Facetheory review: Can the affordable skincare clear up my acne-prone skin?

Buy now £11.99, Facetheory.com

Best: For balancing congested skin

You’ve probably seen this bestselling cleanser all over TikTok, as it’s touted as a holy grail for acne-prone skin. We’ll be honest, the trifecta of powerful acids in this formula – glycolic, salicylic and lactic – were quite daunting. We’ve used them all individually before but never in unison as our sensitive skin can suffer from combining too many actives.

However, the creamy cleanser left our skin feeling clear and more refined with reduced redness after just one use, all with minimal irritation. We did experience slight tingling upon application, but nothing too uncomfortable. After two weeks, we really noticed reduced texture and experienced zero breakouts; our skin felt balanced and controlled with minimal oil and reduced pores. For sensitive skin, we’d suggest sticking to using it once a day in the evening, every other day, before building up to daily use.

The cleanser is available in both unscented and scented versions – we opted for the scented but didn’t experience any breakouts or irritation. With that said, the mandarin scent was natural but quite strong, so we’d go for the unscented next time. A little goes a long way too, we’ve been using it everyday for a month and still have half a jar left.

Buy now £21.99, Facetheory.com

Best: For acne scarring

Another popular product from Facetheory, you may know it by its former name, azeclear. Despite the new name, it’s the same azelaic acid-based formula; a natural powerhouse ingredient that works to reduce inflammation and hyperpigmentation while fighting acne-causing bacteria.

We’re not usually as drawn to natural ingredients when it comes to fighting acne, but were proven wrong with this formula. Cleverly balanced, the creamy serum was a joy to apply unlike other azelaic acid products, thanks to the soothing natural ingredients that counteract any irritation. Our skin felt hydrated without being oily, and we were impressed by the near immediate reduction in acne scarring and redness.

After using the brand’s clarifying cleanser, we interchanged this serum with Facetheory’s pore bright n10 formula (£14.99, Facetheory.com) every other night and didn’t experience any issues with using varying acids regularly.

Buy now £14.99, Facetheory.com

Best: For hydration and refinement

This serum combines niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, two of our favourite skincare ingredients for acne-prone skin, so we were immediately drawn to it. You’ll see a pattern here with the concerns all of these products are trying to target – evening out skin tone, reducing pores, battling hyperpigmentation, redness and acne lesions. Sign us up.

Azeliac acid is present here too, but despite the high acid concentration, it didn’t cause any irritation. Unlike other niacinamide serums, the formula isn’t thick or gloopy and feels lightweight, a godsend for oilier skin types. Our skin felt hydrated and clearer after regular use, and the formula feels more refined than other similar offerings, which is impressive given the price point.

Buy now £13.99, Facetheory.com

Best: For oily skin types who hate moisturisers

If you struggle with oily and/or acne-prone skin and find moisturisers only exacerbate the problem, add this non-comedogenic formula to your basket. The oil-free formula has a gloopy gel consistency that made us wary to begin with, but it immediately sinks into the skin and dries down matte, leaving oily skin feeling hydrated without any unwanted shine or greasiness.

The formula, like all of Facetheory’s products, is packed with a high concentration of actives, including brightening and acne-busting vitamin C, refining niacinamide and salicylic acid to soothe congestion. But the natural ingredients are present here for balance too, including chamomile, aloe vera and green tea to relieve sore or inflamed skin.

We found that this lived up to the hype, despite its potent ingredients list, the formula felt gentle and clarifying, even during bad breakouts. Despite claiming to be unscented, it does have a slight clinical whiff, but nothing off-putting. It’s a must-have for oily skin.