Rank 01
Best cleanser
La Roche-Posay
Effaclar Gel Cleanser
Score8.9/10
Price$30
WhereAdore Beauty
Oily/acne-prone skin cleanser. Zinc pidolate, gentle-but-thorough. Dermatologist default for breakouts.
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The best skincare for acne, ranked.
Acne-prone skin needs three things: gentle cleansing, barrier-supporting moisture, and targeted actives. Four products that deliver all three without stripping.
Verdict
What is the best skincare for acne?
The best skincare for acne in Australia is the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Gel Cleanser at AU$30. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Gel Cleanser is the dermatologist default for AU pharmacy acne care. Scored 8.9/10 by GLOW editors after testing against 4 products in the category.
- Best cleanserLa Roche-Posay Effaclar Gel Cleanser, AU$308.9/10
- Best daily activeThe Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, AU$138.4/10
- Best night activeAlpha-H Vitamin A Serum, AU$799.1/10
- Best SPFLa Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+, AU$359.3/10
Editor's Pick
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Gel Cleanser
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Gel Cleanser is the dermatologist default for AU pharmacy acne care. Zinc pidolate actually works without the stripping that makes acne worse.
$30 AUD
Shop at Adore Beauty| Rank | Product | Best for | Score | Price | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | La Roche-Posay Effaclar Gel CleanserLa Roche-Posay · Cleanser | Best cleanser | 8.9/10 | AU$30 | Adore Beauty |
| 02 | The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%The Ordinary · Niacinamide | Best daily active | 8.4/10 | AU$13 | Adore Beauty |
| 03 | Alpha-H Vitamin A SerumAlpha-H · Retinol | Best night active | 9.1/10 | AU$79 | Adore Beauty |
| 04 | La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+La Roche-Posay · SPF | Best SPF | 9.3/10 | AU$35 | Adore Beauty |
The Ranking
From 4 tested
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Rank 02
Best daily activeThe Ordinary
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Score8.4/10Price$13WhereAdore BeautyThe $13 serum that normalised niacinamide. Oil-regulating, pore-minimising, genuinely good at the price.
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Rank 03
Best night activeAlpha-H
Vitamin A Serum
Score9.1/10Price$79WhereAdore BeautyThe Aussie retinol serum that built a cult. Encapsulated for overnight use, kind enough for daily.
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Rank 04
Best SPFLa Roche-Posay
Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+
Score9.3/10Price$35WhereAdore BeautyDaily SPF that doesn't grease, doesn't white-cast, doesn't pill under makeup. The AU dermatologist default.
4
products tested
8 weeks
Review period
3
Skin types tested
47
Humidity readings
Common questions
Can I use retinol on active acne?
Yes, but start slow. Retinol helps with acne but can initially worsen breakouts during purging (4-6 weeks). Don't layer with other exfoliants.
What ingredients should acne-prone skin avoid?
Heavy oils (coconut, mineral), alcohol denat, essential oils, and occlusive ingredients on active spots.
Does diet affect acne?
Emerging evidence suggests high-glycaemic and dairy may worsen acne in some people. Effect is individual and rarely dominant over topical treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use retinol on active acne?
Yes, but start slow. Retinol helps with acne but can initially worsen breakouts during purging (4-6 weeks). Don't layer with other exfoliants.
What ingredients should acne-prone skin avoid?
Heavy oils (coconut, mineral), alcohol denat, essential oils, and occlusive ingredients on active spots.
Does diet affect acne?
Emerging evidence suggests high-glycaemic and dairy may worsen acne in some people. Effect is individual and rarely dominant over topical treatment.
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