With so many acne products out there, finding the right one for you can be an expensive process. However, it doesn't have to be if you know the right things to look for. When comparing acne products, spend a little less time looking at the marketing hype, and a little more time looking at the ingredients. You will find a lot of these products share the same main active ingredients, and even better, a lot of these ingredients can be purchased separately at much lower prices. While there are a few benefits to patented acne formulations that can help for some, for most people using the right combination of main ingredients is just as effective.

One popular ingredient in some of the leading acne treatments out there, such as Proactiv® and Neutrogena On-The-Spot®, is the antibacterial agent Benzoyl Peroxide. Benzoyl Peroxide, or BP for short, works by attacking the p. acnes bacteria that build up in your pores, and is very effective for most people at clearing up current acne (note that BP does not prevent acne from forming, and acne products based on BP are not being honest if they make this claim). For most cases of acne, purchasing BP alone and applying it is just as effective as using expensive name brand products.

Benzoyl Peroxide is available in a number of concentrations, but higher concentrations are not necessarily more effective for stopping acne. Also, higher concentrations increase the risk of dry skin, so it's best to use a 2.5% or 5% concentration at most. You may notice that some products such as Proactiv also include a moisturizer such as aloe in order to keep your skin from getting too dried out. Following your BP application with an affordable moisturizer is a good way to prevent dryness. BP is so much cheaper by volume when you buy it separately that you will still only spend a fraction of the cost.

Have you ever noticed all the "pore cleansing" and "anti-acne formula" cleansers on the market? The fact is that just about any cleanser will clean your pores. Cleansing is a relatively small part of the battle against acne, as the cause of acne for most people has little at all to do with hygiene (this is one of the big acne myths). However, cleansers designed to stop acne generally offer little to no benefit over normal cleansers. Save the extra few dollars and buy any affordable cleanser that you like. The only concern you should have is that the cleanser is gentle on your skin will not dry you out. Cleansing too frequently can leave your skin overly dry and susceptible to irritation that can make acne worse.

Perhaps the best step you can take is to supplement your diet with a few key vitamins that will actively prevent future acne from forming. The extremely expensive prescription treatment Accutane® works by decreasing your production of skin oil, eliminating acne for most people. However, there are some very affordable acne vitamins supplements that can have a very similar effect.

The key vitamin you should focus on is vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid. Vitamin B5 is a non-toxic and water-soluble vitamin that can increase your metabolism of skin oil, preventing acne from forming. Taking 5 to 10 grams of B5 per day, most users will notice decreased oil within a few weeks, and clear skin soon after. Vitamin B5 does not have any harmful side effects and is safe to take at large doses. The time-release variety may be slightly more expensive, but can save you time and money in the long run since you usually will not need to take as much.

The mineral zinc is another very helpful supplement, as it also aids in balancing your oil levels by regulating the production of your oil glands. Your body does not require too much zinc, and since it is a mineral you should avoid high intakes, but a daily zinc supplement can definitely help. Taking zinc along with vitamin B5 is also a good idea, as B5 aids the body in absorbing zinc.

With a combination of affordable acne products and a few natural supplements, you can have a face free of acne, without being left with a wallet free of cash.

Copyright 2005 Donald Amodeo. This article may only be reprinted if all links and author information are left intact.