The Latest Acne Treatment Products From SkinFix, Nécessaire and Others – WWD

Here, the newest innovations in acne care.

SkinFix Acne+ Adapinoid Gel

$48 at sephora.com, skinfix.com

For its newest, SkinFix is harnessing the skin-clearing capabilities of adapinoid.

A retinoid that is the precursor to adapalene — the active in Differin gel — adapinoid purports to soothe inflammation, reduce pores and offer anti-aging benefits, such as increased collagen production.

“We’re the first brand to launch this ingredient,” said SkinFix chief executive officer Amy Gordinier, who first encountered adapinoid, which was originally a prescription drug but became over-the-counter in 2017, at an ingredient trade show. “What we loved about [adapinoid] is that it has all the efficacy of adapalene, but shows that it’s even less irritating — we knew we wanted to leverage that technology into a formula that was going to be nurturing and kind to the skin barrier.”

Acne+ Adapinoid Gel is SkinFix’s third acne product to date, joining the brand’s existing BHA and azelaic acid-infused spot treatment and cleanser. “For people who experience breakouts, this is a great product to use daily; we see it as a mainstay in the regimens of people with acne,” Gordinier said.

Gordinier did not comment on sales expectations for the launch, but industry sources estimate SkinFix Acne+ Adapinoid Gel could do $5 million in first-year retail sales.

Nécessaire The Body Acne Duo

$50 at sephora.com, credobeauty.com, nordstrom.com, necessaire.com

On the eve of its fifth anniversary, Nécessaire is foraying into acne care.

The brand’s OTC body acne duo, which consists of a treatment wash and spray, taps a 2 percent salicylic acid, zinc PCA and niacinamide blend to treat blemishes from their first appearance through the acne mark fading process.

“The dialogue we have with our community is very much around problem solution,” said Randi Christiansen, Nécessaire cofounder and CEO, noting acne was cited as a top concern by the brand’s Gen Z consumer as well as its 50-plus demographic.

“We’ve been in the body wash business for a long time, and we’re known to do body wash well. For this wash, we wanted to deliver that 2 percent salicylic acid not in a drying, stripping way, but in a honey-like, rich way — that took a long time,” said Christiansen, who spent two years perfecting a formula that included anti-inflammatory rosemary extract, and opted for a spray format for La Solution to help target hard-to-reach areas.

Christiansen estimates The Body Acne Duo could do between $2 million to $2.5 million in first-year sales in the U.S.

InnBeauty Project Acne Serum OTC Medicated Treatment

$35 at sephora.com, innbeautyproject.com

Gen Z skin care brand InnBeauty Project has introduced its first OTC product for acne treatment.

The brand’s Acne Serum OTC Medicated Treatment includes 1.5 percent salicylic acid, 2 percent niacinamide and 2 percent tranexamic acid to treat blemishes and hyperpigmentation. Other ingredients like thyme, oregano and lactobacillus ferment target acne-causing bacteria and reduce redness.

“Acne is one of those concerns that doesn’t go away — it’s the top five amongst our demographic that shops on our e-commerce site and amongst Sephora, our main retail partner,” said Alisa Metzger, cofounder of InnBeauty Project.

The brand introduced a pimple paste in 2020 made with willow bark, sulfur and other natural actives but this serum looks to take InnBeauty’s capabilities in the space a step further.

“The formulas that are out there that have salicylic acid are fundamentally not nourishing enough; with this, we wanted to include ingredients that heal, moisturize and nourish your skin back to health while killing acne-causing bacteria,” Metzger said.

She declined to comment on sales expectations for the launch, but industry sources estimate the treatment could do around $5 million in first-year sales.

Bliss Skin Euphoria

$24 at ulta.com, target.com, amazon.com

Bliss is leaning into multipurpose products.

The brand’s new Skin Euphoria serum, which features hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, squalane and willow bark water, aims to serve as a skin clarifying, hydrating and anti-aging serum in one.

“We have serums with specific ingredient stories, like our Vitamin C serum, but we didn’t have an all-in-one solution and we felt like that was missing from the line,” said Sara Mitzner, vice president of marketing at AS Beauty Group, noting serum sales comprise 15 percent of the brand’s total skin care business.

With the launch, Bliss aims to expand its reach among skin care beginners looking for approachable solutions, as well as enthusiasts hoping to tackle multiple concerns without necessarily adding as many corresponding steps to their regimen. “We’re definitely going to get deeper into our specialty franchises, but right now and with Skin Euphoria, we think a big place of opportunity is those everyday essentials,” said Mitzner, adding that under its new ownership of AS Beauty, key priorities for Bliss include a refocus on the brand’s spa heritage and bolstering its Amazon business.

While Mitzner did not comment on sales expectations for the launch, industry sources think Skin Euphoria could do between $2 million and $3 million in first-year sales.

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Wash

$19.99 at ulta.com, target.com, amazon.com

CeraVe’s acne assortment has gained its most concentrated offering yet.

The brand’s new Acne Foaming Cream Wash includes 10 percent benzoyl peroxide, packing an efficacious punch for consumers whose breakouts require more than the brand’s existing 4 percent benzoyl peroxide cleanser.

“Ten percent benzoyl peroxide is the maximum strength you can get without a prescription, so this is for someone who might be experiencing face or body acne that is more stubborn to treat,” said Nada Baalbaki, global scientific director for CeraVe.

The launch also taps hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and three kinds of ceramides to sooth the skin and offset the irritation high concentrations of benzoyl peroxide can otherwise prompt. “Usually, you feel like when you go higher [in concentration], you’re making that compromise or tradeoff, and I think that’s the innovation here — you’re getting that 10 percent and not that dryness and flaking,” Baalbaki said.

The brand did not comment on sales expectations for the launch, but according to Circana, CeraVe is the largest skin care brand in the mass market in the U.S., as well as the top share-gainer in the category.