Recommended: ISDIN for effectiveness; budget-friendly: Avène, La Roche-Posay; CeraVe also offers some good options.

Epiduo 0,1 %/2,5 % Gel | 30 g

€36

Peroxiben | 50 mg/g

€14

Benzoyl peroxide creams kill acne-causing bacteria, gently exfoliates dead skin, slightly reduces oil, and calms inflammation to help clear pimples.

Azéane Cream | 15% Azelaic Acid

€24

Well‑suited for all skin types though aggressive, usually recommended by private dermatologists; helps dry out/clear acne and calm inflammation. Often preferred over Skinoren.

Skinoren 30g | 15% Gel

€26 (prescription-only)

Skinoren 30g | 20% Cream

€26 (prescription-only)

15% Gel = Moderate Acne or Oily & Sensitive Skin
20% Cream = Heavy/Hormonal/Cystic Acne

Birth Control Pill

Price Varies (prescription-only)

Birth control can reduce acne while you’re taking it, especially in hormone-heavy teenage years, but it’s not usually recommended for teens, and acne often returns once you stop taking the pills.

Dercutane 10mg | Isotretinoin-ratiopharm 10 mg

€22 / 30 or €28 / 60 (prescription-only)

Unlike birth control pills, isotretinoin is a powerful, often final acne treatment that unclogs pores, prevents new breakouts, and permanently shrinks overactive sebaceous glands, which sometimes don’t shrink properly after puberty, causing acne.

Acniben Repair | 40ml

€26

Avène Cleanance Hydra | 40 ml

€22

La Roche-Posay EFFACLAR H | 40 ml

€22

La Roche-Posay EFFACLAR MAT+ | 40ml

€22

For my dry, sensitive, acne-prone skin, Avène and ISDIN worked equally well. ISDIN was less creamy, more gel-like, which I liked. La Roche-Posay felt more aesthetically appealing, but overall, these were the top performers I tested.

Cdm Clinoderm Gel Facial | 200ml

€8,60 (Europe)

La Roche-Posay EFFACLAR Foam Gel | 200ml

€17

Clinoderm is hard to get, very light, and effective for sensitive or problematic skin. La Roche-Posay worked well for most occasions, especially when I ran out of my usual cleanser.

Tea Tree Water | 100ml

€10

Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner

€10

Tea Tree Water instantly calms inflamed skin with a soothing, cooling effect, while the exfoliating toner gently smooths rough, flaky patches when the skin starts peeling or drying.

FusionWater MAGIC LSF 50 | 50 ml

€28

This was when I first started taking antibiotics as a quick option for a painful, uncontrollable breakout caused by mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was also when I began to understand the importance of proper ventilation.

Very quickly, the antibiotics significantly improved my skin, but it’s well known that they should be avoided whenever possible.

With consistent moisturizing, spot treatment creams, a clean pillowcase, and keeping my hands off my face, my skin slowly began to recover.

The scarring started to heal, but acne kept returning, which made me rely heavily on benzoyl peroxide creams.

Even as an adult, acne would still appear, so I decided to spend $100 on a private dermatologist, who finally prescribed isotretinoin.

One year after treatment, along with consistent cleansing and moisturizing, my skin has improved significantly. Acne rarely returns, even during stressful periods, though some hyperpigmentation remains. I was advised to get laser treatment — which I didn’t as it is quite expensive.

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