Ingredients

Ingredients for blemish-prone skin

For skin prone to blemishes, the ingredients with the most research behind them are exfoliating acids, led by salicylic acid, which is oil-soluble and used for the look of clogged pores. Azelaic acid, mandelic acid and betaine salicylate also appear in blemish-focused routines, and tea tree oil has been studied in properly formulated products. Persistent or painful breakouts are worth taking to a dermatologist.

Each ingredient below links to a guide with its sources. Label flags are editorial annotations, not safety scores. How we classify ingredients.

5 ingredient guides tagged for this concern, actives first.
IngredientWhat it doesLabel flag
Azelaic AcidAdded to products aimed at the appearance of blemishes, redness and uneven tone.No specific flag recordedContext matters
Betaine SalicylateUsed in exfoliating products intended to improve the appearance of surface texture.Context matters
Mandelic AcidIt is added to exfoliating formulas to help smooth the appearance of rough texture and uneven tone.Context matters
Salicylic Acid (BHA)Salicylic acid helps exfoliating products loosen dead surface cells and improve the look of clogged pores.Context matters
Tea Tree OilTea tree oil adds a fragrant botanical ingredient to cleansers and products aimed at blemish-prone skin.Scent ingredient

See also: Acne guide

How often popular actives, preservatives and fragrance allergens appear across the labels we track is on our label statistics page.