What are the ingredients in the best acne products?

SALICYLIC ACID FOR SKIN

Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) and one of the most effective, and gentle, ways of tackling oily and blemish-prone skin. A liquid exfoliant, it’s excellent at clearing away sebum and dirt that sits on the surface of the skin, so can help decongest the pores while preventing future breakouts from occurring.

How to use: Vichy’s Normaderm Phytosolution Purifying Cleansing Gel is enriched with BHA Salicylic Acid and Zinc Gluconate and removes impurities from the skin including dirt, dust and pollutant particles. With regular use you should see blackheads appearing less prominently and pores unclogged. You can also follow this with a double-action daily moisturiser containing salicylic acid such as Normaderm’s Phytosolution Double-Correction Daily Care. This will help to protect the skin’s natural barrier, control excess oil and lock in hydration for up to 24 hours.

CHARCOAL AND CLAY

If you find that skincare for oily and blemish-prone skin leaves you feeling really dry, you should look for products containing charcoal and clay. Both of these ingredients pull out dirt and oil from the skin but don’t strip it of essential lipids that keep hydration locked in. It’s important to maintain a good balance of moisture in order to prevent the skin from producing even more sebum in order to compensate.

How to use: Normaderm’s 3 in 1 Scrub, Cleanser & Mask, enriched with volcanic perlite, 10% clay, charcoal and 0.5% salicylic acid, leaves the skin feeling clean, soft and mattified while reducing the appearance of pores and reducing excess sebum.

SULPHUR FOR ACNE

If you see sulphur on the ingredients list of a skincare product you may be transported back to school science lessons – and most likely feel a little alarmed at the thought of applying it to your face. But this gentle oil-absorbing ingredient is in fact very effective at fighting blemishes and excess oil. It works in a similar way to salicylic acid, so with regular use you should see a reduction in whiteheads, blackheads and breakouts.

How to use: If you want to target imperfections and blemishes directly, try a treatment such as Normaderm’s Anti-Spot Sulphur Paste. Formulated with 10% sulphur, niacinamide and glycolic acid, it fights the appearance of blemishes with a drying action that works overnight. Your skin should look clearer and imperfections less visible.