By Karyn Polewaczyk, Jul 30, 2009

Depending on the type of acne you have, there are different products available that target the different types.

In general, I use a topical salicylic treatment overnight; if I've got a crop of whiteheads (a sign that I've had my phone against my face for too many minutes), I use a topical antibiotic prescribed to me by my dermatologist for a few days. I also like the Murad sulfur system, as well as a topical benzoyl peroxide to cover anything cystic (which I use in combination with the salicylic acid).

The most important things I've learned about treating acne are to keep your hands off of your face, and to make sure your makeup brushes are clean. I'm someone who uses brushes for everything - powder, concealer, eyeliner - and they're bacteria breeding grounds.

By Victoria Klein, Jul 31, 2009

Glad to hear Neutrogena's stuff worked for you - it NEVER works for me; all the unnatural ingredients they use actually makes my skin break out MORE.

By Carolyn Schlicher, Aug 10, 2009

Salicylic acid products don't seem to work for me. However, did you know that salicylic acid is actually the pure component of aspirin? I found this from the Green Beauty guidthegreenbeautyguide....

Aspirin Mask Recipe Step by Step

1) Get the uncoated tablet of aspirin out of the shell or bottle.

2) Soak the cotton disk with lukewarm water. Put the tablet on a wet cotton disk. Wait till it dissolves and disappears in moist cotton wool.

3) Wet skin of the acne-affected area thoroughly with warm water. If you plan to treat several acne areas, deal with each of them one by one. Pat skin dry with a clean towel.

4) Using circular motion, cover the affected area with aspirin solution. Make sure that you cover the entire area affected by acne, even if there are not red inflamed pimples. Prevention is the best weapon.

5) Repeat the process on other areas of your skin. Prepare the new cotton disk soaked in aspirin once the first one is dry. Disregard the sand-like particles – they act as a mild scrub, and the active ingredient remains on the skin anyway.

6) Leave the aspirin on your face for at least three minutes. The thin whitish crust will form.

7) Rinse the aspirin mask with lukewarm water and pat your face dry with clean paper napkin.

I use benzoyl peroxide, 2.5%. All of the commercial preps seems to only have 10% which makes me dried out and peely. CVS has a store brand in this concentration.