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olatemplates.comAn independent guide to portfolio templates

Templates

How to choose a portfolio template

Choosing a portfolio template comes down to a handful of checks. Run through them in order and most options rule themselves out.

Start with your work, not the template

The most common mistake is browsing templates first. It feels productive, but every demo is filled with perfect placeholder images, so everything looks great. Start instead by listing the projects you would show today, and how much there is to say about each one.

That list tells you which layout type you need. The style comes after.

The three layout types, side by side

Grid Good for photographers, illustrators and visual designers with plenty of strong images. Weak when projects need explaining.
Case study Good for UX, product and brand designers who need to show thinking. Weak when you only have a few small pieces.
One page Good for a first portfolio or a focused offer. Weak once you have more than a handful of projects.

The checklist

  1. Layout type. Grid, case study or one page, based on your list of projects.
  2. Mobile view. Open the demo on your phone. Check that images are not cropped badly and that text is easy to read without zooming.
  3. Navigation. A visitor should always know where they are and how to get back to the work.
  4. Editing. Change a heading, swap an image and add a project. If any of these is a struggle in the demo, it will be a struggle every time you update.
  5. Speed. Heavy animation and large videos slow pages down. A portfolio that loads slowly loses visitors before they see anything.
  6. Contact. One clear way to reach you, on every page.
  7. Ownership. Check what happens if you stop paying for the platform. Can you move your site, or does it disappear?

Tip: Shortlist three templates, fill each with the same two real projects and compare them side by side. The difference is usually obvious within an hour.

Fonts, color and images

Most templates let you change fonts and colors in a few clicks. Resist changing too much. The designer picked a type scale and spacing that work together, and swapping in a random font often breaks the balance. Changing one accent color to match your own brand is usually enough.

Images matter more than anything else on a portfolio. Check how the template crops them. Some layouts force every image into a square, which is fine for product shots and painful for wide screens or tall posters. Upload one of your awkward images to the demo and see what happens.

Free or paid?

Free templates can be excellent, and paid ones can be clumsy. Price says little about quality. What matters is whether the template is still maintained, whether the platform it runs on is stable, and whether you can get help when something breaks. Read the update notes and the support terms before you decide.

What you can safely ignore

The same goes for trends. A layout that is fashionable this year can look dated next year, while a calm, readable one ages well. Let your work carry the personality.

Long lists of features matter less than they seem. You rarely need a shop, a booking system and three blog layouts on a portfolio. Pick the template that does the few things you need very well, and ignore the rest.

When you have chosen, the setup checklist takes you from the empty template to a finished site.

Choosing a skin treatment uses the same checklist idea

With templates, you start from the work you have. With acne, you start from the breakouts you have: clogged pores, red pimples or deep lumps each point to a different first ingredient. Starting with one product and giving it 6 to 8 weeks is the usual advice, and this guide to the best acne treatments shows which product fits which type.

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.