The 15 Best Acne Spot Treatments to Zap Pimples Fast

Best Overall

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

5

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sephora

There's a reason this formula is one of the go-to spot treatments for celebrities and beauty editors alike, including here at Byrdie HQ. In short? It actually works (and fast!) to dry up whiteheads and reduce the appearance of pesky breakouts overnight. Simply dab a bit of the formula—containing a hard-hitting combo of salicylic acid, sulfur, and zinc oxide—onto the problem spot(s) before bed, let it dry, and then hit the hay. When you wake up, rinse off the lotion and the spot should be significantly improved. It's that easy.

Price at time of publish: $17

Type: Lotion | Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, sulfur, and calamine | Size: 1 fluid ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes |

Best Drugstore

Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Treatment

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On CVS

This drugstore classic is available almost anywhere. The gel formula contains witch hazel and salicylic acid and comes in a tapered squeeze tube. The applicator helpfully dispenses small doses without splattering everywhere, which helps to ensure you achieve targeted application. The spot treatment dries clear and sinks in quickly as it stops developing pimples and calms ones that have already popped up.

Price at time of publish: $7

Type: Gel | Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Size: 0.75 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Gel

Origins Super Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Ulta

This gel spot treatment has everything—salicylic acid, red algae to (ironically) remove redness, and exfoliants to flush out dead skin cells and excess sebum. It's every pimple-busting weapon wrapped into one.

Breakouts clear within two to three days, with minimal scarring. Some reviewers prefer to use this at night, though the clear, unassuming gel also works during the day. As with most spot treatments, a little goes a long way. There’s even a slight tingle if you like to feel products working.

Price at time of publish: $20

Type: Gel | Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Size: 0.3 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Budget

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

View On Sephora View On Theordinary.com

As cheap as this is, it’s also effective and gentle on skin—nowhere near a clumsily formulated acid bath. The Ordinary’s solution contains acne-fighting salicylic acid as well as a milder form of witch hazel, an anti-inflammatory botanical extract that doesn't over-dry skin. Thanks to its exfoliating and soothing properties, the solution clears closed comedones, blackheads, and whiteheads while reducing redness, even balancing oily skin.

Type: Serum | Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid | Size: 1.01 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Pimple Patches

COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch

4.8

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Walmart

These hydrocolloid patches from Cosrx are ideal for sucking the gunk out of pimples and healing picked-at skin. These patches are your friend when you get too enthusiastic with extracting a pimple and accidentally create a small wound, or if you’re always touching your face. The protective covering reduces bacteria transfer while healing the skin.

The way they work is simple: Once you smooth on the patch, it slowly draws out all the oil and bacteria inside the blemish while keeping other contaminants out. They're not meant to work instantly, gradually shrinking blemishes through the least invasive means possible. The translucent patch grows opaque as it clears out the pimple, and a white dot becomes visible in the center to let you know when to remove it. 

Price at time of publish: $6

Type: Patch | Active Ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Size: 24 patches | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Redness

TruSkin Tea Tree Oil Super Serum For Face

View On Amazon

In case of angry, inflamed pimples, dot this on. While labeled a serum, the fast-absorbing formula works just as well as a spot treatment and is particularly ideal for helping to soothe the skin. The dropper bottle contains a potent mix of antibacterial tea tree oil, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and even niacinamide. Together, they bring down swelling and redness, brighten, and refine skin texture while preventing future pimples from forming.

Price at time of publish: $25

Type: Serum | Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, tea tree oil, retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid | Size: 1 fluid ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Classic

Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment

4.8

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Ulta

You’ve probably seen this product’s characteristic pink formula dotted all over people’s faces on Instagram. Housed in a vaguely medical-looking glass bottle, the EradiKate Acne Treatment uses sulfur and AHAs to reduce existing pimples while preventing new ones. As the treatment shrinks pimples overnight, zinc oxide absorbs excess sebum to control oil, which helps keep the area clear. Without shaking the bottle, dip a Q-Tip into the bottle, pick up the thick pink solution, and apply it to your blemish. Using a cotton swab to apply it isn't only functional, but it's also great to avoid transferring bacteria.

