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Guide

What to put in a design portfolio

A design portfolio is an edit, not an archive. What you leave out matters as much as what you show.

How many projects

For most people, somewhere between six and twelve projects is enough. Fewer than that can look thin. Many more than that and visitors skim, and your weaker work drags down the strong pieces.

Pick work that matches the jobs you want next, not just the work you are proudest of. If you want branding work, lead with branding, even if your favorite project is an app.

What to show for each project

  • A clear title. The client or the type of project, in plain words.
  • One strong lead image. The image that would make someone click.
  • A short brief. Two or three sentences on what the project needed.
  • Your role. Say exactly what you did, especially on team projects.
  • The process. A few sketches or early versions show how you think.
  • The result. What changed after the work went live, if you know.

Order matters

Put your strongest and most relevant project first and your second strongest last. Visitors remember the start and the end. The middle is where to place solid work that rounds out the picture.

A case-study page: one wide lead image, a heading, a short brief and room for the story below.

What to write next to your work

Many designers write too little, and some write far too much. Aim for a few short paragraphs per project. Say what the problem was in the client's words, what you tried, what you chose and why. If you have numbers you are allowed to share, add them, but don't invent any and don't stretch them.

Write the way you would explain the project to a friend over coffee. Plain sentences beat design jargon. A hiring manager or a client should understand each project in under a minute.

Your about section

The about section is often the second most visited part of a portfolio. Keep it short: what you do, what kind of work you want, where you are based and how to reach you. A friendly photo helps people put a face to the work. Skip the long life story and the list of every tool you have ever opened.

If you are open to new work, say so plainly. Many good portfolios lose replies simply because the visitor can't tell whether the designer is available.

Common mistakes

  1. Showing everything. Ten average projects hide two great ones.
  2. No context. A beautiful image with no words leaves the visitor guessing what you did.
  3. Old work at the top. If your best piece is five years old, it may be time for a new project, even a self-initiated one.
  4. Hard to contact. An email address hidden in the footer of one page is not enough.

Tip: Ask someone outside your field to look at your portfolio for one minute, then tell you what you do. If they can't, the words need work.

Students and career changers often worry they have nothing to show. Self-initiated projects count. A redesign of a local shop's menu, a poster series for an event you care about or a rebuilt app screen with a clear reason behind it all show how you think. Label them honestly as personal projects.

Once you know what goes in, the setup checklist covers how to put it into a template.

Editing works for skin care too

A strong portfolio leaves things out, and so does a routine that clears acne. Piling on several new products at once mostly irritates skin. Starting with one active ingredient that fits your breakout type, and adding a second only if needed, is the standard approach; this guide to the best acne treatments shows where to start.

Best acne treatments

The best acne treatments are rarely the strongest: low-strength benzoyl peroxide works as well as the 10% tubes, and your breakout type matters more than the percent. Deep cysts and stubborn jawline flares are where prescriptions come in.

Over-the-counter adapalene (a retinoid), benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and azelaic acid are where the best acne treatments start for blackheads, red pimples and dark spots; cystic or hormonal acne that won't clear needs a prescription.

  • OTC: mild to moderate
  • Prescription: moderate to severe
  • Strength for each
  • Pregnancy notes

