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The best serums for tackling pimples and acne

In the words of JoJo – “leave, get out.”

By Briar Clark

BEAUTYcrew Beauty Editor / May 29 2024

Getting pimples and dealing with acne can sometimes feel like the worst thing in the world. Breakouts somehow always manage to rear their ugly heads at the most inopportune moments, rendering our flawless finish foundations and exxy skin care practically useless.

Honestly, we’ve had enough. This is a public service announcement to any zits that plan on taking up residence on our beautiful faces – watch your back buddy, we’re coming for you.

Our weapon of choice? A spot-clearing serum that’ll send those suckers packing. No matter your skin type, there’s an acne-fighting serum out there for you, all you have to do is find it so you can rage against the proverbial machine with some pro-level help.

Get your notepad at the ready, here are eight serums that’ll take down any pimples or acne they encounter.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Serum

Specifically formulated with adult acne in mind, this ultra-concentrated serum blends together AHAs, BHAs and LHAs to minimise the appearance of breakouts and blemishes by micro-exfoliating the skin and promoting cellular turnover.

$63.95 at Adore Beauty

BOOST LAB Vitamin B3 Blemish Rescue Serum

If you're after a serum to heal and calm the redness caused by spots, this fast-absorbing, affordable pick is an A+ choice. It contains niacinamide as well as zinc-PCA, the latter of which helps to control excess sebum-oil production without sacrificing hydration. As a bonus, it'll also tackle enlarged pores and fine lines. Sold.

$29.95 at Adore Beauty

Bescher Sea Cucumber Collagen Blemish Defence Serum

New to chemical exfoliants or just trying to smooth out unwanted texture and stubborn blemishes? This mild mix of sea cucumber collagen and papaya extract creates the perfect pick-me-up, moving on dead skin cells and revealing a better, brighter you with continued use.

$99 at Bescher

CAUDALIE Vinopure Blemish Control Infusion Serum

Highly concentrated salicylic acid is the acne-fighting hero ingredient in this deep-pore penetrating formula. Packed full of hydrating and glow-boosting rosewater as well as antioxidant grape seed polyphenols (that protect against free radical damage and prevent the formation of blackheads), this little guy is safe enough for sensitive skin but still caters to the oiliest of skin types or your monthly round of hormonal breakouts.

$72 at Sephora

The Ordinary Supersize Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Love the decongesting and blemish-minimising qualities of the original The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%? Then you’re in luck because the hero product just got supersized and is now available in a hefty 60ml size. So you can finally say “adios” to unwanted texture and tone.

$17 at Adore Beauty

Dermalogica Active Clearing Retinol Clearing Oil

Tackle breakouts and premature ageing in one fell swoop with this innovative retinol and salicylic serum oil. Breakouts, blemishes, fine lines and wrinkles are no match for this potent nighttime formula. Simply add a few drops to your evening routine and snooze away your skin woes.

$98.80 (usually $139) at Adore Beauty

SOME BY MI AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Serum

Formulated with 14.5 per cent skin-soothing centella asiatica extract as well as a cocktail of AHA, BHA and PHA, this unassuming little green bottle is small but mighty, balancing oil and sebum production, evening skin tone and texture, reducing the appearance of breakouts and blemishes, and sloughing away dead skin cells.

$43 at Adore Beauty

Avène Cleanance WOMEN Corrective Serum

Improve the appearance of your pores, blemishes, breakouts and texture with this sensitive-skin friendly pick that mattifies skin and balances sebum production. It’s exactly what this glycolic and lactic acid enriched formula was made for.

$49.99 at Adore Beauty

Eau Thermale Avène Cleanance A.H.A Exfoliating Serum

Hailed as one of the top picks for sensitive skin, Avène has only gone and done it again. Yep, they’re back with this carefully constructed A.H.A bolstered exfoliating serum. Trust us, we know you just read the words ‘chemical exfoliant’ and had immediate alarm bells start ringing. But take our word for it when we tell you this serum has been designed with just ten ingredients to ensure no unnecessary irritants will pester your skin. Gently sloughing away dead skin, it even works to help reduce future excess oil production. It’s gentle and a mind reader, exactly what we’re after in our serums.

$59.99 at Adore Beauty

Skin in need of strengthening after using the hard-stuff? Here are 6 of the best: Ceramide-centric skin care.

Main image credit: @taylor_hill

Briar Clark

Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).