Cleansers are a great option, especially if your skin is oily. But the trick to reaping their benefits is leaving the cleanser on your skin long enough for the salicylic acid to work. "Suds up, sing the alphabet, then rinse off," advises Zeichner. Try Cosmedicine Healthy Cleanse-Oily, $52, for your face, or Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash, $7, for your bod (buh-bye, back acne!).

Reach for a spot treatment, like Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment, $12 to address single pimples, or a mask, like Murad InstaMatte Oil-Control Mask, $38, if your blemishes are more widespread or you want to ward-off future breakouts.

If your goal is anti-aging, Gohara recommends peel pads, which often blend salicylic acid with other youth-boosting ingredients. Our pick: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel, $88.

Here's the thing. Just like at the drive-thru, there's no need to supersize it. More is not better when it comes to acne-fighting ingredients. A stronger concentration of salicylic acid (or benzoyl peroxide, for that matter) will likely just dry out your skin and isn't necessarily going to be any more effective, says Zeichner. Most OTC products typically contain between .5 percent to 2 percent; there's no need to go searching for anything higher than that.