Last reviewed · Checked against the AAD, NIH sources and clinical trials

Acne treatments compared by acne typeRows run from first-line, over-the-counter care to prescription pills. Bars: OTC · prescription cream · prescription pill.
TreatmentWhat it doesBest forStrengthOTC or RxTime to resultsPregnancyExample product
Benzoyl peroxideKills acne bacteria, clears excess oil and dead skin cellsRed pimples, mild to moderate acne2.5% to 10%OTC2 to 3 monthsAsk your doctor firstCeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser (4%), PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash (10%)
Adapalene 0.1%Retinoid that unclogs pores and stops new breakoutsBlackheads, whiteheads, some pimples0.1%OTC2 to 3 monthsAvoid (topical retinoid)Differin Gel (adapalene 0.1%)
Salicylic acidOpens clogged pores and exfoliatesWhiteheads and pimples0.5% to 2%OTC2 to 3 monthsAsk your doctor firstCeraVe Acne Control Cleanser (2%)
Azelaic acidKeeps pores open, mildly antibacterial, fades dark spotsAcne that leaves dark spots10% OTC, 20% RxOTC or Rx2 to 3 monthsRx azelaic acid is an optionThe Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
TretinoinPrescription retinoid that stops pores pluggingBlackheads, whiteheads, moderate acneSet by your doctorRx cream or gel4 to 8 weeksAvoid (topical retinoid)
ClascoteroneCream that treats the hormonal causes of acneModerate to severe acne, males and females 12+1% creamRx cream4 to 8 weeksAsk your doctor first
Topical clindamycin with benzoyl peroxideAntibiotic and benzoyl peroxide in one, with less risk of resistanceMild to moderate red acne1% clindamycin + 5% BP, or 1.2% + 2.5%Rx gel4 to 8 weeksAsk your doctor first
Oral antibiotics (doxycycline)Pill that cuts bacteria and inflammation, for the shortest timeModerate to severe pimples, not nodulesSet by your doctorRx pill4 to 8 weeksNo tetracyclines; ask about a macrolide
SpironolactoneBlocks androgen hormones at the oil glandsWomen with stubborn chin and jawline acneSet by your doctorRx pill, women only4 to 8 weeksNever: can cause severe birth defects
Combined birth control pillEstrogen and progestin pill; some are FDA-approved for acneWomen whose acne flares with their periodSet by your doctorRx pill, women onlyA few monthsTell your doctor if pregnant or planning to be
IsotretinoinOral retinoid that shrinks the oil glandsSevere nodular acne other treatments didn't clearSet by your doctorRx pill, FDA risk program4 to 8 weeksNever: severe birth defects

Time to results: over-the-counter products 2 to 3 months of daily use; most prescription acne drugs 4 to 8 weeks; the pill 2 to 3 months (AAD). Pregnancy: AAD. Example products: ingredient and strength checked on each brand's own product page; not endorsements. Prescription doses are your doctor's call.

How to choose an acne treatment

Choosing an acne treatment is matching an active ingredient to the kind of breakout you have. It means your acne type, not the brand, decides the pick, and our guide to acne types and how to treat each one shows how to tell them apart. The strength of the product matters less than you'd think: lower-strength benzoyl peroxide works as well as higher strengths.

  1. Match the ingredient to the acne type. Blackheads and whiteheads: a retinoid such as adapalene, or salicylic acid. Red pimples: benzoyl peroxide. Dark spots after acne: azelaic acid.
  2. Start with one product. If you're unsure, start with benzoyl peroxide, adapalene or both, at a lower strength.
  3. Give it 6 to 8 weeks. That's how long it takes to see fewer breakouts. Acne may get worse before it gets better.
  4. Add a second only if needed. For stubborn acne, use two different active ingredients, one in the morning and one at night.
  5. See a doctor for cysts or scarring. Also when nothing has helped after 2 to 3 months.

Best acne treatments over the counter

Over-the-counter (OTC) acne treatments are products you can buy without a prescription. They mean mild to moderate acne can be treated at home, and a good acne treatment at home uses just one or two of the four below. The strength of each ingredient is printed on the label as a percentage.

Benzoyl Peroxide
Kills acne-causing bacteria and removes excess oil and dead skin cells. Sold from 2.5% to 10%; lower strengths work as well as higher ones. It can bleach hair and fabric and sting sensitive skin.
Topical Retinoids (Adapalene 0.1%)
Adapalene is a retinoid that unclogs pores and prevents new breakouts, sold without a prescription at 0.1%. Use it in the evening and protect your skin from the sun. Skip skin that is cut, sunburned or has eczema.
Salicylic Acid (0.5%–2%)
Opens clogged pores and exfoliates, which helps whiteheads and pimples. It comes as leave-on and wash-off products. Studies of how well it works are limited.
Azelaic Acid (10%)
Helps keep pores from plugging, is mildly antibacterial and fades the dark spots acne leaves behind. A 20% prescription cream or gel also exists.

