Witch hazel did wonders for me in my teenage years. Just being consistent with exfoliation and maintaining optimum hydration was magic to my skin. Sometimes you don't need all the fancy hydrating ointments and just occasionally splashing some water on your face throughout the day does more than most would think.

My acne is less cystic and more pore-clogging. What I use that has helped me the most is a 2% salicylic acid (aka BHA) as a liquid topical. As far as cleansers go, I couldn't say honestly. Cleansers are only on your skin for a short while and I doubt they do much for actually treating acne. When I cleanse, I pre-cleanse with hemp seed oil to remove makeup and then I cleanse with a gentle, fragrance-free face wash. I find that the less irritating ingredients you have in your cleansers, such as fragrance, the less stressed out your skin will be, thus fewer breakouts.

Paula's Choice BHA & AHA, Dan's BP and Cerave moisturiser. I also like using natural alternatives like tea tree oil, coconut oil and raw honey

I have found out of everything i've been using Benzac AC 5% has worked the best for me in terms of reducing inflammation and redness.