I think the thing about acne is that there is different causes for everyone. For me, it is a hormonal thing. My derm has repeatedly told me that anytime you start getting cyctic acne (which has been the bane of my existance) it is always hormonal and very few topical treatments will cure it.
I've had teenage acne and adult acne...for awhile I was convinced that I would have geriatric acne. Every year, I would inevitably go on a couple of courses of antibiotics, which would clear everything up for awhile. I've used retinoids since I was 18 or so (which I think should be mantatory for everyone) When I was really breaking out, benzaclin (benzo and clindamycin) or just clindamycin gel have been the best topical products for me. A couple of years ago, my derm suggested spironolactone. It is a medication used for water retention. As he explained it, there is a hormone that causes the body to retain water, that (and some sister hormones) also cause acne and this med targets those hormones. Since I have been using this, I very, very seldom have even a spot.
All and all, the combination of the spiro, tazorac and vit C serum have kept my skin the clearest it has been in years.
On the occasions that I do get a blemish...I live by my thermaclear. It is the best skin gadget ever. It zaps your zit with a split second of high heat that kills the bacteria. If I use it on a spot as soon as I feel it, it usually doesn't even form into a blemish and is gone the next day. I tried the zeno, and for me it didn't work that well and was very inconvienent because you have to hold it on your skin FOREVER (well, 2.5 min anyway) and it always made red spots on my face.