Unless you’ve been blessed with perfect skin (in which we envy you), pimples and breakouts are a part of life.
Acne can be a result of build-up within your pores, a reaction to makeup, hormones, diet and more. Plus, commuting to the office and figuring out a work-life balance may have your stress at an all-time high, which doesn’t help.
Whether you’re dealing with acne or just want to find ways to keep hormonal pimples at bay during that time of the month, we’ve got you covered.
There are tons of different acne spot treatments on the market, but finding the best one for your skin can be a challenge.
In an effort to help you stay pimple-free — or at least get rid of any blemishes ASAP, the New York Post talked with a handful of skincare experts to pick their brains on their most recommended acne spot treatments.
Keep reading to get the lowdown on the best pimple patches, drying lotions and acne gel treatments from brands like Tula, Differin, Neutrogena, La Roche-Posay, Peace Out Skincare, First Aid Beauty and many more.
1. Tula Go Away Acne Spot Treatment, $22
Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, New York-based cosmetic, medical, and surgical dermatologist, who specializes in facial rejuvenation is a fan of the Tula Go Away Acne Spot Treatment for it’s incredible and effective ingredients.
“Benzoyl peroxide is a tried-and-true acne fighter used as a first line treatment by dermatologists for decades. Azelaic acid gently exfoliates and, along with niacinamide, decreases hyperpigmentation from old acne marks,” Murphy-Rose said. “Tea tree oil has antimicrobial effects to cut down on acne promoting bacteria.”
Expert tip: be sure to use this sparingly to reduce skin irritation.
2. Humane Acne Spot Treatment Gel, $20
“This 5% benzoyl peroxide acne spot treatment is a great option for breakouts as it helps to reduce acne-causing bacteria, while also incorporating aloe vera and cucumber extract to soothe the skin and licorice root extract to reduce inflammation and hyperpigmentation,” board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Marisa Garshick, said about this spot treatment from Humane.
“It’s a great option for sensitive skin as it is free of alcohol, parabens, phthalates, fragrance, sulfates and more.”
3. Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment Gel Cream, $6, original price: $11
If you want a solid spot treatment that won’t break the bank, this Clean & Clear option is on sale for just $6 and will get the job done.
“This salicylic acid-based treatment is a great drugstore option for acne spots. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that fights acne by dissolving the debris and sebum that is clogging pores,” Murphy-Rose said. “Salicylic acid is unique in that it can travel into the pores, unlike many other hydroxy acids, working deep within to prevent breakouts and treat existing ones.”
4. Murad Deep Relief Acne Treatment, $45
“Murad is one of my favorite blemish-fighting brands,” Murphy-Rose said.
“[The] Deep Relief Acne Treatment contains 2.0% salicylic acid and a soothing bioactive phytosteroid (a plant derived ‘corticosteroid-like’ ingredient) to provide powerful anti-inflammatory properties — which is exactly what you want in a spot treatment for emergency calming,” Murphy Rose said. “In fact, many patients come to my office for intralesional corticosteroid injections into acne spots for the quickest relief.”
According to the brand, an invisible film forming polymer creates a “second skin” to hold the actives in place longer on the skin for better penetration. Plus, amino acid technology combined with max-strength 2% salicylic acid targets the “bad bacteria” to get rid of even the most deep acne.
5. Peace Out Acne Healing Dots, $19
Pimple patches are awesome spot treatments because they’re super convenient, contain blemish-fighting ingredients and will help prevent you from picking or popping your pimples.
“I love these specifically for a pimple because they are not only made of the healing hydro-colloidal material (which works by absorbing fluid from the dreaded pimple) but it also contains Salicylic Acid (which acts as a bottle brush cleaning out the infection),” master esthetician Nicole Caroline told The Post.
“[It also has] Aloe Vera for its soothing properties, and Retinyl acetate which a version of Retinol to get down a little deeper and kill the bacteria at its source,” Caroline added. “I like to couple these patches with different spot treatments, using them in combination depending upon the severity [of the blemish].”
6. Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment, $28
The popular Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Spot Treatment contains skincare ingredient superstar, sulfer.
“Eradikate contains sulfur which is a well-known anti-acne and anti-inflammatory ingredient. I often prescribe sulfur cleaners to patients with inflammatory acne,” Murphy-Rose said.
Other key ingredients include zinc xxide which is a natural mineral that provides oil control by absorbing excess sebum production and BHA salicylic acid. SA delivers antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits deep into pores, helping to visibly minimize pore size while unclogging them.
While Murphy-Rose doesn’t recommend this pick for those with dry or sensitive skin, due to the mix of sulfur and salicylic acid, it’s a fabulous choice for many other skin types. After all, it does contain the highest level of sulfur allowed for clinical acne control.
