Banish body breakouts with these acne-fighting skincare products

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Almost everyone experiences a breakout at least once in their life. When many think of acne-prone skin, it calls to mind images of forehead blackheads or jawline pimples. And while this isn’t inaccurate, body acne also crops up and, just like face acne, you can find targeted treatments to help get rid of pesky breakouts.

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1. For an in-shower cleanser: Cerave Body Wash

Salicylic acid is an ingredient known for preventing and clearing blemishes, thanks to its ability to get down into the pores and break up oil and dead skin cells. This body wash from Cerave contains this exfoliant as well as ceramides that help the skin retain its moisture, hyaluronic acid to hydrate and niacinamide to calm redness. Massage the wash into your skin daily, paying attention to areas that are acne-prone, and rinse well.

Get the Cerave Body Wash from Amazon for $11.99

2. For a bar soap: Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Bar

If you prefer a bar of soap over a liquid wash, you can get an acne-fighting formulation in this one from Clinique, which also contains salicylic acid. The bar claims to be mild and lightweight enough for your face as well as your body. Use lukewarm water to lather up the formula on your hands or a washcloth or glide the bar along the skin, then rinse well.

Get the Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Bar from Sephora for $16.50

3. For an oil-sapping mask: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

When an area of your skin is looking bumpy or has blemishes, you might try treating it with a mask. The Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay uses calcium bentonite clay to absorb excess oil from the skin. It comes in a powder that you mix with apple cider vinegar or water, making it easier to cater to larger areas of skin without using up tons of product. The company recommends leaving it on the skin for up to 10 minutes, in which time it will dry and tighten, feeling satisfying on the skin.

Get the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay from Amazon starting at $14.95

4. For extra exfoliation: QRxLabs Acne Control Pads

Keeping the skin exfoliated is one way to curb acne, as it prevents dead skin cells from building up and potentially clogging pores. These QRxLabs pads contain two chemical exfoliants, 10% glycolic acid and 2% salicylic acid, to control oil production and keep the skin feeling polished. They also use antioxidants from vitamins B5, C and E to hydrate and protect the skin as well as allantoin and green tea and calendula extracts to soothe inflammation. QRxLabs recommends performing a patch test on a small area of skin on your neck and waiting 24 hours to see if you have any reaction to the ingredients. From there, use up to once daily on blemish-prone skin.

Get the QRxLabs Acne Control Pads from Amazon for $24.95

5. For a spray treatment: Paula’s Choice Clear Back and Body Acne Spray

For zapping spots in hard-to-reach places, the Paula’s Choice Clear Back and Body Acne Spray spritz-on treatment is just the ticket. Spray the salicylic acid-containing formula onto clean skin and leave it as-is to work its pore-clearing magic, or follow up with a non-comedogenic moisturizer (like the next product) to protect the skin barrier from contaminants.

Get the Paula’s Choice Clear Back and Body Acne Spray from Amazon for $26

6. For a body moisturizer: Cerave SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin

Even acne-prone or oily skin needs moisturizer to keep the skin barrier protected. The Cerave SA Lotion uses the same active ingredients as the body wash—salicylic acid, ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide—in a creamy moisturizer formula that works for all skin types. Use the lotion up to daily on clean skin.

Get the Cerave SA Lotion for Rough & Bump Skin on Amazon for $36.17

7. For an all-over serum: Truly Beauty Black Jelly Blemish Treatment Body Serum

You’ve probably heard of serums that target specific skin issues like dryness or redness for your face; there’s no reason you can’t use one on the rest of your skin, too. This one from Truly Beauty uses black charcoal to draw out impurities and excess oil and witch hazel and tea tree oil to reduce inflammation and bacteria. Apply four to five drops to blemished skin after your shower and allow the serum to fully absorb into the skin before applying lotion.

Get the Truly Beauty Black Jelly Blemish Treatment Body Serum from Ulta for $28

8. For a spot treatment: Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

When a single pesky pimple shows up, reach for a quick spot treatment. This one from Mario Badescu consists of a layer of soothing calamine lotion and skin-clearing sulfur and salicylic acids that aim to dry out the blemish. Without shaking up the solution, use a cotton swab to dip into the calamine lotion at the bottom of the bottle and apply it directly on the spot in question. Allow the area to dry, leave it overnight and rinse it off in the morning.

Get the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion from Amazon for $17

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.