cell renewal, strengthen the skin’s barrier, and minimise pores and redness.
Biologi Bd Luminosity Face Serum 30ml with Davidson Plum is the perfect serum to tackle acne-prone skin and minimise active breakouts. This anti-acne serum helps reduce skin congestion, hydrate and plump the skin, reduce the healing time of blemishes and scars, and minimise dark spots and pigmentation. The antioxidant-rich formula will also protect skin against environmental aggressors to prevent further breakouts. Apply in the evening for best use and build a tolerance up to everyday use.
Harness the benefits of Retinoids for treating acne and fading pigmentation. The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid Emulsion 2% is a high-performance, Retinoid-based product, designed to speed up skin cell renewal to reveal a clearer and brighter complexion. Perfect for use on acne-prone skin, this potent emulsion will effortlessly remove acne-causing bacteria and damaged skin cells while generating healthier cells. This formula can also slow down the degeneration of collagen for a plumper and smoother complexion.
This particular Retinoid serum is a moderate-strength emulsion with low irritation levels, making it less abrasive than prescription retinol products and retinoic acid. The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid Emulsion 2% - 30ml will help to minimise the appearance of dark spots and fade acne scarring without causing skin congestion or breakouts. Retinoids can cause irritation if introduced too quickly into your skincare routine, especially if you have sensitive skin. Start by applying weekly and slowly increase usage to 4 times a week. Use the serum in the evenings only to prevent UV sensitivity.
Hydrate your complexion with this non-greasy moisturiser, specifically formulated for skin prone to breakouts. This fast-acting moisturiser is packed full of skin-loving ingredients to combat acne and banish breakouts. Vitamin A helps speed up cell renewal, improving skin texture and tone to reveal a brighter and clearer complexion. Niacinamide, a form of Vitamin B3, is a popular skincare ingredient, known and loved for protecting and balancing oily skin types and reducing congestion. B3 also helps fade acne scarring and pigmentation. Lemongrass, Cucumber, and Marigold Flower Oil are combined to calm the skin and prevent further breakouts. Antibacterial Bisabolol speeds up recovery.
PCA Skin Clearskin 48.2g has been developed with acne-prone complexions in mind, providing the optimal amount of hydration without causing skin congestion or encouraging breakouts. This non-greasy, lightweight moisturiser is perfect for normal, combination, and oily skin types. This effective moisturiser packed with Niacinamide is perfect as both a day and night moisturiser.
Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment 150ml
Give your skin the best possible chance from the first step of your skincare routine with this acne-clearing cleanser. Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment is the perfect way to start your skincare routine if you have acne-prone or oily skin. A thorough cleanse is essential for acne-prone skin, as you need to remove bacteria and impurities to lessen the chance of a breakout. This powerful daily cleanser is formulated with Salicylic Acid, a potent BHA, which works deep within the pores to break down bacteria and absorb excess oils.
Kiehl's Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment 150ml is also infused with Ginger Root Extract to soothe skin and Frankincense to control and regulate sebum production—perfect for oily complexions. The foaming, medicated formulation of this acne cleanser will leave skin feeling squeaky-clean. Better yet, anti-acne serums and treatments can penetrate the skin more deeply and work more effectively.
A dual-purpose exfoliator and cleanser for renewing troublesome skin. Cosmedix Purity Clean Exfoliating Cleanser is a potent daily face wash, developed to renew and rejuvenate problematic skin with its 2-in-1 cleansing and exfoliation action. This high-performance cleanser delivers a pre-peel to remove impurities and dead skin cells, revealing a brighter and clearer complexion. Perfect for unclogging pores and refreshing the skin, this cleanser is suitable for all skin types but particularly beneficial to sun-damaged and acne-prone skin.
To deliver its cleanse and exfoliation, Cosmedix Purity Clean Exfoliating Cleanser uses chirally correct L-Lactic Acid. This naturally moisturising exfoliant lightly restores balance within the skin while removing congestion, leaving your face feeling soft and supple. This cleanser is the perfect first step in your beauty skincare routine, allowing serums and treatments to better penetrate the skin for maximum results.
Beauty Blogger, Iain shares how he got rid of acne...
Looking for more great acne-treatments? Check out our guides...
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