Collage: Jemeria Davison; Source images: Courtesy of brands Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story Body acne is completely normal, whether it shows up on your butt , chest, or back . But if you're looking to keep it in check, the best body acne treatments give you plenty of options. Many contain familiar acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid , which helps clear out the oil and dead skin cells that clog pores and lead to breakouts. They come in all kinds of easy-to-use formats, too, from bacne sprays that make reapplication a breeze to lotions, pads, and body washes that fit right into your existing body-care routine . To find out which ones actually deliver the breakout control you need, we asked board-certified dermatologists and Allure editors to share their favorites for treating body acne and helping prevent new bumps from popping up.
What is body acne? What is the best way to treat body acne? Meet the experts How we test and review our products Our staff and testers Best Body Serum: Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Topicals
Why it’s worth it: You might associate retinol with smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, but it can help with pimples, too. By encouraging skin cell turnover, it helps keep dead skin cells from piling up and clogging pores, which can lead to breakouts. That's why it's a key ingredient in the Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum, which tackles both body breakouts and the dark marks they leave behind. Glycolic and lactic acids also sweep away dead skin cells and smooth rough texture. Together, these ingredients help with discoloration as well as remove dead skin cells on the surface," Geeta Yadav , MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Toronto, previously told Allure . Because acne treatments can leave skin feeling dry, it also includes squalane and urea to soften and hydrate.
Despite being called a body serum , the milky texture feels more like a lightweight body lotion , so it's easy to work into your routine. (However, you may need to follow it with a dedicated body cream in the winter or if your skin is dry.) Just remember to apply SPF 30 or higher to exposed skin during the day, since retinol can make skin more sensitive to the sun.
Tester feedback from former associate special projects manager Talia Gutierrez
"Even as a beauty editor, it used to feel counterintuitive to rub body lotion over my clogged and bumpy KP-prone arms. That was until I began using a chemical exfoliating serum like this one from Topicals. The texture is more like a lightweight body lotion that dispenses white, but after slathering a generous dollop onto my palm and rubbing it along my arms and chest, the product fully absorbs into my brown skin." — Talia Gutierrez , former associate special projects manager
Key ingredients: retinol, glycolic acid, lactic acid, squalane, urea Fragrance-free: yes Best Body Wash: Byoma Blemish Acne Clearing Body Wash Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Byoma
Why it’s worth it: You might think a body wash wouldn't do much for acne since it goes right down the drain, but even 60 seconds of contact with the right ingredients can help. Byoma's Blemish Acne Clearing Body Wash uses 2% salicylic acid to help clear excess oil and dead skin cells from pores, plus bakuchiol , a plant-derived retinol alternative that can help regulate skin cell turnover and calm inflammation.
The formula doesn't skimp on…