11 Best Serums For Acne

Serums are a must-have product to include in your skincare routine, especially if you have acne.

Serums specially designed for acne will be jam-packed with special ingredients that will work at clearing your skin and drenching it in the goodness that will help to leave it clear and glowing. 

They’ll help eradicate any spots and ensure no more will crop up when you least expect it.

You can also use them to help with any other skin concerns such as dry or oily skin and hyperpigmentation. 

The Best Serums For Acne

Below we’ve compiled a list of 11 of the best serums for dealing with acne.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% and Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nGy1a41R6g&list=RDjLisyZjVKXA&index=27

This high-strength serum is infused with plenty of vitamins and minerals to leave your skin feeling soft and clear.

The niacinamide in this serum, more commonly known as vitamin B3, will reduce any blemishes while brightening your skin tone. 

The zinc in this serum will also help reduce sebum production, making it easier for you to keep control of your oil production. 

This serum is perfect for anyone with large pores or oily skin.

You should apply a few drops to your face before applying heavier products such as moisturizer. 

A vegan and oil-free product.

Mario Badescu Anti Acne Serum for Combination & Oily Skin

Mario Badescu Anti Acne Serum for Combination & Oily Skin | Clarifying Gel-Serum that Tackles Clogged Pores | Formulated with Salicylic Acid and Glycerin

Prevention is key when it comes to acne and this serum will help to do just that.

Infused with salicylic acid, this will keep any acne at bay by gently exfoliating the face. Also formulated with thyme, this ingredient has natural skin-clarifying benefits that will leave your face feeling cleansed and smooth. 

This serum will help to remove any build-up on the skin that can lead to clogged pores and breakouts.

Just apply a thin layer to the skin every evening, specifically targeting your acne-prone areas. 

Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster

You can use this serum for multiple skin concerns, not just acne.

You can also use it for any redness, uneven skin tone or texture and to also fade any acne scars. It’s a lightweight cream that is best suited for normal, dry, combination or oily skin. 

Key ingredients include 10% azelaic acid which will help to clarify uneven skin tones, brighten dark spots and fade any marks left by acne.

The salicylic acid will help to unclog pores and smoothen the skin and the liquorice root extract will brighten the skin and reduce any redness caused by sensitivity. 

You can apply the serum once or twice a day after cleansing, exfoliating and toning.  

CeraVe Retinol Serum for Post Acne Marks and Skin Texture

CeraVe Retinol Serum for Post-Acne Marks and Skin Texture | Pore Refining, Resurfacing, Brightening Facial Serum with Retinol and Niacinamide | Fragrance Free, Paraben Free & Non-Comedogenic|

Use this serum to help make your skin look smooth and more even-toned.

It works at minimizing pores and refining the skin while also reducing the appearance of post-acne marks. 

Infused with liquorice root extract, this key ingredient will help to brighten the skin.

This lightweight formula is perfect to use twice a day and just before you apply your moisturizer.

It has a non-greasy feel and will leave your skin looking and feeling clearer in no time. 

Fragrance free, paraben-free, and non-comedogenic product.

Breylee Tea Tree Oil Acne Serum

Tea Tree Oil Acne Serum, BREYLEE 2.0 Treatment Acne Prone Sensitive Skin Care Face Serum to Cystic Acne Scars, Redness Relief, Pimples Dark Spots Remove, Niacinamide Facial Moisturizer

Created with natural plant extracts, this serum will enhance the skin’s metabolism making it easier for your skin to absorb the niacinamide and hyaluronic acid that have been infused into the serum. 

The tea-tree oil in this serum is a natural acne-fighting ingredient that will help to leave your skin looking clearer. As well as reducing the appearance of spots, hyaluronic acid will also leave your skin feeling hydrated, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines that can lead to ageing. 

For severe cases of acne, you should make sure you are using the product for two months.

It’s suitable for the majority of skin types such as oily, dry, sensitive and normal. 

La Roche Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment to Minimize Pores

La Roche Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment to Minimize Pores, Clear Acne Blemishes and Post Acne Marks

This salicylic acid serum will help to reduce blemishes and prevent any new breakouts.

With continued use, it will also reduce the appearance of pores, fine lines and post-acne marks. 

It will gently exfoliate the face and unclog any pores or build-up on the face. Not only this, but the exfoliating properties of the salicylic acid will help to renew the skin and leave it glowing and healthy. 

Start out by using the product once daily and then increase it to two or three times a day if needed. 

Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Resurfacing Serum with 10% Niacinamide & 4% Neoglucosamine

Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Resurfacing Serum With 10% Niacinamide & 4% Neoglucosamine designed for Acne-Prone, Improves Uneven Skin Tone & Refines Texture, Fragrance-Free

Designed for stubborn skin where it seems to be impossible to resurface it. This serum will refine texture and improve your skin’s complexion in as little as two weeks.

Formulated with 10% niacinamide and 4% neo-glucosamine, these key ingredients will help to refine your skin tone and texture, smooth skin, target dark spots and promote healthy and glowing skin. 

Neutrogena has made sure this serum is also suitable for sensitive skin, making sure it is free from parabens, fragrances, phthalates and dyes. 

For the best results, you should incorporate this serum into your morning routine and make sure that you are using it daily. 

Aprilskin 10% PHA + AHA Resurfacing Serum

APRILSKIN 10% PHA+AHA Resurfacing Serum | Vegan, Cruelty-Free | Dry, sensitive, acne-prone skin

You can use this serum to minimize pores and dissolve the sebum that can lead to oily skin and the enlargement of pores. You’ll notice clearer, smoother, and bright, glowing skin. 

This serum will exfoliate dead skin cells to leave you with renewed and healthy-looking skin in as little as one use. 

Reduce the appearance of blemishes, pores and fine lines and instead reveal healthier and more youthful-looking skin.  

Peach and Lily Glass Skin Serum

Peach & Lily Glass Skin Serum
Brand: Peach & Lily

This serum will tackle multiple skin concerns. You can use it on dull skin to brighten or dry skin to hydrate and sensitive skin to calm.

It’s a lightweight formula that won’t leave the skin feeling greasy after each application. 

It’s perfect for blemished skin as being so lightweight it won’t clog pores and cause any more breakouts.

It’s also free from any aggravating ingredients such as fragrances, gluten, or parabens, so you don’t have to worry about any redness. 

Alcohol-free, fragrance-free, vegan, gluten-free and cruelty-free. Leaping Bunny certified.

New Olay Salicylic Acid Serum

New Olay Salicylic Acid Serum, Exfoliating Booster, Fragrance-Free

This is a lightweight, fast-absorbing and fragrance-free serum that will gently exfoliate the skin to break down any blemishes and build-up of dirt and dead skin cells. 

It’s a powerful serum that has been created with just 13 ingredients, including acne-fighting ones such as salicylic acid and glycerin. 

You should apply an even layer to freshly cleansed skin once a day and before applying any moisturizer. 

Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum

Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum. Strengthen and Resurface Face Serum with 10% Lactic Acid and 11 Signal Peptides

Use this serum morning and night to improve your skin’s texture, tone, radiance, and bounce. Formulated with a blend of 11 peptides, these will help to plump up your skin and target your dull complexion to leave it smooth and glowing. 

The resurfacing qualities of this serum will help with any acne-prone skin, allowing it to stay smooth, renewed and refined.

Infused with lactic acid, this will also help to dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells together which can lead to clogged pores and may result in blackheads and blemishes. 

For maximum results, you can pair it with Drunk Elephant’s Polypeptide Cream morning and night. 


If you have acne-prone skin, then a serum is a must-have if you want clearer and healthier skin. There are certain elements and key ingredients you should look out for when trying to find your perfect serum. 

One key ingredient in these serums is niacinamide. This powerful ingredient reduces the appearance of blemishes and also brightens the skin tone. Other ingredients you can look out for include zinc which will reduce the production of sebum, which can lead to clogged pores.

You can also look out for tea-tree serums. Tea Tree is a natural acne-fighting ingredient that will not only reduce the appearance of blemishes but also soothe the skin. 

You can also choose products that are free from aggravating ingredients such as parabens, gluten, fragrances and dyes. These can irritate the skin and cause it to look even redder than it is, which isn’t the most ideal thing if your skin is already red from acne. 

There’s such a variety of acne-fighting serums on the market, whether you would prefer to opt for one with natural ingredients such as tea tree or one with powerful acid ingredients such as salicylic acid.

Whichever you go for, once you incorporate an acne-fighting serum into your skincare routine, it won’t be long until you start noticing results.

Give your face a real treat, check our reviews for the Best Facial Steamers, they are a vital part of any facial treatment which you can do at home. They are the ultimate skin decongestant tool, allowing any active ingredients you use on your face afterwards to more effectively sink into your skin.