11 Best Serums For Acne-Prone Skin Available In India

Acne-prone skin requires special care. You cannot use random products without judging their composition and effectiveness. Finding a suitable serum for acne-prone skin is challenging as it should have the right balance of exfoliating and hydrating ingredients. To help you overcome this challenge, we have put together a list of 11 best serums for acne-prone skin available in India. Scroll down to pick your favorite!

11 Best Serums For Acne-Prone Skin In India

1. Best Antioxidant-Rich Formula:Irem Vitamin C Serum

BUY ON AMAZON | ₹38.22

The Irem Vitamin C Serum is enriched with vitamin C, aloe vera, grape seed extract, ferulic acid and hyaluronic acid to prevent oiliness and breakouts. The antioxidant-rich vitamin C offers cooling effects to the skin while repairing it from within.

The hyaluronic acid in the formula activates collagen production to keep skin healthy, hydrated, moisturized, and plump. Aloe vera extract has natural healing properties that relieve itching and burning by soothing inflammation. Grape seed extract protects the skin from harmful UV rays while reducing redness and keeps the skin cells activated. This serum helps minimize wrinkles, dark spots, fine lines, uneven skin tone, and dullness.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, Hyaluronic acid, and Aloe vera

2. Best For Acne-Prone Skin:Minimalist 2% Salicylic Acid Serum

4

BUY ON AMAZON | ₹521

Minimalist’s 2% Salicylic Acid Serum has a potent formula that penetrates the pores to remove dirt, excess oil, and impurities. It eliminates blackheads and whiteheads and prevents future breakouts. This serum also reduces shine, controls oil production, and acts as a potent exfoliant for acne-prone skin. The aloe in the formula counteracts the after-effects of exfoliation by calming redness and soothing the skin.

Key Ingredients: 2% Salicylic acid

3. Best Non-Sticky Formula:Charmis Deep Radiance Vitamin C Face Serum

3.8

BUY ON AMAZON | ₹224

The Deep Radiance Vitamin C Face Serum from Charmis has a lightweight and non-sticky formula that quickly absorbs into the skin. Its deep action formula penetrates deep into the skin to work its magic. The serum contains the powerful trio of hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and vitamin C to hydrate, exfoliate, and brighten the skin. It also helps reduce acne and fade dark spots, acne marks, uneven texture, and dullness.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, Hyaluronic acid, and Salicylic acid

4. Best Affordable:The Derma Co 10% Niacinamide Face Serum

3.9

BUY ON AMAZON | ₹508

The Derma Co 10% Niacinamide Face Serum features a safe and effective formula to control sebum production, fight acne, and fade acne scars. It evens out the skin tone while shrinking open pores. The serum is enriched with niacinamide that regulates oil production, fades acne marks, and evens out the skin tone. The zinc in the formula regulates sebum production and reduces acne, while glycerin seals in moisture to hydrate the skin, making it soft and plump.

Regular use of this serum can help diminish acne, blur marks and spots, and improve skin texture.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Zinc, and Glycerin

5. Best For Anti Aging:Wow Skin Science Anti Acne Face Serum

3.7

BUY ON AMAZON | ₹401

This Anti-Acne Face Serum from Wow Skin Science works as a spot therapy to reduce acne and flare-ups. It is formulated with neem leaf oil that contains fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidants to soothe irritation and protect the skin from environmental stressors.

The tea tree extract, rich in phytochemicals and polyphenols, refines and purifies the skin while controlling sebum production. The caviar lime fruit extract in the formula contains AHA and vitamin C that exfoliate and repair the skin and fade dullness. The serum also contains dextran and tripeptide-1 that delay aging signs and improve the skin’s texture to renew it from within.

Key Ingredients: Neem leaf oil, Tea tree extract, Caviar lime fruit extract, Dextran, and Tripeptide-1

6. Best For Dead Skin Cells:Mixify Unloc Skin Serum

Mixify’s Unloc Skin Serum contains tea tree oil that eliminates acne-causing bacteria and prevents the occurrence of new acne. It is enriched with salicylic acid that cleanses the skin while regulating sebum production to control excess oil. The licorice in the formula soothes and regenerates the skin and inhibits melanin production to make your skin look radiant. The serum also contains glycolic acid that deeply penetrates the skin to buff away dead skin cells and promote collagen production to renew the skin. This non-comedogenic serum helps eliminate acne spots, scars, blemishes, whiteheads, and blackheads.

Key Ingredients: Tea tree oil, Salicylic acid, Licorice, and Glycolic acid

7. Best Lightweight Formula:Mamaearth Tea Tree Face Serum

3.8

BUY ON AMAZON | ₹508

The Mamaearth Tea Tree Face Serum features a gentle and lightweight formula to fight acne-causing bacteria, prevent irritation, and unclog pores. It contains salicylic acid that cleans your pores, fades blemishes, and prevents acne and blackheads by regulating sebum production. The tea tree oil in this serum cleanses the pores, enhances skin appearance, and calms inflammation due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The serum also contains licorice extract, known for its soothing and antioxidant properties, which imparts glow and radiance to the skin. This dermatologically-approved serum is a single skin care solution for acne, whiteheads, and blackheads.