7. Renée Rouleau Powerful Acne Spot Treatment, $34
Celebrity esthetician Candace Marino, whose client list includes Miranda Kerr and “Bachelor” Nation’s Ashley Iaconetti, is a huge fan of the Renée Rouleau Night Time Spot Lotion.
“This overnight treatment is formulated with zinc, sulfur and camphor to reduce inflammation, kill bacteria and dry up inflammatory acne. It works wonders while you sleep!” Marino said. “This is a good one for anyone experiencing acne on their back or chest as well.”
8. Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel, $10+
For those looking for an affordable, drugstore option, Garshick likes the Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Gel.
“This topical gel uses 10% benzoyl peroxide to help reduce redness and size of moderate to severe breakouts in as little as two hours, which is why it is a good option for very stubborn pimples,” Garshick said. “I love recommending benzoyl peroxide as it is a key ingredient that fights acne-causing bacteria, without leading to antibiotic resistance. When using this, it is important to only apply a thin layer to the spot as dryness or irritation may occur if too much is applied. This is a great, easy-to-find, drugstore option.”
9. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Acne Treatment, $36
Garshick is also a big fan of this spot treatment from La Roche-Posay.
“I love that it can be easily used as spot treatment or can be applied all over the face as it also contains glycerin, which won’t leave the skin feeling dry. It’s easy to apply and fast-absorbing so it can easily be incorporated into a skincare routine,” Garshick said.
“This dual-action spot treatment contains a combination of 5.5% micronized benzoyl peroxide as well as lipo-hydroxy acid making it a great option for all types of breakouts and blemishes.”
This spot treatment is available in two sizes, .5 oz and 1.36 oz.
10. ZitSticka KILLA Kit 8 Pack, $16
“This is my go-to 911 spot treatment for deep, cystic spots,” Marino said. “The KILLA comes with an antiseptic swab to prep the area before applying the sticker. The stickers have micro darts which help to flood the spot with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients and are best used at the first sign of a breakout. These types of pimple patches are great to occlude a spot and reduce inflammation.”
Marino added they can be worn for eight hours so they’re ideal to wear overnight, but since they are clear, many people can get away with them during the day, too. You can choose between a four, eight or 20 pack to stock up on.
These pimple stickers also contain Oligopeptide-76 which, according to Marino, “silence an upcoming zit’s appearance before it gets real, working to disrupt the progression of it taking shape [and] take on the firming, tightening responsibilities that all peptides do. So while it’s working to stop the progression of a breakout, it’s also setting up your skin for improved texture, aiding in the recovery from the breakout.”
11. First Aid Beauty FAB Pharma BHA Acne Spot Treatment, $21+
First Aid Beauty, which is known for a lot of great skincare products, has a great spot treatment that Garshick also recommends.
“This spot treatment contains 2% salicylic acid which is an oil-soluble beta hydroxy acid that helps to unclog pores, making it helpful for various types of breakouts, including blackheads and whiteheads,” Garshick explained.
“It also contains glycolic acid, aloe, papaya and willow bark extract to help soothe the skin and improve the appearance of residual blemishes and post-acne marks.”
According to Garshick, the aloe, bisabolol and colloidal oatmeal featured in the formula also helps calm the skin making it a great option for many skin types, even sensitive skin.
12. Differin Gel, $17+
Differin Gel — which has more than 14,000 reviews on Amazon — is another spot treatment product Caroline recommended.
“I like this as a spot treatment because it is water-based, gentle and tolerable on most skin types. Adapalene (a close sister to Retinol, but in a gentler form) gently works on the growth of cells, aids in healing and calms inflammation,” Caroline said.
“This can be used on the whole face, but works exceptionally well as a spot treatment. It won’t work overnight, but it will work after a few days for spot reduction!”
Many dermatologists also love Differin Gel because it’s great for acne-prone skin and affordable.
13. ZitSticka GOO GETTER, $16
The ZitStick GOO GETTER pimple stickers, are another favorite of Marino’s.
“This version of the ZitSticka is formulated for puss-filled surface breakouts. They help to absorb fluid and reduce the size of a pimple,” Marino said. “They’re formulated with tea tree oil, salicylic acid, niacinamide and hydrocolloid to quickly reduce inflammation and get the skin on its way to healing.”
14. Fresh Umbrian Clay Pore Purifying Face Mask, $26+
While this product is technically a face mask, Marino likes to use it in specific areas on the face for strategic spot treatment.
“I love this mask used as a spot treatment for deep cysts or inflammatory spots,” Marino told The Post. “This mineral-rich mask features Umbrian clay to help balance and purify the skin while chamomile helps to soothe, calm and reduce redness in the skin caused by breakouts.”
The mini size (1 oz.) is available for $26 but if you fall in love with the product, you can also grab the full-size tub (3.3 oz) for $58.
For more content, check out the New York Post Shopping section.