Price at time of publish: $28

Type: Lotion | Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, retinyl propionate | Size: 1 fluid ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Hyperpigmentation

Tula Go Away Acne Spot Treatment

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Ulta

Nobody loves dark marks that exist as a constant reminder to the pimples that once were, and this effective spot treatment does an awesome job at getting rid of them. Licorice and niacinamide work to even hyperpigmentation, while benzoyl peroxide clears up acne fast. It also has tea tree oil to soothe the skin, and we especially love that it dries completely clear — so it's perfect for day or night.

Price at time of publish: $22

Type: Gel | Active Ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide, probiotic extracts, licorice, niacinamide, azelaic acid, tea tree oil | Size: 0.5 fluid ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Deep Acne

Murad Deep Relief Acne Treatment with 2% Salicylic Acid

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Ulta

People that suffer from large, deep breakouts know just how painful they can be. If you're looking for an over-the-counter product to help heal a deep pimple, this is a fantastic option. It's formulated with salicylic acid to heal and prevent breakouts, as well as amino acid technology to target bad bacteria and phytosteroid to hydrate, soothe, and reduce redness. Unlike a lot of spot treatments, we love that this one isn't overly drying on the skin.

Price at time of publish: $45

Type: Lotion | Active Ingredients: Salicylic acid, phytosteriod | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Daytime

Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Invisible+

View On Amazon View On Herocosmetics.us View On Skinstore.com

If you find that pimple patches are really effective for you but you don't like wearing them during the day because of how obvious they look on the skin, we highly recommend the practically invisible patches from Hero Cosmetics. They draw out pus from whiteheads just like their original hydrocolloid patches, but they're much thinner and more seamless-looking on the skin. They are a bit harder to apply than the original ones given how delicate they are, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be hooked.

Price at time of publish: $18

Type: Patch | Active Ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Size: 39 patches | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Overnight Treatment

Renée Rouleau Night Time Spot Lotion

View On Reneerouleau.com

For those times when an angry bump rears its head practically before your eyes, Renée Rouleau's fast-acting acne spot treatment is invaluable. Specifically formulated for surface-infected blemishes, it uses a down-to-business approach with potent blemish-clearing ingredients like zinc oxide, sulfur, and camphor. 

Price at time of publish: $34

Type: Lotion | Active Ingredients: Camphor, sulfur, zinc oxide | Size: 0.5 fluid ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes |

Best Mask

White Willow Sleep Mask & Spot Treatment

View On Marlarene.com

You get the best of both worlds with this powerful blemish banisher. It improves the overall look and texture of your skin while soothing and protecting your skin's essential barrier. The all natural formula acts as a gentle exfoliant, sloughing off dead skin cells and reducing the appearance of dark marks. Use it overnight as a spot treatment or apply it all over as a clearing mask.

Price at time of publish: $45

Type: Mask | Active Ingredients: Witch hazel, willow bark extract | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best with Benzoyl Peroxide

Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On CVS

This heavy-duty spot treatment (with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide) shrinks blemishes like no one's business. It's excellent for diminishing whiteheads and oily breakouts, however, it's quite potent, so a little goes a long way.

Price at time of publish: $10

Type: Cream | Active Ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide | Size: 0.75 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Best LED Treatment

Solawave Bye Acne: 3-Minute Pimple Spot Treatment

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Solawave.co

This obviously isn't the same type of spot treatment as the others on this list, but this FDA-cleared LED therapy device is a great alternative to creams and pimple patches. It's powered by blue and red LED light for a two-pronged approach—blue light fights acne-causing bacteria while red light reduces inflammation and redness. Just place it directly onto your breakout spot, hold the power button, and keep it there for three minutes (the device will shut off automatically). Continue use and you'll see a reduction in redness, inflammation, and pimple size within a few days.

Price at time of publish: $52

Type: LED therapy device | Active Ingredients: Blue and red LED lights | Cruelty-Free: Yes