Key Ingredients: Tea tree oil, Salicylic acid, and Licorice extract

8. Best Multi-Action Formula:Plum Green Tea Skin Clarifying Concentrate

4

BUY ON AMAZON

Plum’s Green Tea Skin Clarifying Concentrate features a multi-action formula to suit oily and acne-prone skin. It contains natural AHAs and green tea extract that combat acne and blur scars to leave your skin clean and even-toned. It also contains willow bark that dries out acne and clarifies the skin. The licorice in the serum fades dark spots and pigmentation, while the cinnamon bark reduces excess oil production.

Key Ingredients: Green tea extract, Cinnamon bark, and Licorice

9. Best Vitamin C Enriched:Honest Choice Niacinamide Booster Face Serum

3.7

BUY ON AMAZON

The Niacinamide Booster Face Serum from Honest Choice is a gentle solution that helps in fading dark spots and blemishes. It contains 10% niacinamide and zinc to treat acne, clarify the skin, reduce oiliness, and blur scars and blemishes. The serum is also enriched with vitamin C that reduces skin damage caused due to pollutants and sun rays and aloe vera that hydrates and soothes the skin and reduces itching and irritation. The ginger extract in the formula helps reduce acne and softens the skin.

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Zinc, Vitamin C, Aloe vera, and Ginger extract

10. Best Non-Comedogenic:Dot & Key Acne Busting Zinc+Salicylic Face Serum

3.9

BUY ON AMAZON | ₹365

The Acne Busting Zinc+Salicylic Face Serum from Dot & Key has a non-comedogenic and quick-absorbing formula that unclogs pores and removes dead skin cells to leave your skin clean and clear. The natural salicylic acid and zinc actives clarify your skin from within to prevent acne, zits, and whiteheads. This serum contains tea tree oil that calms irritation and redness and fades acne scars. The clary sage oil in the formula reduces inflammation and heals rashes.

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, Zinc,Tea tree oil, and Clary sage oil

11. Best With Healing Effect:Oriental Botanics Australian Tea Tree Serum

3.9

BUY ON AMAZON

Control your skin’s oiliness without making it dry with the Oriental Botanics Australian Tea Tree Serum. Its clarifying formula with tea tree oil, neem, white bark extract, and witch hazel exfoliates the skin, regulates sebum production, targets spots and uneven skin tone, clears acne-causing bacteria, and tightens the pores to prevent further breakouts. The serum also contains hyaluronic acid that softens and moisturizes the skin and aloe vera that soothes irritation and redness and provides a healing effect.

Key Ingredients: Tea tree oil, White bark extract, Neem, Hyaluronic acid, Witch hazel, and Aloe vera

Now that you know about the best serums for acne-prone skin available in the Indian market, follow these pointers to learn about the correct way of using them.

How To Use Serums For Acne-Prone Skin

Step 1:

Cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser and apply a toner.
Step 2: On slightly damp skin, apply serum and massage gently until it is completely absorbed into the skin.
Step 3: Follow it up with your moisturizer or any hydrating cream.

People with acne-prone skin must be doubly sure about the kind of products they use. The following section will guide you about the factors to look for when choosing a serum for acne-prone skin.

How To Choose The Best Serum For Acne-Prone Skin

•  Active Ingredients

Always scan the ingredients list before buying any serum for oily and acne-prone skin. Look for active ingredients, such as salicylic acid, niacinamide, retinol, zinc, AHA, tea tree oil, and vitamin C. Also, look for hydrators and soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera that provide optimum moisturization without being too greasy.

•  Avoid These Ingredients

Look for non-comedogenic serums free of seed-derived oils and harsh chemicals, such as parabens, sulfates, alcohols.

•  Reviews

You cannot judge the effectiveness of any product until you have tried it. However, you can check out the user reviews to understand how a serum works for a particular skin type.

• Skin condition

If you are on acne medications like benzoyl peroxide, adapalene, or tretinoin your skin may feel dry and scaly. So selecting a serum becomes a little difficult, so consult a dermatologist before starting on serums.

These serums for acne-prone skin help in controlling inflammation and sebum production while keeping acne and breakouts at bay. They are also infused with nourishing and hydrating ingredients that prevent your skin from drying out and treat other associated issues like pigmentation and acne scars. Take your pick from the above list and bid goodbye to breakouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any serums for acne-prone skin in India that have been dermatologist-tested or recommended?

The Charmis Deep Radiance Vitamin C Face Serum and the Dot & Key Acne Busting Zinc+Salicylic Face Serum are the two serums that are dermatologist-tested to be highly effective for treating acne-prone skin.

Is vitamin C serum good for acne-prone skin?

Vitamin C serum is rich in anti-inflammatory properties that may help with redness and swelling of the skin. You can apply it topically to treat acne and post-acne pigmentation.

Does hyaluronic acid serum help acne?

Yes, the hyaluronic acid serum keeps skin hydrated and supple without clogging pores. It is ideal for treating dry acne-prone skin while its hydrating properties improve the skin barrier and promote skin healing.

Is serum or moisturizer better for acne?

A targeted serum is better for acne than a moisturizer. It contains high levels of anti-acne ingredients such as antioxidants, salicylic acid, niacinamide, etc. Moisturizers on the other hand focus on keeping the skin well hydrated and have less concentration of active ingredients.

Can I leave the serum overnight?

Yes, you may leave the serum on overnight as it allows the ingredients to properly get absorbed into the skin for a healthy radiant glow and effective treatment.

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