SOUTHGATE, Mich. – If you’ve got teens, you’ve probably had this moment: they want skincare, they grab whatever’s trending, and you’re left paying a lot of money for products you’re not even sure work.
Local 4 asked dermatologist Dr. Steven Grekin to meet us at a Meijer in Southgate and help build a simple, teen-friendly acne routine that makes sense without blowing the budget.
“I’ve got teenagers, they want products, but they always pick what’s popular. And I don’t know what necessarily works and I’m sick of wasting money,” said Local 4’s Karen Drew.
That set the mission: what’s effective, what’s hype, and what’s worth it.
Here are Dr. Grekin’s budget-friendly picks.
For active zits: benzoyl peroxide
If your teen is dealing with inflamed pimples, Dr. Grekin pointed to an old-school ingredient that still delivers: benzoyl peroxide. He explained it targets acne bacteria by bringing oxygen into the pore and that bacteria can’t survive in oxygen.
Budget pick: Zapzyt Acne Gel — $4.99
Zit patches: what they do?
Those little stickers are everywhere and yes, there’s real science behind them.
Dr. Grekin says they’re hydrocolloid patches. They help by absorbing oil/gunk and importantly keeping the area moist, which can help healing.
But the biggest surprise was price.
Dr. Grekin said the choice between patches that are $24 and the $5 Zapzyt product can be just as effective. His takeaway: patches can be useful, but you don’t have to buy the most expensive version to get the benefit.
What about blackheads?
If blackheads are the main issue, Dr. Grekin recommended Differin Gel (0.1% adapalene).
It’s a retinoid (a vitamin-A derivative) and he emphasized that this product used to be prescription-only, now it’s over the counter.
Pick: Differin Gel 0.1% — $27.99
Cleanser: gentle is the goal
Karen’s big concern: cleansers that strip teens’ skin and leave it dry.
Dr. Grekin agreed and also warned against harsh exfoliating scrubs, because the gritty particles can create microscopic tears in the skin, which can make irritation (and bacteria problems) worse.
He gave two budget-friendly options:
Option A: Unscented Dove bar soap — he says it works well and costs very little.
Option B: Meijer brand deep clarifying facial cleanser — he liked the ingredient list and noted it was on sale.
Pick we checked out with:
Meijer face cleanser — $4.49 (noted as $5.59 with 40% off in-store)
Dr. Grekin’s bonus “scrub” hack: baking soda
If your teen loves that “polished/extra clean” feel from a scrub, Dr. Grekin suggested a cheaper, gentler workaround:
Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda into your regular cleanser and wash your face with it.
Karen’s reaction: that’s basically the scrub effect without spending an extra $15.
Grekin is the founder of The Grekin Skin Institute. Steven Grekin, DO | Advanced Dermatology
Here’s what we bought
At checkout, the cart had four core products:
- Zapzyt acne gel — $4.99
- Meijer face cleanser — $4.49
- Vanicream facial moisturizer SPF 30 — $14.49
- Differin gel — $27.99
- Total: $56.24