Best acne treatments by prescription

Prescription acne treatment is medicine a doctor prescribes when over-the-counter products haven't worked after several weeks. It means stronger options for moderate to severe acne. The choice of prescription depends on your age, your acne type and its severity.

Prescription Retinoids
Tretinoin, tazarotene and trifarotene keep pores from plugging. They raise sun sensitivity and can dry and redden skin, especially brown or Black skin. Don't apply tretinoin at the same time as benzoyl peroxide.
Topical Combinations
Clindamycin paired with benzoyl peroxide lowers the risk of antibiotic resistance; a topical antibiotic alone isn't recommended. Clascoterone 1% cream treats the hormonal causes of acne in males and females aged 12 and up.
Oral Medications
Doxycycline and other antibiotics treat moderate to severe pimples for the shortest time, together with benzoyl peroxide. Spironolactone (women only) and the combined birth control pill target hormones; both are used for hormonal acne treatment. Isotretinoin is for severe nodular acne that hasn't responded to anything else and needs an FDA risk program.

Ask your doctor about any of these. Online acne treatment is another way to get a prescription.

Pimple patches and spot treatments

A pimple patch (hydrocolloid dressing) is a small sticky pad you put over a single spot. It means the spot is covered, so it's easier to leave alone. The limit of any spot treatment is that it reaches one pimple, not the pores around it.

Picking or squeezing raises the risk of infection and scarring. Retinoids are not spot treatments: they go on the whole area to stop new pimples forming.

General guidelines

General acne care is the daily routine that keeps even the best acne treatments working. It means gentle skin care while the active ingredient does its job. The success of treatment depends on sticking with it.

Be patient
Allow at least 6 to 8 weeks to see fewer breakouts, and 2 to 3 months for over-the-counter products.
Avoid irritation
Wash twice a day with a mild cleanser, warm water and your hands. Skip scrubs, astringents and masks. Choose noncomedogenic products and a nonoily moisturizer with sunscreen. Don't pick or squeeze.

Thinking of adding zinc or fish oil? This look at acne supplements and their trials finds only zinc has a pooled analysis behind it, so treat a supplement as an add-on to skin care, not a swap.

Reader questions

Short, plain answers to what people ask most.

What is the #1 best acne treatment?

Honestly, there isn't one. The AAD says the best treatment for one person isn't necessarily the best for another. If you just want a starting point, benzoyl peroxide, adapalene, or both are the usual first picks.

What is the most effective acne drug?

It depends on the acne. For severe nodular acne that nothing else has cleared, dermatologists prescribe isotretinoin. It's strong stuff: it needs an FDA risk program and can't be taken in pregnancy. For most acne, combining medicines, like a retinoid with benzoyl peroxide, makes each one work better.

What is the most effective product for treating acne?

Look at the active ingredient, not the brand. Benzoyl peroxide and adapalene are the usual two to start with, and dermatologists often prescribe them together in one gel. Give whatever you pick 2 to 3 months.

What kills acne naturally?

Tea tree oil comes up a lot. In one trial, a 5% tea tree oil gel worked about as well as 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion, just slower, and some people get redness or irritation from it. Azelaic acid is natural too; it's found in grains like barley, wheat and rye.

What foods trigger acne?

Some studies link skim milk, whey protein and high-sugar diets to acne. Chocolate isn't directly linked. A balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables is the safe bet.

Sources

  1. American Academy of Dermatology: Acne diagnosis and treatment
  2. American Academy of Dermatology: When acne won't clear
  3. Tea tree oil versus benzoyl peroxide trial (Med J Aust, 1990), PMID 2145499
  4. NCCIH: Tea tree oil
  5. American Academy of Dermatology: Acne treatment during pregnancy
  6. American Academy of Dermatology: Hormonal therapy for acne

Last reviewed .

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. See a dermatologist if you have deep cysts or nodules, scarring, over-the-counter products haven't helped after 2 to 3 months, or you're pregnant and want treatment.