Maybe it’s maskne. Maybe it’s hormones. Or it could be stress. Regardless of the cause, when you have a big zit you just want it to go away as soon as possible. That’s where the best pimple creams come in. Of course, there are plenty of options out there when it comes to clearing up your complexion, from cleansers to zit stickers. But for deflating a pimple, nothing works better than a spot treatment since the targeted option gets the job done the fastest.
Instead of being slathered all over your face like most acne products, the best pimple creams are applied directly onto the zit. To ensure you’re using the best pimple cream, there are a few effective key ingredients to look for. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid, a chemical exfoliator that gets out the gunk stuck inside pores and dries up whiteheads. Benzoyl peroxide reduces inflammation and knocks out bacteria, so it’s one of the most efficacious ingredients. However, it can dry out skin, so limit use to twice a day max, and be aware that it can bleach fabrics, so you won’t want to use your favorite pillowcase after you dab it on. Another ingredient that gets down to business is sulfur, which dries out zits and inflammation.
Even the best pimple creams won’t do their job if you don’t use them properly. Apply them morning and night on clean skin and make sure not to over-apply, which can cause irritation and severe dryness. Always follow the instructions on the label, since the only thing worse than a giant pimple is a pimple that is covered in flaky skin. Clear up your skin with the best pimple creams, many of which can be yours for under $10.
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Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon This OG best pimple cream has earned its status as an award-winner for its impressive ability to dry up zits overnight. Dab it on to a pimple before bedtime and it’ll be noticeably smaller by the time you wake up. The power couple of ingredients includes salicylic acid to exfoliate dead skin cells and sulfur to zap excess oils and clean out pores. There’s also calamine to soothe, cool and calm skin.
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Differin Gel Acne Spot Treatment for Face
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon Differin is known for making some of the top acne products on the market, so it’s no surprise they also have one of the best pimple creams. The formula goes deep into pores to clear them out and fight inflammation. It also works to prevent new breakouts, boosting skin’s tone and texture along the way. The water-based formula is oil-free and fragrance-free, plus helps prevent scarring and hyperpigmentation that zits can often leave behind.
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Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Treatment Gel
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon Featuring maximum-strength 10% benzoyl peroxide, this treatment gel gets down to business to bust breakouts and prevent future ones. It’s clinically proven to quickly shrink the size and redness of acne in just two hours and continually works to improve skin throughout the day. It can safely be applied up to three times in one day to get rid of that zit.
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Burt’s Bees Natural Acne Solutions Maximum Strength Spot Treatment Cream
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon Listen up natural skincare lovers — this is the best pimple cream for you. Like all Burt’s Bees products, this one goes heavy on Mother Nature, as the formula is 99.5% natural. It relies on salicylic acid from willow bark and witch hazel extract to reduce and prevent breakouts. Don’t let the natural label fool you though, since the formula is still maximum strength to reduce redness, soothe stressed skin and clear breakouts, yet it’s gentle enough for sensitive skin.
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Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon As soon as you feel a zit coming on, before it’s even reached the skin’s surface, dab on EradiKate Acne Treatment to stop it in its tracks. Its preventative power is what makes this one of the best pimple creams. Kate Somerville’s best-selling spot treatment draws out impurities to unclog pores, reduces and absorbs sebum, reduces redness and shrinks the appearance of pores. The formula’s triple threat is zit zapper sulfur, BHAs to minimize enlarged pores and zinc oxide to control oil production.
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Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Walmart Another OG gem, this best pimple cream has been clinically proven to deliver clearer skin in just one day. Formulated with witch hazel and 2% salicylic acid, the oil-free medication instantly gets to work to dissolves oil on skin and minimize the size, redness and swelling of pimples. Though it’s tough on breakouts, it’s gentle on skin and won’t over-dry it.
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La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment Cream
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Duo is the only spot treatment with micronized benzoyl peroxide (5.5%) and lipo hydroxy acid. That power duo gets deep into skin, with the latter delicately exfoliating dead skin and oil. Potent on blemishes, blackheads and whiteheads, it’ll minimize the severity of breakouts. It can also be applied all over skin and has been proven to reduce 60% of acne in 10 days.
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Murad Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon When you need to zap a zit ASAP, reach for Murad’s Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment. One of the best pimple creams when it comes to acting fast, it reduces a blemish in size and redness in just four hours. Two percent salicylic acid takes center stage on the ingredient list to exfoliate, leading to clear pores and smooth skin. The maximum strength formula also contains Murad’s patented pine and thyme-inspired complex to ward off irritants and preserve the skin’s natural healthy balance.
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Perricone MD Acne Relief Maximum Strength Spot Gel
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon This spot treatment successfully walks the fine line of soaking up excess oil without over-drying or stripping skin. The clear, invisible formula makes it ideal for wearing during the day. The maximum strength formula reduces current breakouts and prevents future ones by killing the bacteria that triggers acne. It also unclogs pores.
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Clearasil Stubborn Acne Control 5 in 1 Spot Treatment Cream
Image Credit: Photo Credit: Courtesy of Amazon True to its name, Clearasil’s best pimple cream really does deliver on five things: It fights clogged pores, pimple size, excess oil, acne marks and blackheads. In other words, it certainly deserves a place in your medicine cabinet. The maximum strength acne medication has 10% benzoyl peroxide to check off all those boxes and works deep into pores to get the job done, as well as prevent new breakouts from forming.