Top-five-acne-busting-skin-care-ingredients

With hundreds of acne products on shelves, it can be difficult to find the best solution for clearing your skin. Forget about scanning the boxes and bottles looking for the best promises. Instead, search for these five proven acne-fighting ingredients.
1. Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is considered to be the single best over the counter acne treatment. It focuses on the three main causes of acne by killing bacteria, exfoliating dead skin cells and removing excess oil. It's available in face/body washes, creams, lotions and more. For maximum acne fighting power, look for products with 10% benzoyl peroxide.
The only downside with this skincare ingredient is it could be too harsh for sensitive skin. Look for a lower percentage of benzoyl peroxide if you have sensitive skin, around 2.5% to 5%. If it still dries your skin out or leaves your face red, avoid this ingredient in the future.
2. Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is commonly used as the alternative to benzoyl peroxide. It's less drying, making it ideal for sensitive skin types. It's a beta-hydroxy ingredient that clears bacteria and exfoliates dead skin cells. You can find it in a wide variety of products, including some makeup. You'll typically see percentages between 0.5% and 2%.
EDITOR'S TIP:
Those with acne prone skin should not skip the moisturizer. You may feel it is an unneeded step, but acne prone skin tends to dry out, especially after treatment. A light- weight moisturizer keeps skin balanced and can help reduce redness and heal acne scars.
3. Sulfur
Despite the smell, sulfur is an effective acne-fighting ingredient. It decreases inflammation, reduces excess oil and exfoliates dead skin cells. Most products combine sulfur with other ingredients to reduce the smell. You'll usually see sulfur in products such as masks and spot treatments.
4. Alpha-Hydroxy Acids
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) are popular because they can be paired with any of the other acne fighting ingredients on this list. Usually, if you're using benzoyl peroxide, you won't need an AHA product as well. Alpha- hydroxy acids are usually found in facial moisturizers and can be applied all over instead of as spot treatments. They're designed to remove dead skin cells that result in clogged pores and zit covered skin.
5. Tea-Tree Oil
Tea-tree oil is a natural anti-inflammatory that has anti-bacterial properties and can also be combined with the other ingredients on this list. Studies have shown that tea-tree oil can be as effective as benzoyl peroxide. However, it can be harsh on some skin types. For sensitive skin, use a tea-tree oil concentration of less than 5%. If excessive dryness or redness occurs, avoid using this ingredient.
For the best acne skincare routine, use a cleanser, astringent and lotion with acne fighting ingredients on a daily basis. Spot treatments and masks can be added when needed. Read the labels when purchasing and make sure at least two of your three daily products contain one of the ingredients listed above for maximum effectiveness.