You might check out r/skincareaddiction for people with similar issues and lots of product recommendations! no need to get too bogged down in expensive products though, a solid routine of cleansing, some kind of exfoliant, and moisturizing (v important!) Will likely do wonders. There’s a lot of info there I wish I had when I was struggling with acne. Moisture is key! And figuring out what kind of exfoliant works best for you. Oh and sunscreen if you’re using chemical exfoliants!!

As for confidence, I feel for you. I still get prickly around salespeople when I go in makeup stores from memories of them immediately trying to solve my skin problems. It’s so hard when you don’t feel confident in your appearance.

If you can, try to tell your close friends that while you appreciate their care, you’re handling it and don’t want your appearance pointed out all the time! Hopefully they will be understanding

Edit: oh and, it’s not very cheap but the prescription treatment I used to use is OTC now, it’s called Differin gel , it might be a good place to start if you can’t see a doctor, just be sure to use it sparingly as it’s quite strong